Folding vehicle seat

A folding vehicle seat includes a sliding rail having a predetermined length installed on a floor of a vehicle. A leg unit is seated on the sliding rail such that the leg unit slides along the sliding rail. A lifting device has a seat cushion on which a passenger sits and is mounted on the leg unit such that the lifting device moves upward and downward, thereby moving the seat cushion upward and downward. A locking device is mounted on the leg unit such that the locking device is connected to both the sliding rail and the lifting device and allows either sliding movement of the leg unit along the sliding rail or upward and downward movement of the lifting device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0141017, filed Oct. 17, 2014, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a folding vehicle seat having a sufficient passenger walkway space between fixed seats in a bus for passengers to easily move in the bus.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle is provided with seats for passengers to have a comfortable ride on the vehicle. The seats also absorb vibration caused from a road surface when the vehicle is driving.

The number, shape, and size of seats installed in the vehicle are typically determined according to a space defined in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Particularly, when a plurality of seats are installed in a small or medium sized bus, a space of a passenger walkway is limited. Due to the insufficient passenger walkway space in the small or medium sized bus, passengers may not easily move to or from the seats when getting on or off the bus.

In the related art, a plurality of fixed seats F and an aisle seat S are installed in a small or medium sized bus, as shown inFIG. 1. Here, to realize the installation of the plurality of seats in the small or medium sized bus, the aisle seat S installed near a passenger walkway P is typically a folding seat.

The folding seat S used as the aisle seat in the small or medium sized bus is exposed to the passenger walkway P, such that the space of the passenger walkway is limited and passengers may not easily move to or from the seats when getting or from the bus.

Further, the conventional folding aisle seat S is mounted on one side of a neighboring fixed seat F using one mounting structure M, such that structural strength of the folding aisle seat S is low. Another problem of the conventional folding aisle seat S resides in that the seat S is not usually provided with a structure for fixing a folded state or an opened state of the folding aisle seat S, so that the seat S may be abruptly inertially opened or closed during a traffic accident and may cause the passengers to get injured.

As described above, in the conventional folding aisle seat installed in a small or medium sized bus, the folding aisle seat disturbs the movement of passengers to or from seats, a mounting structure thereof provides only a low structural strength, and there is no structure for fixing a folded state or an opened state of the folding aisle seat provided, thereby failing to realize passenger safety.

Accordingly, to overcome the above-mentioned problems experienced with the conventional folding aisle seat, an improvement in the structure and function of the folding aisle seat is required.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present disclosure is intended to propose a folding vehicle seat, which has a folding structure and which can provide a sufficient space for forming a desired passenger walkway and allowing passengers to easily move to or from seats when getting on or off a vehicle, and which can be firmly installed in the vehicle and is configured such that the folded state and the opened state thereof can be fixed, thereby realizing passenger safety.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one embodiment of the present inventive concept, a folding vehicle seat includes a sliding rail having a predetermined length mounted on a floor of a vehicle. A leg unit is seated on the sliding rail such that the leg unit slides along the sliding rail. A lifting device has a seat cushion on which a passenger sits and is mounted on the leg unit such that the lifting device moves upward and downward, thereby moving the seat cushion upward and downward. A locking device is mounted on the leg unit such that the locking device is connected to both the sliding rail and the lifting device and allows either sliding movement of the leg unit along the sliding rail or upward and downward movement of the lifting device.

The sliding rail may be disposed underneath a fixed seat and extends to one side.

The leg unit may include a panel part on which the lifting device is installed. A sliding part extends downward from the panel part and is seated on the sliding rail.

The lifting device may include a lifting housing mounted on the leg unit. A lifting actuator is installed in the lifting housing and provides an upward and downward moving force. A lifting member is provided in the lifting housing with the seat cushion installed on the lifting member, and the lifting member moves upward and downward by using the upward and downward moving force of the lifting actuator.

The lifting housing may have a guide groove axially extending along an inner circumferential surface of the lifting housing and have a guide protrusion extending along an outer circumferential surface of the lifting member. The guide protrusion may be engaged with the guide groove.

The locking device may include a sliding motion locking part provided on the sliding rail and selectively locked to the sliding rail. A lifting motion locking part is provided on a lower surface of the lifting housing and selectively connected to or disconnected from the lifting member to prevent or allow the upward and downward movement of the lifting member. A manipulation unit is mounted on the leg unit and has a first link connected to the sliding motion locking part and a second link connected to the lifting motion locking part.

