US-12623582-B2 - Locking apparatus for vehicle seat

US12623582B2US 12623582 B2US12623582 B2US 12623582B2US-12623582-B2

Abstract

An embodiment locking apparatus for a seat includes a side frame rotatably coupled to a rear end of a cushion part and having an arc-shaped slot hole disposed thereon along a turning radius of the cushion part, a locking protrusion disposed on the cushion part, fitted into the slot hole, and configured to move along the slot hole in a state in which the cushion part is rotated to be changed to a seating mode or a tip-up mode, and a latch rotatably coupled to the side frame and configured to be locked and fixed by the locking protrusion in a state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode or the tip-up mode.

Inventors

Eun Sue Kim
Dae Hee Lee
Sang Hark LEE
Ji Yun Ha
Jun Hyung Kwon
Duk Kyu BYUN
Sin Jung Kang
Seong Bin Jung

Assignees

HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA CORPORATION
HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240320
Priority Date: 20231211

Claims (20)

1 . A locking apparatus for a seat, the locking apparatus comprising: a side frame rotatably coupled to a rear end of a cushion part and having an arc-shaped slot hole disposed thereon along a turning radius of the cushion part; a locking protrusion disposed on the cushion part, fitted into the slot hole, and configured to move along the slot hole in a state in which the cushion part is rotated to be changed to a seating mode or a tip-up mode; and a latch rotatably coupled to the side frame and configured to be locked and fixed by the locking protrusion in a state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode or the tip-up mode, wherein the latch comprises: a body part rotatably coupled to a latch fixing part disposed on the side frame; a first extension part extending in a first direction from the body part and having a first end part on which a first latch groove configured to fix the locking protrusion is disposed; and a second extension part extending in a second direction from the body part, opposite the first direction, and having a second end part on which a second latch groove configured to fix the locking protrusion is disposed.
2 . The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the latch comprises a single component; the locking protrusion is configured to be locked in and fixed to a first end of the latch in the state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode; and the locking protrusion is configured to be locked in and fixed to a second end of the latch in the state in which the cushion part is in the tip-up mode.
3 . The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the body part is rotatably coupled to the side frame around the latch fixing part between a first end and a second end of the slot hole; and the first latch groove and the second latch groove are disposed to match the first end and the second end of the slot hole, respectively.
4 . The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in the state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode, the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the first latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a first end of the slot hole.
5 . The locking apparatus of claim 4 , wherein in the state in which the cushion part is in the tip-up mode, the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the second latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a second end of the slot hole.
6 . The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: an outer surface of the first latch groove is disposed as a first inclined surface; and in a state in which the locking protrusion moves to a first end of the slot hole, the locking protrusion moves over the first inclined surface and is fitted into the first latch groove.
7 . The locking apparatus of claim 6 , wherein: an outer surface of the second latch groove is disposed as a second inclined surface; and in a state in which the locking protrusion moves to a second end of the slot hole, the locking protrusion moves over the second inclined surface and is fitted into the second latch groove.
8 . The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first latch groove and the second latch groove each have an outer surface disposed as an inclined surface configured to guide the locking protrusion into the respective latch groove as the locking protrusion moves along the slot hole.
9 . A locking apparatus for a seat, the locking apparatus comprising: a side frame rotatably coupled to a rear end of a cushion part and having an arc-shaped slot hole disposed thereon along a turning radius of the cushion part; a locking protrusion disposed on the cushion part, fitted into the slot hole, and configured to move along the slot hole in a state in which the cushion part is rotated to be changed to a seating mode or a tip-up mode; and a latch coupled to the side frame and configured to be locked and fixed by the locking protrusion in a state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode or the tip-up mode, wherein: the latch is formed in a straight shape and has a first end and a second end at which a first latch groove and a second latch groove configured to receive the locking protrusion are respectively disposed to be open in a same direction; the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the first latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a first end of the slot hole in the state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode; and the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the second latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a second end of the slot hole in the state in which the cushion part is in the tip-up mode.
