Patent Description:
With the two-child policy, <NUM>-seater sedans can no longer meet the needs of families with larger members. Therefore, in recent years, the market of <NUM>-seater SUVs and MPVs has increased year by year. <NUM>-seater has been favored by more and more families, and gradually becomes the mainstream model in the automotive market. An easy-entry (EZE) module aims to provide the enough access room for passengers of each row, especially for the passenger straight to his third-row seat passing the second-row seat.

The seat mounting structure with the easy-entry module usually includes a lower sliding rail and an upper sliding rail. The lower sliding rail is stationary relative to the floor or frame of the car and the upper sliding rail is stationary relative to the seat (such as the second-row seat). The upper sliding rail is connected to the lower sliding rail for allowing the upper sliding rail movable back and forth relative to the lower sliding rail. When the seat on the upper sliding rail is moved forward, a more spacious access room for the passenger to the rear seat is provided. In addition, the seat mounting structure with the easy-entry module also includes a rail locking mechanism for restricting the relative movement between the lower sliding rail and the upper sliding rail, so as to lock the upper sliding rail (i.e., the seat) after the passenger accesses to the rear seat.

It is known that the seat mounting structure with the easy-entry module can also include a memory module to allow the seat to move forward from a selected point (such as a comfortable position of the second-row passenger), and then allow the seat to move backward before the selected point. Such memory module is often arranged outside of the sliding rails (i.e., the lower sliding rail and the upper sliding rail), which not only takes up a lot of space and makes it inconvenient to arrange, but also expensive. Further, additional fastening structure is needed on the seat frame. Compared with such external memory module, the memory module arranged inside the sliding rails has significant advantages. For example, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose memory modules, which do not need to take up the space outside the sliding rails. However, these known memory modules have numerous parts and complex mechanisms, for example complex parts such as ratchets, which take up a large space inside the sliding rails, easily interfere with the rail locking mechanism and are difficult to apply to different types of sliding rails. Moreover, many parts of these known memory modules need to be installed before the sliding rails are paired, resulting in high installation costs. In addition, more slots on the sliding rails are needed for these known memory modules, and thus the overall rigidity of the sliding rails is reduced and their applications are greatly restricted. <CIT> discloses also a memory module.

In order to solve the problems of the complex structure and the large space occupied of the built-in module in the prior art, the present invention aims to provide a memory module and a seat mounting structure with an easy-to-enter module.

The present invention provides a memory module, comprising: an upper module including a fixed block, a pressure tongue and a reset spring, wherein the pressure tongue is rotatably mounted on the fixed block by the reset spring, wherein the reset spring provides a first driving force for the rotation of the pressure tongue, wherein the fixed block has a downwardly extending upper retaining point, and wherein the pressure tongue has an upper retaining surface formed by the front surface; a lower module engaged with the upper module and including a guide rail, a slider, a rotating block and a torsion spring, wherein the rotating block is rotatably mounted on the slider by the torsion spring, wherein the torsion spring provides a second driving force for the rotation of the rotating block, wherein the slider is slidably mounted on the guide rail, wherein the guide rail has locking holes, wherein the rotating block has a locking block, wherein the slider has an upwardly extending first lower retaining point at its front end, wherein the rotating block has an upwardly extending second lower retaining point at its rear end for engaging with the upper retaining point; when the front end of the rotating block is raised under the action of the second driving force, the locking block is inserted into the locking hole, and the upper retaining surface is separated from the first lower retaining point; when the rear end of the rotating block is raised since the rotating block is pressed by the pressure tongue under the action of the first driving force overcoming the second driving force, the locking block is separated from the locking hole, and the upper retaining surface is engaged with the first lower retaining point.

The fixed block comprises a top plate portion and a bottom plate portion, wherein the bottom plate portion starts from the lower surface of the top plate portion and extends downward in an arc shape and then extends parallel to the top plate portion to form a fixed arcuate section and a straight section; wherein the rear end of the pressure tongue extends upward in an arc shape to form a tongue arcuate section; wherein the reset spring includes a first reed and a second reed; wherein the second reed starts from the rear end of the first reed and extends upward in an arc shape and then slopes upward to form a reed arcuate section and an inclined section; wherein the reed arcuate section is received in the tongue arcuate section, and the tongue arcuate section is received in the fixed arcuate section; wherein the inclined section is engaged with the top plate portion; and wherein the first reed provides the first driving force to the straight section of the pressure tongue.

