Patent Description:
A reclining apparatus for a seat is mounted on a seat of a vehicle or the like and performs a function of adjusting an angle of a seatback with respect to a seat cushion and maintaining the adjusted angle of the seatback, thereby achieving convenience of a seated person.

The reclining apparatus is configured such that a gear plate is fixed on the seat cushion, a mobile flange is fixed on the seatback, and the gear plate and the mobile flange are eccentrically engaged with each other to form a cycloid reduction gear, and an eccentric position of the mobile flange with respect to the gear plate is rotated due to a rotating force input through an input device so that the mobile flange is rotated with respect to the gear plate, and thus an angle of the seatback with respect to the seat cushion may be adjusted.

In addition, a cam elastically supported by a spring is inserted between the gear plate and the mobile flange, and the cam may be moved while the input device is rotated so that it is possible to change the eccentric position of the mobile flange with respect to the gear plate by moving the cam due to the rotating force input to the input device. Conversely, since the cam cannot be moved by the rotating force input to the mobile flange, the eccentric position of the mobile flange with respect to the gear plate is stably fixed so that the adjusted angle of the seatback may be stably maintained.

In the reclining apparatus, a cap is assembled with the gear plate to prevent internal components from being separated. That is, the reclining apparatus has a structure of controlling a position using an upper surface of the input device, which is a rotating body component, when the cap is seated. In particular, in the case of the cap, there is a problem in that a separate control device should be configured to secure an inner space of the rotating body, and a position change of the cap becomes large according to conditions of the components so that the cap is assembled with the input device in an overlap condition. Accordingly, there is a problem in that a noise is generated or an operating force is increased due to friction between the components.

Conversely, when the cap is assembled at a position that is higher than a setting position, the internal components are moved in an axial direction so that degradation occurs in operational sensitivity and strength.

The foregoing is intended merely to aid in understanding of the background of the present disclosure and is not intended to mean that the present disclosure falls within the purview of the related art that is already known to those skilled in the art.

Patent Literature <CIT> provides a vehicle recliner including a mobile flange including a support part located in the center of a placement space and configured to protrude upwards from a lower surface thereof, the support part being formed in a multi-step structure having a different outer diameter for each step, a cam having a corresponding step formed thereon, the corresponding step corresponding to the multi-step structure of the support part, and a gear plate eccentrically pressed by the cam so that an external gear thereof meshes with an internal gear of the mobile flange.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present invention is intended to propose a reclining apparatus for a seat, which secures coupling between a cap and a gear plate through a uniform position adjustment of the cap when the cap is assembled, secures operation performance between components, and prevents a bearing from being separated due to an external force.

According to one aspect, there is provided a reclining apparatus for a seat, which includes a cam provided between a mobile flange and a gear plate, an input device connected to pass through the gear plate and formed to cover the cam, a rotation support provided to be interposed between the cam and the gear plate, and a cap formed to cover the input device, and supported in contact with the rotation support when seated on the input device so that an outer surface of the cap comes into uniform contact with the gear plate, and thus welding coupling with the gear plate becomes uniform.

The cap includes a cover seated on the input device and a coupler bent from the cover to be in surface contact with the gear plate, and the coupler may extend to come into contact with the rotation support when the cover is seated on the input device.

The rotation support may be formed such that an end portion of the rotation support facing the coupler matches the coupler.

A seating groove is formed at the end portion of the rotation support facing the coupler, and the coupler extends to be inserted into the seating groove of the rotation support.

A support protrusion may be formed at the end portion of the rotation support facing the coupler, and the support protrusion may be formed to be spaced apart from the gear plate so that the seating groove may be formed between the support protrusion and the gear plate.

A chamfer is formed at the end portion of the rotation support facing the coupler on a side opposite to the gear plate, and a corresponding chamfer matching the chamfer is formed in the coupler.

An insertion groove of which an inner surface is recessed outward and into which a portion of the rotation support is inserted may be formed in the gear plate, and the coupler may extend to be in contact with the rotation support exposed from the insertion groove of the gear plate.

A plurality of protrusions in contact with the input device may be formed along a circumference of an inner surface of the cover.

