Tilted Vertical Strut Belt Frame for Vehicle Seat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passenger restraint systems in vehicles face challenges in balancing cost-effectiveness with safety and stability criteria, particularly in dynamic loading scenarios, and require designs that meet stringent regulatory standards while optimizing vehicle space usage.

Innovation Solution

A belt frame design featuring a vertical strut attached to the vehicle floor with a restraining element at one end, where the strut's longitudinal axis is tilted relative to the vehicle floor, allowing for a compact and cost-effective structure that can absorb and distribute forces during dynamic loading, incorporating a horizontal strut and support elements for enhanced stability and usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the vertical strut is designed to extend in a straight line perpendicular to the vehicle floor, then the structural simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but the vehicle space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidvehicle space utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vertical strut is tilted at an angle between 5-45 degrees relative to the perpendicular direction, transitioning from a purely vertical orientation to an angled orientation. This dimensional change allows the strut to utilize diagonal space in the vehicle, improving space utilization while maintaining structural integrity and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the belt frame is designed with additional support elements and horizontal struts, then the stability and safety criteria are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability and safety criteriaVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The belt frame is segmented into distinct functional components: mounting element, vertical strut, horizontal strut, and support elements. Each segment performs a specific function (mounting, load transmission, lateral support, vertical support), allowing the complex structure to be designed and manufactured modularly, thereby managing complexity while achieving high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the belt frame have optimized local properties: the mounting element is designed for secure attachment to the vehicle floor, the vertical strut for axial load bearing, the horizontal strut for lateral stability, and support elements for additional reinforcement. This localized optimization achieves high overall reliability without requiring uniform complexity throughout the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the vertical strut is tilted at an angle relative to the perpendicular direction, then the vehicle space utilization is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle space utilizationVSAvoidtilt angle precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The tilt angle is defined as a variable parameter within a specific range (5-45 degrees) rather than a fixed value. This allows manufacturers to select angles that are easiest to achieve with their specific manufacturing capabilities, while still obtaining the space utilization benefits of tilting. The performance requirements are specified in terms of acceptable angle ranges rather than precise single values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4223595A1Belt frame for a vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 AGUTI PRODUKTENTWICKLUNG & DESIGN GMBH
  • EP4223595A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4223595A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4223595A1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A belt frame (1, 12, 20, 28, 36, 39) for a vehicle seat or a vehicle bench seat in a vehicle, wherein the belt frame comprises a mounting element (13, 22, 30, 41) and a vertical strut (4, 21, 29, 35, 40), wherein the mounting element is designed to be arranged on a vehicle structure of the vehicle in the area of ​​a vehicle floor (2) so that the belt frame can be fixed in the area of ​​the vehicle floor, wherein the vertical strut is connected to the mounting element at a first end (5) of the vertical strut, wherein the vertical strut has a second end, wherein a restraint element (8) of a occupant restraint system (6) is formed in the area of ​​the second end of the vertical strut, wherein the second end of the vertical strut is spaced apart from the first end of the vertical strut, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the vertical strut extends from the first end of the vertical strut to the second end the vertical strut runs,wherein the vertical strut runs in a straight line from the first end to the second end, wherein, in the arranged state of the belt frame on a vehicle floor of the vehicle, the longitudinal axis of the vertical strut is tilted relative to the normal of a plane of the vehicle floor.