Apparatus for back-folding standup seat of vehicle

• US 9,358,907 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Han, Kug Hun, Sung, Young Bok, Kim, Sang Ho, Moon, Soo Hyun, Lim, Deok Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/570,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20150291066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 297/61, 297/336, 297/331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/12 slidable and tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position

Abstract

An apparatus for back-folding a standup seat of a vehicle may include a standup associated back-folding unit that is installed between a hook mounted to a lower frame of a seat cushion to be locked to or unlocked from a striker of a floor panel, and a recliner mounted to a side frame of a seatback such that a forward folding operation of the seatback and a forward folding operation of a headrest that is automatically performed by operating the recliner during a standup operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for back-folding a standup seat of a vehicle,

wherein a standup associated back-folding unit is installed between a hook mounted to a lower frame of a seat cushion to be locked to or unlocked from a striker of a floor panel, and a recliner mounted to a side frame of a seatback such that a forward folding operation of the seatback and a forward folding operation of a headrest is automatically performed by operating the recliner during a standup operation,

wherein a standup operation input mechanism comprises:

a first input link coaxially connected to a standup operation lever and mounted to an outer surface of the side frame of the seatback;

a second input link disposed below the first input link and rotatably connected to the first input link by a first cable;

a third input link hinge-mounted to an inner surface of the side frame while being connected to the second input link in association with the second input link to be rotated at a same angle while the second input link is angularly rotated;

a fourth input link having an upper end coaxially connected to the third input link, and in which one end of a second cable is connected to a lower end of the fourth input link;

a fifth input link to which a lower end of a hook support plate mounted to a lower end of the lower frame of the seat cushion is hinge-mounted and in which an opposite end of the second cable is connected to an upper end of the fifth input link at a same time; and

a cam connected to a central portion of the fifth input link, for rotating the hook to an unlock position while being rotated at a same angle as that of the fifth input link when the second cable is pulled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the standup associated back-folding unit comprises:

the standup operation input mechanism connected to the standup operation lever in association with the standup operation lever to unlock the hook from the striker;

a standup operation output mechanism connected to the lower frame of the seat cushion to vertically erect the seat cushion while the hook is unlocked and erect the seatback while proceeding the seatback forwards at a same time; and

a back-folding mechanism connected between the lower frame of the seat cushion and the recliner of the seatback and the recliner of the headrest to operate the recliner of the seatback during the standup operation such that the forward folding operation of the seatback and the forward folding operation of the headrest are performed at a same time.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the standup operation output mechanism comprises:

a connection frame of which a rear end is hinge-connected to the lower frame of the seat cushion and of which a front end is hinge-connected to a front frame of the seat cushion fixed to a floor panel; and

a resilient pulling mechanism connected between the connection frame and the front frame, for pulling the connection frame by a resilient restoring force to unlock the hook and perform the standup operation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a connection member coaxially connected to the second input link is formed at an upper end of the third input link, a hinge pin hinge-mounted to an inner surface of the side frame is mounted to a central portion of the third input link, and a push end for angularly rotating the fourth input link is bent at a lower end of the third input link.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back-folding mechanism comprises:

a first back-folding link of which a front end is hinge-connected to a rear end of the connection frame of the standup operation output mechanism and of which a central portion is hinge-coupled to the lower frame;

a second back-folding link in which a front end of the second back-folding link is coaxially connected to the hinge coupling part of the first back-folding link, a lower portion of the rear end of the second back-folding link is connected to a rear end of the first back-folding link by a hinge pin, and a third cable for a seatback folding operation and a fourth cable for a headrest folding operation are connected to an upper portion of the rear end of the second back-folding link to be pulled;

a recliner operation link connected to an upper end of the third cable, for unlocking the recliner and allowing the forward folding operation of the seatback; and

a headrest operation link connected to an upper end of the fourth cable, for unlocking a heat rest rotation link and allowing the forward folding operation of the headrest.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the recliner operation link comprises:

a third back-folding link in which an upper end of the third cable is connected to a rear end of the third back-folding link and of which a central portion is hinge-coupled to a side frame of the seatback;

a recliner unlocking link connected to an unlocking shaft of the recliner, for angularly rotating the recliner to an unlocking position; and

a fourth back-folding link of which a lower end is connected between a rear end and a central portion of the third back-folding link and of which an upper end is hinge-connected to the recliner unlocking link.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a rotation angle restriction guide pin is mounted to a front end of the third back-folding link, and a slot into which the guide pin is inserted passes through the side frame of the seatback.