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Hereinafter, a reclining apparatus for a seat according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a reclining apparatus for a seat according to one embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the reclining apparatus for a seat shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a rotation support and a cap according to one embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a rotation support and a cap according to another embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the cap of the present invention, and <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the cap and an input device according to the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the reclining apparatus for a seat according to the present invention includes a mobile flange <NUM> in which an internal gear <NUM> is formed and a cylindrical flange protrusion <NUM> is formed in a central portion, a gear plate <NUM> in which an external gear <NUM> engaged with the internal gear <NUM> is formed and a cylindrical plate protrusion <NUM> is formed in a central portion, an input device <NUM> including a central protrusion <NUM> passing through to be coupled to a shaft S and a device protrusion <NUM> integrally formed on an outer portion of the central protrusion <NUM>, a rotation support <NUM> passing through the gear plate <NUM> to be inserted between an outer side of the device protrusion <NUM> and the plate protrusion <NUM> of the gear plate <NUM>, a cam <NUM> interposed between an outer side of the flange protrusion <NUM> and the rotation support <NUM>, and a spring <NUM> inserted and coupled to the cam <NUM> at both end portions thereof.

In addition, the reclining apparatus for a seat further includes a cap <NUM> configured to prevent assembly separation between the rotation support <NUM> and the cam <NUM> and between the input device <NUM> and the spring <NUM>.

Here, a circular plate part <NUM> protruding to an outer side of the central protrusion <NUM> is integrally formed in the input device <NUM>, and the device protrusion <NUM> is formed to be connected to the circular plate part <NUM>.

In addition, the spring <NUM> is installed on one surface of the circular plate part <NUM> in a tightly adhered state, and both ends of the spring <NUM> pass through the circular plate part <NUM> and then are fitted into the cam <NUM> to form a coupled structure.

The central protrusion <NUM> of the input device <NUM> is installed in the form of passing through the plate protrusion <NUM> of the mobile flange <NUM>, and in this case, the circular plate part <NUM> covers the rotation support <NUM> and the cam <NUM>.

In addition, the mobile flange <NUM> and gear plate <NUM> are coupled by a retainer <NUM>.

On the other hand, the cap <NUM> is coupled to the gear plate <NUM> by welding, and when the cap <NUM> is biased to one side, the welding between the cap <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> is not correctly performed so that coupling performance is degraded. In addition, when the cap <NUM> is coupled to the gear plate <NUM> in a state of not being located at a correct position, there is a problem in that the internal components are moved and thus operating performance is degraded.

Accordingly, as shown in <FIG>, the present disclosure includes the cam <NUM> provided between the mobile flange <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM>, the input device <NUM> connected to pass through the gear plate <NUM> and formed to cover the cam <NUM>, the rotation support <NUM> provided to be interposed between the cam <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM>, and the cap <NUM> which is formed to cover the input device <NUM>, which is supported in contact with the rotation support <NUM> when seated on the input device <NUM>, and of which an outer surface is in uniform contact with the gear plate <NUM> so that a welding coupling with gear plate <NUM> becomes uniform.

Here, the rotation support <NUM> may be formed as a bearing or a bush and is interposed between the cam <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM>.

In particular, the cap <NUM> according to the present disclosure is formed to cover the input device <NUM> and is supported in contact with the rotation support <NUM> when seated on the input device <NUM>. Thus, when the cap <NUM> is seated on the input device <NUM>, the cap <NUM> seals a space between the input device <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> to maintain airtightness, and a circumference of the cap <NUM> is inserted between the input device <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> to come into contact with the rotation support <NUM> so that the cap <NUM> is located at a correct position by the rotation support <NUM>.

That is, when the cap <NUM> is seated on the input device <NUM>, since the cap <NUM> comes into contact with the rotation support <NUM> to be located at a correct position without being biased to either side, a circumferential surface of the cap <NUM> comes into uniform contact with the gear plate <NUM> so that the welding coupling with the gear plate <NUM> becomes uniform. Therefore, improvement in rigidity of the gear plate <NUM> is achieved.

The cap <NUM> includes a cover <NUM> seated on the input device <NUM>, and a coupler <NUM> bent from the cover <NUM> to be in surface contact with the gear plate <NUM>, and the coupler <NUM> extends to come into contact with the rotation support <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is seated on the input device <NUM>.

