Vehicle Seat Release Mechanism with Cam Dwell Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats with existing locking mechanisms require manual intervention for unlocking during easy entry operations, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially when space is limited behind the seat.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with a release mechanism that includes a release lever and a cam-equipped release bracket, allowing the locking mechanism to be automatically released as the seat back pivots, enabling smooth movement and re-locking without additional user action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a locking mechanism is used to fix the seat bottom position, then the seat stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is pre-configured with a dwell surface that automatically releases the locking mechanism when the seat back reaches a specific angular position during pivoting. This preliminary mechanical arrangement eliminates the need for manual intervention to unlock the seat, while maintaining stable locking during normal operation.
2Ease of operation
If the locking mechanism is released early during seat back pivoting, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential premature movement
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism dynamically adjusts the locking state based on the seat back's angular position. The dwell surface on the cam is designed to engage with the release lever only when the seat back reaches the predetermined safe angular position, ensuring automatic release occurs at the optimal moment - early enough to facilitate easy entry but late enough to maintain stability during pivoting.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy access by automatically unlocking the seat from the vehicle during easy entry operations, reducing manual effort and improving operational efficiency while maintaining secure re-locking.
Implementation Method 1
One of the release lever and the release bracket includes a cam configured to cooperate with the other of the release lever and the release bracket to cause the release lever to release the locking mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat for use with a vehicle having a locking mechanism includes a seat bottom mountable on the vehicle so that a position of the seat bottom may be fixed by the locking mechanism, a seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom and movable between first and second positions, and a release mechanism configured to release the locking mechanism. The release mechanism includes a release lever connectable to the locking mechanism, and a release bracket engageable with the release lever. One of the release lever and the release bracket includes a cam to cause the release lever to release the locking mechanism when the seat back is pivoted from the first position toward the second position. The cam includes a dwell surface that enables the locking mechanism to remain released until the seat back reaches the second position, or a position proximate the second position.