Vehicle Seat Unlock Linkage for Position-Dependent Lock Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat interlock mechanisms do not support driving systems that require the lock mechanism to unlock only when the seat is slid to a specific position, potentially causing interference with surrounding structures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat configuration that includes a lock mechanism portion, an operation portion operated by the occupant, a first member, a second member, and an intermediate member. The intermediate member is positioned to transmit the operation force from the first member to the second member only when the seat is slid to a specific position, preventing unlock operation at other positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lock mechanism portion is allowed to perform unlock operation at any seat position, then the ease of operation is improved, but interference with surrounding structures may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate member as a mediator between the first member (connected to operation portion) and the second member (connected to lock mechanism). This intermediate member selectively transmits operation force only when the seat is at a specific position, thereby preventing interference with surrounding structures while maintaining ease of operation at appropriate positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate member is designed to dynamically change its engagement state with the first and second members based on the seat position. When the seat is at the specific position, the intermediate member engages to transmit force; at other positions, it disengages to interrupt force transmission, thus adaptively controlling the unlock operation availability.
2Reliability
If the intermediate member is added to control force transmission, then the reliability of position-dependent unlock operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate member serves as a simple yet effective mediator that passively responds to seat position changes to control force transmission. Its design allows it to engage or disengage based on geometric relationships with the first and second members, achieving reliable position-dependent control without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate member is designed to automatically engage or disengage based on the relative positions of the first and second members, which change with seat position. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional sensors, actuators, or control systems, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable position-dependent operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes: a seat main body; a lock mechanism portion that restricts a rotational operation of the seat main body; an operation portion that is operated to cause the lock mechanism portion to perform an unlock operation; a first member to which an operation force from the operation portion is transmitted; a second member that transmits the operation force toward the lock mechanism portion; and an intermediate member that is disposed, when the seat main body is slid to a specific position, at a first position at which the intermediate member is engaged with the first member and the second member, the intermediate member being disposed, when the seat main body is slid to a position different from the specific position, at a second position at which the intermediate member is disengaged from the first member and the second member.