The sliding rail may have a sliding groove extending in a length direction of the sliding rail, with a first fixing recess formed in the sliding groove to fix an initial position of the leg unit and have a second fixing recess formed in the sliding groove to fix a moved position of the leg unit, in which the first and second fixing recesses may be spaced apart from each other. The sliding motion locking part may be locked to the first fixing recess or to the second fixing recess during sliding along the sliding groove to fix the sliding motion locking part.

The sliding rail may further include a third fixing recess at an opposite side of the second fixing recess.

The lifting motion locking part may have a circular disc shape such that the lifting motion locking part can rotate based on a center thereof, a plurality of locking holes formed on the lifting motion locking part which are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the lifting motion locking part. A plurality of locking protrusions may be provided on a lower end of the lifting member such that the locking protrusions are locked to the respective locking holes.

Each of the locking protrusion may have a hook shape being bent after extending downward from the lower end of the lifting member. Each of the locking holes may comprise two parts having different widths to remove the locking protrusions from the respective locking holes when the lifting motion locking part is rotated with the locking protrusions inserted in and locked to the respective locking holes.

Each of the locking protrusions may comprise an extension part that extends downward and a hook part that is bent from a lower end of the extension part. Each of the locking holes may have a small width part into which the extension part is inserted and a large width part into which the hook part is inserted, in which the small width part and the large width part communicate with each other.

The lifting motion locking part may be connected to an elastic member provided on the lower surface of the lifting housing, such that the lifting motion locking part can be returned from a rotated position to an original position thereof.

The manipulation unit may be installed on the leg unit such that the manipulation unit moves inward and outward relative to the leg unit, in which a first end of the manipulation unit is exposed outside the leg unit and a second end of the manipulation unit is connected to both the first link and the second link.

The manipulation unit may be installed on the leg unit such that the manipulation unit can move inward and outward relative to the leg unit. The manipulation unit may include a sliding motion lever part to which the first link is connected. A lifting motion lever part moves along with the sliding motion lever part such that the lifting motion lever part moves by a moving distance longer than a moving distance of the sliding motion lever part during an inward movement thereof. The lifting motion lever part is connected to the second link.

The sliding motion lever part and the lifting motion lever part may have ends exposed outside the leg unit have respective inclined surfaces having the same inclination angle.

The above-mentioned folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure can provide a sufficient space for a passenger walkway and allow passengers to easily move to or from seats when getting on or off a vehicle.

Further, the folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure can be firmly fixed in a folded state and an opened state thereof, thereby realizing passenger safety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinbelow, a vehicle seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating a folding vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept.FIG. 3is an enlarged perspective view of the folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure shown inFIG. 2.FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of the folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure shown inFIG. 2.FIGS. 5 to 13are views illustrating the operation of the folding vehicle seat shown inFIG. 2.

The folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure has a folding structure and may be used as a folding aisle seat in a small or medium sized bus, in which the aisle seat is a seat installed near a passenger walkway in the bus.

As shownFIGS. 2 and 3, the folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure includes at least one sliding rail100extending along a floor in a bus to a predetermined length. A leg unit200is seated on the sliding rail100such that the leg unit200moves along the sliding rail100in an extending direction of the sliding rail100. A lifting device300is provided with a seat cushion C on which a passenger sits, the lifting device300is combined with the leg unit200such that the lifting device300moves upward and downward so as to lift or lower the seat cushion C. A locking device400is connected to both the sliding rail100and the lifting device300on the leg unit200to selectively allow a sliding movement of the leg unit200and an upward and downward movement of the lifting device300.

In other words, the folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure is installed on the floor in the bus such that the folding vehicle seat can slide along the floor. When the sliding movement of the folding vehicle seat is finished, the seat is lifted or lowered by the lifting device300to a desired height at which a passenger can sit comfortably on the folding vehicle seat. Further, the sliding movement of the leg unit200or the upward and downward movement of the lifting device300is selectively performed by an operation of the locking device400, so that the folding vehicle seat can be safely operated as desired.

In detail, the sliding rail100may extend from a predetermined position below a fixed seat F installed on the floor to one side. That is, because the sliding rail100extends from the predetermined position below the fixed seat F to one side, the folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure may slide along the sliding rail100to the one side. Here, the sliding rail100extends from the predetermined position below the fixed seat F installed near the passenger walkway to the predetermined position on the passenger walkway, so when the folding vehicle seat is not used, the seat in a folded state may be placed below the fixed seat F. When the folding vehicle seat is used, the seat in an opened state may be placed on the passenger walkway.

Further, the leg unit200may include a panel part220on which the lifting device300is provided. The leg unit200may further include a sliding part240extending downward from the panel part220and seated on the sliding rail100.

