Tiltable Juvenile Vehicle Seat Pivot Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child restraints do not provide a convenient and secure method for tilting a juvenile vehicle seat to accommodate different orientations, making it difficult for caregivers to adjust the seat to optimal positions for comfort and safety.
Innovation Solution
A child restraint system featuring a tiltable juvenile vehicle seat with a seat-pivot-and-lock unit, which includes a slidable seat-motion blocker, pivot pin, and biasing springs, allowing the seat to pivot between upright and tilted positions via a spring-loaded mechanism controlled by a caregiver, ensuring secure locking in selected orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed seat structure is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different orientations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The seat structure is transformed from fixed to dynamic by introducing a pivot mechanism that allows the juvenile vehicle seat to rotate between upright and tilted positions. The pivot pin and receiver assembly enable controlled movement while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat system is divided into separable components: the juvenile vehicle seat, the pivot pin, the receiver with channel sections, and the motion blocker. This segmentation allows independent function of each component while achieving collective adaptability through their coordinated interaction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a tilt mechanism is added to enable seat pivoting, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing spring provides automatic self-servicing functionality by yielding during the tilting operation and then automatically returning the motion blocker to its extended position, ensuring the lock pin engages with the appropriate channel section without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion blocker serves as an intermediary component that mediates between the caregiver's manual input and the seat's pivoting action. It controls the engagement and disengagement of the lock pin with the receiver channel sections, simplifying the overall control mechanism while enabling adaptable positioning.
3Reliability
If a lock mechanism is implemented to secure the seat in position, then reliability improves, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing spring enables the motion blocker to automatically return to its extended position after being retracted, causing the lock pin to automatically engage with the receiver channel section. This self-servicing action ensures reliable locking without requiring additional steps from the caregiver, maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical lock mechanism is simplified by replacing complex locking systems with a spring-loaded motion blocker that uses elastic potential energy storage and release to achieve secure positioning. This substitution maintains reliability while significantly improving ease of operation.
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
Enables easy adjustment of the juvenile vehicle seat to various positions, enhancing comfort and safety by allowing caregivers to pivot the seat securely between upright and tilted orientations, ensuring proper support and visibility during installation.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing spring arranged to be compressed between the pivot pin and the retainer when the juvenile vehicle seat is tilted relative to the seat support so that the biasing spring yields and returns the juvenile vehicle seat to an original position
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for assembling a child restraint. The method includes the steps of coupling a seat-pivot-and-lock unit to a tiltable juvenile vehicle seat and coupling a seat support to the tiltable juvenile vehicle seat.