Stowable Vehicle Seat Frame with Automatic Slide Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stowable vehicle seats face challenges in achieving high assembly work efficiency, simplified stowing operations, and stable folding without complex configurations, with issues related to component precision, mounting complexity, and cable damage due to load application.
Innovation Solution
A seat frame with a reclining mechanism, slide lock mechanism, striker lock mechanism, and assist mechanism, including a slide biasing member for automatic sliding and interlock mechanism for precise positioning, along with a link mechanism for maintaining inclination angles, and a configuration that prevents cable nipping between the cushion material and the seat bottom frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a canceling mechanism with lever and lock canceling member is used to prevent seat interference, then the seat can be prevented from interfering with the front seat, but the size of the canceling mechanism increases due to precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of the canceling mechanism (preventing seat interference) and implements it through a simplified stopper member that stops the upper rail at the rearmost position, eliminating the need for complex lever and lock canceling member assemblies while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member automatically stops the upper rail at the rearmost position through its own structural design, eliminating the need for external actuating mechanisms and achieving self-regulating position control
2Manufacturing precision
If the size of lever or lock canceling member is increased to solve precision errors, then component precision errors can be compensated, but the overall size of the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the design parameter from large-dimensional lever and lock canceling members to a compact stopper member with precisely defined stopping position, achieving precision through positional definition rather than dimensional magnification
3Reliability
If multiple mechanisms (slide mechanism, lock mechanism, canceling mechanism) are used for stowable seat operation, then reliable stowage can be achieved, but assembly work efficiency decreases due to mounting complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the stopper function into the upper rail assembly, integrating the positioning function directly into the existing slide mechanism structure, thereby reducing the number of separate components and simplifying assembly operations while maintaining stowage reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The upper rail is designed to serve multiple functions: sliding movement, positioning at rearmost position, and interference prevention, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function and streamlining the overall assembly
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 solution enables high assembly work efficiency, simplified and stable stowing operations, reliable folding, and reduced component count, while preventing cable damage and ensuring precise mounting and smooth sliding to the stowable position.
Implementation Method 1
a slide biasing member which automatically slides the upper rail in cooperation with a movement in which the seat back frame is inclined to a predetermined angle by the reclining mechanism when stowing the stowable vehicle seat
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a seat frame and a stowable vehicle seat which enables high assembling work efficiency and easy stowing operation. There are provided a reclining mechanism, a seat slide mechanism which slides a seat bottom frame, a slide lock mechanism which prohibits or allows the operation of the seat slide mechanism in cooperation with the reclining mechanism, a striker lock mechanism, and an assist mechanism which assists an operation of stowing and returning a stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism includes a lower rail, an upper rail, and a slide biasing member which automatically slides the upper rail in cooperation with a tilting movement of a seat back frame to a predetermined angle upon stowage of the stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism and the slide lock mechanism are mounted to the seat bottom frame.