Vehicle Seat Reclining Cable Routing via Stepped Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat reclining mechanisms experience cable wear due to slack portions contacting the vehicle body during sliding, leading to friction and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat reclining apparatus with a stepped attachment member that includes a fitting portion for the operation cable and a non-contact portion, where the cable is routed through a recessed area to minimize contact and reduce friction, and is bent to maintain a large radius of curvature, reducing the load on the cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the operation cable is fixed to the fixed body at a center portion in the range of sliding movement of the slider to minimize extra length, then the cable length is optimized, but the slack portion of the cable contacts and rubs against the fixed body during sliding movement causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stepped attachment member with a non-contact portion that creates a three-dimensional spatial separation. The cable is routed through a recessed area of the attachment member, changing the cable's path from a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional space that avoids contact with the fixed body during slider movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-contact portion of the attachment member acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the cable and the fixed body. This intermediary component provides a recessed routing path for the cable, preventing direct contact between the cable and the fixed body while maintaining the cable's functional connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cable has extra length to accommodate sliding movement, then the cable can move integrally with the slide member, but the slack portion contacts and rubs against the fixed body causing friction and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped attachment member creates a three-dimensional routing path for the cable. The non-contact portion with its recessed area allows the cable to move through space without contacting the fixed body, eliminating friction and wear while maintaining full movement flexibility.
3Area of stationary object
If the cable is routed close to the fixed body to minimize space, then the structure is compact, but the cable contacts and rubs against the fixed body during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped attachment member utilizes vertical dimensionality with its stepped structure. The non-contact portion is recessed relative to the fitting portion, creating a layered three-dimensional arrangement that routes the cable away from the fixed body contact zone while maintaining a compact overall footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
A slide member is slidable along a slide rail provided at a vehicle-body side portion. When lock pawls provided at the slide member are engaged with the slide rail, the slide member is locked. The slide member is unlocked by operating an operation cable connected to the lock pawls. The operation cable is fitted to a fitting portion of an attachment bracket connected to the slide rail. A portion from a fixed portion fixed to the fitting portion to a movable portion (one end portion) extends through a region where a non-contact portion is disposed, and does not contact the non-contact portion. The movable portion is connected to the slide member and moved integrally with the slide member.