MOTION AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR SEAT AND PERSONAL MOBILITY

Abstract

Movement and locking device for a seat and a personal mobility vehicle, comprising: a base plate (100) with a plurality of position guide grooves (101) and a plurality of locking holes (102), which are formed on the base plate (100) in rows and columns; a motion device (300) installed in a frame (200) of the seat or a frame (200) of the personal mobility vehicle, wherein the motion device (300) is seated in one of the position guide grooves (101) selected from the plurality of position guide grooves (101) by rolling and moving it along the base plate (100); and a locking device (400) which is installed in the frame (200) to be movable upwards and downwards and to be releasably locked and engaged with one of the locking holes (102) selected from the plurality of locking holes (102).

Description

BACKGROUND(a) Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a movement and locking device for a seat and a personal mobility vehicle, and in particular to a movement and locking device for a seat and a personal mobility vehicle that is capable of freely moving a seat for a vehicle or a personal mobility vehicle into a desired position on a floor plate in the vehicle and then firmly fixing the seat or the personal mobility vehicle. (b) Background of the invention

[0002] In autonomous vehicles, seats can be installed that are linearly movable and swiveling, and can be moved forwards and backwards into desired positions or rotated in desired directions to enable conferences with multiple participants, conversations, relaxation and viewing of outdoor landscapes.

[0003] For this purpose, a base frame of the seat is installed on a rail formed on a base plate so that it can be moved back and forth, and a seat frame integrated with the seat is installed pivotably in the base frame.

[0004] This allows the seat to be moved forwards and backwards into a position desired by the passenger, or swiveled in a desired direction.

[0005] However, since the seat can only be moved or swivelled forwards and backwards, there is a limitation on the free movement of the seat into an interior position of the vehicle desired by the passenger.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a custom-designed seat that makes it possible to use the interior of an autonomous vehicle for various purposes such as an office, a living room, for relaxing and watching movies, and for a mechanism that is able to move the custom-designed seat freely and fix it in a desired interior position.

[0007] Given that electric personal mobility is becoming increasingly common for short-distance travel, there is also a need for a mechanism capable of fixing a personal mobility unit in a desired position within a vehicle interior during long-distance travel and then using the personal mobility unit as a seat.

[0008] Furthermore, US Patent 4,157,797 A discloses a movement and locking device for a seat and a personal mobility vehicle, comprising: a base plate with a plurality of position guide grooves and a plurality of locking holes; a movement device installed in a frame of a seat or a frame of a personal mobility vehicle, wherein the movement device sits in one of the position guide grooves selected from the plurality of position guide grooves by rolling and moving it along the base plate; and a locking device installed in the frame to be movable up and down and to be releasably locked and engaged with one of the locking holes selected from the plurality of locking holes.

[0009] Furthermore, US Patent 342,939 A discloses in a wood-cutting machine the combination of a knife carrier sliding in tracks and provided with outwardly extending projections, a steam cylinder comprising a piston whose piston rod is attached to the knife carrier, and release levers rotatably mounted on the upper of the tracks in the path of the projections on the moving carrier, wherein the release levers are connected to each other and to the valve mechanism of the steam cylinder in such a way that the actuation of the release levers at suitable intervals by the projection on the carrier regulates the steam supply for the reciprocating motion of the latter. OVERVIEW OF THE REVELATION

[0010] The present disclosure was made in an effort to solve the prior art problems described above.

[0011] The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility, which is installed in a lower section of a seat for a vehicle or personal mobility, is provided with a floor plate of a vehicle interior in a structure in which a rolling guidance movement of the movement device and a locking coupling of the locking device are possible, is able to move the seat for a vehicle or personal mobility freely into a desired position of the floor plate in the vehicle and to fix the seat for a vehicle or personal mobility firmly.

[0012] The problem is solved by a movement and locking device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are found in the dependent claims.

[0013] The tasks of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other tasks of this disclosure not mentioned here can be understood from the following description and will also be evident from embodiments of this disclosure. Furthermore, the tasks of this disclosure can be implemented by means described in the accompanying claims and a combination thereof.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides a movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility device, comprising a base plate in which a plurality of position guide grooves and a plurality of locking holes are formed, the latter being formed on the base plate in rows and columns, a movement device installed in a frame of a seat or a frame of personal mobility device and seated in a position guide groove selected from the plurality of position guide grooves as it is rolled and moved along the base plate, and a locking device installed in the frame to be movable upwards and downwards and releasably locked and thus engaged with a locking hole selected from the plurality of locking holes.

[0015] Preferably, the distance between a central section of the position guide groove and a central section of the locking hole can be set such that it is equal to the distance between a central section of a roller of the motion device and a central section of a leadscrew of the locking device.

[0016] The movement device may include a support shaft inserted and installed in positions in a lower section of the frame in all directions, a support bracket installed in a lower end section of the support shaft, and a roller installed in the support bracket and configured to be rolled and moved along the base plate to sit in the position guide groove.

[0017] Additionally, a guide hole into which an upper end section of the support shaft is inserted can be formed in the frame, and a damping element that is in lockable contact with an upper surface section of the frame around the guide hole can be attached to the upper end section of the support shaft.

