Integrated Seat Track Swivel Assembly for Compact Vehicle Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incorporating both length-adjustment and swivel mechanisms in a vehicle seat assembly increases complexity, weight, and cost, making it difficult to package efficiently within a vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat assembly with a pair of seat track assemblies, each comprising a lower and upper track, where the upper tracks are driven by motors to move linearly along the lower tracks, allowing for independent or simultaneous movement in fore-aft and angular directions, minimizing complexity and weight while fitting within a small space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both length-adjustment assembly and swivel assembly are incorporated in the seat assembly, then the seat can be adjusted in both fore-aft and angular directions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the length-adjustment assembly and swivel assembly into a single integrated seat track assembly. The seat bottom is mounted to both the length-adjustment assembly and the swivel assembly, which are structurally merged through shared components such as the seat base and track structure. This integration allows both fore-aft and angular adjustments to be achieved through one unified mechanism rather than two separate assemblies, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full adjustment versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If both length-adjustment assembly and swivel assembly are incorporated in the seat assembly, then the seat can be adjusted in both fore-aft and angular directions, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated seat track assembly merges the length-adjustment and swivel mechanisms into a single structural unit, eliminating the need for separate assemblies. Shared components such as the seat base, track structure, and mounting mechanisms are common to both adjustment functions. This consolidation reduces the total weight of the seat assembly compared to having two independent assemblies, while still providing both fore-aft and angular adjustment capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If both length-adjustment assembly and swivel assembly are incorporated in the seat assembly, then the seat can be adjusted in both fore-aft and angular directions, but the packaging space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat track assembly integrates the length-adjustment and swivel mechanisms into a compact unified structure that occupies less space than two separate assemblies would require. The merged design allows components to be shared and arranged in a space-efficient configuration, with the seat base and track structure serving dual purposes for both adjustment functions. This integration significantly reduces the packaging space required in the vehicle compared to housing two independent assemblies.
4Adaptability or versatility
If both length-adjustment assembly and swivel assembly are incorporated in the seat assembly, then the seat can be adjusted in both fore-aft and angular directions, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated seat track assembly reduces manufacturing cost by consolidating two separate assemblies into one. This merger leads to fewer individual parts that need to be manufactured, procured, and managed in the supply chain. The shared components and unified structure simplify the manufacturing process, reduce assembly steps, and lower overall production costs compared to producing and assembling two separate length-adjustment and swivel assemblies.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly may include a seatback, a seat bottom, and a pair of seat track assemblies. The seat bottom may be movable in an angular direction relative to the vehicle. The pair of seat track assemblies may include a first seat track assembly and a second seat track assembly. Each of the first and second track assemblies may include a lower track and an upper track slidably engaging the lower track. The upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies may be attached to the seat bottom. The upper tracks of the first and second seat track assemblies are independently movable along lengths of the respective lower tracks such that the upper tracks are configured to move along the lengths of the lower tracks at different linear velocities to move the seat bottom and the seatback in the angular direction.