Vehicle Seat Mount Bracket With Dual-Stage Impact Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infotainment systems mounted in vehicle seats are vulnerable to damage from passenger interactions and do not adequately meet federal head impact criteria, requiring an energy absorption system that allows for both elastic and inelastic deformation.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-mounted electronic device system featuring a bracket with a deformable element and member, capable of elastic and inelastic deformation, equipped with a visual indicator to signal when impact forces exceed a threshold, ensuring compliance with safety standards and accommodating passenger manipulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a plastically deformable member is used to absorb impact loads, then head impact criteria compliance is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to damage from passenger manipulations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead impact criteria complianceVSAvoidresistance to passenger manipulation damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation assembly is segmented into two distinct components: a plastically deformable member for energy absorption during head impacts, and an elastomeric component for elastic deformation during passenger manipulations. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in handling specific types of forces, resolving the contradiction between impact protection and manipulation resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses composite material properties by combining a plastically deformable member (metal or hard plastic) with an elastomeric component (rubber or flexible polymer). This composite approach allows the system to exhibit both plastic deformation characteristics for impact absorption and elastic deformation characteristics for manipulation accommodation, simultaneously satisfying both requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the infotainment system is mounted at eye level in the headrest, then viewing comfort is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to head impact forces during sudden deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing comfortVSAvoidhead impact forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation assembly is pre-installed in the bracket to provide cushioning before any impact occurs. The plastically deformable member is positioned to absorb impact forces from head contacts during sudden deceleration, protecting the infotainment system while maintaining the eye-level mounting position for viewing comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If an energy absorption system is added to meet safety standards, then head impact protection is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead impact protectionVSAvoidmounting system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation assembly combining plastically deformable and elastomeric components is integrated directly into the bracket structure, merging the energy absorption function with the mounting function. This integration approach provides head impact protection while minimizing additional complexity by combining multiple functions into a single unified component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system effectively absorbs impact forces while maintaining functionality and providing a visual indication of potential damage, ensuring safety and durability under various usage conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The deformable element is elastically and inelastically deformable based in impact forces passing into the bracket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The deformable element is elastically and inelastically deformable based in impact forces passing into the bracket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInelastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 3

the deformable element includes a visual indicator visible through the inspection opening, the visual indicator signaling that the electronic device mounting system has been exposed to a force along the deformation axis that exceeds a deformation threshold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVisual indication:

Data Source

PatentUS12466333B2Electronic device mounting system for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

An electronic device mounting system for a vehicle includes a mounting element configured to connect with a vehicle seat surface and a bracket supported by the mounting element. The bracket has a plurality of walls defining a hollow interior. A deformation assembly including a deformable element and a deformable member is arranged in the hollow interior. The deformable element is elastically and inelastically deformable based in impact forces passing into the bracket.