WO2006075816A1

WO2006075816A1 - Continuously fixing apparatus for seattrack

Info

Publication number: WO2006075816A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/000793
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong-Chan Lee
Original assignee: Km & I Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-01-12
Filing date: 2005-03-18
Publication date: 2006-07-20
Also published as: KR20060082244A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a continuously locking device for a seat track. The fixing mechanism of a conventional seat track is that one or two hook extrusions are inserted and fixed into the fitting holes, formed in the longitudinal direction of the lower track which is fixed at a bottom face of an automobile, and it can move back-and-f orth by releasing the insertion with a control lever. However, this configuration has high risk of the separation for the lateral impact, and has a disadvantage that the seat can suddenly slide backward due to an unlocking condition of the hook extrusion when seated after the adjustment by the control lever. The present invention provides a continuously locking device for a seat track in order to maintain fixed condition against the external impact and prevent the unlocking condition.

Description

CONTINUOUSLY FIXING APPARATUS FOR SEATTRACK

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a continuously locking

device for a seat track . More particularly, the invention

relates to such a continuously locking device for a seat track,

in which the locking device hold its position against both back-

and-forth and lateral impacts , and it can prevent an unlocking

condition where the seat is not fixed and slid without any

operation of a lever .

Background Art

A locking device for a seat track is such a device that

allows a back-and-forth movement of seat with mounted to the

bottom of a driver seat or an assistant seat .

In general, the seat track is composed of a pair of lower

tracks , which is parallel to each other and fastened to the

bottom face of an automobile, and a pair of upper tracks , which

is inserted into the lower tracks and allowed to move back-and-

forth . The lower track has a plurality of fitting holes ,

wherein hook extrusions , which are connected to the upper track,

are inserted and fixed. Hook extrusions are allowed to release

from fitting holes when a passenger controls a lever .

FIG . 1 is a perspective view of a conventional locking

i device for a seat track. Pulling a handle 12 of a lever 11

generates a clockwise rotation for the first axis 13 of the lever 11. This pulling action also generates a counterclockwise

rotation for the second axis 14 , which is formed in the opposite

upper track 15 that is linked with the primary axis 13.

Hook extrusions 18 are attached at the lower portion of a cam 17 , which is formed by the first and the second axis 13 , 14.

The hook extrusions 18 are configured to move back-and-forth by

their release from fitting holes 19 that are formed along the

longitudinal direction of the lower track 16.

External force acts on the first axis 13 by an internal

elastic device in order for the hook extrusions to be inserted

to the fitting holes .

This structure sometimes leads to the release of the hook

extrusions 18 when the engagement configuration between the

upper track 15 and the lower track 16 temporarily relaxes

especially by the lateral impact . Further, the hook extrusions 18 can be bent or broken when they receive the shear force by

the back-and-forth impact .

Moreover, when the lever 11 is released after adj usting the

seat , an unlocking condition, in which the hook extrusions 18

are positioned between the fitting holes 19, occurs frequently .

The unlocking condition is very dangerous because it sometimes

leads to an accident during driving a car when the driver does not recognize it and the seat moves back-and-forth considerably due to a little impact .

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in order to solve the

above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an obj ect

of the invention to provide a continuously locking device for a seat track, in which it can firmly keep the fixed position

against the external impacts .

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a fixing

structure of the seat track that minimizes the occurrence of an

unlocking condition .

Yet another obj ect of the invention is to provide an

improved precision when the seat is adj usted with the back-and-

forth movement .

In order to accomplish the above obj ect , according to one

aspect of the present invention, there is provided a

continuously locking device of a seat track, wherein the seat

trac k includes : a lower track fastened to a bottom face in an

automobile, an upper track fastened to a bottom face of a seat

and inserted into the lower track so as to move back-and-forth,

and one or more locking pins inserted and fixed into a plurality

of fitting holes formed along the longitudinal direction of the

lower track. The locking pin includes an insertion portion to fitting holes extended to the same sectional area as of a pin body at the end, a tapered portion extended rearwards of the insertion portion to fitting holes such that its sectional area is

expanded, and a pin body extended rearwards of the tapered

port ion and having a stopper with increased sectional area and a

spri ng insertion hole formed on the rear face thereof .

