Vehicle Seat Trim Support for Concealing Movable Adjusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seat designs with movable components often compromise on aesthetics due to visible internal structures when adjusters move between retracted and extended positions, affecting the overall appearance and occupant experience.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a trim support system that couples with the backrest and upper-back adjuster to provide a continuous outer trim, hiding internal components by matching the shape and position of the trim support with the adjuster plate and backrest trim, ensuring an aesthetic cover in both positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a movable upper-back adjuster is integrated into the seat back, then the seat functionality and adaptability are improved, but visible internal structures appear when the adjuster moves between retracted and extended positions, degrading the aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
A trim support is introduced as an intermediary component between the backrest trim and the upper-back adjuster. This trim support remains stationary while the adjuster moves, providing a stable mounting surface that allows the backrest trim to maintain continuous coverage over the adjuster mechanism in both retracted and extended positions, thereby resolving the aesthetic degradation caused by visible internal structures.
2Shape
If the backrest trim directly covers the upper-back adjuster, then the aesthetic appearance is maintained, but the trim cannot accommodate the adjuster's movement between retracted and extended positions
Solution Approach 1:
The trim support system is segmented into multiple components: a stationary trim support, a movable upper-back adjuster, and a backrest trim. The trim support is fixed to the backrest frame and provides a stable mounting surface, while the adjuster is separated as a movable component. This segmentation allows the trim to be anchored to the stationary support while the adjuster moves independently, maintaining aesthetic appearance without compromising movement capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the trim support is fixed to the backrest frame, then the backrest trim can be properly positioned and aligned, but the trim support must accommodate varying positions of the movable adjuster plate
Solution Approach 1:
The trim support is designed with a universal mounting structure that provides a stable, fixed attachment to the backrest frame while incorporating features that accommodate the full range of motion of the upper-back adjuster. The trim support serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling precise trim positioning, and accommodating adjuster movement without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant support a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back includes a backrest including and an upper-back adjuster coupled to the backrest at least partially movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The occupant support is at least partially covered in an outer trim including a backrest portion and an adjuster portion that moves relative to the backrest portion. The outer trim blocks view of an interior of the seat back.