APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING LENGTH OF SEAT CUSHION

• US 20090091172A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Kim, Sang Ho
• Application Number:
  US11/967,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091172A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/337
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for adjusting the length of a seat cushion comprises an extension panel, installed on a cushion panel of the seat cushion and spaced apart from the cushion panel. Adjusting units are installed between the cushion panel and the extension panel, and move the extension panel in a forward or backward direction. Bach adjusting unit includes a reversible motor, a carrier, fixed to one side of the extension panel and movable in a forward or backward direction, a slider, fixed to a lower surface of the extension panel and movable together with the extension panel in a forward or backward direction, and a rail fixed to the cushion panel, to and support and guide the slider.

Claims

1. An apparatus for adjusting a length of a seat cushion, comprising:

an extension panel, installed on a cushion panel of a seat cushion and spaced apart from the cushion panel; and

adjusting units installed between the cushion panel and the extension panel, to move the extension panel in a forward or backward direction,

wherein each adjusting unit includes;

a reversible motor;

a carrier fixed to one side of the extension panel, and movable in a forward or backward direction by means of driving force of the reversible motor;

a slider fixed to a lower surface of the extension panel, movable together with the extension panel in a forward or backward direction; and

a rail, fixed to the cushion panel support and guide the slider.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forward or backward movement of the carrier is performed by a lead screw, connected to a rotational shaft of the reversible motor and movable in a forward or backward direction when the reversible motor is driven.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slider is supported and guided by the rail at one or more positions.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slider and the rail include racks, and the slider moves in a forward or backward direction along the rail via a pinion interposed between the racks.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the adjusting unit are installed on opposite sides of the extension panel, and the pinion bar, on opposite ends of which pinions are provided, is installed between the adjusting units.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pinions of the pinion bar include a first pinion, engaged with the rack of the slider, and a second pinion, engaged with the rack of the rail, and rotational ratios of these pinions are different from each other.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pinion bar is fixed to one end of a seat cover, which covers the cushion panel and the extension panel, and the seat cover is wound around or unwound from an outer surface of the pinion bar, which is rotated.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the slider includes a sliding part protruding from one side thereof, and the rail includes a support that extends along a locus of the sliding part in a forward or backward direction and is spaced apart from the sliding part by a predetermined interval.