Emergency Vehicle Seat Height-Adjustable Webbing Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency vehicle seats with integrated seat belts often fail to accommodate occupants of varying heights, as the seat belt webbing guide is not adjustable, leading to discomfort and reduced effectiveness in restraining occupants during sudden stops or accidents.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable webbing guide system is integrated into the seat belt design, featuring a bezel with a guide slot, a bearing block arrangement, a latch plate with vertically spaced slots, and a release member with a latching tooth, allowing the webbing guide to be adjusted vertically to accommodate different occupant heights, assisted by springs for locking and unlocking positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat belt webbing guide is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but it cannot accommodate occupants of varying heights
Solution Approach 1:
The webbing guide is transformed from a fixed static structure to a dynamically adjustable one. The guide can be positioned at multiple vertical locations along the frame member, allowing it to adapt to different occupant heights while maintaining structural reliability through a controlled adjustment mechanism with discrete positioning options.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into discrete components: a latch plate with multiple slots, a release member with a latching tooth, and a bearing block arrangement. This segmentation allows the webbing guide to be positioned at specific predetermined heights while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and easy to manufacture.
2Ease of operation
If the webbing guide is made adjustable for different heights, then comfort and effectiveness are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-latching through the interaction of the release member's latching tooth with the slots in the latch plate. Once the webbing guide is positioned at the desired height, the spring automatically engages the latching tooth with the appropriate slot, securing the position without requiring additional fastening operations from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical position parameter of the webbing guide is made variable through the adjustment mechanism. The guide can be repositioned to different heights along the frame member, changing the geometric parameter of its location to accommodate different occupant sizes while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical implementation.
3Reliability
If a spring mechanism is added for automatic latching, then the locking reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism acts as a counterbalancing force that automatically engages the latching tooth with the slots in the latch plate. The spring's elastic force provides the necessary pressure to maintain reliable latching engagement, compensating for any wear or manufacturing tolerances in the mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring serves as an intermediary element between the webbing guide positioning system and the latching mechanism. It mediates the engagement process by providing continuous force to ensure the latching tooth remains securely engaged with the selected slot, enhancing reliability without requiring a complex active control system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables smooth and comfortable application of the seat belt across the torso of occupants of varying heights, enhancing safety and comfort by ensuring proper restraint during vehicle deceleration.
Implementation Method 1
A first spring is engaged with the release member for normally urging the tooth into latching engagement with the one slot in the latching plate
Implementation Method 2
A second spring having opposite ends may be connected between the height adjustment frame at one end and the second end attached to a structure spaced away from the height adjustment frame for normally providing an upward force on the webbing guide
Data Source
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AI summary
An arrangement is provided for vertically adjusting a bezel (70) and a bezel support (68) defining a webbing guide for a seat belt webbing (84) integrated into a vehicle seat (10). The adjustment arrangement includes a bearing block (94) arrangement and a slotted latch plate (102) mounted in a frame channel (32) of the seat (10). A spring biased height adjustment frame (108) extends from the bezel support (68) and a spring biased release member (114) is pivotally mounted within the bezel support (68) and provided with a latching tooth (122) engageable and disengageable with the latch plate (102) for establishing various vertical positions of the bezel (70) and the bezel support (68) relative to an upper end of the frame channel (32).