[0018] Additionally, a spring, which is elastically mounted between a lower surface of the frame and an upper surface of the support bracket, can be inserted and arranged in an outer diameter section of the support shaft.

[0019] The locking device may include a support plate installed in the frame, a motor installed in the support plate, and a leadscrew that engages with a gearbox of the motor to be movable up and down and to be releasably locked and engaged with the locking hole.

[0020] Furthermore, a press end that is brought into pressable contact with an upper surface of the gearbox can be integrated into an upper end section of the leadscrew, and an internal thread section for screw engagement of the leadscrew can be formed in an inner diameter section of the locking hole.

[0021] Further aspects and preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed below.

[0022] It is understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicle-related" or a similar term as used herein encompasses motor vehicles in general, such as passenger cars including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft and the like, and also hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other vehicles using alternative fuels (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As described herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of propulsion, for example, both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above and other features of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, which are shown in the accompanying drawings, which are shown below for illustrative purposes only and are therefore not limiting to the present disclosure: Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing part of a base plate between components of a movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the section of the base plate under the components of a movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an installation state of a movement device and a locking device among the components of the movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an unlocked state of the locking device between the components of the movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a leadscrew of the locking device is moved downwards to lock between the components of the motion and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a locking state of the locking device between the components of the movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing an example in which a seat for a vehicle, including the movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure, is arranged on the base plate; and Fig. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a manual lever is installed in the leadscrew of the locking device among the components of the motion and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure.

[0024] The accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale and represent a somewhat simplified depiction of various preferred features illustrating the basic principles of this disclosure. The specific design features of this disclosure, as revealed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, are partly determined by the intended application and operating environment.

[0025] In the figures, the reference signs refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present revelation throughout the various figures of the drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a base plate forming an interior floor surface of a vehicle between components of a movement and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure.

[0028] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a large number of position guide grooves 101 and locking holes 102 are formed in a base plate 100 for guiding and fixing a movement position of a seat or personal mobility device.

[0029] The position guide grooves 101 and the locking holes 102 can be formed on the base plate 100 in an arrangement of different patterns.

[0030] For example, the position guide grooves 101 and the locking holes 102 are formed at regular intervals in the horizontal and vertical direction on an upper surface of the base plate 100, forming an alternating arrangement with respect to each other.

[0031] Thus, the locking holes 102 can be arranged in all directions of the position guide groove 101, and the position guide grooves 101 can be arranged in all directions of the locking holes 102.

[0032] Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 illustrate a condition in which a motion device and a locking device are installed in a lower section of a seat under components of the motion and locking device for a seat and personal mobility according to the present disclosure.

[0033] As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows that a movement device 300, which is able to move a seat or personal mobility in a rolling and free manner into a desired position in a vehicle interior, and a locking device 400, which is able to firmly attach the seat or personal mobility, which is moved into the desired position, to the base plate 100, are installed in a frame 200 of a seat or personal mobility.

[0034] The motion device 300 is installed in the frame 200 of the seat or the frame 200 of the personal mobility and is provided in a structure to be rolled and moved along the base plate 100 and to sit and be inserted in a position guide groove 101, which is selected from the plurality of position guide grooves 101.

[0035] For this purpose, the movement device 300 comprises a support shaft 301, which is inserted and installed at positions on a lower section of the frame 200 in all directions to be movable upwards and downwards, a support bracket 302, which is installed in a lower end section of the support shaft 301, and a roller 303, which is rotatably installed in the support bracket 302 and is inserted into and sits in the position guide groove 101 while being rolled and moved along the base plate 100.

[0036] In this case, a guide hole 201 is formed in the frame 200, into which an upper end section of the support shaft 301 is inserted, and thus the upper end section of the support shaft 301 is inserted in such a way that it can be moved upwards and downwards through the guide hole 201 of the frame 200.

[0037] To prevent a separation phenomenon in which the support shaft 301 detaches from the guide hole 201, a damping element 304, which consists of a rubber material and is lockably brought into contact with an upper surface section of the frame 200 around the guide hole 201, is also attached to the upper end section of the support shaft 301.

[0038] Preferably, the roller 303 can be replaced by a spherical roller which is rolled along the top of the base plate 100.

[0039] In a process in which the roller 303 is rolled and moved from one position guide groove 101 to another position guide groove 101 formed in the base plate 100, the roller 303 is preferably moved upwards when it crosses the upper surface of the base plate 100, which has a height greater than the height of the position guide groove 101, and the roller 303 is moved downwards when it reaches the position guide groove 101.

[0040] For this purpose, a spring 305, which is elastically mounted between a lower surface of the frame 200 and an upper surface of the support bracket 302, is inserted into an outer diameter section of the support shaft 301.

[0041] Thus, when the roller 303 crosses the upper surface of the base plate 100, which is higher than the height of the positioning guide groove 101, the support bracket 302, together with the roller 303, can be moved upwards to compress the spring 305, and simultaneously the support shaft 301 can be moved upwards through the guide hole 201 of the frame 200. Conversely, when the roller 303 reaches a desired positioning guide groove 101, the roller 303, together with the support bracket 302 and the support shaft 301, can be moved downwards due to an elastic restoring force of the spring 305, allowing it to be easily inserted into and seated in the desired positioning guide groove 101.