The fixed block further comprises a connecting rib, which extends perpendicular to the top plate portion and the bottom plate portion between the top plate portion and the bottom plate portion; wherein the pressure tongue includes side sections spaced apart by a tongue notch; wherein the reset spring includes side sections spaced apart by a reed notch; and wherein the connecting rib is inserted into and engaged with the tongue notch and the reed notch.

The inclined section has a protrusion, wherein the top plate portion has a recess, and wherein the protrusion extends into and engages with the recess.

The pressure tongue comprises a first tongue portion, an inclined portion and a second tongue portion, wherein the inclined portion is between the first tongue portion and the second tongue portion parallel to each other and connects the first tongue portion to the second tongue portion.

The upper module further comprises a pull tab mounted on the pressure tongue, wherein the pull tab has a curved section, wherein the inclined portion has a through hole, and wherein the curved section is inserted into and engaged with the through hole.

The guide rail comprises a bottom wall and two side walls extending perpendicular to the bottom wall; wherein the slider is a rectangular frame structure and includes two longitudinal beams parallel to each other and two transverse beams perpendicular to the longitudinal beams and connecting the longitudinal beams; wherein half spheres are raised from both the bottom surface and the outer surface of the longitudinal beams; and wherein the half spheres is slidable on and engaged with the bottom wall and the side wall of the guide rail.

The lower module further comprises a rotating shaft fixedly connected to the slider, wherein the torsion spring around the rotating shaft includes a first torsion arm, a second torsion arm and a connecting arm, wherein the connecting arm is disposed between the first torsion arm and the second torsion arm and connects the first torsion arm to the parallel second torsion arm; wherein the connecting arm is pressed on the upper surface of the rotating block, and wherein the free ends of the first torsion arm and the second torsion arm away from the connecting arm are pressed on the upper surface of the slider to provide the second driving force to the rotating block.

The present invention provides a seat mounting structure with an easy-entry module, wherein the seat mounting structure includes above memory module.

The seat mounting structure also includes a lower sliding rail, an upper sliding rail and the easy-entry module, wherein the upper module is connected to and inside the upper sliding rail, wherein the lower module is connected to and inside the lower sliding rail, wherein the upper sliding rail is connected to the lower sliding rail for allowing the upper sliding rail movable back and forth relative to the lower sliding rail, and wherein the easy-entry module is respectively connected to the upper module and the upper sliding rail.

The guide rail of the lower module is connected to the lower sliding rail at two ends by a first blind rivet and a second blind rivet.

The memory module and the seat mounting structure according to the present invention provide the locking and unlocking of the slider on the guide rail through the cooperation of the rotatable pressure tongue and the rotating block. The structure is simple, without involving complex parts such as ratchets. The module cost is reduced with fewer components. The occupy space in sliding rails is small and the interference with the rail locking mechanism is avoided, for enhancing the scope of use of the module. In particular, locking holes are disposed on the guide rail, and slots opened on the sliding rail are omitted, thus the weakening of the rigidity of the sliding rail is avoided. In fact, the rigidity of the sliding rail can be strengthened by the guide rail in the sliding rail, and the front and rear stroke stops can be formed by the fasteners of the guide rail and the sliding rail. In addition, the memory module of the seat mounting structure of the present invention is driven by the easy-entry module, in order to realize the coordinated movement of the easy-entry module and the memory module. Moreover, for the seat mounting structure according to the present invention, the upper and lower modules of the memory module can be separately installed on the upper and lower sliding rails after the upper and lower sliding rails are paired, which does not involve a lot of installation work before the sliding rails are paired, and thus the complexity of installation is reduced.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, a memory module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an upper module <NUM> and a lower module <NUM> that cooperate with each other. In a coupling state, the upper module <NUM> and the lower module <NUM> are linked. In a decoupling state, the upper module <NUM> moves independently relative to the stationary lower module <NUM>.

The upper module <NUM> includes a fixed block <NUM>, a pressure tongue <NUM>, a reset spring <NUM> and a pull tab <NUM>, wherein the pressure tongue <NUM> is mounted on the fixed block <NUM> by the reset spring <NUM>, and the pull tab <NUM> is mounted on the pressure tongue <NUM>.

