BRAKE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE SEAT

Proposed is a brake device for a vehicle seat, in which when a button part is pressed, an unlocking protrusion is inserted between braking members and pushes rollers of the braking members, which are positioned on wedge surfaces, to release surfaces, such that an unlocked state is implemented.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0077499 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 16, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a brake device for a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a stepless brake device for a vehicle seat is a component of a seat height adjustment device. A seat equipped with the seat height adjustment device may be configured to move downward in an unlocked state or move upward always when no external force is applied. The stepless brake device for a vehicle seat may maintain a locked state of the seat with respect to the seat height adjustment device or release the locked state, as necessary.

In the stepless brake device for a vehicle seat in the related art, an input member and an unlocking member are disposed on one side surface of a housing, and braking members, a fixing member, and a gear member are disposed on the other side surface of the housing. A housing cover is disposed on one side surface of the housing to surround the input member, and a plate cover is provided on the other side surface of the housing to prevent the separation of the braking member and the gear member. A plurality of coupling pieces provided on the plate cover is coupled, by caulking, to the housing cover in a state in which the housing cover and the plate cover are pressed in a direction in which the housing cover and the plate cover face each other. The unlocking member has a plurality of unlocking protrusions formed around a body thereof in an axial direction. Two opposite edges of an end of the unlocking protrusion each have an inclined surface, and a concavely rounded groove may be formed inside each of the inclined surfaces. However, in the case of the stepless brake device for a vehicle seat in the related art, an operating lever needs to be rotated to release the locked state, which makes it very difficult to manipulate the stepless brake device. Further, there is a problem in that when the unlocking protrusion having a wedge structure is inserted between the braking members to release the locked state, rollers of the braking members positioned on a wedge surface are tilted toward one side when the rollers of the braking members are pushed by the unlocking protrusion and moved toward a release surface.

Document of Related Art

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a brake device for a vehicle seat, in which a locked state of a braking member may be released by pressing a button part.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a brake device for a vehicle seat, the brake device including: a housing having one surface having a through-hole, and the other surface configured as an opening portion; an unlocking member inserted into the housing through the opening portion and including a button part inserted into the through-hole and provided on one surface of the unlocking member that is directed toward the housing, the unlocking member having a plurality of unlocking protrusions provided along an edge of the other surface of the unlocking member; a first elastic member disposed inside the unlocking protrusion and configured to elastically support the unlocking member; a brake ring coupled to the other surface of the housing and having release surfaces and wedge surfaces alternately formed along an inner-diameter portion of the brake ring, the brake ring having a plurality of braking members disposed along the inner-diameter portion of the brake ring; and a gear member having a seating groove provided in one surface of a brake drum inserted into the brake ring so that the first elastic member is seated in the seating groove, in which when the button part is pressed, the unlocking protrusions are inserted between the braking members and push rollers of the braking members, which are positioned on the wedge surfaces, to the release surfaces, such that an unlocked state is implemented.

The braking member may include a second elastic member, and the rollers may be provided at two opposite ends of the second elastic member.

The unlocking protrusion may be configured to have a width that decreases toward the roller, and a contact surface, which comes into contact with the roller, may be configured as a round portion that conforms to the roller.

A pressing protrusion configured to press the roller may be provided on a surface in the housing that is directed toward the roller.

The pressing protrusion may be positioned to be biased toward an edge from a center of the roller.

The unlocking member may have a stepped portion formed at a boundary with the button part, and the stepped portion may be caught by an opposing surface in the housing.

A cover may be connected to the housing, and the brake ring may be positioned between the housing and the cover.

The brake drum may be integrated with the gear member, or the brake drum may be structured to be separably coupled to the gear member.

The gear member may have a gear provided at a side opposite to the brake drum.

The gear may penetrate a center of the cover and be exposed to the outside.

According to the present invention, the locked state of the braking member may be released by pressing the button part, which may provide convenience of use.

The present invention may implement the compact brake device for a vehicle.

The present invention may reduce the number of unnecessary components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, in assigning reference numerals to constituent elements of the respective drawings, it should be noted that the same constituent elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, if possible, even though the constituent elements are illustrated in different drawings. In addition, in the description of the present invention, the specific descriptions of publicly known related configurations or functions will be omitted when it is determined that the specific descriptions may obscure the subject matter of the present invention. Further, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto and may of course be modified and variously carried out by those skilled in the art.

