Vehicle Seat Locking Mechanism with Integrated Damping Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat locking devices generate noise during operation, require complex assembly processes, and lack efficient crash protection and damping mechanisms, leading to material stress and dimensional inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a cap covering the pawl's hook mouth to reduce noise, connected via ultrasonic riveting, featuring a direct linkage to security elements for simplified assembly and crash protection, and an integrated damping stop within the lock housing to absorb impacts, reducing component count and material demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a cap is connected to the pawl by means of a single dovetail, then the assembly is simple, but the connection strength is insufficient and noise damping is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple connection functions into a single cap structure that integrates noise damping material with multiple attachment points. The cap simultaneously provides noise damping through its material composition and secure attachment through multiple dovetail connections to different pawl features, resolving the contradiction between simple assembly and sufficient connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is constructed as a composite component with a rigid base structure for mechanical attachment and an integrated noise damping material layer. This composite structure provides both the structural integrity needed for strong connection and the acoustic properties for noise reduction, addressing both connection strength and noise damping requirements.
2Ease of operation
If intermediate elements such as coupling rods or lever kinematics are used to link the release handle to security elements, then the linkage is flexible, but the assembly complexity increases and additional fastening clips are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate coupling elements (coupling rods, lever kinematics, fastening clips) from the linkage system. By directly integrating the release handle with the security elements through a simplified mounting structure, the design maintains operational flexibility while dramatically reducing component count and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The release handle is directly integrated with the security element mounting structure, merging what were previously separate components into a unified assembly. This direct linkage eliminates the need for intermediate coupling elements while maintaining the necessary mechanical flexibility for operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If separate buffers are attached to the receptacle to dampen counter-element impact, then the damping function is provided, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is merged into the receptacle structure itself through the integrated first stop made of elastic material. This eliminates the need for separate attached buffers while maintaining effective impact damping capability, reducing component count while preserving the harmful factor mitigation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle incorporates localized elastic material properties at the stop region to provide damping functionality. By giving the receptacle different material properties (elasticity) at the specific location where impact occurs, the design achieves impact damping without adding separate buffer components.
4Strength
If the lock housing is made rigid to withstand crash forces, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the ability to dampen impact through elastic deformation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock housing employs local quality differentiation by using rigid material in regions requiring structural strength (main housing body) and elastic material at the stop region for impact damping. This spatial variation in material properties allows the housing to simultaneously withstand crash forces while dampening counter-element impact through localized elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock housing is constructed as a composite structure combining rigid and elastic materials in different regions. The rigid portions provide overall structural strength and crash resistance, while the elastic portions at the stop provide impact damping, resolving the contradiction between strength and impact transmission.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces noise, simplifies assembly, enhances crash protection, and improves material efficiency by integrating damping mechanisms within the lock housing, allowing for flexible design and reduced material strength requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The cap seated on the pawl, which at least partially covers the edge of a hook mouth of the pawl, reduces the generation of noise when the pawl and counter-element come into contact
Implementation Method 2
when the counter-element impacts, a specific (elastic) deformation of the lock housing takes place, as a result of which the impact of the counter-element is damped
Implementation Method 3
The cap and the pawl are connected by means of ultrasonic riveting
Data Source
Figure 1~6
Figure 3~5
Figure 7~9
AI summary
Disclosed is a locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, comprising a latch (11) that is to be interlocked with an opposite element (B) and is mounted to be pivotable about a first bearing bolt (13), and at least one securing element (25, 31) that secures the latch (11) in the locked state. A cap (17) which rests on the latch (11) covers at least part of the edge of a hook opening of the latch (11).