Adjustable-Wheelbase Vehicle Seat Height Compensation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles with adjustable wheelbases face issues such as reduced forward visibility and diminished ease of getting on and off due to changes in seat vertical position with body orientation.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design featuring a base portion with a front and rear frame that adjusts the wheelbase through relative movement, coupled with an occupant support portion whose vertical position changes with the wheelbase, and a movement mechanism to adjust the seat's vertical position independently of the wheelbase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the wheelbase is changed by relative movement between front and rear frames, then the vehicle's orientation and center of gravity change, but the vertical position of the seat changes causing reduced forward visibility and diminished ease of getting on and off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheelbase adjustabilityVSAvoidease of getting on and off

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle system is divided into independent functional modules: the base portion (front and rear frames) that adjusts wheelbase, and the occupant support portion (seat) that independently adjusts vertical position. This segmentation allows each module to perform its function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between wheelbase adaptability and ease of access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat vertical position is made dynamically adjustable through the movement mechanism, allowing it to change in response to wheelbase adjustments. This dynamic compensation ensures that the seat remains at an optimal vertical position regardless of wheelbase configuration, maintaining ease of getting on and off while preserving wheelbase adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wheelbase is changed by relative movement between front and rear frames, then the vehicle's orientation and center of gravity change, but the vertical position of the seat changes causing reduced forward visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheelbase adjustabilityVSAvoidforward visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle system is divided into independent functional modules: the base portion (front and rear frames) that adjusts wheelbase, and the occupant support portion (seat) that independently adjusts vertical position. This segmentation allows each module to perform its function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between wheelbase adaptability and forward visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat vertical position is made dynamically adjustable through the movement mechanism, allowing it to change in response to wheelbase adjustments. This dynamic compensation ensures that the seat remains at an optimal vertical position for forward visibility regardless of wheelbase configuration, maintaining visibility while preserving wheelbase adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the seat vertical position is adjusted independently of wheelbase changes, then occupant comfort and visibility are maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant comfortVSAvoidmovement mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movement mechanism that adjusts seat vertical position is integrated with the existing wheelbase adjustment mechanism. By combining these functions into a unified system, the patent avoids adding separate complex mechanisms while still achieving independent seat position control, thus improving occupant comfort without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The movement mechanism is designed to serve multiple functions: it adjusts the seat vertical position to maintain occupant comfort and visibility, while also coordinating with the wheelbase adjustment to maintain vehicle stability and center of gravity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250268769A1Vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.08.28 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

A vehicle includes front and rear wheels, a base portion, an occupant supporting portion, and a movement mechanism. The base portion includes a front frame supporting the front wheel and a rear frame supporting the rear wheel, and changes a wheelbase as a result of relative movement between the front frame and the rear frame. The occupant support portion includes a support surface. A vertical position of the support surface changes in conjunction with the relative movement between the front frame and the rear frame when the wheelbase changes. The movement mechanism moves the occupant support portion with respect to the base portion so as to change the vertical position of the support surface.