Brief Description of Drawings

Further obj ects and advantages of the invention can be more

full y understood from the following detailed description taken

in conj unction with the accompanying drawings , in which :

FIG . 1 is a perspective view of a conventional locking device for a seat track;

FIG . 2 is a perspective view of a locking device for a seat

track according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG . 3 is a partial perspective view of a lever control

according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG . 4 is an exploded perspective view of a pin case

according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG . 5 shows a partial perspective view of the engagement

of pins and fitting holes according to one embodiment of the

invention;

FIG . 6 is a conceptual draw showing an embodiment of the insertion of the above locking pin; and

FIG . 7 shows perspective views and sectional views for

condition (a) , (b) , and (C) illustrated in FIG . 6.

11 Lever 12 handle

13 clockwise rotation for the first axis

14 counterclockwise rotation for the second axis

15 upper track 16 lower track

17 cam 18 Hook extrusions

19 fitting holes 20 control unit

21 pin frame 22 control frame

23 rope spring 30 control bar

40 pin case 41 locking pin

41a fitting holes 41b tapered portion

41c stopper 41d spring insertion hole

4 Ie pin body 42 helical compression spring

43 penetrating holes 44 front case

45 rear case 46 guide holes

47 control plate 47a incision groove

47b rib 47c control cam

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be

hereafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying

drawings . FIG . 2 is a perspective view of a locking device for a seat

track according to one embodiment of the invention . FIG . 3 is a partial perspective view of a lever control according to one

embodiment of the invention . FIG . 4 is an exploded perspective

view of a pin case according to one embodiment of the invention,

wherein a seat track comprises a lower track 16 fastened to a

bottom face of an automobile, an upper track 15 fastened to a bottom face of a seat and inserted into the lower track 16 so as

to move back-and-forth, and one or more locking pins 41 which is

used for fixing purpose by the insertion to a plurality of

fitting holes 19 formed along the longitudinal direction of the

lower track 16.

In the present invention, a continuously locking device for

the seat track, in particular, comprises a control unit 20 ,

comprising a pin frame 21 mounted inside of the upper frame 15 ,

a control frame 22 mounted at the lower portion of the pin frame

21 and extended longitudinally to a certain length, and a rope

spring 23 whose one side is connected and fastened to the pin

frame 21 and extended rearwards , thereby the rear end of the

rope spring 23 can move up and down according to the rotation of

the control frame 22 ;

a control bar 30 , which operates the control unit 20 of the

both side at the same time by inter-connecting the control frame

22 mounted inside of the both upper frame 15; and a pin case 4 , which connected to the rear end of the rope spring 23 so that the locking pin 41 can protrude and be

inserted according to the rotation of a control cam 47c . The pin

case 4 is mounted inside of the upper frame 15 so that several locking pins 41 in longitudinal direction have the elasticity by

a helical compression spring 42. A plurality of penetrating

holes 43 is formed in the front side to allow the penetration

and the protrusion of the locking pin 41.

Inside of the penetrating hole 43 is formed a control plate 47 rotating in a comb teeth shape a rib 47b and a incision

groove 47a corresponding to the penetrating hole 43. On a front

rotational axis is mounted the control cam 47c which extrudes to

the external side and extends for stiffening to the upper

direction . In other words, the rope spring 23 generates the external

force so that the stiffening part of the control cam 47c always

positions to the upper direction . If a body of the control

frame 22 pressurizes the upper portion of the control cam 47c

when the control bar 30 is operated, the control plate 47

including this control cam 47c rotates clockwise and pushes the

locking pin 41 to the internal side as shown in the drawing .

This configuration, wherein the locking device is built in

the upper track 15 , makes the locking device safely maintain the

fixed position as long as the upper track is not broken away agai nst the external impact .