Specifically, the fixed block <NUM> is a splint structure, and includes a top plate portion <NUM>, a bottom plate portion <NUM> and a connecting rib <NUM>. The bottom plate portion <NUM> starts from the lower surface of the top plate portion <NUM> and extends downward in an arc shape and then extends parallel to the top plate portion <NUM>, and thus a fixed arcuate section <NUM> and a straight section <NUM> are formed (see <FIG>). The connecting rib <NUM> extends perpendicular to the top plate portion <NUM> and the bottom plate portion <NUM> between the top plate portion <NUM> and the bottom plate portion <NUM>. In addition, an upper retaining point 1a extends downwardly from the lower surface of the straight section <NUM>, the function of which will be explained when the working mechanism of the memory module is described below.

The pressure tongue <NUM> is a sheet structure, and includes a first tongue portion <NUM>, an inclined portion <NUM> and a second tongue portion <NUM>, wherein the inclined portion <NUM> is between the first tongue portion <NUM> and the second tongue portion <NUM> parallel to each other and connects the first tongue portion <NUM> to the second tongue portion <NUM> (see <FIG>). An end of the first tongue portion <NUM> away from the second tongue portion <NUM> includes a first side section 121b and a second side section 121c spaced apart by a tongue notch 121a. The free ends of the first side section 121b and the second side section 121c respectively extend upward in an arc shape to form a tongue arcuate section <NUM>. In addition, a front surface of the second tongue portion <NUM> is formed as an upper retaining surface 1b, the function of which will be explained when the working mechanism of the memory module is described below (see <FIG>). In the installation state, the tongue notch 121a is engaged with the connecting rib <NUM>, and the tongue arcuate section <NUM> is engaged with the fixed arcuate section <NUM> (see <FIG>), so that the lateral movement of the pressure tongue <NUM> is restricted and only the rotation movement around the center of the arc is allowed.

The reset spring <NUM> is a clip structure, and includes a first reed <NUM> and a second reed <NUM>, wherein the second reed <NUM> starts from one end of the first reed <NUM> and extends upward in an arc shape and then slopes upward to form a reed arcuate section <NUM> and an inclined section <NUM> (see <FIG>). Similar to the pressure tongue <NUM>, the end of the reset spring <NUM> away from the free end includes two side sections spaced apart by a reed notch 13a. In the installation state, the reed notch 13a is engaged with the connecting rib <NUM>, and the reed arcuate section <NUM> is engaged with the tongue arcuate section <NUM> (see <FIG>). In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the inclined section <NUM> has a protrusion 1322a adjacent to the free end; the top plate portion <NUM> has a recess 111a adjacent to the free end; and the protrusion 1322a is engaged with the recess 111a to relatively fix the end of the reset spring <NUM>. Due to the preload force of the first reed <NUM> and the second reed <NUM> of the reset spring <NUM>, a downward prestressing force is always exerted to the first tongue portion <NUM> by the first reed <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, the pressure tongue <NUM> has a through hole 122a in the middle of the inclined portion <NUM>, and the pull tab <NUM> passing the through hole 122a is connected to the pressure tongue <NUM> by its curved section <NUM>.

The installation of the upper module <NUM> is easy, including: laterally inserting the arcuate section <NUM> of the reset spring <NUM> into the tongue arcuate section <NUM> of the pressure tongue <NUM>; and then inserting the connecting rib <NUM> of the fixed block <NUM> into the tongue notch 121a of the pressure tongue <NUM> and the reed notch 13a of the reset spring <NUM> until the protrusion 1322a of the reset spring <NUM> is inserted into the recess 111a of the fixed block <NUM>; and then snapping the curved section <NUM> of the pull tab <NUM> into the through hole 122a of the pressure tongue <NUM> from above.

The lower module <NUM> includes a guide rail <NUM>, a slider <NUM>, a rotating block <NUM>, a torsion spring <NUM> and a rotating shaft <NUM>. The rotating block <NUM> is mounted on the slider <NUM> via the torsion spring <NUM> and the rotating shaft <NUM>, and the slider <NUM> is mounted on the guide rail <NUM>.

Specifically, the guide rail <NUM> has a U-shaped structure, and includes a bottom wall <NUM> and two side walls <NUM> extending perpendicular to the bottom wall <NUM>. The bottom wall <NUM> has a plurality of locking holes 211a.

