Patent Description:
When a single-stage hinge structure for a folding seat of a front seat as shown in <FIG> is used, a hinge point position is high, so there is a problem in that a step in a waist area of the seat during reclining becomes large, causing back pain to a driver.

Accordingly, the folding seat of the front seat implements a folding operation using a two-stage hinge structure unlike a folding seat of a rear seat, thereby keeping a hinge point low. In such a way, a folding function of the seat is realized while realizing a comfortable posture for a driver by minimizing the step, in a waist area, that occurs during reclining.

However, the conventional two-stage hinge structure is advantageous in terms of sitting posture, but there is an inconvenience in that the folding operation is performed only when the folding lever is maintained in a manipulated state when folding is implemented.

Therefore, when the folding lever is not being pulled continuously, there is a problem in determining such a case as a malfunction as if folding is not being performed. In addition, there is a problem occurring such that elements implementing folding mechanism collide with a hand holding the folding lever during the folding operation, resulting in transferring shock to or injuring a user.

The matters described as the related art above are only for improving understanding of a background of the present disclosure and should not be accepted as acknowledging to correspond to the related art known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

<CIT> describes a device for folding a seat according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

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 provide a device for folding a seat, the device improving a convenience of a folding operation by implementing the folding operation without maintaining a lever manipulation until the end of the folding operation when the folding manipulation of the seatback is performed.

According to the invention, this is achieved by a device for folding a seat according to the features of claim <NUM>. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

In order to achieve the above objective, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for folding a seat, the device including: a lower arm stopper formed to a predetermined radial position of a lower arm with respect to a reclining hinge shaft of a seatback as a center; a lock plate configured to rotate about a rotation shaft as a center while being hooked to the lower arm stopper in a process of reclining forward together with the seatback with respect to the reclining hinge shaft as the center; and a folding link limited to rotate by being hooked to the lock plate and configured to make folding rotation together with the seatback with respect to a folding hinge shaft, as a center, located at a part above the reclining hinge shaft, by being released from being hooked to the lock plate according to the rotation of the lock plate.

The reclining hinge shaft and the folding hinge shaft may be coupled to opposite ends of a folding bracket, respectively; the folding bracket may make rotation relative to the lower arm stopper with respect to the reclining hinge shaft as the center; the folding link may make rotation relative to the folding bracket with respect to the folding hinge shaft as the center; and the rotation shaft of the lock plate may be coupled to the folding bracket.

With the rotation shaft of the lock plate as a center, one end and an opposite end of the lock plate may extend toward the lower arm stopper and the folding link, respectively; and as the one end of the lock plate rotates while being hooked to the lower arm stopper, the opposite end of the lock plate may be released from being hooked to the folding link.

The one end of the lock plate may be provided with a stopper locking part; and the lower arm stopper may be disposed on a rotation path of the stopper locking part so that the stopper locking part may be pushed by the lower arm stopper to rotate the lock plate.

An end of the folding link may be provided with a locking groove part; the opposite end of the lock plate may be provided with a link locking part; and in a state in which the link locking part is hooked to the locking groove part, the link locking part may be released from being hooked to the locking groove part according to the rotation of the lock plate.

The device may further include a plate spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a rotational direction to which the lock plate is hooked to the folding link.

The device further includes a lever configured to manipulate a reclining or folding operation of the seatback, wherein according to a manipulation of the lever, locking between the seatback and the seat cushion is released so that the lock plate and the folding link together with the seatback rotate forward about the reclining hinge shaft as the center.

With the reclining hinge shaft as the center, a guide pin is fixed at a predetermined radial position of the lower arm; and a guide hole of a long hole into which the guide pin is inserted extends along a rotation path of the lever in the lever, thereby allowing the lever to rotate in a guide hole section.

The device may further include a lever spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a rotational direction opposite to an operation direction of the lever.

The lock plate may rotate with the reclining hinge shaft as the center according to an operation of the lever; and by the lock plate, the folding link may be released from being hooked so that the folding link rotates with the folding hinge shaft as the center, whereby the folding operation may be performed.

The device may further include a folding spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a folding direction of the seatback.

As described above, there is an effect that the present invention, as described above, not only implements a folding operation of the seatback with one lever manipulation, but also improves convenience of the folding operation because there is no need to hold a lever until the folding operation is completed.

Moreover, there is also an effect that it is not necessary to hold the lever until folding is completed, so an impact is prevented from being applied to a hand holding the lever, thereby preventing the risk of injury to a user during the folding operation of the seatback.

The above and other objectives, 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:.

