Straddled Vehicle Seat Lock Manipulation Restricting Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing straddled vehicle designs face challenges in securing the main seat lock mechanism without compromising the layout flexibility of component parts or the ease of mounting the tandem seat, due to the need for a long locking plate that reduces component placement freedom and complicates tandem seat mounting.

Innovation Solution

A straddled vehicle with a manipulation restricting member that restricts the main seat lock mechanism's manipulable portion, provided as a separate piece from the tandem seat, mounted to the seat lock bracket, featuring a recess with depth extending along the up-down direction, and protrusions from the tandem seat and seat lock bracket that insert into the recess to restrict movement, preventing unwanted manipulation and maintaining layout flexibility and mounting ease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking plate is used to secure the main seat lock mechanism, then the main seat cannot be removed when the tandem seat is mounted, but the locking plate becomes long and reduces the degree of freedom concerning the layout of component parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat securityVSAvoidlocking plate length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking function is segmented into two separate components: a locking protrusion on the tandem seat and a corresponding locking recess on the vehicle body. This eliminates the need for a single long locking plate, as the locking action is achieved through distributed engagement points rather than a continuous structural element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking function is extracted from the tandem seat structure itself and implemented as a separate locking protrusion that engages with the vehicle body. This allows the locking mechanism to be independent of the tandem seat's primary structural components, reducing interference with component layout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a locking plate is used to secure the main seat lock mechanism, then the main seat cannot be removed when the tandem seat is mounted, but the easiness of mounting the tandem seat is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat securityVSAvoidtandem seat mounting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting and locking operations are segmented into distinct steps: first mounting the tandem seat to the vehicle body, then separately engaging the locking protrusion with the locking recess. This separation allows the mounting process to proceed without the complexity of simultaneous locking plate alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the manipulation restricting member is integrated with the tandem seat, then the main seat lock mechanism is restricted, but the degree of freedom concerning the layout of component parts is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelock mechanism securityVSAvoidcomponent layout flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulation restricting function is extracted from the tandem seat and implemented as a separate manipulation restricting member. This independent component can be positioned optimally to restrict access to the main seat lock mechanism without being constrained by the tandem seat's structural requirements or component layout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If the manipulation restricting member is integrated with the tandem seat, then the main seat lock mechanism is restricted, but the easiness of mounting the tandem seat is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelock mechanism securityVSAvoidtandem seat mounting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting and restriction functions are segmented into separate operations: the tandem seat is mounted first to the vehicle body, and then the manipulation restricting member is separately installed to restrict access to the main seat lock mechanism. This sequential approach simplifies the mounting process compared to integrated designs requiring coordinated alignment of multiple functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3971067B1Straddled vehicle seat lock
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3971067B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3971067B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3971067B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A straddled vehicle (1) includes: a seat lock bracket (30) attached to a seat frame (76) and disposed near a rear end portion of a main seat (20); and a main seat lock mechanism (40) to secure the main seat to the seat frame in a detachable manner. The straddled vehicle further includes a manipulation restricting member (60) to restrict manipulation of a manipulable portion (42b) of the main seat lock mechanism, the manipulation restricting member being provided as a separate piece from the tandem seat (22) and mounted to the seat lock bracket in a detachable manner. The manipulation restricting member includes a recess having a depth extending along an up-down direction (61).