Vehicle Seat Support Links for Facing Mode Without Swivel Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seat swivel mechanisms in vehicles are complex, heavy, and costly due to the requirement of many interlocking parts, and they often interfere with interior components when rotated, making it difficult to secure the rotational trajectory and achieve desired seating postures like facing mode or relaxed comfort.

Innovation Solution

A seat design featuring a pair of support links connected to a rotating shaft, allowing the seat frame to pivot forward and rearward in a seesaw motion, with a driving device adjusting the links' angles and a suspension system to support the seat frames, enabling smooth rotation and adjustment to various postures without interfering with vehicle peripherals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional H shaft-based swivel mechanism is used to enable passengers to face each other, then the facing mode posture is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to many interlocking parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefacing mode postureVSAvoidswivel mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat mechanism is divided into independent support links (first support link and second support link) that can rotate independently about different shafts (first shaft and second shaft), eliminating the need for a complex interlocking H shaft mechanism while achieving the same facing mode functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation mechanism transitions from a single H shaft rotating about the vehicle height direction to two separate shafts (first shaft and second shaft) rotating about the vehicle width direction, changing the dimensional approach to achieve seat swiveling and thereby simplifying the overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional H shaft-based swivel mechanism is used, then the facing mode posture is achieved, but the weight of the seat increases due to many interlocking parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefacing mode postureVSAvoidseat weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first support link and second support link are integrally formed as a single piece, reducing the number of separate components and interlocking parts needed in the conventional H shaft mechanism, thereby reducing overall weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a conventional H shaft-based swivel mechanism is used, then the facing mode posture is achieved, but the production cost increases due to many interlocking parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswivel mechanism structureVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the seat is rotated about the H shaft (height shaft), then the facing mode posture is achieved, but the seat interferes with peripheral parts (console, door trim, center pillar)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefacing mode postureVSAvoidinterference with peripheral parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of rotating the seat about the vertical H shaft as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by rotating about horizontal shafts (first shaft and second shaft) that extend in the vehicle width direction, allowing the seat to swivel without interfering with vertical peripheral components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11820256B2Seat for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A seat for a vehicle including support links enabling a rotating motion and a sliding motion between a seat frame and seat rails, the support links being mounted so that the seat may be rotated in the forward and rearward directions as in a seesaw motion about a shaft of a vehicle in a width direction of the vehicle, so as to easily implement a facing mode posture, in which passengers sit facing each other, a relaxed comfort posture, etc.