Vehicle Seat Pitching Mechanism With Fewer Links and Higher Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seats with a four-bar linkage structure have a high number of components, leading to increased costs and potentially compromised strength and rigidity, which is a concern for ensuring accessibility and impact resistance, especially when a child seat is mounted.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design utilizing a mechanism with three links (base frame, cushion frame, and front link) and a slidable connection, along with a lock unit for regulating the pitching operation, reduces the number of components and enhances strength and rigidity, allowing for improved operability and impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a four-bar linkage structure is used for the pitching mechanism, then the seat can achieve the pitching operation function, but the number of components increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the rear link from the conventional four-bar linkage structure, transforming it into a three-link mechanism. The cushion frame is directly pin-connected to the base frame, removing the unnecessary rear link while preserving the pitching operation function through the remaining front link mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the rear link and cushion frame by directly pin-connecting the cushion frame to the base frame. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the required pitching motion capability.
2Ease of operation
If a four-bar linkage structure is used for the pitching mechanism, then the seat can achieve the pitching operation function, but the strength and rigidity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the rear link from the four-bar linkage, the patent eliminates a potential weak point in the structure. The direct pin-connection between the cushion frame and base frame creates a more rigid and stronger structural path for load transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The merging of structural elements into a three-link mechanism creates fewer connection points and a more direct load path, thereby improving overall structural strength and rigidity while maintaining the pitching function.
3Strength
If the lock unit is added to regulate pitching operation, then the impact resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock unit is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the pitching operation state. The system self-regulates the locking mechanism without requiring additional control components, thereby improving impact resistance while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat having fewer components and having a pitching mechanism advantageous for strength/rigidity is provided. The vehicle seat includes: a base frame mounted in a vehicle compartment; a cushion frame pin-connected to a first connecting point of the base frame to be capable of a forward leaning operation; a back frame disposed to be capable of a reclining operation with respect to the cushion frame; a front link swingably pin-connected at a proximal end side thereof with a second connecting point of the base frame and slidably connected at a distal end side thereof with the cushion frame; a lock unit for locking the cushion frame to the base frame at a seated position and regulating a pitching operation of the main frame; and a release member for releasing a locked state.