The slider <NUM> is a rectangular frame structure, and includes two longitudinal beams <NUM> parallel to each other and two transverse beams <NUM> perpendicular to the longitudinal beams <NUM> and connecting the longitudinal beams <NUM>. A first lower retaining point 2a extends upwardly from the top surface of the front transverse beam <NUM>, the function of which will be explained when the working mechanism of the memory module is described below. Half spheres are raised from both the bottom surface and the outer surface of the longitudinal beams <NUM>. In the installation state, the slider <NUM> is guided in the guide rail <NUM> in a free slide manner by the raised half spheres.

The rotating block <NUM> is a plate-like structure, and a second lower retaining point 2b extends upwardly from its rear end, the function of which will be explained when the working mechanism of the memory module is described below. In addition, a locking block <NUM> extends downwardly from the lower surface of the rotating block <NUM> adjacent to the second lower retaining point 2b for engaging with the locking holes 211a of the guide rail <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Returning to <FIG>, the torsion spring <NUM> includes a first torsion arm <NUM>, a second torsion arm <NUM> and a connecting arm <NUM>, wherein the connecting arm <NUM> is disposed between the first torsion arm <NUM> and the second torsion arm <NUM> and connects the first torsion arm <NUM> to the second torsion arm <NUM>. In the installation state, the rotating shaft <NUM> is fixedly connected to the slider <NUM>; the rotating block <NUM> and the torsion spring <NUM> are disposed around the rotating shaft <NUM> in the slider <NUM> and can rotate around the rotating shaft <NUM>; the connecting arm <NUM> of the torsion spring <NUM> is pressed on the upper surface of the rotating block <NUM>, and the free ends of the first torsion arm <NUM> and the second torsion arm <NUM> away from the connecting arm <NUM> are pressed on the upper surface of the longitudinal beams <NUM>, so that a force is always applied to the rotating block <NUM> at its rear end by the torsion spring <NUM> to press down the locking block <NUM>, i.e., to raise the front end of the rotating block <NUM>. In the present embodiment, an interference fit is provided between the rotating shaft <NUM> and the longitudinal beams <NUM>, in order to ensure that there is no relative rotation between the rotating shaft <NUM> and the slider <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a clearance fit is provided between the rotating shaft <NUM> and the rotating block <NUM>, in order to ensure that the rotating block <NUM> can rotate around the rotating shaft <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the installation of the lower module <NUM> is also easy, including: putting the rotating block <NUM> within the frame structure of the slider <NUM>; putting the connecting arm <NUM> of the torsion spring <NUM> on the rotating block <NUM>; inserting the rotating shaft <NUM> through the torsion arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the torsion spring <NUM>, the rotating block <NUM> and the slider <NUM>; and sliding the assembly into the guide rail <NUM> from the front or rear end.

The working mechanism of the memory module will be described in detail below with reference to <FIG>.

In an initial state, a downward prestressing force is exerted to the first tongue portion <NUM> of the pressure tongue <NUM> by the first reed <NUM> of the reset spring <NUM>, allowing the pressure tongue <NUM> to rotate clockwise around the center of the arc, and to press down the front end and raise the rear end of the rotating block <NUM>. At this time, the upper retaining surface 1b formed by the front surface of the pressure tongue <NUM> is engaged with the upwardly extending first lower retaining point 2a of the slider <NUM>. When the upper module <NUM> is forced to move forward, the lower module <NUM> is moved forward accordingly. In addition, at this time, the downwardly extending upper retaining point 1a of the fixed block <NUM> is engaged with the upwardly extending second lower retaining point 2b of the rotating block <NUM> at its rear end. When the upper module <NUM> is forced to move backward, the lower module <NUM> is moved backward accordingly. That is to say, the upper module <NUM> and the lower module <NUM> are linked.

An external force F is acted on the pull tab <NUM> to overcome the preload of the reset spring <NUM>, so that the front end of the pressure tongue <NUM> is raised to move away from the rotating block <NUM>. The front end of the rotating block <NUM> is raised under the action of the torsion spring <NUM> (See <FIG>) after the pressure tongue <NUM> leaves, and the locking block <NUM> at its rear end of the rotating block <NUM> is inserted into the locking hole 211a of the guide rail <NUM> to fix the lower module <NUM> at the selected position, which is the memory position.

Since the upwardly warped pressure tongue <NUM> is free from the restriction of the first lower retaining point 2a, the forward movement of the upper module <NUM> is completely independent from the lower module <NUM>.