The conventional configuration, wherein hook protrusions

are inserted from the external side of the lower track 16 and

substantial portion of the mechanical configuration is exposed,

bears a high risk of the locking release when a small separation

due to the external impact between the lower track 16 and the

upper track 15 of the close connection makes worse the outside

separation . However, the construction of the locking device can

minimize the release possibility due to the separation condition .

In addition, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a

pin case according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein

the locking pin 41 comprises a insertion portion to fitting

holes 41a extended to the same sectional area as of a pin body at the end, a tapered portion 41b extended rearwards of the

insertion portion to fitting holes 41a such that its sectional

area is expanded, and a pin body 41e extended rearwards of the

tapered portion 41b and having a stopper 41c with increased

sect ional area and a spring insertion hole 41d formed on the

rear face thereof . The principal part of the present invention is a shape of

the locking pin 41. With this taper shape, even the pin body

41e is inserted to the fitting holes 19 at the maximum protruded

posi tion of the locking pin . The space between the fitting

holes 19 is differently set from that of the locking pin 41 in such a way that one of other adj acent locking pins 41 is

extruded with closely contacted with the insertion portion to

fitting holes 41a or the tapered portion 41b near one corner the adj acent fitting hole 19, thereby it can minimize the mobility

at the fixed condition . In addition, fixing a position is

adj usted precisely by the number of the locking pins , the space

between them, the shape of the fitting hole 19 , and the space

between the holes , thereby the controlling function approaching

to the continuous control can be achieved.

In addition, the shape of the locking pin 41 has an advantage of easier control for the movement than that having a

simple cylindrical shape because it is inserted to the fitting

holes 19 by an elastic spring.

In addition, this control function for the unlocking

condition can decrease the uncomfortable feeling of a user due

to the sudden sliding movement of a seat, and prevent the

possibility of a dangerous accident to which the sudden movement

of a seat can lead.

In addition, to minimize the right or left mobility of the

locking pin 41 , the pin case 40 is configured in such a way that

a front case 44 forming penetrating holes 43 can be assembled with a rear case 45 forming guide holes 46 which corresponds to

the stopper 41c .

FIG. 5 and 6 are a partial perspective view of the engagement of pins and fitting holes according to one embodiment

of the invention, and a conceptual draw showing an embodiment of

the insertion of the above locking pin, respectively . The fitting hole 19 has a width such that the pin body 41e of the

locking pin 41 can be inserted and an extended shape to a

certain length in the longitudinal direction thereof, and have a

hexagonal shape whose width between the left and the right sides is longer than that between the top and the bottom points . When

a locking pin 41 is inserted to a fitting hole 19 up to the pin

body 41e, thereby more than one among the adj acent locking pins

41 can be closely contacted by the insertion of the tapered

portion 41b to one end of another fitting hole 41.

In addition, five locking pins 31 are mounted with same

longitudinal distance in the present invention . The fitting

holes 19 are configured in such a way that at least more than

two locking pins 41 is inserted into one side of the lower track

16, thereby a firmer fixing can be achieved . Moreover, an

applicable embodiment, in which the more precise movement is

possible with the combination of the size and the interval of

the locking pin 41 and the fitting hole 19, is suggested .

Although five locking pins 19 are used in the present invention, using more locking pins can minimize the separation condition .

The embodiment of FIG . 6 illustrates that the interval

between the locking pins 19 is shorter than that between the centers of the fitting holes 19, and more than one locking pin

41 is inserted to the fitting hole 19 so that the insertion

portion to fitting holes 41a or tapered portion 41b is closely contacted and fixed to the left or the right of the fitting hole

19. When the locking pin 41 is inserted to the fitting hole 19 ,

it is desirable that more than one locking pin 41 is closely

contacted with the left of the fitting hole 19 and more than one

locking pin 41 is closely contacted with the right of the

fitting hole 19. (A) ~ ( F) in FIG. 6 show inserting and fixing more than one locking pin to each fitting hole 19 as the locking pin

moves .

