Vehicle Seat Hinge and Actuator for Dive Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional second row seats in recreational vehicles (RVs) lack the ability to perform a 'dive operation' of the seat cushion when folding, leading to increased height and difficulty in loading goods, and poor riding comfort when the center seat back is folded alone.
Innovation Solution
A seat design featuring a first hinge shaft for the center seat back, a second hinge shaft for the side seat back, and a folding actuator assembly that locks and releases the center seat back to perform a simultaneous folding and dive operation with the side seat back, and only folds the center seat back when necessary, utilizing a seat cushion bracket and dive actuator to facilitate these movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the center seat back and side seat backs are folded along one common hinge shaft, then the number of parts can be reduced, but the dive operation of the seat cushion becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the folding mechanism into two separate hinge shafts: a first hinge shaft for the center seat back and a second hinge shaft for the side seat backs. This segmentation allows independent control of each seat back's folding operation, enabling the dive operation of the seat cushion to be performed independently when the center seat back is folded, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Length of stationary object
If the seat is constructed to simultaneously perform the folding operation of the seat back and the dive operation of the seat cushion, then the height from floor panel to upper surface of folded seat back is reduced, but the dive operation is performed even when only the center seat back is folded, making riding comfort poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a folding actuator assembly that can dynamically adjust its locking state based on operational requirements. When the center seat back is folded alone, the actuator remains unlocked, allowing only the center seat back to fold. When side seat backs are folded, the actuator locks to enable simultaneous dive operation of the seat cushion. This dynamic control ensures the dive operation is performed only when necessary, maintaining riding comfort while achieving compact folding height.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the folding actuator assembly locks the center seat back to the side seat back, then the simultaneous folding and dive operation can be performed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the folding actuator assembly with the existing hinge shaft structure, integrating the locking and unlocking functions into the fold mechanism itself. The actuator assembly includes locking pins and locking holes that engage with the hinge shafts, merging the folding and diving functions into a unified mechanism. This integration achieves simultaneous folding and dive operation while minimizing additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat for a vehicle constructed so that a side seat is provided on an opposite side of a center seat may include a first hinge shaft to which a center seat back of the center seat may be rotatably coupled for folding the center seat back forwards, a second hinge shaft to which a side seat back of the side seat may be rotatably coupled for folding the side seat back forwards, and a folding actuator assembly selectively engaging the side seat back with the center seat back, wherein the folding actuator assembly locks the center seat back to the side seat back when the side seat back may be folded, and releases the center seat back from the side seat back to fold only the center seat back when the center seat back may be folded.