Specific structural or functional descriptions presented in the embodiments of the present invention are only exemplified for the purpose of describing embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, and the embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be implemented in various forms. In addition, it should not be construed such that the present invention is limited to the embodiments described herein, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included as long as they fall within the scope of the claims.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, terms such as first, second, and the like may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components, for example, within the scope not departing from the scope of the rights according to the concept of the present invention, the first component may be named as the second component. Similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or coupled to another component, but other components may exist therebetween.

On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component, it should be understood that no other element is present therebetween.

Other expressions for describing the relationship between components, that is, expressions such as "between" and "immediately between", "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to", or the like should be interpreted similarly.

Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals will refer to the same or like parts. On the other hand, the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In the present specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless specifically stated in the phrase.

As used herein, "comprises" and/or "comprising" means that a referenced component, step, operation, and/or element do not exclude the presence or addition of at least one of other components, steps, operations, and/or elements.

<FIG> is a view showing a folding behavior of folding a seat according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing components of a device for folding the seat according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a view showing a state prior to a lever manipulation according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, the device for folding the seat of the present invention includes: a lower arm stopper <NUM> fixed to a predetermined radial position with a reclining hinge shaft S1 of the seatback <NUM> as a center; a lock plate <NUM> configured to rotate with a rotation shaft <NUM> as a center while being hooked to the lower arm stopper <NUM> in a process of reclining forward together with the seatback <NUM> with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center; and a folding link <NUM> limited to rotate by being hooked to the lock plate <NUM> and configured to make folding rotation together with the seatback <NUM> with a folding hinge shaft S2, as a center, located at a part above the reclining hinge shaft S1, by being released from being hooked to the lock plate <NUM> according to the rotation of the lock plate <NUM>.

For example, a plate-shaped lower arm <NUM> is fixed to a rear end side surface of a seat cushion <NUM>, and a reclining hinge shaft S1 is coupled to a middle of the lower arm <NUM> so that the seatback <NUM> performs reclining rotation back and forth with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center.

In addition, the lower arm stopper <NUM> protrudes toward the lock plate <NUM> on a portion of a top surface edge of the lower arm <NUM>.

In addition, the reclining hinge shaft S1 and the folding hinge shaft S2 are coupled to opposite ends of a folding bracket <NUM>, respectively; the folding bracket <NUM> makes relative rotation with respect to the lower arm stopper <NUM> with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center; the folding link <NUM> makes relative rotation with respect to the folding bracket <NUM> with the folding hinge shaft S2 as a center; and the rotation shaft <NUM> of the lock plate <NUM> may be coupled to the folding bracket <NUM>.

For example, the folding bracket <NUM> in a cover-shape is coupled between the rear end side surface of a seat cushion <NUM> and a lower end side surface of the seatback <NUM>, wherein a lower end of the folding bracket <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the reclining hinge shaft S1, and the folding hinge shaft S2 is coupled to an upper end of the folding bracket <NUM>.

In addition, the upper end of the folding link <NUM> is coupled to the folding hinge shaft S2 so that, with the folding hinge shaft S2 as the center, the seatback <NUM> and the folding link <NUM> rotate together with the folding bracket <NUM> or perform folding rotation back and forth with respect to the folding bracket <NUM>.

In addition, the lock plate <NUM> is disposed between the lower arm <NUM> and the folding link <NUM>, and the rotation shaft <NUM> of the lock plate <NUM> is coupled to the folding bracket <NUM>, whereby the lock plate <NUM> rotates about the rotation shaft <NUM> as the center.

In particular, the lock plate <NUM> is configured to become a structure such that, with the rotation shaft <NUM> of the lock plate <NUM> as the center, one end and an opposite end of the lock plate <NUM> are extendedly formed toward the lower arm stopper <NUM> and the folding link <NUM>, respectively; and as the one end of the lock plate rotates while being hooked to the lower arm stopper, the opposite end of the lock plate is released from being hooked to the folding link.

To this end, the lower arm stopper <NUM> is disposed on a path where the one end of the lock plate <NUM> rotates with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center.

In addition, except for a folding state of the seatback <NUM>, the opposite end of the lock plate <NUM> is maintained in a state of being hooked to the folding link <NUM>. On the other hand, when the lock plate <NUM> rotates with the rotation shaft <NUM> as the center so that the opposite end thereof is released from being hooked to the folding link <NUM>, it becomes a state in which the seatback <NUM> and the folding link <NUM> may be folded forward with the folding hinge shaft S2 as the center, regardless of the manipulation of the lever <NUM>.

Therefore, not only the folding operation of the seatback <NUM> is implemented with one manipulation of the lever <NUM>, but also convenience of the folding operation is improved because there is no need to hold the lever <NUM> until the folding operation is completed. In addition, the lever <NUM> is not held until folding is completed, so an impact is prevented from being applied to the hand holding the lever <NUM>, thereby preventing the risk of injury to a user.

