Track Assembly Locking Mechanism for Easy Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing track assembly designs that provide easy adjusting or easy entry functionality are often complex and expensive, lacking effective solutions to minimize their challenges.

Innovation Solution

A track adjuster system comprising a first track, a second track, a lockset, an actuating lever, a locking lever, and a lock stop, configured to selectively lock and unlock the tracks, allowing for easy adjustment and entry while restricting locking in comfort and easy adjusting ranges, utilizing a biased locking mechanism and angled protrusions to facilitate smooth movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If easy adjusting or easy entry functionality is provided in track assembly designs, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the easy adjusting assembly and easy entry assembly into a single integrated track adjuster system. The actuating lever, locking lever, and lock stop components serve dual functions for both easy adjusting and easy entry operations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining both functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lock stop component is designed to universally engage with the locking lever in multiple operational modes. The same lock stop structure restricts locking in both the easy adjusting range and comfort range, allowing a single component to perform multiple locking restrictions across different operational contexts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If easy adjusting or easy entry functionality is provided in track assembly designs, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If locking is restricted in comfort range and easy adjusting range, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidlocking reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lock stop is designed to dynamically change its engagement state with the locking lever based on track position. In the comfort range and easy adjusting range, the lock stop restricts locking by preventing lock lever engagement. In the easy entry range, the system allows locking when needed, providing dynamic adaptability that maintains both ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10336232B2Track assembly

Publication Date: 2019.07.02 LEAR CORP

AI summary

A track adjuster includes a first track, a second track movably connected to the first track, a lockset connected to at least one of the first track and the second track, and an easy adjusting assembly. A lockset may be configured to selectively lock the first track and the second track together. An easy entry assembly may include an actuating lever, a locking lever engaged with the actuating lever, and a lock stop connected to the first track. A lock stop may be configured to engage the locking lever. An easy adjusting assembly may be configured to restrict locking of the first track and the second track by the lockset.