Vehicle Seat Slide Spring Engagement Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle seat slide device has engagement portions of the spring member that are exposed and susceptible to external impact, leading to potential separation from the upper rail and loss of biasing function.

Innovation Solution

The design includes an upper rail with inner and outer walls, where the spring member's engagement portions are inserted through holes in the inner walls and face the outer walls, providing protection from external impact by being covered and secured within the rail structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the engagement portions of the spring member are inserted through engagement holes in the upper edge of the upper rail, then the spring member is fixed to the upper rail, but the engagement portions are exposed and susceptible to external impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing reliability of spring memberVSAvoidexternal impact on engagement portions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement portions of the spring member are nested within the upper rail structure by inserting them through engagement holes formed in the upper edge of the upper rail. The engagement portions are positioned inside the rail body, protected by the rail's outer walls, while still maintaining their functional connection to the spring member. This nesting arrangement shields the engagement portions from external impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement holes act as intermediary structures that allow the engagement portions to be fixed to the upper rail while providing protection. The holes are formed in the upper edge of the upper rail, creating a protective barrier between the external environment and the engagement portions, thereby reducing susceptibility to external impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the engagement portions are exposed from the upper rail, then the spring member can be easily installed, but the engagement portions are susceptible to external impact and may fall out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation ease of spring memberVSAvoidretention reliability of engagement portions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement portions are nested within the upper rail structure, positioned inside the rail body and protected by the outer walls. This nesting arrangement maintains easy installation through the engagement holes while significantly improving retention reliability by shielding the engagement portions from external impact that could cause them to fall out.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Strength

If the engagement portions are inserted through the upper edge of the upper rail, then the spring member is secured to the upper rail, but the engagement portions remain vulnerable to external forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring strength of spring memberVSAvoidexternal impact on engagement portions

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement portions are nested within the upper rail structure, with the engagement holes formed in the upper edge allowing insertion while the outer walls provide protective enclosure. This arrangement maintains the securing strength of the spring member to the upper rail while reducing vulnerability to external forces by positioning the engagement portions inside the protected space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This configuration effectively limits external impact on the engagement portions, preventing separation from the upper rail and ensuring the spring member remains fixed, thus maintaining the biasing function and seat adjustment capability.

Implementation Method 1

a spring member (15) that biases the cancellation handle (14)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10272802B2Seat slide device for vehicles

Publication Date: 2019.04.30 AISIN SEIKI KK

AI summary

A seat slide device for vehicles includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a lock mechanism, a spring member, and an unlocking handle. The upper rail is supported in a slidable manner by the lower rail. The lock mechanism is provided within the upper rail and restricts the movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail. The spring member is provided within the upper rail. The unlocking handle is operated against the pressing force of the spring member to remove restrictions on the movement of the upper rail imposed by the lock mechanism. The upper rail has inner walls and outer walls. The inner walls have engagement holes formed through the inner walls in the width direction. The spring member has engagement sections inserted through and engaged with the engagement holes. The engagement sections face the outer walls in the width direction.