10 . The locking apparatus of claim 9 , wherein: a first end of a latch cable and a first end of a latch spring are connected to each other in opposite directions on the latch; a second end of the latch cable is connected to a latch handle coupled to the cushion part; a second end of the latch spring is connected to the side frame; and in a state in which the latch cable is pulled through a rotation of the latch handle, the latch is configured to move in a straight line in a pulling direction of the latch cable, and in a state in which a rotation force is released from the latch handle, the latch is configured to move in the straight line in an opposite direction by an elastic force of the latch spring and return to an initial location.
11 . The locking apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the latch further comprises a latch spring configured to connect the latch and the side frame to each other, the latch spring being configured to accumulate an elastic force when the latch is moved from an initial position and to return the latch to the initial position by the accumulated elastic force.
12 . A locking apparatus for a seat, the locking apparatus comprising: a side frame rotatably coupled to a rear end of a cushion part and having an arc-shaped slot hole disposed thereon along a turning radius of the cushion part; a locking protrusion disposed on the cushion part, fitted into the slot hole, and configured to move along the slot hole in a state in which the cushion part is rotated to be changed to a seating mode or a tip-up mode; a latch rotatably coupled to the side frame and configured to be locked and fixed by the locking protrusion in a state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode or the tip-up mode; a latch handle rotatably coupled to the cushion part; and a latch cable configured to connect the latch handle and the latch to each other and configured to rotate the latch by a pulling force as the latch cable is pulled toward the latch handle in a state in which the latch handle is rotated, wherein: the latch is formed in a straight shape and has a first end and a second end at which a first latch groove and a second latch groove configured to receive the locking protrusion are respectively disposed to be open in a same direction; the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the first latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a first end of the slot hole in the state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode; and the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the second latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a second end of the slot hole in the state in which the cushion part is in the tip-up mode.
13 . The locking apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a latch spring configured to connect the latch and the side frame to each other, to accumulate an elastic force in a state in which the latch is rotated by the pulling force of the latch cable, and to return the latch by the accumulated elastic force in a state in which the pulling force of the latch cable is released.
14 . The locking apparatus of claim 12 , wherein: a first end of the latch cable and a first end of a latch spring are connected to each other in opposite directions on the latch; a second end of the latch cable is connected to a latch handle coupled to the cushion part; a second end of the latch spring is connected to the side frame; and in a state in which the latch cable is pulled through a rotation of the latch handle, the latch is configured to move in a straight line in a pulling direction of the latch cable, and in a state in which a rotation force is released from the latch handle, the latch is configured to move in the straight line in an opposite direction by an elastic force of the latch spring and return to an initial location.
15 . A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a vehicle seat disposed in the vehicle body and comprising a cushion part and a locking apparatus, the locking apparatus comprising: a side frame rotatably coupled to a rear end of the cushion part and having an arc-shaped slot hole disposed thereon along a turning radius of the cushion part; a locking protrusion disposed on the cushion part, fitted into the slot hole, and configured to move along the slot hole in a state in which the cushion part is rotated to be changed to a seating mode or a tip-up mode; and a latch rotatably coupled to the side frame and configured to be locked and fixed by the locking protrusion in a state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode or the tip-up mode, wherein the latch comprises: a body part rotatably coupled to a latch fixing part disposed on the side frame; a first extension part extending in a first direction from the body part and having a first end part on which a first latch groove configured to fix the locking protrusion is disposed; and a second extension part extending in a second direction from the body part, opposite the first direction, and having a second end part on which a second latch groove configured to fix the locking protrusion is disposed.
16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein: the latch comprises a single component; the locking protrusion is configured to be locked in and fixed to a first end of the latch in the state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode; and the locking protrusion is configured to be locked in and fixed to a second end of the latch in the state in which the cushion part is in the tip-up mode.
17 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein: the body part is rotatably coupled to the side frame around the latch fixing part between a first end and a second end of the slot hole; and the first latch groove and the second latch groove are disposed to match the first end and the second end of the slot hole, respectively.
18 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein: in the state in which the cushion part is in the seating mode, the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the first latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a first end of the slot hole; and in the state in which the cushion part is in the tip-up mode, the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the second latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at a second end of the slot hole.
