Seat Upholstery Hook Structure for Stable Tension Latching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing latch structures for vehicle seat upholstery materials using J-shaped hook members are prone to disengagement under passenger tension, leading to unstable latching.

Innovation Solution

A hook member with a pinching portion that secures the seat frame, a fixing portion to grasp the upholstery material, and an introduction portion with a curved shape to accommodate the material, ensuring stable latching by resisting tension and maintaining engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If two J-shaped hook members are used to latch the upholstery material, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the latching stability is insufficient under passenger tension

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidlatching stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hook member is divided into three functional segments: a pinching portion for securing the seat frame, a fixing portion for grasping the upholstery material, and an introduction portion for guiding the material. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally, improving overall latching stability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The introduction portion is designed with a curved shape that matches the contour of the seat frame plate body. This curvature allows the upholstery material to be smoothly guided and positioned into the fixing portion, ensuring proper alignment and enhancing latching reliability under tension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of operation

If the hook members are engaged in an opposed manner at the back side of the seat, then the installation is simple, but the latching stability is insufficient under passenger tension

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidlatching stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pinching portion and fixing portion are combined into a single integrated hook member structure. The pinching portion secures the seat frame while the fixing portion simultaneously grasps the upholstery material, creating a unified latching system that maintains stability under tension while remaining easy to install.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The introduction portion acts as an intermediary element that guides the upholstery material from the exterior into the fixing portion. This curved transition piece ensures smooth material positioning and proper engagement, enhancing latching reliability without complicating the installation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the hook members are engaged oppositely, then the structure is symmetric and simple, but the resistance to tension force is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidresistance to tension
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the hook member are designed with locally optimized properties: the pinching portion has a geometry optimized for securing the frame, the fixing portion has features optimized for grasping the material, and the introduction portion has a curved shape optimized for guiding. This local quality differentiation enables the structure to resist tension forces effectively while maintaining overall simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The hook member utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement with the pinching portion, fixing portion, and introduction portion positioned at different orientations. This dimensional configuration allows the structure to resist tension forces from multiple directions while maintaining a simple overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS7891735B2Hook member and latch structure of upholstery material
Publication Date: 2011.02.22 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK
  • US7891735B2 patent drawing
  • US7891735B2 patent drawing
  • US7891735B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A hook member is provided and includes a pinching portion that pinches a plate body of a seat frame, a fixing portion that can fix an upholstery material, and an introduction portion defining an opening into the fixing portion, wherein the fixing portion faces an outer side of the plate body and is pinched by the pinching portion, and includes the introduction portion having a curved shape and defining an opening for the upholstery material to enter and be fixed therein.