That is, the cap <NUM> is formed of the cover <NUM> and the coupler <NUM>, the cover <NUM> is seated on the input device <NUM>, and the coupler <NUM> is inserted between the input device <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> so that the cap <NUM> comes into surface contact with the gear plate <NUM>.

Here, the shaft S passes through the cover <NUM> to seal a space between the input device <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> so that positions of the internal components are controlled.

The coupler <NUM> is bent from the cover <NUM> to extend to come into contact with an inner surface of the gear plate <NUM> and extends to come into contact with the rotation support <NUM>. In addition, the coupler <NUM> extends to the same length along the circumference, and the rotation support <NUM> is formed to have the same length along the circumference so that when the cap <NUM> comes into contact with the rotation support <NUM>, the cap <NUM> may be located at a correct position without being biased to either side.

Thus, the cap <NUM> is coupled by welding in a state in which an outer surface of the coupler <NUM> comes into contact with an inner surface of the gear plate <NUM>, and the cap <NUM> is located at a correct position without being biased to either side so that the cap <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> are uniformly welded along the circumference.

Meanwhile, the rotation support <NUM> may be formed to allow an end portion thereof facing the coupler <NUM> to match the coupler <NUM>.

In this way, the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> and the rotation support <NUM> are formed to match the portions facing each other so that, when the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> comes into contact with the rotation support <NUM>, the cap <NUM> may maintain a stable support state with respect to the rotation support <NUM>. In addition, when the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> comes into contact with the rotation support <NUM>, since the cap <NUM> is automatically aligned by the rotation support <NUM>, the cap <NUM> is avoided to be located as being biased to either side so that when the cap <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> are welded, the welding may be performed stably on the entire section of the circumference.

Accordingly, the contact structure between the cap <NUM> and the rotation support <NUM> may be applied as various embodiments.

As one example, as shown in <FIG>, a seating groove <NUM> is formed at the end portion of the rotation support <NUM> facing the coupler <NUM>, and the coupler <NUM> extends to be insertable into the seating groove <NUM> of the rotation support <NUM>.

In this way, the seating groove <NUM> is formed in the rotation support <NUM>, and thus the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is inserted into the seating groove <NUM> and seated thereon. Thus, a position of the cap <NUM> on the inner surface of the gear plate <NUM> is controlled to the position where the coupler <NUM> is inserted into the seating groove <NUM> of the rotation support <NUM> so that the cap <NUM> may be located at a correct position.

In addition, by inserting the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> into the seating groove <NUM> of the rotation support <NUM>, the position of the cap <NUM> is aligned so that, when the cap <NUM> is welded to the gear plate <NUM>, the cap <NUM> is prevented from being biased to either side by welding. Accordingly, the coupling between the cap <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> is improved.

The seating groove <NUM> of the rotation support <NUM> may be formed in the gear plate <NUM>. That is, a support protrusion <NUM> of the rotation support <NUM> is formed at the end portion facing the coupler <NUM>. The support protrusion <NUM> is formed to be spaced apart from the gear plate <NUM>, and thus the seating groove <NUM> is formed between the support protrusion <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM>.

In this way, in the rotation support <NUM>, the support protrusion <NUM> protrudes in a direction facing the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> so that the seating groove <NUM> is formed between the support protrusion <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM>. Thus, when the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is inserted into the seating groove <NUM>, a position of the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is confined between the support protrusion <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM>. In particular, since the support protrusion <NUM> is formed to be spaced apart from the gear plate <NUM>, the seating groove <NUM> is formed in the gear plate <NUM> side so that the coupler <NUM> of cap <NUM> is inserted into the seating groove <NUM> in a state of being in surface contact with the gear plate <NUM>.

Therefore, when the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is inserted into the seating groove <NUM> of the rotation support <NUM>, the position of the cap <NUM> is aligned and the cap <NUM> is aligned in a balanced way so that, when the cap <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> are welded, the cap <NUM> is prevented from being biased to either side by welding.