19 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein: an outer surface of the first latch groove is disposed as a first inclined surface; in a state in which the locking protrusion moves to a first end of the slot hole, the locking protrusion moves over the first inclined surface and is fitted into the first latch groove; an outer surface of the second latch groove is disposed as a second inclined surface; and in a state in which the locking protrusion moves to a second end of the slot hole, the locking protrusion moves over the second inclined surface and is fitted into the second latch groove.
20 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a latch handle rotatably coupled to the cushion part and a latch cable configured to connect the latch handle and the latch to each other, wherein the latch cable is configured to rotate the latch by a pulling force as the latch cable is pulled toward the latch handle when the latch handle is rotated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0178912, filed on Dec. 11, 2023, which application is hereby incorporated herein by this reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a locking apparatus for a vehicle seat. BACKGROUND In a vehicle, a seat on which a passenger can be seated is provided. A vehicle seat is normally provided with a cushion part configured to support the lower body of the passenger and a back part configured to support the upper body of the passenger. As a scheme for increasing usability of an indoor space in a limited space of a vehicle, there is a technology to adopt a seat on which a cushion part is tipped up. The seat on which the cushion part is tipped up has a structure in which a rear end of the cushion part is rotatable up and down with respect to a lower end of the back part, and in a state where the cushion part is rotated to protrude forward, a passenger can be seated on the cushion part, and this state may be defined as a seating mode. Further, in a state where the cushion part is rotated toward the back part and is in an upright position, the usability of the indoor space is increased and a moving passage can be secured, and this state may be defined as a tip-up mode. Meanwhile, the seat in the cushion part tip-up structure requires a locking device for fixing the location of the cushion part in the seating mode and in the tip-up mode. The seat in the general cushion part tip-up structure is provided with a locking device in the seating mode and a locking device in the tip-up mode, and thus a technology to simplify the locking devices is needed. The foregoing description of the background technology is intended merely to help the understanding of the background of embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to mean that the present disclosure falls within the purview of the related art that is already publicly known. SUMMARY The present disclosure relates to a locking apparatus for a vehicle seat. Particular embodiments relate to a locking apparatus for a vehicle seat that can lock a cushion part in a seating mode and in a tip-up mode by utilizing a bi-directionally lockable latch. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a locking apparatus for a vehicle seat that can lock all of a cushion part in a seating mode and a cushion part in a tip-up mode by utilizing a bi-directionally lockable latch on a seat of a cushion part tip-up structure, and an embodiment of the present disclosure provides reduction of the number of components, weight reduction, and cost reduction of the locking apparatus. A locking apparatus for a vehicle seat according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a side frame rotatably coupled to a rear end of a cushion part and having an arc-shaped slot hole formed thereon along a turning radius of the cushion part, a locking protrusion provided on the cushion part, fitted into the slot hole, and configured to move along the slot hole when the cushion part is rotated to be changed to a seating mode or a tip-up mode, and a latch rotatably coupled to the side frame and configured to be locked and fixed by the locking protrusion when the cushion part is in the seating mode or in the tip-up mode. The latch includes one component, and the locking protrusion is configured to be locked in and fixed to one end of the latch when the cushion part is in the seating mode and to be locked in and fixed to the other end of the latch when the cushion part is in the tip-up mode. The latch includes a body part rotatably coupled to a latch fixing part provided on the side frame, a first extension part extending in one direction from the body part and having an end part on which a first latch groove for fixing the locking protrusion is formed, and a second extension part extending in the other direction from the body part and having an end part on which a second latch groove for fixing the locking protrusion is formed. The body part is rotatably coupled to the side frame around the latch fixing part between one end and the other end of the slot hole, and the first latch groove and the second latch groove are installed to match the one end and the other end of the slot hole, respectively. When the cushion part is in the seating mode, the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the first latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at one end of the slot hole. When the cushion part is in the tip-up mode, the locking protrusion is fitted and fixed into the second latch groove in a state where the locking protrusion is located at the other end of the slot hole. An outer surface of the first latch groove is formed as a first inclined surface, and when the locking protrusion moves to one end of the slot hole, the locking protrusion moves over the first inclined surface and is fitted into the first latch groove. An outer surface of the second