Meanwhile, <FIG> is a view showing a state before locking of a lock plate <NUM> by the lower arm stopper <NUM> is released in <FIG>.

When a structure from which the lock plate <NUM> is to be released is specifically looked at with reference to the drawings, the lock plate <NUM> has the one end provided with a stopper locking part <NUM>; and the lower arm stopper <NUM> is disposed on a rotation path of the stopper locking part <NUM> so that the stopper locking part <NUM> is pushed by the lower arm stopper <NUM> to rotate the lock plate <NUM>.

In addition, the folding link <NUM> is provided with a locking groove part <NUM> formed at an end thereof; and the lock plate <NUM> is provided with a link locking part <NUM> formed at the opposite end thereof; and in a state in which the link locking part <NUM> is hooked to the locking groove part <NUM>, the link locking part <NUM> is released from being hooked to the locking groove part <NUM> according to a rotation of the lock plate <NUM>.

For example, the lock plate <NUM> is formed in an "L" shape, and the rotation shaft <NUM> is coupled to a middle portion of the lock plate <NUM>.

In addition, the stopper locking part <NUM> is formed toward the lower arm stopper <NUM> at the one end of the lock plate <NUM>, and the stopper locking part <NUM> is positioned at the rear of the lower arm stopper <NUM>.

In addition, at the opposite end of the lock plate <NUM>, a link locking part <NUM> is formed toward the locking groove part <NUM>, and the link locking part <NUM> is hooked to in a form to be inserted into the locking groove part <NUM>.

Therefore, when the seatback <NUM> rotates forward about the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center according to the manipulation of the lever <NUM>, the lock plate <NUM> rotates together with the seatback <NUM>, and the stopper locking part <NUM> is hooked to the stopper in a rotation process, the lock plate <NUM> rotates with the rotation shaft <NUM> as the center.

Accordingly, as the link locking part <NUM> is released from being hooked to the folding link <NUM>, the seatback <NUM> rotates forward about the folding hinge shaft S2 as the center to implement the folding operation of the seatback <NUM>.

In addition, the device may further include a plate spring <NUM> configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a rotational direction to which the lock plate <NUM> is hooked to the folding link <NUM>.

For example, the plate spring <NUM> may be a spring having a torsion spring structure, and, in a state of being inserted into the rotation shaft <NUM> of the lock plate <NUM>, one end is hooked to the folding bracket <NUM>, and an opposite end is hooked to the lock plate <NUM>.

Accordingly, in an unfolding state of the seatback <NUM>, the link locking part <NUM> is hooked to the locking groove part <NUM> of the folding link <NUM> to maintain a locking state, and in a process of restoring the seatback <NUM> from the folding state to the unfolding state, the link locking part <NUM> is hooked to the locking groove part <NUM> so that locking is made.

On the other hand, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the present disclosure further includes a lever <NUM> configured to manipulate a reclining operation or the folding operation of the seatback <NUM>.

In addition, according to the manipulation of the lever <NUM>, locking between the seatback <NUM> and the seat cushion <NUM> is released, so that the lock plate <NUM> and the folding link <NUM> together with the seatback <NUM> become a structure that rotates forward with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center.

That is, the lock plate <NUM> rotates about the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center according to an operation of the lever <NUM>, and by the rotation of the lock plate <NUM>, the folding link <NUM> is released from being hooked so that the folding link <NUM> rotates about the folding hinge shaft S2 as the center, whereby the folding operation is performed.

For example, the lever <NUM> performs rotational manipulation with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center, and when the lever <NUM> performs rotational manipulation, the seatback <NUM> is released from locking from the seat cushion <NUM>, whereby reclining of the seatback <NUM> is allowed.

However, the structure in which the locking between the seatback <NUM> and the seat cushion <NUM> is released according to the manipulation of the lever <NUM> is a technique commonly used in the seat field, and the description of the structure and operation thereof will be omitted.

In addition, with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center, a guide pin <NUM> is fixed at a predetermined radial position, and a guide hole <NUM> of a long hole into which the guide pin <NUM> is inserted is formed along a rotation path of the lever <NUM> in the lever <NUM>, thereby allowing the lever <NUM> to rotate in a section of the guide hole <NUM>.

That is, the guide pin <NUM> is fixed to the lower arm <NUM>, and the guide hole <NUM> is formed in a portion of the lever <NUM> where the guide pin <NUM> is to be located, so that the lever is manipulated only within the section of the guide hole <NUM>, thereby limiting an excessive manipulation of the lever <NUM>.

In addition, the present disclosure further includes a lever spring <NUM> configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a rotational direction opposite to an operation direction of the lever <NUM>.

