Vehicle Seat Slide Rail Memory Mechanism for Arbitrary Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle slide rail devices are inconvenient for locking the seat position at arbitrary positions due to the requirement that the operation of the release lever cannot be returned until the seat position is returned to the default position.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle slide rail device with a memory mechanism that includes a memory member to define the default seat position, a release operation mechanism to release the lock mechanism, a memory operation mechanism to operate the release mechanism while maintaining the memory member in the default position, and a cancel mechanism to return the lock mechanism to the locked state when the seat position is returned to the default position, allowing for convenient locking at arbitrary positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the memory member is operated to shift from defining the default position when the release lever is operated, then the seat position can be adjusted, but the release lever operation cannot be returned until the seat position is returned to the default position
Solution Approach 1:
The operation mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a release operation mechanism (with release lever 5) for locking/unlocking the seat position, and a memory operation mechanism (with memory lever 6) for operating the memory member. This segmentation allows the release lever to be returned to its initial state independently of the memory member's position, enabling arbitrary position locking without requiring the seat to return to the default position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cancel mechanism (trigger 22) that acts as an intermediary to cancel the memory member's engagement with the detection link when the release lever is operated. This allows the release operation to proceed independently without being constrained by the memory member's position, resolving the contradiction between operational convenience and mechanism complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the memory member is left in the state of defining the default position while operating the release mechanism, then the seat position can be locked at arbitrary positions, but the lock mechanism cannot be reliably returned to the locked state
Solution Approach 1:
The detection link 22A provides feedback by detecting the position of the memory member. When the memory member is in the state of defining the default position, the detection link detects this state and transmits a signal through the cancel link 22B to the kick member 22D, which then kicks the locking/unlocking link 34D to return the lock mechanism to the locked state. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable locking even when the memory member remains in the default position state.
Solution Approach 2:
The cancel mechanism is designed to automatically activate when the seat position returns to the default position, preemptively canceling the memory member's engagement before it could interfere with the locking operation. This preliminary action ensures that the lock mechanism can be reliably returned to the locked state without manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the release lever operation is coupled with memory member operation, then the memory mechanism functions as intended, but the user cannot lock the seat position at arbitrary positions
Solution Approach 1:
The operation mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a release operation mechanism (with release lever 5) for locking/unlocking the seat position, and a memory operation mechanism (with memory lever 6) for operating the memory member. This segmentation allows the release lever to be returned to its initial state independently of the memory member's position, enabling arbitrary position locking without requiring the seat to return to the default position.
Solution Approach 2:
The release lever 5 is designed to perform multiple functions: it can unlock the lock mechanism to allow seat position adjustment, and it can also trigger the cancel mechanism to return the lock mechanism to the locked state when the seat returns to the default position. This multi-functionality maintains the memory mechanism's intended functionality while adding the flexibility to lock at arbitrary positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle slide rail device including: a memory mechanism which includes a memory member configured to define a default seat position by engagement; a release operation mechanism which is configured to release a lock mechanism from a locked state and slide together with the memory member in a slide direction by removing the memory member from a state of defining the default seat position; a memory operation mechanism which is configured to release the lock mechanism from the locked state while leaving the memory member in the state of defining the default seat position; a cancel mechanism which is pressed against the memory member to cancel the releasing of the lock mechanism by the memory operation mechanism and return the lock mechanism to the locked state when the seat position is returned to the default seat position defined while an operated state of a memory operation member is maintained.