In other words, the leg unit200includes the panel part220and the sliding part240. Here, on a top of the panel part220, the lifting device300is mounted. The sliding part240extends downward from the panel part220toward the sliding rail100and is seated on the sliding rail100, so the seat of this invention can slide along the sliding rail100. In the present disclosure, a plurality of sliding rails100may be laid on the floor of the vehicle in such a way that the rails100are opposite and parallel to each other. Further, a plurality of sliding parts240may extend from the panel part220, so the leg unit200can be firmly installed on the floor of the vehicle and can efficiently support the weight of a passenger sitting on the seat cushion C.

The lifting device300may include a lifting housing320mounted on the leg unit200. A lifting actuator340is provided in the lifting housing320and provides an upward and downward moving force to the lifting device300. A lifting member360is installed in the lifting housing320, the seat cushion C is installed on the lifting member360, and the lifting member360moves upward and downward by using the upward and downward moving force of the lifting actuator340.

As shown inFIG. 4, the lifting housing320may be a tubular member having a circular cross-section, with the lifting actuator340being installed in the lifting housing320. The lifting actuator340provides the upward and downward moving force. In an embodiment, the lifting actuator340may be a tension spring. In another embodiment, the lifting actuator340may be an air spring.

The seat cushion C is mounted on a top end of the lifting member360installed in the lifting housing320, and the lifting actuator340is connected to a lower end of the lifting member360. Thus, the lifting member360can move upward and downward by using the upward and downward moving force of the lifting actuator340, so the height of the seat cushion C can be adjusted.

When the folding vehicle seat is not used, the seat cushion C may be lowered by the operation of the lifting device300such that the height of the seat cushion C can be reduced. However, when it is required to use the folding vehicle seat, the lifting member360may be lifted upward in the lifting housing320by using the upward and downward moving force of the lifting actuator340, so the height of the seat cushion C can be adjusted such that a passenger can sit comfortably on the seat cushion C.

Vertical guide grooves322may be vertically formed on an inner circumferential surface of the lifting housing320, and vertical guide protrusions362may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lifting member360such that the guide protrusions362can be movably engaged with the guide grooves322of the lifting housing320.

Due to the movable engagement of the guide grooves322formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lifting housing320with the guide protrusions362formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lifting member360, the guide protrusions362of the lifting member360can efficiently move upward and downward along the guide grooves322of the lifting housing320during the upward and downward movement of the lifting actuator340, so the lifting member360can efficiently move upward and downward without rotating inside of the lifting housing320.

The locking device400includes a sliding motion locking part420provided on the sliding rail100so as to be selectively locked to the sliding rail100. A lifting motion locking part440is provided on the lower surface of the lifting housing320so as to be selectively connected to or disconnected from the lifting member360, thereby preventing or allowing the upward and downward movement of the lifting member360. A manipulation unit460is installed on the leg unit200and has a first link462connected to the sliding motion locking part420and a second link464connected to the lifting motion locking part440.

In other words, the locking device400includes the sliding motion locking part420that can selectively allow the sliding movement of the leg unit200and the lifting motion locking part440that can selectively allow an upward and downward movement of the lifting member360. Here, the locking or unlocking operation of both the sliding motion locking part420and the lifting motion locking part440may be performed by manipulating the manipulation unit460.

Described in detail, as shown inFIGS. 5 to 8, the sliding rail100is provided with a sliding groove120extending in an axial direction of the sliding rail100. The sliding groove120is provided with a first fixing recess122for fixing an initial position of the leg unit200and a second fixing recess124for fixing a moved position of the leg unit200, in which the first and second fixing recesses122and124are formed at locations spaced apart from each other. Here, the sliding motion locking part420is locked to the first fixing recess122or to the second fixing recess124during a sliding movement thereof along the sliding groove120. In the present disclosure, the sliding motion locking part120may have a bearing structure.

Described in detail, the sliding groove120is formed on the sliding rail100in such a way that the sliding groove120extends along the axial direction of the sliding rail100. Here, the sliding motion locking part420is movably seated in the sliding groove120so that the sliding motion locking part420can move along the sliding rail100. Further, the sliding groove120is provided with both the first fixing recess122for fixing the initial position of the leg unit200and the second fixing recess124for fixing the moved position of the leg unit200, so the leg unit200may be fixed to the initial position or the moved position according to an engagement of the sliding motion locking part420with the first fixing recess122or the second fixing recess124.

The sliding motion locking part420is connected to the first link462of the manipulation unit460, thus, when manipulation force is applied the manipulation unit460, the sliding motion locking part420escapes from the first fixing recess122or the second fixing recess124and can move along the sliding groove120. Here, when the manipulation force is removed from the manipulation unit460, the manipulation unit460is elastically returned to an original position thereof by a restoring force of an elastic member E that is connected to the lifting motion locking part440and will be described later herein. Thus, the sliding motion locking part420is locked to the first fixing recess122or to the second fixing recess124.