For example, the lever spring <NUM> may be a spring having a coil spring structure, and one end thereof is hooked to a middle portion of the lever <NUM>, and an opposite end thereof is hooked to a rear edge of the lower arm <NUM>.

Therefore, when the lever <NUM> is released from a user's hand after the manipulation thereof, the lever <NUM> may be restored to the position prior to the operation by the elastic restoring force of the lever spring <NUM>.

Furthermore, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the present disclosure further includes a folding spring <NUM> configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a folding direction of the seatback <NUM>.

For example, the folding spring <NUM> may be a spring having a spiral spring structure and is provided in a form of being inserted into the reclining hinge shaft S1, wherein one end of an inner side is hooked to the lower arm <NUM>, and an opposite end of an outer side is hooked to the folding bracket <NUM>.

Accordingly, in a folding process of the seatback <NUM>, the folding spring <NUM> is configured to provide a force for rotating the seatback <NUM> forward, thereby assisting the folding operation of the seatback <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the folding process of the seatback <NUM> according to the present disclosure will be described.

When described with reference to <FIG>, as the lever <NUM> is manipulated to be pulled upwardly, a locking state between the seatback <NUM> and the seat cushion <NUM> is released.

Accordingly, the seatback <NUM> rotates forward with the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center by the elastic restoring force of the folding spring <NUM>, and at this time, the lock plate <NUM> and the folding link <NUM> rotate together.

In the rotation process, the stopper locking part <NUM> of one end of the lock plate <NUM> is hooked to the lower arm stopper <NUM>, and the lock plate <NUM> rotates counterclockwise based on the state shown in the drawing with the rotation shaft <NUM> as the center.

At this time, the link locking part <NUM> of the opposite end of the lock plate <NUM> is hooked to the locking groove part <NUM> of the folding link <NUM> so that the folding link <NUM> is in a state of maintaining a locking state by the lock plate <NUM>.

In such a state, according to the counterclockwise rotation of the lock plate <NUM>, the link locking part <NUM> hooked to the locking groove part <NUM> is separated from the locking groove part <NUM>, whereby the locking state of the folding link <NUM> is released.

Accordingly, the seatback <NUM> together with the folding link <NUM> rotates forward about the folding hinge shaft S2 as the center.

Accordingly, according to a forward rotation of the seatback <NUM>, the folding operation of the seatback <NUM> is implemented as shown in a bottom view of <FIG>.

In particular, in the folding process of the seatback <NUM>, the lock plate <NUM> rotates forward about the reclining hinge shaft S1 as the center so that the link locking part <NUM> is separated from the locking groove part <NUM>. In addition, in such a state, since the folding link <NUM> further rotates forward together with the seatback <NUM>, even when the lever <NUM> is restored to the position prior to the manipulation by releasing the user's hand from the lever <NUM>, the lock plate <NUM> becomes not to be hooked to the folding link <NUM> in the folding process.

Accordingly, the present disclosure not only implements a folding operation of the seatback <NUM> with one manipulation of the lever <NUM>, but also improves convenience of the folding operation because there is no need to hold the lever <NUM> until the folding operation is completed.

Claim 1:
A device for folding a seat, the device comprising:
a lower arm stopper (<NUM>) formed to a predetermined radial position of a lower arm (<NUM>) with respect to a reclining hinge shaft (S1) of a seatback (<NUM>) as a center;
a lock plate (<NUM>) configured to rotate about a rotation shaft (<NUM>) as a center while being hooked to the lower arm stopper (<NUM>) in a process of reclining forward together with the seatback (<NUM>) with respect to the reclining hinge shaft (S1) as the center;
a folding link (<NUM>) configured to be limited to rotate by being hooked to the lock plate (<NUM>) and configured to make folding rotation together with the seatback (<NUM>) with respect to a folding hinge shaft (S2), as a center, located at a part above the reclining hinge shaft (S1), by being released from being hooked to the lock plate (<NUM>) according to the rotation of the lock plate (<NUM>); and
a lever (<NUM>) configured to manipulate a reclining or folding operation of the seatback (<NUM>),
wherein according to a manipulation of the lever (<NUM>), locking between the seatback (<NUM>) and a seat cushion (<NUM>) is released so that the lock plate (<NUM>) and the folding link (<NUM>) together with the seatback (<NUM>) rotate forward about the reclining hinge shaft (S1) as the center,
characterized in that,
with the reclining hinge shaft (S1) as the center, a guide pin (<NUM>) is fixed at a predetermined radial position of the lower arm (<NUM>), and
a guide hole (<NUM>) of a long hole into which the guide pin (<NUM>) is inserted extends along a rotation path of the lever (<NUM>) in the lever (<NUM>), thereby allowing the lever (<NUM>) to rotate in a guide hole section.