Vehicle Seat Attachment Profile With Self-Aligning Floor Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for connecting vehicle seat devices to vehicle floors face challenges in ensuring symmetrical support and preventing separation during crashes, due to asymmetrical loads and material inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A fastening profile with a movable connecting element that compensates for manufacturing tolerances through linear and rotational movement, ensuring symmetrical support and enhanced stability by aligning with the holding element, while reducing material usage and production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a large opening and receptacle are used to compensate for component tolerances, then assembly flexibility is improved, but asymmetrical loads occur during crashes leading to unfavorable deformations and potential untying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent tolerance compensationVSAvoidcrash stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element is designed with movable components that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation during assembly to accommodate tolerances, while maintaining fixed, stable engagement during crash conditions. The L-shaped fastening profile with its receiving area allows the connecting element to be positioned flexibly during assembly, but once installed, the symmetrical engagement with the holding element ensures stable load distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention intentionally introduces asymmetry in the form of an L-shaped fastening profile to resolve the contradiction. The L-shape creates a receiving area that is asymmetric relative to the connecting element, allowing for flexible assembly positioning while the symmetrical engagement surfaces ensure balanced load distribution during crashes. This controlled asymmetry enables both tolerance compensation and crash stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Strength

If welding is used to ensure sufficient stability in the event of a crash, then connection strength is improved, but production cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrash resistanceVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the welding process (thermal/mechanical system) with a mechanical insertion system. The connecting element engages with the holding element through a purely mechanical interface defined by the L-shaped fastening profile and receiving area, eliminating the need for welding operations while maintaining sufficient connection strength for crash conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting element is designed to self-align and self-secure within the receiving area of the L-shaped fastening profile. The symmetrical engagement surfaces and geometric constraints of the receiving area automatically ensure proper positioning and stable connection without requiring additional welding or complex assembly operations, reducing both cost and production complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a large opening and receptacle are used to accommodate displacements, then assembly flexibility is improved, but material usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the fastening profile from a conventional symmetrical design to an L-shaped asymmetric design. This parameter change creates a receiving area that provides adequate clearance for tolerance compensation with smaller overall dimensions than a symmetrical design would require, thereby reducing material usage while maintaining assembly flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3840981B1System for joining an attachment profile for a seat device of a vehicle with a holding element of a vehicle floor
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 GEBR ISRINGHAUSEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3840981B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3840981B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3840981B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a system (100) for connecting a fastening profiled element (10) for a seat device of a vehicle to a retaining element (50) of a vehicle floor, comprising: a fastening profiled element (10); and a connection element (30), the connection element (30) being arranged for movement relative to the fastening profiled element (10) and being arranged in the receiving region (12) of the fastening profiled element (10) in order to ensure self-alignment of the connection element (30) with respect to a retaining element (50) which can be fastened to a vehicle floor. The invention further relates to a fastening profiled element and to a connection element.