The sliding rail100may further include a third fixing recess126at a location opposite to and facing the second fixing recess124. In the present disclosure, the manipulation unit460is connected to the sliding motion locking part420via the first link462and to the lifting motion locking part440via the second link464, so the sliding motion locking part420and the lifting motion locking part440may be actuated at the same time in response to an operation of the manipulation unit460. In other words, when the lifting device300moves upward and downward, the sliding motion locking part420moves from the second fixing recess124to the third fixing recess126and is fixed in the third fixing recess126, such that the upward and downward movement of the lifting device300can be efficiently performed. This function will be described in detail later herein.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 9 to 12, the lifting motion locking part440has a circular disc shape such that the disc-shaped lifting motion locking part440can rotate based on a center thereof. Here, a plurality of locking holes442are formed through the disc-shaped lifting motion locking part440at respective locations spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the disc-shaped lifting motion locking part440. Further, a plurality of locking protrusions364are provided on the lower end of the lifting member360such that the locking protrusions364is locked to the respective locking holes442.

In other words, the second link464extending from the manipulation unit460is connected to the lifting motion locking part440which has the circular disc shape, such that, when the manipulation unit460is manipulated and the manipulation force thereof is applied to the lifting motion locking part440via the second link464, the lifting motion locking part440rotates based on the center thereof. The second link464of the manipulation unit460may be connected to the edge of the lifting motion locking part440.

As described above, the lifting motion locking part440is provided with the locking holes442and the lifting member360is provided with the locking protrusions364that may be locked to the respective locking holes440. Thus, during a normal state, the locking protrusions364are locked to the respective locking holes442, thereby fixing a position of the lifting member360. However, when the lifting motion locking part440rotates, the locking protrusions364can be removed from the respective locking holes442, thereby allowing an upward and downward movement of the lifting member360.

That is, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, each of the locking protrusions364has a hook shape that is bent after extending downward from the lower end of the lifting member360, and each of the locking holes442has two parts with different widths. Thus, when the lifting motion locking part440rotates in a direction shown by the arrow shown inFIGS. 11 and 12with the locking protrusions364inserted in and locked to the respective locking holes442, the locking protrusions364can be removed from the respective locking holes442.

That is, each of the locking protrusions364comprises an extension part364athat extends downward and a hook part364bthat is bent from the lower end of the extension part364a. Further, each of the locking holes442is composed of a small width part442ainto which the extension part364ais inserted and a large width part442binto which the hook part364bis inserted. Here, the small width part442aand the large width part442bcommunicate with each other.

In other words, each of the locking protrusions364of the lifting member360includes the extension part364aand the hook part364b, in which a radial thickness of the hook part364bis larger than a radial thickness of the extension part364a. Further, according to each of the locking holes442of the lifting motion locking part440, the small width part442a, into which the extension part364acan be inserted, communicates with the large width part442binto which the hook part364bcan be inserted. Thus, during an initial stage of the upward and downward movement of the lifting member360, the hook parts364bof the locking protrusions364are caught in the small width parts442aof the respective locking holes442into which only the extension parts364acan be inserted, thereby fixing the position of the lifting member360. However, when the lifting motion locking part440rotates from this position and the locking protrusions364are placed in the large width parts442bof the respective locking holes442into which the hook parts364bcan be inserted, the locking protrusions364of the lifting member360can be removed from the respective locking holes442, thereby allowing an upward and downward movement of the lifting member360.

The lifting motion locking part440is connected to the elastic member E provided on the lower surface of the lifting housing320, such that the lifting motion locking part440can be returned from a rotated position to an original position thereof.

That is, the lifting motion locking part440is configured such that the lifting motion locking part440can return from a rotated position to its original position by the elastic member E. When the manipulation force is removed from the manipulation unit460, the lifting motion locking part440elastically returns from the rotated position to the original position thereof, and the sliding motion locking part420can be fixed in a fixing recess.

In the present disclosure, the elastic member E may be a circular spring such that, when a manipulation force is applied to the manipulation unit460, the elastic member E generates an elastic restoring force acting in an opposite direction of movement of the first link462and the second link464.

Further, the manipulation unit460installed on the leg unit200such that the manipulation unit460can move inward and outward relative to the leg unit200. Here, a first end of the manipulation unit460may be exposed outside the leg unit200and a second end thereof may be connected to both the first link462and the second link464.

