Alternating Latch Widths for Seat Slide Lock Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slide locking mechanisms for automobile seats often experience play and wobbling due to misalignment of locking members with latch portions, leading to structural complexity and increased costs from the need for rotation means and strengthened components to prevent damage.
Innovation Solution
A slide locking mechanism with alternating first and second latch portions of different hole widths, allowing multiple locking pieces to be inserted without gaps, ensuring alignment and distributing force across multiple contact points, thereby reducing play and maintaining strength with a simpler structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening width of latch portion holes is increased to facilitate locking member insertion, then insertion ease is improved, but play between locking member and latch portion increases causing seat wobbling
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is divided into multiple locking pieces (first, second, and third locking pieces) arranged in the longitudinal direction. This segmentation allows different locking pieces to engage with different latch portions, distributing the locking function across multiple contact points and reducing play while maintaining ease of insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
Different latch portions are designed with different hole opening widths tailored to specific locking pieces. The first latch portion has a hole width matching the first locking piece, the second latch portion has a larger hole width for the second locking piece, and the third latch portion has a hole width matching the third locking piece. This local customization optimizes both insertion ease and stability for each locking position.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rotation means are added to locking bolts to eliminate play, then seat stability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the rotation means from the locking mechanism. Instead of using rotatable locking bolts with complex rotation mechanisms, the patent employs a simplified design where multiple locking pieces directly engage with corresponding latch portions through linear insertion and engagement, achieving stability without rotational components.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking pieces are designed to automatically align and engage with their corresponding latch portions through the biasing force of biasing members. The system self-adjusts to achieve proper engagement without requiring external rotation mechanisms or complex control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining stability.
3Reliability
If locking bolts are strengthened to prevent fracture under concentrated force, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking force is segmented and distributed across multiple locking pieces (first, second, and third locking pieces) that engage with different latch portions. This distribution prevents concentrated force on a single locking element, reducing the need for excessive strengthening while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the force distribution parameter by introducing multiple locking pieces at different positions along the longitudinal direction. Each locking piece bears a portion of the total locking force, transforming a concentrated force scenario into a distributed force scenario, thereby reducing the strength requirements for individual components.
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple locking pieces are used to eliminate play, then seat stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple locking functions into a single integrated locking member that contains first, second, and third locking pieces. This unified structure engages with corresponding latch portions simultaneously, achieving stability through multiple contact points while avoiding the complexity of separate locking mechanisms for each position.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a slide locking mechanism for a seat, which comprises at least five locking pieces, a plurality of first latch portions (13) and a plurality of second latch portions (14). An opening width of a hole of each of the first latch portions in a longitudinal direction of a lower rail is equal to a width of each of the locking pieces in the longitudinal direction, and an opening width of a hole of each of the second latch portions in the longitudinal direction is greater than the opening width of each of the holes of the first latch portions. The first latch portions and the second latch portions are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction.