US-12617319-B2 - Relaxation seat for vehicle

Abstract

An embodiment relaxation seat for a vehicle includes a seat cushion lower frame configured to be mounted on a seat rail, a seat cushion upper frame connected to the seat cushion lower frame in a tilting-enabled manner, a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion upper frame, a locking device mounted at a predetermined position on the seat cushion upper frame, a front link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a front end portion of the seat cushion lower frame, a rear link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a rear end portion of the seat cushion lower frame, and a support bar connecting between the locking device and the front link in a manner that is movable backward and forward and configured to support the front link for rotation or fixation thereof.

Inventors

• Byeong Kwang KIM
• Young Bok SUNG
• Yong Chang Jung
• Young Jun Kim

Assignees

• HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
• KIA CORPORATION
• DAS CO., LTD

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230417

Priority Date

20221107

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A relaxation seat for a vehicle, the relaxation seat comprising: a seat cushion lower frame; a seat cushion upper frame connected to the seat cushion lower frame in a tilting-enabled manner; a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion upper frame; a locking device mounted at a predetermined position on the seat cushion upper frame; a front link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a front end portion of the seat cushion lower frame; a rear link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a rear end portion of the seat cushion lower frame; and a support bar connecting between the locking device and the front link in a manner that is movable backward and forward and configured to support the front link for rotation or fixation thereof, wherein the locking device is configured to selectively lock or unlock backward and forward movement of the support bar.
2. 2 . The relaxation seat of claim 1 , wherein the front link comprises: a first front link, wherein a lower end portion of the first front link is hinge-connected to the seat cushion lower frame; and a second front link, wherein an upper end portion of the second front link is hinge-connected to a connection pipe fastened to the seat cushion upper frame, a front end portion of the support bar is hinge-connected to a first side of a lower end portion of the second front link, and an upper end portion of the first front link and a second side of the lower end portion of the second front link are connected to each other with a hinge pin.
3. 3 . The relaxation seat of claim 2 , further comprising a guide hole disposed in the seat cushion upper frame and configured to receive the hinge pin and to guide the first front link and the second front link to move along a circular path.
4. 4 . The relaxation seat of claim 3 , further comprising a guide pin integrally provided on the hinge pin in a manner extending from the hinge pin, the guide pin being configured to be inserted into the guide hole.
5. 5 . The relaxation seat of claim 2 , further comprising a stepped portion disposed on the first side of the lower end portion of the second front link to which the front end portion of the support bar is hinge-connected in a manner that protrudes toward an inward direction therefrom, wherein the stepped portion is configured to prevent the support bar from interfering with the first and second front links when the support bar moves backward and forward.
6. 6 . The relaxation seat of claim 2 , further comprising a torsion spring inserted into the connection pipe, wherein a first end portion of the torsion spring is fixed and a second end portion of the torsion spring is connected to the seat cushion upper frame.
7. 7 . The relaxation seat of claim 6 , wherein, in order to cause the torsion spring to be twisted, the second end portion of the torsion spring passes through a spring through-hole disposed in the seat cushion upper frame and is fixed to a spring hanger attached to an outer surface of the seat cushion upper frame.
8. 8 . The relaxation seat of claim 1 , further comprising a cradling bracket mounted on an inner portion of the seat cushion upper frame, wherein the cradling bracket is configured to support a rear end portion of the support bar to prevent the rear end portion from falling down.
9. 9 . The relaxation seat of claim 8 , further comprising a guide roller mounted on a lower portion of the cradling bracket, wherein the guide roller is configured to slidably support a bottom portion of the support bar.
10. 10 . The relaxation seat of claim 1 , further comprising a lever connected to the locking device, wherein the lever is configured to be operated to allow the locking device to perform a locking operation or an unlocking operation.
11. 11 . A relaxation seat for a vehicle, the relaxation seat comprising: a seat cushion lower frame configured to be mounted on a seat rail; a seat cushion upper frame connected to the seat cushion lower frame in a tilting-enabled manner; a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion upper frame; a locking device mounted at a predetermined position on the seat cushion upper frame; a front link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a front end portion of the seat cushion lower frame; a rear link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a rear end portion of the seat cushion lower frame; a support bar connecting between the locking device and the front link in a manner that is movable backward and forward and configured to support the front link for rotation or fixation thereof; a pinion gear connected to an inner portion of the locking device mounted on the seat cushion upper frame, wherein the pinion gear is rotatable when the locking device performs an unlocking operation; and a rack gear provided on an upper surface of the support bar, wherein the pinion gear is engaged with the rack gear.
12. 12 . The relaxation seat of claim 11 , wherein the locking device comprises: an input block; an input gear to be connected to a lever disposed on a first side of the input block; a plurality of sawteeth disposed on a second side of the input block, wherein each of the plurality of sawteeth has a shape such that a width thereof gradually becomes smaller toward an inward direction; an unlocking block; a plurality of sawtooth grooves disposed in a first side of the unlocking block and configured to receive the plurality of sawteeth, respectively; and a plurality of wedges disposed on a second side of the unlocking block.
13. 13 . The relaxation seat of claim 12 , wherein the locking device further comprises: an intermediate plate comprising a plurality of access holes disposed therein, the plurality of access holes being configured to receive the plurality of wedges, respectively, wherein the intermediate plate is combined with an external housing covering the input block; a first spring arranged between the unlocking block and the intermediate plate and configured to compress in a situation in which the unlocking block moves toward the inward direction; and a ring plate comprising a plurality of position limitation grooves disposed in an inner circumferential surface thereof, wherein the plurality of position limitation grooves spaced a predetermined distance apart, and wherein the ring plate is combined with the intermediate plate.
14. 14 . The relaxation seat of claim 13 , wherein the locking device further comprises a plurality of brake members each comprising a pair of brake rollers connected to each other by a second spring, wherein the plurality of brake members are arranged in the plurality of position limitation grooves, respectively, in the ring plate.
15. 15 . The relaxation seat of claim 14 , wherein the locking device further comprises a support-bar backward-forward movement guide member comprising: a brake contact ring configured to be brought into contact with the brake rollers; a shaft integrally provided with an outer surface of the brake contact ring and rotatably connected to a center portion of the intermediate plate; and the pinion gear integrally provided with an inner surface of the brake contact ring and engaged with the rack gear of the support bar.
16. 16 . The relaxation seat of claim 15 , wherein the locking device further comprises a cover plate mounted on the ring plate while covering the brake members and the brake contact ring.
17. 17 . The relaxation seat of claim 16 , wherein, in a case in which the input block is rotated in a locking direction by operating the lever, the plurality of sawteeth on the input block are configured to press against the unlocking block toward the inward direction while being removed out of the plurality of sawtooth grooves, respectively, in the unlocking block.
18. 18 . The relaxation seat of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of wedges on the unlocking block is configured to be inserted between the brake rollers, facing each other, of adjacent ones of the brake members, and the brake rollers are configured to be brought into close contact with an outer circumferential surface of the brake contact ring by pressing thereagainst, thereby keeping the pinion gear from being rotated.
19. 19 . The relaxation seat of claim 16 , wherein, in a case in which the input block is rotated in an unlocking direction by operating the lever, the plurality of sawteeth on the input block are configured to be inserted into the plurality of sawtooth grooves, respectively, in the unlocking block, and the unlocking block is configured to be pushed toward an outward direction due to an elastic restoring force of the second spring.
20. 20 . A relaxation seat for a vehicle, the relaxation seat comprising: a seat cushion lower frame configured to be mounted on a seat rail; a seat cushion upper frame connected to the seat cushion lower frame in a tilting-enabled manner; a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion upper frame; a locking device mounted at a predetermined position on the seat cushion upper frame; a front link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a front end portion of the seat cushion lower frame; a rear link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a rear end portion of the seat cushion lower frame; and a support bar connecting between the locking device and the front link in a manner that is movable backward and forward and configured to support the front link for rotation or fixation thereof; wherein the front link comprises: a first front link, wherein a lower end portion of the first front link is hinge-connected to the seat cushion lower frame; and a second front link, wherein an upper end portion of the second front link is hinge-connected to a connection pipe fastened to the seat cushion upper frame, a front end portion of the support bar is hinge-connected to a first side of a lower end portion of the second front link, and an upper end portion of the first front link and a second side of the lower end portion of the second front link are connected to each other with a hinge pin.