Snap-Fit Housing for Vehicle Seat Actuator Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing actuator housing assemblies for vehicle seat adjustments, which use mechanical fasteners like screws, increase manufacturing complexity and cost due to the number of parts involved.
Innovation Solution
The use of snap-fit mechanical fasteners, comprising an ear protruding from one housing portion and an elastic latch in a slot of another, allows secure assembly without additional parts, reducing complexity and cost by forming integral components during injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If mechanical fasteners like screws are used to secure housing components, then the connection strength is improved, but the number of parts and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fastening function directly into the housing components by forming integral snap-fit features (latches and receptacles) as part of the molded housing structure. This eliminates separate fasteners and reduces part count while maintaining secure connections between housing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing components are designed with self-contained fastening features that perform both structural and joining functions. The snap-fit latches and receptacles are formed as integral parts of the housing during injection molding, allowing the housing to fasten itself without requiring additional fasteners or assembly steps.
2Reliability
If mechanical fasteners like screws are used to secure housing components, then the connection reliability is improved, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is merged with the housing structure itself. The snap-fit features (latches and receptacles) are formed as integral parts of the housing components during injection molding, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and reducing the total part count while maintaining reliable connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing components incorporate self-contained fastening features that perform both structural support and joining functions. The snap-fit mechanism is built into the housing design, allowing components to secure themselves without requiring additional fastening elements.
3Device complexity
If snap-fit mechanical fasteners are used, then the number of parts is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates molded-in features such as recesses, protrusions, latches, and receptacles as integral parts of the housing components during injection molding. By changing the manufacturing approach to include these fastening features as part of the molding process itself, the patent reduces part count while managing precision requirements through process integration.
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
This solution provides a strong, durable, and reliable connection between housing components with fewer parts, simplifying assembly and reducing manufacturing steps while maintaining secure attachment.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic latch that protrudes into the slot so as to at least partially obstruct the slot
Implementation Method 2
the ear is press fit in the slot and the latch forms a snap-fit engagement
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat actuator includes an electric motor and a gear set that connects the drive motor to the seat and transmits the output of the motor to the vehicle seat. The drive motor and gear set are each disposed in an individual, dedicated housing component. The individual housing components are then assembled together to provide the actuator. The housing components are maintained in the assembled configuration using snap fit mechanical fasteners. Each snap-fit fastener includes a receiving portion provided on one housing component and an insertion portion provided on the other housing component. The receiving portion may be a slot formed in the gear housing that is partially obstructed by an elastic member, while insertion portion is an ear that protrudes from an outer surface of the drive motor housing and forms both a snap-fit engagement with the elastic member and a press-fit engagement with the slot.