Vehicle Seat Memory Track Assembly with External Release Lever
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat systems with easy entry capabilities lack efficient memory systems to recall and lock the seat position after forward sliding, making it inconvenient for occupants to return to a desired seating position.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat memory track assembly with two pairs of upper and lower seat rails, a seat track locking system, and actuators that allow slidable longitudinal movement and memory system activation, enabling the seat to remember and lock the user-selected position for easy entry and return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat is made slidable for easy entry to the second row, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for memory systems and locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is nested within the seat track assembly, with the memory module integrated into the track structure itself. The activation lever is positioned within the nested upper and lower rail pairs, allowing the memory function to be incorporated without adding external complexity to the overall seat system.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat track assembly serves multiple functions: it provides slidable movement for easy entry, incorporates memory functionality to recall positions, and includes locking mechanisms to secure the seat. The activation bracket and lever system handle both memory activation and track locking/dislocking operations, consolidating control functions into a unified mechanism.
2Reliability
If the memory system is activated to remember seat position, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional actuators and locking systems
Solution Approach 1:
The memory actuator and track locking actuator are combined into a single integrated system. The activation bracket serves both to engage the memory mechanism and to control the locking assemblies, reducing the number of separate actuators needed while maintaining both memory functionality and secure locking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation bracket acts as an intermediary mechanism between the activation lever and the locking assemblies. It translates the lever's movement into coordinated action that simultaneously engages the memory system and controls the locking mechanism, simplifying the overall actuation system while ensuring reliable operation.
3Ease of operation
If the release lever is positioned externally to the nested rails, then the ease of operation is improved, but the area occupied by the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release lever is positioned in the vertical dimension above the nested rail pairs rather than extending horizontally outward. This allows the lever to be easily accessible for operation while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint of the overall track assembly, effectively utilizing the vertical space to resolve the area constraint.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat memory track assembly including two pairs of upper and lower seat rails that are positioned on opposite sides of a seat bottom of a vehicle seat, a seat track locking system, and a first actuator is operably connected to the seat track locking system. The first actuator includes a release lever positioned externally to the nested upper and lower seat rail pairs, and movable from a non-activated position to an activated position whereby the release lever causes an activation bracket to disengage the seat track locking system to allow slidable longitudinal movement of the seat to a different desired seating position. A memory system, when activated, records the longitudinal travel of the seat.