Seat Trim Assembly With Radial Offset Fasteners for Tolerance Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat trim components face challenges in efficient assembly and structural support, particularly in accommodating tolerance variations and ensuring proper alignment during assembly, which can lead to interference and manufacturing complexities.
Innovation Solution
The use of radially offset fastener arrangements on seat trim members allows for angled assembly relative to a cross member, enabling separate mounting and pivoting of trim boards with offset brackets and slotted apertures to manage tolerance variations and prevent interference, while providing structural support and modular assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fastener arrangements are used for seat trim members, then assembly alignment is straightforward, but tolerance variations cause interference and assembly difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener arrangement is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the seat trim member to be assembled at an angled orientation and then pivoted into its final position. This dynamic assembly process accommodates tolerance variations in the cross member and frame structures, preventing interference while maintaining proper final alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener arrangement introduces an additional degree of freedom by allowing assembly from an angled orientation rather than requiring precise alignment in a single plane. This dimensional flexibility enables the trim member to clear interference zones during assembly before settling into its final positioned orientation.
2Ease of manufacture
If seat trim members are assembled separately to the cross member, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but alignment and interference prevention become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener arrangement is pre-configured on the seat trim member at an offset orientation, allowing the member to be separately manufactured and then quickly assembled to the cross member without requiring complex alignment procedures. The preliminary positioning features guide the assembly process and prevent interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat trim assembly is segmented into separate components (seat trim members, cross member, frame) that can be manufactured independently using standard processes. The fastener arrangement enables these segmented components to be assembled separately and then connected, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining assembly simplicity through the angled fastener design.
3Reliability
If radially offset fastener arrangements are used, then tolerance variations are accommodated, but fastener arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener arrangement is deliberately designed with asymmetric, radially offset positioning rather than symmetric alignment. This asymmetric configuration provides tolerance accommodation by creating clearance zones that prevent interference during assembly, while the complexity is managed through straightforward offset positioning rather than complex adjustable mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat trim assembly includes first and second seat trim members sized to be received upon a cross member of a seat back frame, and to each support a portion of a back of an occupant. The first seat trim member includes a first fastener arrangement. The second seat trim member includes a second fastener arrangement sized to engage the first fastener arrangement. The first fastener arrangement is oriented so that the first seat trim member can only be assembled to the cross member at an angle relative to the second seat trim member that is radially offset about the cross member from a fully assembled orientation.