Vehicle Seat Insert with Hook Slot and Spring Catch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat designs with upholstery recesses lack effective mechanisms to prevent the uncontrolled detachment of child seats, posing a risk of injury due to unwanted movement.

Innovation Solution

A cover element with a holding part and insert system, featuring a hook-shaped slot and a spring tongue catch mechanism, ensures secure attachment and prevents complete detachment of child seats by providing a form-fitting connection and additional retention through a catch mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a detachable holding device is provided for child seat attachment, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of unwanted detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetachable connectionVSAvoidunwanted detachment risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a catching device that prevents unwanted complete detachment of the insert from the vehicle seat. The catching device is configured to engage with the holding part and prevent it from detaching completely, while still allowing intentional removal when needed. This resolves the contradiction by preemptively counteracting the harmful effect of unwanted detachment while preserving the beneficial ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If a rigid holding device is used for child seat attachment, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoiddifficulty of installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the attachment system into separate components: a holding part fixed to the vehicle seat and an insert that can be easily attached and detached. The holding part provides the rigid secure attachment when combined with the insert, while the insert itself remains easy to install and remove. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both reliability and ease of operation that would be difficult with a single rigid device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Shape

If an insert is provided to cover the holding part, then appearance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflush integrationVSAvoidadditional components
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by integrating multiple functions into the insert component: it serves as both a cosmetic cover that provides flush integration with the vehicle seat upholstery and as a functional attachment element with the holding part. The insert combines the aesthetic function of covering the holding part with the mechanical function of securing the child seat, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite the additional component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2603395B1Insert for recess in upholstery and vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2014.06.11 JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
  • EP2603395B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2603395B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cover element for a recess in the upholstery of a vehicle seat (1), a securing part (5) which is secured to the vehicle or to the vehicle seat being arranged within the recess in the upholstery, for the purpose of releasable, rigid attachment of an object to the vehicle seat (1), in particular for the ISOFIX connection of a removable child's seat (9). According to the invention, the cover element is designed as an insert (7) which can be arranged in a removable fashion on the securing part (5). Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle seat having a recess in the upholstery.