Vehicle Side Wall Expanded Portion for Seatback Protrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with seats installed inwardly, the limited width dimension often results in increased seatback height or seat width, narrowing the passageway space and reducing passenger comfort or capacity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a box-shaped body with expanded portions on the side walls allows the seatback to protrude outward, maximizing passageway width, and includes a frame fixed below the expanded portion for easier installation and improved window height, along with a sliding door system that maintains internal space dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the seat is installed inward in the width direction to increase seatability (increase seatback height or seat width), then the seatability is improved, but the passageway width is narrowed reducing passenger comfort and capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall includes an expanded portion that protrudes outward in the width direction, creating an additional dimensional space. The seatback is positioned to face this expanded portion, allowing the seat to utilize the protruding space rather than encroaching on the central passageway area. This dimensional adjustment enables increased seatback height and seat width while preserving passageway width.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall structure is locally modified by adding an expanded portion at a specific location, creating a localized protrusion. This local structural change allows the seat to be positioned closer to the vehicle exterior without affecting the overall vehicle width or passageway dimensions, thereby increasing seat capacity while maintaining passageway comfort.
2Length of moving object
If the frame upper end is fixed to the expanded portion, then the seat can be positioned closer to the outside, but the frame fixation becomes more difficult and window height is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expanded portion is pre-formed as an integral part of the side wall structure during vehicle body manufacturing. This preliminary formation creates a ready-made mounting surface that simplifies subsequent frame installation, eliminating the need for complex field modifications or specialized fixation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall is segmented into a regular portion and an expanded portion, with the expanded portion serving as a dedicated mounting zone. This segmentation allows the frame to be fixed at an optimal position that balances external positioning benefits with manufacturing ease, as the expanded portion provides a distinct, accessible fixation area.
3Ease of manufacture
If the frame upper end is fixed at a position below the expanded portion, then the frame fixation is easier and window height is increased, but the seat is positioned slightly inward
Solution Approach 1:
The expanded portion creates additional width dimension space that compensates for the slight inward positioning of the frame. Even when the frame is fixed below the expanded portion, the seatback can still face the protruding expanded portion, maintaining the passageway width benefit while achieving easier fixation and increased window height.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle including the following: a vehicle body having side walls on both sides in a width direction that is perpendicular to the direction of travel, and having an expanded portion between the upper end and the lower end of the side wall, the expanded portion being expanded further outward in the width direction than the upper end and the lower end; and a seat provided in the vehicle body and having a seatback along the side wall and a seat surface that extends inward in the width direction of the vehicle body from the seatback, the portion of the rear surface of the seatback that faces the side wall and that protrudes the farthest towards the side wall being disposed in a position facing the expanded portion of an in-vehicle-side lateral surface of the side wall.