Sliding Seat Height Alignment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passenger transport vehicle seat systems lack a practical, safe, and ergonomic solution for easily adjusting seat heights and configurations to accommodate varying passenger loads while maintaining safety and facilitating maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A sliding seat system with a mobile seat that can be adjusted in height relative to a fixed seat using a jack and sliding mechanism, allowing lateral and circular translational movements, and locking mechanisms to secure the seat in both folded and unfolded positions without protruding beyond the fixed seat, enabling easy cleaning and configuration changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the base protrudes laterally beyond the fixed seat, then the seat system provides more space for passenger access and egress, but the cleaning of the floor becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger access and egressVSAvoidfloor cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile seat is designed to nest within the footprint of the fixed seat when retracted, with the base not protruding laterally beyond the fixed seat. This nesting arrangement allows the seat system to maintain a compact profile for easy cleaning while still providing functional space when deployed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Volume of moving object

If the secondary seat cushion is folded and retracted in the main seat cushion, then the seat system achieves a compact configuration, but there is a risk of jamming passengers' bodies or clothing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat configuration compactnessVSAvoidjamming risk to passengers
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile seat is equipped with height adjustment capability that allows it to be raised to the same level as the fixed seat when both are in use. This height equalization eliminates the risk of jamming by ensuring that passengers' bodies or clothing do not get caught between cushions at different levels during the folding and retraction operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the mobile seat undergoes deformation during movement, then the seat system achieves greater flexibility in configuration changes, but the seat structure and safety are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidseat structure integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile seat is designed with dynamic movement capabilities including lateral translational movement along a first axis and circular translational movement perpendicular to the first axis. These controlled dynamic movements allow the seat to transform between configurations without deformation, maintaining structural integrity while achieving adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If the seat system requires complex manipulation, then precise control over seat positioning is achieved, but the ease of use by passengers is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat positioning precisionVSAvoiduser manipulation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seat system incorporates self-aligning features where the mobile seat automatically aligns with the fixed seat through its guided movement paths. The height adjustment mechanism and positioning system are designed to automatically achieve proper alignment without requiring complex manual manipulation, thus maintaining precision while improving ease of use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 simplifies seat manipulation and enhances safety by allowing quick height adjustments and configuration changes without deformation, ensuring the base does not protrude laterally, thus improving user safety and maintenance accessibility.

Implementation Method 1

a jack provided with a body hinged relative to the support plate and a rod mobile relative to the body so as to exert a stress on the mobile seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical stress: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The actuating device comprises sliding means for making the mobile seat slide relative to the fixed seat, said sliding means comprising at least one slide mechanism arranged between the mobile seat and the fixed seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

to make the levers pivot and move the mobile seat following a circular translational movement perpendicular to the first axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever mechanism: Lever

Implementation Method 4

said locking means being able to exert a stress opposite the lowering of the mobile seat relative to the fixed seat on the mobile seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical stress: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2471684B1Sliding seat system for passenger transport vehicle, and passenger transport vehicle equipped with at least one such system
Publication Date: 2014.03.12 IVECO FRANCE SAS
  • EP2471684B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2471684B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2471684B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The present invention concerns a sliding seat system (20) for a passenger transport vehicle, comprising a base (22) attached to a body shell (10) of the vehicle (1), a fixed seat (30) arranged on the base (22) and provided to receive a first passenger, a mobile seat (40) movable between, on one hand, a folded position in which this mobile seat (40) is retracted relative to the fixed seat (30) and, on the other hand, an unfolded position (20B) in which this mobile seat (40) is arranged next to the fixed seat (30) so as to receive a second passenger, and an actuating device (60) configured to move the mobile seat (40) between the folded position and the unfolded position (20B). This system (20) is characterized in that the actuating device (60) comprises means for aligning the height of the mobile seat (40) in the unfolded position (20B) relative to the fixed seat (30). The invention also relates to a passenger transport vehicle equipped with at least one sliding seat system (20) as mentioned above.