Although the front end of the rotating block <NUM> is raised under the action of the torsion spring <NUM>, the upwardly extending second lower retaining point 2b at its rear end is also engaged with the downwardly extending upper retaining point 1a of the fixed block <NUM>. The backward movement of the upper module <NUM> is stopped by the second lower retaining point 2b at the memory position since the lower module <NUM> is fixed at the memory position. After that, the external force F is released, and the upper module <NUM> and the lower module <NUM> are restored to the initial state under the preload of the reset spring <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a seat mounting structure with an easy-entry module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an upper module <NUM>, a lower module <NUM>, a lower sliding rail <NUM>, an upper sliding rail <NUM> and an easy-entry module <NUM>, wherein the upper module <NUM> is connected to the upper sliding rail <NUM> which is stationary relative to the seat, wherein the lower module <NUM> is connected to the lower sliding rail <NUM> which is stationary relative to the floor or frame of the car, wherein the upper sliding rail <NUM> is connected to the lower sliding rail <NUM> for allowing the upper sliding rail <NUM> movable back and forth relative to the lower sliding rail <NUM>, and wherein the easy-entry module <NUM> is respectively connected to the upper module <NUM> and the upper sliding rail <NUM>. Specifically, the easy-entry module <NUM> and the upper module <NUM> are respectively fixed on opposite sides of the upper sliding rail <NUM> by a first fastener <NUM>, that is to say, the upper module <NUM> is mounted inside the upper sliding rail <NUM>, and the easy-entry module <NUM> is mounted outside the upper sliding rail <NUM>. For example, a long bolt is disposed through the easy-entry module <NUM>, the upper sliding rail <NUM> and the fixed block <NUM> of the upper module <NUM>. In addition, the easy-entry module <NUM> is connected to the pull tab <NUM> of the upper module <NUM> to provide the external force F to the pull tab <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing the lower module <NUM> mounted inside the lower sliding rail <NUM> through a second fastener <NUM>. The second fastener <NUM> includes a first blind rivet <NUM> and a second blind rivet <NUM>, by which the guide rail <NUM> of the lower module <NUM> is connected to the lower sliding rail <NUM> at two ends. In addition, the first blind rivet <NUM> and the second blind rivet <NUM> are formed as the front and rear stroke stops of the slider <NUM> of the lower module <NUM>.

The installation of the seat mounting structure is also easy, including: fastening the easy-entry module <NUM> and the upper module <NUM> on the upper sliding rail <NUM> by the first fastener <NUM>; fastening the lower module <NUM> on the lower sliding rail <NUM> by the second fastener <NUM>; and pairing the upper sliding rail <NUM> with the lower sliding rail <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A memory module, comprising:
an upper module (<NUM>) including a fixed block (<NUM>), a pressure tongue (<NUM>) and a reset spring (<NUM>), wherein the pressure tongue (<NUM>) is rotatably mounted on the fixed block (<NUM>) by the reset spring (<NUM>), wherein the reset spring (<NUM>) provides a first driving force for the rotation of the pressure tongue (<NUM>), wherein the fixed block (<NUM>) has a downwardly extending upper retaining point (1a), and wherein the pressure tongue (<NUM>) has an upper retaining surface (1b) formed by its front surface;
a lower module (<NUM>) engaged with the upper module (<NUM>) and including a guide rail (<NUM>), a slider (<NUM>), a rotating block (<NUM>) and a torsion spring (<NUM>), wherein the rotating block (<NUM>) is rotatably mounted on the slider (<NUM>) by the torsion spring (<NUM>), wherein the torsion spring (<NUM>) provides a second driving force for the rotation of the rotating block (<NUM>), wherein the slider (<NUM>) is slidably mounted on the guide rail (<NUM>), wherein the guide rail (<NUM>) has locking holes (211a), wherein the rotating block (<NUM>) has a locking block (<NUM>), wherein the slider (<NUM>) has an upwardly extending first lower retaining point (2a) at its front end, wherein the rotating block (<NUM>) has an upwardly extending second lower retaining point (2b) at its rear end for engaging with the upper retaining point (1a);
when the front end of the rotating block (<NUM>) is raised under the action of the second driving force, the locking block (<NUM>) is inserted into the locking hole (211a), and the upper retaining surface (1b) is separated from the first lower retaining point (2a);
when the rear end of the rotating block (<NUM>) is raised since the rotating block (<NUM>) is pressed by the pressure tongue (<NUM>) under the action of the first driving force overcoming the second driving force, the locking block (<NUM>) is separated from the locking hole (211a), and the upper retaining surface (1b) is engaged with the first lower retaining point (2a).