Apparatus for locking double-folding seat for vehicles

• US 7,914,061 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Jeong, Chan Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow; Jason S
• Application Number:
  US12/323,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.05, 296/65.09, 296/65.16, 297/316, 297/324, 297/326, 297/336, 297/335, 297/344.1
• US Class Current: 296/65.05
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/967 the locking system prevents tilt of whole seat by retaining and locking the seat in a vertical storage position

Abstract

An apparatus for locking a double-folding seat for vehicles includes a latch plate, a guide unit, a release lever unit and a locking pin. The latch plate has a locking notch therein and is fastened to a seat frame. The guide unit is fitted over a folding shaft of the seat frame at a position spaced apart from the latch plate. The release lever unit is provided on the folding shaft so as to be rotatable. The locking pin is elastically connected to the release lever unit such that the locking pin is locked to the locking notch of the latch plate when the seat frame is folded. Furthermore, when the release lever unit is rotated, the release lever unit pushes the locking pin, so that the locking of the locking pin to the locking notch of the latch plate is released.

Claims

1. An apparatus for locking a double-folding seat for vehicles, comprising:

a latch plate firmly fastened to a seat frame which is rotatably coupled to a base bracket, the latch plate having a locking notch formed at a predetermined position thereof;

a guide unit firmly fastened to a folding shaft at a position spaced apart from the latch plate, the guide unit including a guide slot;

a release lever unit rotatably coupled to the folding shaft; and

a locking pin slidably inserted into the guide slot of the guide unit, the locking pin being elastically connected to the release lever unit such that the locking pin is locked to the locking notch of the latch plate when the seat frame is folded, but when the release lever unit is rotated, the release lever unit moves out the locking pin from the locking notch of the latch plate, so that the locking pin is released from the locking notch.

2. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein the release lever unit comprises:

a lever plate rotatably provided on the folding shaft;

a support pin formed on the lever plate and being connected to the locking pin through an elastic spring; and

a lever extending outwards from one end portion of the lever plate.

3. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein a rack gear is provided in the latch plate, and a pinion gear is rotatably provided on the base bracket, the pinion gear engaging with the rack gear.

4. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 3, wherein the rack gear is formed on the latch plate in a predetermined distance from the folding shaft in a rotational direction thereof.

5. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein a stopper is provided on the base bracket to limit a rotation angle of the seat frame at which the seat frame is folded.

6. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein a retainer is provided on an end portion of the locking pin to prevent the locking pin from releasing from the guide unit.

7. An apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles, comprising:

a latch plate firmly fastened to a seat frame which is rotatably coupled to a base bracket, the latch plate having a locking notch formed at a predetermined position in the latch plate;

a guide unit firmly fastened to a folding shaft, wherein the guide unit is locked to the latch plate by rotation of the seat frame; and

a release lever unit rotatably coupled to the folding shaft, wherein the guide unit is unlocked from the latch plate by rotation of the release lever unit;

wherein the guide unit comprises;

a guide slot formed in a radial direction from the folding shaft; and

a locking pin slidably inserted into the guide slot and elastically biased toward the folding shaft by an elastic member,

wherein the locking pin is locked to the locking notch of the latch plate by the elastic member when the seat frame is rotated with a predetermined degree so as to fold the seat frame but when the release lever unit is rotated, the release lever unit releases the locking pin from the locking notch of the latch plate.

8. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, wherein the latch plate is firmly fastened to the seat frame through a bushing enclosing a portion of the folding shaft in the base bracket.

9. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, wherein the locking notch is formed on the latch plate in a predetermined distance from the folding shaft in a radial direction thereof.

10. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, the locking pin and the release lever unit is connected by the elastic member.

11. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, wherein the elastic member is a spring.

12. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, wherein a retainer is provided on an end of the locking pin to prevent the locking pin from releasing from the guide unit.

13. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, wherein the release lever unit comprises:

a lever plate rotatably provided on the folding shaft; and

a lever extending outwards from one end portion of the lever plate.

14. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 13, wherein a support pin is formed to the lever plate, the support pin and the locking pin being connected by an elastic member.

15. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, wherein a rack gear is provided in the latch plate, and a pinion gear is rotatably provided on the base bracket, the pinion gear engaging with the rack gear.

16. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 15, wherein the rack gear is formed on the latch plate in a predetermined distance from the folding shaft in a rotational direction thereof.

17. The apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7, wherein a stopper is provided on the base bracket to limit a rotation angle of the seat frame at which the seat frame is folded.

18. A passenger vehicle comprising the apparatus for locking the double-folding seat for vehicles as set forth in claim 7.