Seat-rotating device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seat-rotating devices experience rattling issues when stationary and require excessive force for rotation due to their rattle-preventing mechanisms operating during rotation.

Innovation Solution

A seat-rotating device with a support member, an annular rotating member, a lock member, and a rattle-suppressing member that operates between locked and unlocked positions to prevent rattling and facilitate rotation by adjusting contact points between components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rattle-preventing mechanism operates continuously to prevent rattling, then rattling is prevented in the locked state, but the force required for rotating the seat becomes larger than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverattle preventionVSAvoidrotation force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The rattle-suppressing member is designed to dynamically change its contact state with the support member based on the rotational position. It maintains close contact during the locked state to suppress rattling, but creates a gap during rotation to reduce friction and required rotation force. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing operational force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rattle-suppressing mechanism operates periodically rather than continuously. It engages to suppress rattling when the seat is stationary in the locked state, and disengages to allow smooth rotation when the seat needs to rotate. This periodic operation eliminates unnecessary continuous contact, thereby reducing the force required for rotation while maintaining rattle prevention when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the lock member engages with the support member to prevent rotation, then the seat is securely locked, but rattling occurs between components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking stabilityVSAvoidrattling
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rattle-suppressing member acts as an intermediary element between the support member and the annular rotating member. When the lock member engages the support member, the rattle-suppressing member fills the gap and provides additional contact points that suppress rattling. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by adding vibration damping without interfering with the primary locking function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking system is segmented into multiple functional components: the lock member for primary engagement, and the rattle-suppressing member for vibration control. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its specific function - the lock member provides stable engagement while the rattle-suppressing member independently handles vibration suppression, resolving the contradiction between stability and rattling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3888498B1Seat-rotating device
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 TS TECH CO LTD
  • EP3888498B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3888498B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3888498B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a seat-rotating device that enables a seat to be rotated on a base member, a rattle-suppressing member (20) operating in association with a lock member (19), which switches between the locked state in which rotation of an annular rotating member (18) supporting a seat frame is prevented and release of the locked state, is in close contact with both a support member (17) and the annular rotating member (18) when the lock member (19) is at the locked position, and a gap is created between the support member (17) and the annular rotating member (18) when the lock member (19) attains the lock release position. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the seat from rattling when it is in a stationary state and to facilitate rotation by releasing the rattle-preventing state when the seat is rotating.