When a manipulation force or a pushing force is applied to the exposed first end of the manipulation unit460, the manipulation unit460moves inwardly, and both the first link462and the second link464connected to the second end of the manipulation unit460move, thereby actuating both the sliding motion locking part420and the lifting motion locking part440.

The manipulation unit460, which is installed on the leg unit200such that the manipulation unit460can move inward and outward relative to the leg unit200, may include a sliding motion lever part460ato which the first link462is connected. A lifting motion lever part460bis arranged to move along with the sliding motion lever part460ain such a way that the lifting motion lever part460bmove by a moving distance longer than a moving distance of the sliding motion lever part460aduring an inward movement thereof. The lifting motion lever part460bis connected to the second link464.

When a manipulation force is applied to the sliding motion lever part460aof the manipulation unit460, the first link462moves and the sliding motion locking part420is released from a fixed position, thereby allowing a sliding movement of the leg unit200. In this case, although both the first link462and the second link464move together, only the sliding motion locking part420is released from the fixed position.

When the manipulation force is applied to the lifting motion lever part460bafter the leg unit200stops sliding, the second link464is further moved from a position accomplished when manipulating the sliding motion lever part460a, so the lifting motion locking part440is released from a fixed position. Here, in this case, although both the first link462and the second link464move together, the sliding motion locking part420moves from the second fixing recess124of the sliding rail100to the third fixing recess126formed at a location opposite to and facing the second fixing recess124, thereby allowing an upward and downward movement of the lifting member360while restricting the sliding movement of the leg unit200.

Here, ends of both the sliding motion lever part460aand the lifting motion lever part460bare exposed outside the leg unit200and have respective inclined surfaces having the same inclination angle. Thus, although the same manipulation force is applied to both the sliding motion lever part460aand the lifting motion lever part460b, the sliding motion lever part460aand the lifting motion lever part460bcan move inward or outward by different distances.

The folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure will be operated as follows. As shown inFIG. 2, in an initial stage, the leg unit200is placed below a fixed seat F. In this case, the sliding motion locking part420of the locking device400installed on the leg unit200is caught in the first fixing recess122formed in the sliding groove120of the sliding rail100, and a position of the leg unit200is fixed.

To use the folding vehicle seat of the present disclosure, a user or a passenger applies a manipulation force to the sliding motion lever part460aof the manipulation unit460, as shown inFIG. 5, and then, the manipulation unit460moves inward. Due to the inward movement of the manipulation unit460, the first link462moves and the sliding motion locking part420escapes from the first fixing recess122, so the sliding motion locking part420can move along the sliding groove120of the sliding rail100until it reaches a desired position. When the sliding motion locking part420escapes from the first fixing recess122and moves along the sliding groove120of the sliding rail100until it reaches the second fixing recess124, the leg unit200is moved from a position below the fixed seat F to a position on a passenger walkway.

When the sliding motion locking part420reaches the second fixing recess124, the sliding motion locking part420is inserted into the second fixing recess124by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member E provided in the lifting housing320to fix the position of the sliding motion locking part420. In other words, the first link462connected to the sliding motion locking part420and the second link464connected to the lifting motion locking part440are configured such that the two locking parts420and440move together when the manipulation unit460is manipulated. Further, the lifting motion locking part440connected to the second link464is returned to the original position by the elastic member E, and thus, when the first link462is returned to an original position thereof, the sliding motion locking part420is inserted into the second fixing recess124.

When a manipulation force is applied to the lifting motion lever part460bof the manipulation unit460in the above state, the manipulation unit460moves inwardly. In this case, the manipulation unit460further moves from the position accomplished when manipulating the sliding motion lever part460b. Accordingly, the sliding motion locking part420moves from the second fixing recess124to the third fixing recess126as shown inFIG. 8and is fixed at the third fixing recess126. Further, the lifting motion locking part440can rotate as shown inFIG. 9.

Due to the rotation of the lifting motion locking part440, the locking holes442also rotate in the same direction. When the locking protrusions364of the lifting member360are placed in the large width parts442bof the respective locking holes442of the lifting motion locking part440during the rotation of the locking holes442, as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the locking protrusions364of the lifting member360can remove from the respective locking holes442.

Thus, the lifting member360is moved upward by the upward and downward moving force of the lifting actuator340as shown inFIG. 13, and thus, it is possible to adjust the height of the seat cushion C to a level at which a passenger can sit on the seat cushion C comfortably.

As described above, the present disclosure provides a folding vehicle seat, which has a folding structure and can provide a sufficient space for a desired passenger walkway space and allowing passengers to easily move to or from seats when getting on or off a vehicle, and which can be firmly installed in the vehicle in a folded state and an opened state thereof, thereby improving passenger safety.