Vehicle Seat Operating Strap Folded Back Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicle seats, the operating strap often interferes with the rotatable arm when releasing the lock mechanism, especially as the strap length increases, leading to increased force requirements for pulling and potential interference issues.

Innovation Solution

The operating strap is configured with a middle portion folded back from the outer side to the inner side with respect to the rotational center of the arm, allowing it to hang onto an engaging portion, reducing the force needed for pulling and preventing interference by positioning the fixed end portion away from the arm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the operating strap is extended to reduce interference with the arm, then the interference is avoided, but the pulling force required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference between operating strap and armVSAvoidpulling force required

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The operating strap is divided into multiple sections: a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion. The middle portion is folded back to form a loop that engages with the arm, while the first end portion is positioned closer to the rotational center. This segmentation allows the strap to maintain adequate length for engagement while reducing interference through strategic positioning of different segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The middle portion of the operating strap is folded back from the outer side to the inner side with respect to the rotational center of the arm, creating a three-dimensional configuration. This dimensional change allows the strap to engage the arm effectively while positioning the fixed end portion away from the arm's rotational path, thereby reducing interference without requiring excessive strap length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the operating strap length is extended to prevent interference, then interference is avoided, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference between operating strap and armVSAvoidoperating strap configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operating strap is configured to be flexible and capable of deformation. The middle portion can be folded back and engaged with the arm, allowing the strap to dynamically adapt its configuration during operation. This dynamic flexibility enables the strap to prevent interference through its folded configuration rather than requiring excessive length, thereby reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The operating strap is designed as a flexible strip-shaped component that can be folded and deformed. This flexibility allows the strap to form a loop configuration with the middle portion folded back, enabling effective engagement with the arm while maintaining a compact overall structure and avoiding the need for excessive strap length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the middle portion is folded back from inner side to outer side, then engagement is achieved, but the end portion interferes with the arm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement between operating strap and armVSAvoidinterference with arm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of folding the middle portion from the inner side to the outer side as in conventional designs, this invention inverts the folding direction by folding from the outer side to the inner side with respect to the rotational center of the arm. This inversion positions the first end portion closer to the rotational center and the second end portion farther away, achieving reliable engagement while preventing interference with the arm's rotational path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8888186B2Vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

A vehicle seat including: a rotatable arm configured to release a holding state of a holding mechanism of a seat body; and an operating strap configured to rotate the arm by being pulled at a first end portion thereof, wherein a second end portion of the operating strap opposite to the first end portion is fixed to the seat body, a middle portion of the operating strap is folded back and is hanged to an engaging portion provided to the arm, and the arm is configured to be rotated by pulling the operating strap so as to pull in the engaging portion by the middle portion, and wherein the middle portion, which is folded back from the second end portion, is folded back from an outer side to an inner side with respect to a rotational center of the arm.