Vehicle Seat Slide Control Handle with Rotating Recess Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats have limited sliding range and ergonomically unfavorable seat adjustment handles, requiring users to bend forward and reach down to operate, which can lead to clearance issues with interior features as the seat slides.
Innovation Solution
Extended sliding rails with ergonomic control handles located on the side of the seat, featuring a hidden pivot mechanism that allows the handles to rotate into a recess, enabling easy access and operation without protruding beyond the seat's lateral side, even when the seat is close to the rear wheel well.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the seat is allowed to slide over an extended range, then the range of motion is improved, but the clearance space for operating control handles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control handle is designed to rotate around a longitudinal axis (parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis) rather than a lateral axis, moving the rotation dimension from side-to-side to front-to-back. This dimensional change allows the handle to sweep through space along the seat's length, clearing obstacles in the lateral direction while maintaining operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control handle employs a dynamic rotation mechanism with a pivot pin, transitioning from a static fixed-position handle to a dynamically adjustable one. The handle can rotate between orientations (e.g., from extending laterally to extending forward), adapting its position based on the seat's sliding location to maintain accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the control handle is located on the side of the seat for ergonomic access, then ease of operation is improved, but clearance with interior features deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control handle rotates around a longitudinal axis instead of a lateral axis, changing the dimension of its movement from lateral to longitudinal. This allows the handle to clear wheel wells and interior features by sweeping forward or backward rather than extending outward, maintaining ergonomic side access while avoiding clearance issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The control handle mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides ergonomic side access for operation, clears obstacles through longitudinal rotation, and adapts to different seat positions. The same rotational mechanism handles both the ergonomic requirement and the clearance requirement simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If the control handle protrudes beyond the seat lateral side for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but the seat width is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control handle transitions from a static protruding structure to a dynamic rotating element. When not in use, the handle can rotate to minimize its lateral protrusion, preserving seat width. When operation is needed, it rotates to an accessible orientation, providing ease of operation without permanently reducing seat width.
Solution Approach 2:
The control handle's primary extension direction changes from lateral (reducing seat width) to longitudinal (parallel to vehicle axis). By rotating around a longitudinal pivot axis, the handle extends forward or backward rather than outward, maintaining full seat width while providing ergonomic access through longitudinal space.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle that includes a vehicle seat with a backrest, a cushion, a sliding rail, and a seat mount coupled to the sliding rail. A recline control handle positioned on the side of the seat includes a rotation axis parallel to a lateral axis of the vehicle. A slide control handle positioned on the side of the seat includes a rotation axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the slide control handle in both a first orientation and a second orientation.