Seat support mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat changing-over mechanisms in vehicles require complex operations and numerous parts, leading to increased costs, reduced design freedom, and space constraints, particularly when trying to change the seat's orientation without interfering with the side wall.
Innovation Solution
A seat support mechanism that interlocks turning and advancing/retracting motions using a moving pedestal and underframe structure, with an avoidance part for the turning shaft and interlocking mechanisms like guide rails and rollers, allowing for easy state changes without interference with the side wall, and incorporating locking mechanisms for simultaneous restraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat is installed away from the side wall to avoid interference during turning, then the seat can be turned without obstruction, but the gap required between the seat and side wall or protrusion toward the aisle narrows the aisle width and reduces effective space utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pedestal movable rather than fixed. The pedestal can shift its position dynamically during seat orientation changes, allowing the seat to turn without requiring a fixed large gap from the side wall. The pedestal moves in the width direction of the vehicle to accommodate the turning radius, then returns to its original position, effectively resolving the space conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by moving the pedestal in advance before the seat turning operation. The pedestal shifts to a first position that provides sufficient turning radius, enabling the seat to turn smoothly without obstruction. After the turning is complete, the pedestal returns to its original position, ensuring the aisle width is restored.
2Ease of operation
If separate mechanisms are used for forward sliding, turning, and return sliding of the seat, then each operation can be performed independently, but the number of parts increases, making the configuration intricate and increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism. The pedestal serves multiple purposes: it supports the seat, enables turning motion, and performs the sliding operations (both forward and return) through a single actuator. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each operation, reducing part count and simplifying the configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pedestal is designed as a multi-functional component that performs several operations simultaneously or sequentially. It acts as both a support structure and a movable platform that can shift position, enabling the seat to change its directed state without requiring dedicated mechanisms for each movement type.
3Volume of moving object
If the fixed frame, sliding frame, and seat are laid one over another, then the structure is compact, but it is difficult to directly lock the seat with the fixed frame, requiring the sliding frame to be interposed, which reduces design freedom for locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking function from the intermediate sliding frame and places it directly between the seat and the fixed pedestal. By removing the sliding frame from the locking path, the design enables direct locking mechanisms, increasing design freedom while maintaining structural compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of locking the seat through the sliding frame (indirect locking), the patent inverts the approach by enabling direct locking between the seat and the fixed pedestal. This reversal of the locking path eliminates the constraint imposed by the intermediate sliding frame structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Problem to be Solved: To provide a seat support mechanism with which the directed state of a seat can be easily changed over through a series of operations based on a simple structure alone; and yet it is possible to make a design allowing turning and advancing/retracting of a seat to be restrained simultaneously. Solution: A seat support mechanism including a leg pedestal (11), which is fixedly provided on a floor in the vicinity of a side wall (A), a moving pedestal (20), which is disposed under a top face part (12) of the leg pedestal (11) and is capable of being advanced/retracted in a direction orthogonal to the side wall A; an underframe (30) of the seat, which is disposed above the top face part (12) of the leg pedestal (11), and is turnably supported by a turning shaft (41) in the moving pedestal (20), the turning shaft (41) avoiding an interference with the top face part (12), and an interlocking mechanism (50), which interlocks turning and advancing/retracting of the underframe (30), in which, when the seat is turned together with the underframe (30), the interlocking mechanism (50) converts the turning motion of the underframe (30) into a linear motion and, through the turning shaft (41), transmits it to the moving pedestal (20), thereby causing the moving pedestal (20) and the underframe (30) to be advanced/retracted in a direction orthogonal to the side wall (A).