Therefore, by combining and adjusting the distance between

the fitting holes and between the locking pins , and the number

of the locking pin, a configuration almost same with the continuous control is possible to obtain .

FIG . 7 shows perspective views and sectional views for

condition (a) , (b ) , and (C) illustrated in FIG . 6.

As illustrated here, condition (a) shows a condition where

the insertion portion to fitting holes 41a of the locking pin 41

is inserted to the fitting hole 19. Condition (b) and (c) show

a condition where the tapered portion 41b of the locking pin 41

is inserted to the fitting hole 19 and the condition where the

pin body 41e of the locking pin 41 is inserted to the fitting

hole 19, respectively. As shown in this figure, any portion of the locking pin 41 inserted to the fitting hole 19 can play a fixing role, thereby the seat can be fixed in any position .

Industrial Applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, a

locking device is built in an upper track and more than two

locking pins are used to fix a seat track, thereby a separation

occurred on the locking pin due to the external impact can be

minimize and the locking device for the seat track can firmly

maintain the fixed position .

In addition, according to the present invention, by fixing more than one locking pin to the right and the left of any

fitt ing hole respectively, the locking device can minimize the

occurrence of the unlocking condition, thereby it can prevent

the sudden sliding movement of the seat .

In addition, according to the present invention, users can

precisely adj ust the forward and the backward movement of the

seat for optimal comfort .

While the present invention has been described with

reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not

to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended

claims . It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art

can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the

scope and spirit of the present invention .

Claims

What Is Claimed Is :

1. A continuously locking device for a seat track, comprising a lower track fastened to an internal bottom face of

an automobile, an upper track fastened to a bottom face of a

seat and inserted into the lower track so as to be able to move

back-and-forth, and one or more locking pins inserted and fixed

into a plurality of fitting holes formed along the longitudinal

direction of the lower track;

wherein the locking pin comprises an insertion portion to

fitting holes extended to the same sectional area as of a pin

body at the end, a tapered portion extended rearwards of the insertion portion such that its sectional area is expanded, and

a pin body extended rearwards of the tapered portion by a

certain distance and having a stopper with increased sectional

area and a spring insertion hole formed on the rear face thereof .

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the

fitting hole has a width such that the pin body of the locking

pin can be inserted and an extended shape to a certain length in

the longitudinal direction thereof, the distance between the

centers of the fitting holes is larger than that between the

locking pins , and at least one locking pin is inserted to the

fitting hole so that the insertion portion to fitting holes or tapered portion is closely contacted and fixed to the left or

the right of the fitting hole .

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the fitt ing hole has an elongated hexagonal shape where the width

between the left and the right sides of hexagonal shape is

longer than that between the top and the bottom apex points of

the hexagonal shape .

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the

fixi ng pin is inserted into the fitting hole in such a manner

that one or more locking pins are closely contacted to the left

of the fitting hole and one or more locking pins are closely

cont acted to the right of the fitting hole .

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the

appairatus comprises :

a control unit including a pm frame mounted inside of the

upper frame with the penetration, a control frame mounted at the

lower portion of the pm frame and extended to a certain length

in the longitudinal direction, and a rope spring whose one part

is connected and fixed to the pin frame and which extended to

backward;

a control bar which interconnects the control frame mounted inside of the both upper frame; and a pin case, which is mounted inside of the upper frame so

that several locking pins in longitudinal direction have the

elasticity by a helical compression spring and can be inserted

by the extruded locking pins due to the rotation of the control

cam, wherein a plurality of penetrating holes is formed in the

front side to allow the penetration and the protrusion of the locking pin, inside thereof the penetrating hole forming a

control plate rotating in a comb teeth shape with a rib and the

incision groove corresponding to the penetrating hole, and a

front rotational axis , formed by the control cam mounted and

extruded to the external side, is connected to the rear end of

the rope spring, and wherein the locking pin exposed to the

outside of the penetrating holes of the pin case can move

backward and be released due to the fixing of the stopper in a

incision grooves by the rotational movement of the control plate .