Folding recliner of seat for vehicles

• US 7,494,186 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Austem Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Austem Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Jun-Kyu, Paing, Hyun-Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US11/330,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 297/378.12, 297/378.1, 297/354.12, 297/361.1, 162/39, 162/36
• US Class Current: 297/378.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2352 with external pawls

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a folding recliner of a seat for vehicles which is able to execute both seat folding and reclining motions using only a single lever. The folding recliner of the present invention includes a lever unit, which has a lever pin and a lever, so that, when the lever is rotated in a predetermined direction, the lever unit is rotated around a reclining shaft so that the seat back enters an unlocked state. The folding recliner further includes a first link, which has a contact part on a lower end thereof, and a second link, which is rotated around a rotating shaft, coupled to the second link, by movement of the first link. The folding recliner further includes a spring, which is coupled between the second link and a frame unit, and a cam, which is rotated around the rotating shaft and has a locking protrusion. The folding recliner further includes a latch which is rotated around a folding shaft and has a curved edge part, so that the curved edge part contacts an upper end of the cam so that the seat back maintains an unfolded locked state thereof, and a locking notch formed at a predetermined position in the outer edge of the latch so that the locking protrusion of the cam is locked to the locking notch so that the seat back maintains a folded locked state thereof.

Claims

1. A folding recliner for folding and reclining a seat back of a seat of a vehicle, comprising:

a lever unit, comprising;

a lever pin provided at a first position; and

a lever provided at a second position, so that, when the lever is rotated in a predetermined direction, the lever unit is rotated around a reclining shaft using a rotational force transmitted from the lever so that the seat back enters an unlocked state;

a first link provided with a slot formed through an intermediate portion of the first link so that the first link is moved under guidance of a slot pin inserted into the slot, a contact part provided on a lower end of the first link so that a pushing force for an unlocking motion is transmitted from the lever pin of the lever unit, and a through hole formed through an upper end of the first link;

a second link rotated around a rotating shaft, coupled to an intermediate portion of the second link, by movement of the first link, the second link rotatably coupled at a first end thereof to the through hole of the first link using a rotating pin, with a holding hole formed through a second end of the second link;

a spring held at a first end thereof by the holding hole of the second link and held at a second end thereof by a frame unit, thus providing a restoring force to the second link so that the seat back enters a locked state;

a cam rotated around the rotating shaft and having an arm part extending a predetermined length in a predetermined direction, with a locking protrusion provided on an end of the arm part; and

a latch rotated around a folding shaft, and provided with a curved edge part formed at a first position on an outer edge of the latch so that the curved edge part contacts an upper end of the cam such that the seat back maintains an unfolded locked state thereof, and a locking notch formed at a second position in the outer edge of the latch so that the locking protrusion of the cam is locked to the locking notch such that the seat back maintains a folded locked state thereof.

2. The folding recliner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame unit comprises:

a main frame to which the lever unit is mounted;

a second arm frame rotatable around the reclining shaft of the main frame and fitted over the folding shaft, and formed with a guide slot formed at a predetermined position through the second arm frame so that a latch pin coupled to the latch moves along the guide slot; and

a first arm frame provided at a position facing the second arm frame.

3. The folding recliner as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a stopper link provided on the second arm frame and rotated around the rotating shaft, the stopper link limiting movement of the latch pin.

4. The folding recliner as set forth in claim 2, wherein the latch is fitted over the folding shaft between the first arm frame and the second arm frame and rotated around the folding shaft.