Meanwhile, as another example, a chamfer <NUM> may be formed at the end portion of the rotation support <NUM> facing the coupler <NUM> on a side opposite to the gear plate <NUM>, and a corresponding chamfer 62a matching the chamfer <NUM> may be formed in the coupler <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the inclined chamfer <NUM> is formed at the end portion of the rotation support <NUM> facing the coupler <NUM>, and the corresponding chamfer 62a having the same inclination as that of the chamfer <NUM> is formed in a portion of the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> in contact with the rotation support <NUM> so that a contact between the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> and the rotation support <NUM> becomes stable. In addition, the chamfer <NUM> of the rotation support <NUM> comes into surface contact with the corresponding chamfer 62a formed on the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> so that the cap <NUM> may be aligned at a correct position.

Meanwhile, an insertion groove <NUM> of which an inner surface is recessed outward and into which a portion of the rotation support <NUM> is inserted is formed in the gear plate <NUM>, and the coupler <NUM> extends to come into contact with the rotation support <NUM> exposed from the insertion groove <NUM> of the gear plate <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the insertion groove <NUM> is formed in the gear plate <NUM>, and the rotation support <NUM> is provided to be inserted into the insertion groove <NUM> so that the rotation support <NUM> may be stably fixed between the gear plate <NUM> and the cam <NUM>. That is, since the rotation support <NUM> is inserted into the insertion groove <NUM> of the gear plate <NUM>, a position separation of the rotation support <NUM> is prevented and, even when the rotation support <NUM> is deformed under a compressive load, the position of the rotation support <NUM> is fixed in the insertion groove <NUM>.

In addition, the insertion groove <NUM> of the gear plate <NUM> is formed to allow only the portion of the rotation support <NUM> to be insertable so that the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> may be supported in contact with the rotation support <NUM> exposed from the insertion groove <NUM>.

As described above, since the rotation support <NUM> is inserted into the insertion groove <NUM> of the gear plate <NUM> and thus the position thereof is fixed, the position of the rotation support <NUM> become stable, and the coupler <NUM> of the cap <NUM> comes into contact with the rotation support <NUM> stabilized at the correct position so that the position of the cap <NUM> may also be normally aligned.

Meanwhile, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a plurality of protrusions 61a in contact with the input device <NUM> may be formed on an inner surface of the cover <NUM> along a circumference of the cover <NUM>.

That is, in the cap <NUM>, the plurality of protrusions 61a are formed to protrude from the inner surface of the cover <NUM> so that the protrusions 61a are in point contact with the input device <NUM>. Thus, the cap <NUM> has a decreased contact area with respect to the input device <NUM> to reduce vibration or shock transmission.

The protrusions 61a are spaced apart from each other on the cover <NUM> at regular intervals and protrude in the same length so that the cap <NUM> is supported in uniform contact with the input device <NUM> without being biased to either side.

The reclining apparatus for a seat having the structure as described above secures the coupling between the cap <NUM> and the gear plate <NUM> through a uniform position adjustment of the cap <NUM> when the cap <NUM> of the recliner is assembled, secures the operation performance between the components, and prevents deformation of the rotation support due to an external force.

The reclining apparatus for a seat having the structure as described above secures coupling between the cap and the gear plate through the uniform position adjustment of the cap when the cap of the recliner is assembled, secures the operation performance between the components, and prevents the separation of the bearing due to an external force.

Claim 1:
A reclining apparatus for a seat, comprising:
a cam (<NUM>) disposed between a mobile flange (<NUM>) and a gear plate (<NUM>);
an input device (<NUM>) connected to pass through the gear plate and formed to cover the cam;
a rotation support (<NUM>) interposed between the cam (<NUM>) and the gear plate (<NUM>); and
a cap (<NUM>) formed to cover the input device (<NUM>), and supported in contact with the rotation support (<NUM>) when seated on the input device (<NUM>) so that an outer surface of the cap (<NUM>) comes into uniform contact with the gear plate (<NUM>), and thus coupling with the gear plate (<NUM>) becomes uniform,
wherein the cap (<NUM>) includes a cover (<NUM>) seated on the input device (<NUM>) and a coupler (<NUM>) bent from the cover (<NUM>) to be in surface contact with the gear plate (<NUM>), and the coupler (<NUM>) extends to come into contact with the rotation support (<NUM>) when the cover (<NUM>) is seated on the input device (<NUM>), and
wherein:
a seating groove (<NUM>) is formed at an end portion of the rotation support (<NUM>) facing the coupler (<NUM>); and
the coupler (<NUM>) extends to be inserted into the seating groove (<NUM>) of the rotation support (<NUM>).