FIG.1is an exploded perspective view of a brake device for a vehicle seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG.2is a perspective view of the brake device for a vehicle seat according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention when viewed in a direction of a button,FIG.3is a perspective view of the brake device for a vehicle seat according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention when viewed in a direction of a gear member,FIG.4is a side view of the brake device for a vehicle seat according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention when viewed in the direction of a gear member direction,FIG.5is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A inFIG.4, andFIG.6is a side view of an unlocking member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to6, the present invention includes a housing10, an unlocking member20inserted into the housing10, a first elastic member30configured to elastically support the unlocking member20, a brake ring40coupled to the housing10, braking members50provided along an inner-diameter portion of the brake ring40, a gear member60coupled to the inner-diameter portion of the brake ring40, and a cover70connected to the housing10.

A through-hole11may be provided at a center of one surface of the housing10. A button part21of the unlocking member20may be inserted into the through-hole11. The other surface of the housing10may be configured as an opening portion12. The unlocking member20may be coupled to the interior of the housing10through the opening portion12.

An opposing surface14may be provided at a boundary of the through-hole11in the housing10. A stepped portion23of the unlocking member20may be caught by the opposing surface14. The opposing surface14may prevent an end surface211of the button part21of the unlocking member20from further protruding than an end surface111of the through-hole11.

For example, when the button part21is inserted into the through-hole11, the end surface111of the through-hole11may coincide with the end surface211of the button part21.

The unlocking member20may be assembled to be inserted into the housing10in a state in which the button part21is directed toward the opening portion12of the housing10.

The button part21may protrude from one surface of the unlocking member20that is directed toward the housing10. The unlocking member20may have a plurality of unlocking protrusions22provided along an edge of the other surface of the unlocking member20.

One end of the first elastic member30is inserted into a seating groove24positioned inside the unlocking protrusion22, such that the first elastic member30may elastically support the unlocking member20(seeFIG.6). For example, the first elastic member30may be a return spring.

The gear member60may have a brake drum61. The brake drum61may be inserted into the brake ring40so as to define concentricity with the interior of the brake ring40.

A seating groove611may be provided in a surface of the brake drum61that is directed toward the first elastic member30. The other end of the first elastic member30may be seated in the seating groove611. The first elastic member30may be stably compressed or extended in a state in which the other end of the first elastic member30is inserted into the seating groove611.

For example, the brake drum61may be integrated with the gear member60, or the brake drum61may be structured to be separably coupled to the gear member60.

The gear member60may have a gear62. For example, the gear62may be a pinion gear.

The gear62may be provided at a side opposite to the brake drum61. The gear62may penetrate a center of the cover70and be exposed to the outside.

The gear62may penetrate the center of the cover70and be exposed to the outside so as to be rotatable. The gear62may engage with a gear device (not illustrated) that operates in conjunction with the vehicle seat.

When the button part21is pressed, the first elastic member30may be compressed by being pushed by the unlocking member20in a direction of the brake drum61.

When a force, which presses the button part21, is eliminated, the first elastic member30may push the unlocking member20in a direction of the through-hole11while being extended to an original state. When the first elastic member30is extended, the end surface211of the button part21may coincide with the end surface111of the through-hole11.

The cover70may be connected to the housing10. The brake ring40may be positioned between the housing10and the cover70in an assembled state. The cover70may prevent the separation of the brake ring40.

FIG.6illustrates that five unlocking protrusions22are provided on the unlocking member20. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Six or more unlocking protrusions22may be provided on the unlocking member20.

FIG.7is a view illustrating a state in which the braking members according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are coupled.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the brake ring40may be coupled to the other surface of the housing10. The brake ring40may have release surfaces41and wedge surfaces42alternately formed along the inner-diameter portion of the brake ring40.

The braking member50may include a second elastic member51, and rollers52provided at two opposite ends of the second elastic member51. For example, the second elastic member51may be a spring.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the elastic member51may be disposed at a center of the release surface41. The elastic member51may elastically support the rollers52so that the rollers52provided at the two opposite ends of the elastic member51may be fitted between the wedge surface42and the outer-diameter portion of the brake drum61.

The unlocking protrusions22are inserted between the braking members50when the button part21is pressed, such that the rollers52of the two opposite braking members50may be moved from the wedge surfaces42to the release surfaces41by being pushed by the unlocking protrusions22.

Because an interval between the release surface41and the outer-diameter portion of the brake drum61is larger than the outer-diameter portion of the roller52, the roller52positioned on the release surface41may freely move.

The unlocking protrusion22may have a structure having a width that decreases toward an end of the unlocking protrusion22directed toward the roller52.

Because the unlocking protrusion22has the structure having a width that decreases toward the end of the unlocking protrusion22directed toward the roller52, the contact with the roller52of the unlocking protrusion22may be gradually performed without being rapidly performed. Therefore, the rollers52may be stably pushed by the unlocking protrusions22when the button part21is pressed.

