APPARATUS FOR TILTING VEHICLE SEAT CUSHION

• US 20100026068A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• 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: Yoo, Eom Seok, Park, Sang Do, Kim, Gil Ju, Pyun, Jong Kweon, Kim, Hak Gyun, Kim, Bong Ku, Heo, Jun Yeol, Jeong, Dong Woo
• Application Number:
  US12/323,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026068A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems

Abstract

An apparatus for tilting a vehicle seat cushion raises the front end to be higher than the rear end of the seat cushion in order to enhance a supporting force for an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, thereby preventing the occupant from being pushed forwards in the event of sudden braking. The apparatus includes a cushion tilting unit installed in the seat cushion, wherein the cushion tilting unit raises a front end of a seat cushion to be higher than a rear end of the seat cushion without adjusting an angle of the seat back.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tilting a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, which includes the seat cushion and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, the apparatus comprising:

a cushion tilting unit installed in the seat cushion, wherein the cushion tilting unit raises a front end of the seat cushion to be higher than a rear end of the seat cushion without adjusting an angle of the seat back.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cushion tilting unit includes:

a tilting part placed in the front end of the seat cushion, wherein an rear end of the tilting part is hinged to a place positioned beyond a front end of a cushion frame of the seat cushion in a rear direction so as to allow a front end of the tilting part to rotate with respect to the rear end of the tilting part;

a cross bar coupling the front end of the cushion frame and the front end of the tilting part via a hinge arm and having a predetermined radius of rotation with respect to the front end of the cushion frame so as to lift the front end of the tilting part in a predetermined range of rotation;

an external force transmission for applying an external force to the cross bar; and

an external force generator for supplying the external force to the external force transmission.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cushion tilting unit further includes a holder displaced on a lower surface of the tilting part and a receiving slot, the holder limiting a movement of the cross bar via the receiving slot.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the external force transmission includes:

a vertical transmission part pivotally connected to the cross bar; and

a horizontal transmission part pivotally linked to the vertical transmission part and connected to the external force generator.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the external force generator comprises a drive motor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the external force generator comprises an operation lever.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the external force generator is attached to the cushion frame.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cushion tilting unit includes:

a tilting part placed in the front end of the seat cushion, wherein an rear end of the tilting part is hinged to a place positioned beyond a front end of a cushion frame of the seat cushion in a rear direction so as to allow a front end of the tilting part to rotate with respect to the rear end of the tilting part;

a cross bar coupling the front end of the cushion frame and the front end of the tilting part via a hinge arm so as to lift the front end of the tilting;

an external force transmission for applying an external force to the cross bar; and

an external force generator for supplying the external force to the external force transmission.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the external force transmission includes:

a vertical transmission part pivotally connected to the cross bar; and

a horizontal transmission part pivotally linked to the vertical transmission part and connected to the external force generator.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the external force generator comprises a drive motor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the external force generator comprises an operation lever.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the external force generator is attached to the cushion frame.

15. A system for tilting a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, which includes the seat cushion and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, the system comprising the apparatus for tilting the seat cushion of the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1.

18. A passenger vehicle comprising the apparatus for tilting the seat cushion of the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1.

13. An apparatus for tilting a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, which includes the seat cushion and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, the apparatus comprising:

a cushion tilting unit installed in the seat cushion, wherein the cushion tilting unit raises a front end of the seat cushion to be higher than a rear end of the seat cushion without adjusting an angle of the seat back;

wherein the cushion tilting unit includes;

a tilting part placed in the front end of the seat cushion, wherein an rear end of the tilting part is hinged to a place positioned beyond a front end of a cushion frame of the seat cushion in a rear direction so as to allow a front end of the tilting part to rotate with respect to the rear end of the tilting part;

a cross bar coupling the front end of the cushion frame and the front end of the tilting part via a hinge arm and having a predetermined radius of rotation with respect to the front end of the cushion frame so as to lift the front end of the tilting part in a predetermined range of rotation;

an external force transmission for applying an external force to the cross bar; and

an external force generator for supplying the external force to the external force transmission.

16. A system for tilting a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, which includes the seat cushion and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, the system comprising the apparatus for tilting the seat cushion of the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 13.

19. A passenger vehicle comprising the apparatus for tilting the seat cushion of the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 16.

14. An apparatus for tilting a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, which includes the seat cushion and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, comprising:

a cushion tilting unit installed in the seat cushion, wherein the cushion tilting unit raises a front end of the seat cushion to be higher than a rear end of the seat cushion without adjusting an angle of the seat back;

wherein the cushion tilting unit includes;

a tilting part placed in the front end of the seat cushion, wherein an rear end of the tilting part is hinged to a place positioned beyond a front end of a cushion frame of the seat cushion in a rear direction so as to allow a front end of the tilting part to rotate with respect to the rear end of the tilting part;

a cross bar coupling the front end of the cushion frame and the front end of the tilting part via a hinge arm so as to lift the front end of the tilting part;

an external force transmission for applying an external force to the cross bar; and

an external force generator for supplying the external force to the external force transmission.

17. A system for tilting a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, which includes the seat cushion and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, the system comprising the apparatus for tilting a seat cushion of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 14.

20. A passenger vehicle comprising the system for tilting the seat cushion of the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 17.