Vehicle Seat Mat Guide Wire Attachment Structure

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seatback structures for vehicle seats face issues with the smooth vertical movement of guide wires due to friction with pointed edges in insertion holes, leading to potential degradation in seating comfort and risk of guide wires falling out during rearward displacement, especially in collisions.

Innovation Solution

A mat attachment structure with a guide wire featuring a straight portion that moves smoothly through a through-hole with a protruding part having a high and low protruding portion, where the high portion allows initial movement and the low portion restricts excessive rearward displacement by biting into the guide wire, preventing it from coming out of the hole.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guide wire is provided with a lubricant layer to reduce friction, then the vertical movement of the straight portion becomes smoother, but the lubricant layer is gradually shaved by pointed tip parts (burr) on the edge of the insertion hole, causing the vertical wire part to move with difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoothness of vertical movementVSAvoiddurability of lubricant layer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful pointed tip parts (burr) on the insertion hole edge into a beneficial function by designing the straight portion with a larger cross-sectional area at its lower end. This enlarged lower end is intentionally made to contact and press against the burr, causing the burr to wear down to a rounded shape that then functions as a reliable stopper to prevent the guide wire from falling out during vehicle collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameter of the straight portion by making its lower end have a larger cross-sectional area than its upper end. This parameter change allows the lower end to effectively interact with the burr on the insertion hole edge, transforming the burr from a harmful friction source into a protective stopper mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the seatback is strongly pressed rearward by an occupant's back due to vehicle collision, then the mat moves greatly rearward, but this causes the straight portions to fall out of the insertion holes downward, so that the occupant's body cannot be supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of rearward movementVSAvoidprevention of guide wire dislocation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful pointed tip parts (burr) on the insertion hole edge into a beneficial function by designing the straight portion with a larger cross-sectional area at its lower end. This enlarged lower end is intentionally made to contact and press against the burr, causing the burr to wear down to a rounded shape that then functions as a reliable stopper to prevent the guide wire from falling out during vehicle collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies preliminary anti-action by pre-designing the rounded stopper (formed from the worn burr) that will counteract the harmful effect of the guide wire falling out during collisions. The stopper is formed in advance through controlled contact with the burr, creating a preventive mechanism before the collision occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS10889215B1Mat attachment structure of seatback and vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2021.01.12 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A mat attachment structure of a seatback includes: a guide wire attached to the mat and provided, at the distal end part, with a straight portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the seatback frame on a tip side of the seatback frame or its root side; and a through-hole formed in the seatback frame and through which the straight portion is insertable. The through-hole is provided with a protruding part which includes a high protruding portion and a low protruding portion formed adjacent to the high protruding portion. In a first movement of the mat, the straight portion moves in a de-insertion direction while coming into contact with the high protruding portion. As the amount of movement of the mat gets larger than the amount of movement of the first movement, a contact position between the straight portion and the protruding part moves toward the low protruding portion.