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0146649, filed on Nov. 7, 2022, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a relaxation seat for a vehicle. BACKGROUND Usually, a seat for a vehicle basically includes a seat cushion on which an occupant sits, a seat back that the occupant leans his/her upper body against, a headrest supporting the occupant's neck and head, and the like. Various devices for adjusting seat positioning are installed at a predetermined position on the seat. To this end, a motor-operated relaxation mechanism capable of realizing relaxation comfort positioning for taking a rest and getting some sleep while the vehicle travels a long distance is mounted in the seat for the vehicle. The relaxation comfort positioning, as positioning for fatigue reduction, refers to positioning that is realized by maximally distributing the passenger's body pressure. When the relaxation comfort positioning is maintained, the passenger who sits on the seat can feel comfortable and relaxed as if he/she were in gravity-free space. In other words, the relaxation comfort positioning refers to positioning that is realized by changing an angle for support of the passenger's hip, thighs, calves, and the like, in such a manner that the passenger's body can be maximally distributed, when changing an angle for support of the passenger's upper body. When the relaxation comfort positioning is maintained, the passenger can feel less fatigued and at the same time comfortable. To this end, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a motor-operated relaxation mechanism is mounted in the seat for the vehicle. The motor-operated relaxation mechanism serves to lower a rear end portion of a seat cushion 10 and, at the same time, serves to raise a front end portion thereof, thereby reclining a seat back 20 toward the rear direction. Accordingly, the angle for support of the passenger's hip, thighs, calves, and the like is changed in such a manner that the passenger's body pressure is maximally distributed and thus that the passenger lays his/her upper body on the seat back 20. However, the problem with the motor-operated relaxation mechanism is that many components are mounted, such a motor, a controller for controlling the motor and controlling a relaxation operation, a decelerator that is mounted on an output unit of the motor, a lead screw that is connected to an output shaft of the decelerator, and a link. Therefore, an assembling process is complicated, and manufacturing cost is increased. SUMMARY The present disclosure relates to a relaxation seat for a vehicle. Particular embodiments relate to a manual relaxation seat for a vehicle, the seat being capable of realizing relaxation positioning for fatigue reduction by a user's manual operation. An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a manual relaxation seat for a vehicle, the seat being capable of performing an operation of reclining a seat back toward the rear direction and an operation of lowering a rear end portion of a seat cushion and, at the same time, raising a front end portion thereof. These operations are performed when a user leans his/her upper body against the seat back, thereby applying a load of a predetermined magnitude or greater, in a state where unlocking is performed by a locking device according to the user's operation of a lever. The manual relaxation seat can realize relaxation positioning for fatigue reduction. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a relaxation seat for a vehicle, the relaxation seat including a seat cushion lower frame mounted on a seat rail, a seat cushion upper frame connected to the seat cushion lower frame in a tilting-enabled manner, a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion upper frame, a locking device mounted at a predetermined position on the seat cushion upper frame, a lever connected to the locking device in such a manner that, with the lever, it is possible to perform a locking or unlocking operation, a front link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a front end portion of the seat cushion lower frame, a rear link hinge-connecting between the seat cushion upper frame and a rear end portion of the seat cushion lower frame, and a support bar connecting between the locking device and the front link in a manner that is movable backward and forward and supporting the front link for rotation or fixation thereof. In the relaxation seat, the front link may include a first front link, a lower end portion of the first front link being hinge-connected to the seat cushion lower frame, and a second front link, an upper end portion of the second front link being hinge-connected to a connection pipe fastened to the seat cushion upper frame, and a front end portion of the support bar being hinge-connected to one side of a lower end portion of