Vehicle Seat Rail Adapter for Modular Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing longitudinal adjusters for vehicle seats lack adaptability to different actuating arrangements and rail locks, requiring additional components and increasing complexity and cost, while also compromising on space efficiency and symmetry.
Innovation Solution
A modular longitudinal adjuster design featuring an adapter that acts as a force transmission element, allowing for integration of various actuating arrangements and rail locks, eliminating the need for a conventional unlocking lever and minimizing space requirements through a compact, symmetrical structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional longitudinal adjuster design is used with separate unlocking levers and foot covers, then the rail locking mechanism can be actuated, but the device complexity increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter merges multiple functions into a single component: it serves as the unlocking element for the rail locking mechanism, provides the connection area for the actuating arrangement, and eliminates the need for separate foot covers. This consolidation reduces the number of parts while maintaining full operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate different types of actuating arrangements (internal or external) while simultaneously serving as the unlocking mechanism for the rail lock. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace multiple specialized parts.
2Ease of operation
If additional components like conventional foot covers and release levers are added to the longitudinal adjuster, then the rail locking mechanism can be unlocked, but the space requirements and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter combines the unlocking function, connection function, and structural support function into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate foot covers, release levers, and mounting brackets, thereby reducing manufacturing steps, material costs, and assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential functions from multiple separate components (foot cover, release lever, mounting structure) and integrates them into the single adapter component. This extraction and integration process simplifies the overall structure while maintaining all necessary functionalities.
3Ease of operation
If the actuating arrangement is inserted into the rail profile from the outside, then the unlocking action can be transmitted, but cutouts in the rail profile are required which compromise structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed to be inserted into the existing rail profile structure without requiring additional cutouts. It nests within the available space of the rail profile, utilizing the existing geometric features for mounting and force transmission, thereby preserving the structural integrity of the rail.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter concentrates its connection and actuation functions at specific localized areas within the rail profile, utilizing the existing structural features at those locations. This localized approach avoids the need for extensive modifications to the rail profile while maintaining sufficient strength in the overall structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the longitudinal adjuster is designed to accommodate different actuating arrangements, then the adaptability increases, but the device complexity increases without the modular adapter
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter serves as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple types of actuating arrangements (internal levers, external handles, crossbars) through standardized connection areas. This universal design allows the same adapter to work with different actuation mechanisms without requiring multiple specialized adapters.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed as a modular component that can be independently selected and replaced based on the required actuating arrangement. This segmentation allows for easy adaptation to different applications by simply changing the actuating arrangement while keeping the adapter and rail locking mechanism unchanged.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
The invention relates to a longitudinal adjustment means (1, 10) of a vehicle seat, comprising: at least one seat rail (2.1, 20.1) secured to the vehicle and one seat rail (2.2, 20.2) attached to the seat, which mutually engage by forming a rail profile, and which move in relation to one another in the longitudinal direction; at least one rail lock (3, 30) via which the seat rails (2.1, 2.2, 20.1, 20.2) can be locked to one another; and at least one actuation assembly (4, 40) for actuating the rail lock (3, 30), wherein at least one adapter (5, 50) is arranged between the actuation assembly (4, 40) and the rail lock (3, 30), said adapter being configured as a force transmission element in such a way that at least one connection region (5.1, 50.1) of the adapter (5, 50) protrudes from the rail profile for connecting the actuation assembly (4, 40), and at least one integrated unlocking element (5.6, 50.6) is provided on the adapter (5, 50) for unlocking the rail lock (3, 30), said unlocking element being configured in such a way that it operatively engages in the rail lock (3, 30), when the actuation assembly (4, 40) is actuated, in order to unlock same.