Vehicle Seat Side Shield Reinforcement for Belt Anchor Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing side shield structures for vehicle seats face a trade-off between facilitating the insertion of seat belt end anchors and maintaining strength, as enlarging the opening for easier insertion can compromise the structural integrity of the side shield member.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a reinforcing member with a corresponding opening on the inside surface of the side shield member, which is integrated through molding synthetic resin, helps maintain strength while allowing for easy seat belt insertion and includes an impact-absorbing structure to absorb lateral forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening of the side shield member is made large to facilitate insertion of the end anchor, then the ease of operation is improved, but the strength of the side shield member is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The side shield structure is segmented into multiple functional components: the side shield member providing the opening, the plug member closing the opening, and the reinforcing member strengthening the structure. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together as a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug member acts as an intermediary element that closes the opening in the side shield member, preventing appearance deterioration while allowing the opening to be sufficiently large for easy end anchor insertion. The reinforcing member serves as another intermediary that mediates between the opening requirement and strength requirement by providing structural support.
2Ease of operation
If the opening of the side shield member is made large to facilitate insertion of the end anchor, then the ease of operation is improved, but the appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plug member acts as an intermediary element that closes the opening in the side shield member, preventing appearance deterioration while allowing the opening to be sufficiently large for easy end anchor insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug member is fitted into the opening of the side shield member, creating a nested structure where the plug member is contained within the opening space. This nesting arrangement allows the opening to serve its insertion function while the plug member restores the external appearance.
3Strength
If the reinforcing member is added to maintain strength, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member is joined to the inner surface of the side shield member, merging two structural elements into a unified assembly. This combining approach provides strength enhancement while maintaining structural integration rather than adding separate, complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing member is positioned at specific locations on the inner surface of the side shield member, providing localized strength enhancement where needed rather than uniformly increasing complexity throughout the entire structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A first opening through which an end anchor of a seat belt is inserted from above is formed in a side shield member that covers a side portion of a seat cushion. A plug member that plugs up the first opening and has a belt guide hole through which a belt portion of the seat belt is inserted is fit into the first opening. A reinforcing member having a second opening in a portion corresponding to the first opening is arranged on an inside surface of the side shield member.