Two opposite contact surfaces of the unlocking protrusion22, which come into contact with the roller52, may be configured as round portions221that conform to the outer-diameter portion of the roller52.

FIG.10is a view illustrating a pressing protrusion of a housing according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, andFIGS.11and12are views illustrating a pressed state of a roller made by the pressing protrusion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS.10to12, the housing10may have pressing protrusions13. The pressing protrusion13may protrude from a surface in the housing10that is directed toward the roller52. For example, the pressing protrusion13may have an embossed or gradient shape.

The pressing protrusion13may be positioned to be biased toward an edge of the roller52from a center of the roller52.

For example, because the unlocking protrusion22has the structure having a width that decreases toward the end of the unlocking protrusion22directed toward the roller52, the rollers52of the two opposite braking members50may be inclined while being spread toward two opposite sides when being pressed by the unlocking protrusions22. However, the pressing protrusions13push the rollers52to prevent the rollers52from being inclined, such that the rollers52may be prevented from being inclined. Therefore, the rollers52may be stably pushed by the unlocking protrusions22.

Next, the operations of the unlocking member and the brake members when the button part of the present invention is pressed will be described.

FIG.8is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pressed state of the button part of the unlocking member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.9is a view illustrating an operation of the unlocking protrusion when the button part according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is pressed.

As illustrated inFIGS.8and9, when the button part21is pressed, the unlocking member20may move in the direction of the braking member50while pressing the first elastic member30.

As the unlocking member20moves in the direction of the braking member50, the unlocking protrusion22may be inserted between the two opposite braking members50.

As the unlocking protrusion22is inserted between the two opposite braking members50, the rollers52of the two opposite braking members50, which are positioned on the wedge surfaces42by elasticity of the second elastic members51, may be moved to the release surfaces41by being pushed by the unlocking protrusion22.

The second elastic members51, which elastically support the rollers52, may be compressed during a process in which the rollers52of the two opposite braking members50are moved to the release surfaces41by being pushed by the unlocking protrusions22.

A state in which the seat height may be adjusted may be implemented as the rollers52are moved to the release surfaces41by being pushed by the unlocking protrusions22. A state in which the gear member60may freely rotate may be maintained when the seat moves upward or downward to adjust the seat height.

The released state, in which the seat height may be adjusted, may be implemented as the gear62of the gear member60may rotate in the state in which the gear62engages with the gear device (not illustrated).

Because the roller52is pressed by the pressing protrusion13provided on the housing during the process in which the roller52is moved to the release surface41by being pushed by the unlocking protrusion22, the roller52may stably move to the release surface41without being tilted toward one side.

When the force, which presses the button part21, is eliminated, the compressed first elastic member30may be extended, and the unlocking member20may be pushed in a release direction.

As the unlocking member20is pushed in the release direction, the unlocking protrusion22positioned between the two opposite braking members50may be separated from the portion between the two opposite braking members50.

As the unlocking protrusion22is separated from the portion between the two opposite braking members50, the second elastic member51, which is compressed by being pushed by the unlocking protrusion22, may be extended and move the rollers52, which are positioned on the release surfaces41, to the wedge surfaces42.

As the roller52is returned to the wedge surface42and inserted between the wedge surface42and the outer-diameter portion of the brake drum61, the rotation of the gear member60may be restricted. The rotation of the gear62may also be restricted as the rotation of the gear member60is restricted. Therefore, the gear device, which engages with the gear62of the gear member60, is fixed, such that a locked state in which the seat height cannot be adjusted may be implemented. For example, the gear device may be a rack gear.

For example, the brake device of the present invention may serve as a brake for fixing a height of a seat (not illustrated) in the locked state. The locked state is released when the button part21of the present invention is pressed. When a vehicle occupant is seated in the seat in the unlocked state, a load of the vehicle occupant is applied to the seat, such that the gear62of the gear member60may rotate in a seat lowering direction. As the gear62rotates in the seat lowering direction, the seat connected to the gear device may be moved downward by the operation of the gear device engaging with the gear62. When the force, which presses the button part21, is eliminated, the rotation of the gear62is restricted, and the seat, which is moving downward, may be stopped at a desired height. In a state in which no load is applied to the seat (a vehicle occupant is not seated in the seat), the seat may be positioned at a highest height by an elastic force of an elastic device such as a spring.

The above description is simply given for illustratively describing the technical spirit of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various modifications, changes, and substitutions are possible without departing from the essential characteristic of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are intended not to limit but to describe the technical spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The protective scope of the present invention should be construed based on the following claims, and all the technical spirit in the equivalent scope thereto should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.