[0042] As described above, the seat or person mobility is brought into a state in which it can be freely moved into a desired position of the base plate 100 when the roller 303 is moved into the desired position guide groove 101 among the plurality of position guide grooves 101.

[0043] Once the seat or personal mobility device has been moved into the desired position on the base plate 100, the seat or personal mobility device can be securely fixed for safety during travel by means of the locking device 400.

[0044] The locking device 400 is movable upwards and downwards in the frame 200 in a position spaced at a predetermined distance from the movement device 300, and is provided in a structure to be releasably locked and engaged with a selected locking hole 102 from the plurality of locking holes 102.

[0045] For this purpose, the locking device 400 comprises a support plate 401 installed in the frame 200, a motor 402 with a gearbox 403 installed in the support plate 401 and a leadscrew 404 which engages with the gearbox 403 of the motor 402 in order to be movable upwards and downwards and to be releasably locked and engaged with the locking hole 102 of the base plate 100.

[0046] Furthermore, a press end 405 is formed in an upper end section of the leadscrew 404 in pressable contact with an upper surface of the gearbox 403.

[0047] Additionally, an internal thread section 103 is formed to allow thread engagement due to a rotation of the leadscrew 404 in an inner diameter section of the locking hole 102, in order to prevent a lower end section of the leadscrew 404 from being released from the locking hole 102 when the lower end section of the leadscrew 404 is locked and engaged with the locking hole 102.

[0048] Alternatively, a structure such as a clip or a hook can be used as part of locking and engaging the lower end section of the leadscrew 404 with the locking hole 102, and a fastening structure can be used that employs an electromagnetic force or pneumatic pressure.

[0049] To ensure precise operation, in which the leadscrew 404 of the locking device 400 is inserted into and locked in the locking hole 102 after the roller 303 of the motion device 300 has been inserted into and is seated in the position guide groove 101 formed in the base plate 100, a distance between a central section of the position guide groove 101 and a central section of the locking hole 102 should be set such that it is equal to a distance between a central section of the roller 303 of the motion device 300 and a central section of the leadscrew 404 of the locking device 400.

[0050] Thus, when manufacturing the base plate 100 and installing the movement device 300 and the locking device 400 in the frame 200, the distance between the middle section of the position guide groove 101 and the middle section of the locking hole 102 can be adjusted to be equal to the distance between the middle section of the roller 303 of the movement device 300 and the middle section of the leadscrew 404 of the locking device 400.

[0051] The following describes an operating sequence of the movement and locking device for a seat and passenger mobility, consisting of the above configuration, according to the present disclosure with reference to the Fig. 4 to 7 described.

[0052] Referring to Fig. 4. When the roller 303 is inserted into and seated in the position guide groove 101 of the base plate 100, and the leadscrew 404 of the locking device 400 is in an unlocked state, in which it is released from the locking hole 102 of the base plate 100, the seat or personal mobility device can be moved freely to a desired position along the base plate 100.

[0053] For this purpose, when a user pushes or turns the seat or personal mobility device in a desired direction and position, the roller 303 is rolled along the upper surface of the base plate 100 and moved to a desired position guide groove 101 under the plurality of position guide grooves 101 in order to be inserted into the desired position guide groove 101 and to sit in it.

[0054] In this case, as described above, when the roller 303 crosses the upper surface of the base plate 100, which is higher than the height of the positioning guide groove 101, the support bracket 302, together with the roller 303, can be moved upwards to compress the spring 305, and simultaneously the support shaft 301 can be moved upwards through the guide hole 201 of the frame 200. Conversely, when the roller 303 reaches a desired positioning guide groove 101, the roller 303, together with the support bracket 302 and the support shaft 301, can be moved downwards due to an elastic restoring force of the spring 305, allowing it to be easily inserted into and seated in the desired positioning guide groove 101.

[0055] As described above, after the roller 303 has been moved into the desired position guide groove 101, i.e., the seat or personal mobility device has been moved into the desired position of the base plate 100, the seat or personal mobility device can be securely fixed for safety during travel by the drive of the locking device 400.

[0056] For this purpose, when the motor 402 of the locking device 400 is driven, a rotational force of the motor 402 is transmitted in one direction via an output gear of the gearbox 403 to the leadscrew 404, so that, as in Fig. Figure 5 shows the leadscrew 404 being rotated to be moved downwards.

[0057] Then, as in Fig. Figure 6 shows the leadscrew 404 being continuously moved downwards to be screwed into the locking hole 102 of the base plate 100, thereby achieving a state in which the support plate 401, in which the gearbox 403 is installed, and the frame 200, in which the support plate 401 is installed, are clamped, and at the same time the seat or personal mobility comprising the frame 200 is clamped and fixed.

[0058] In this case, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, when the leadscrew 404 is moved downwards to lock and engage in the locking hole 102 of the base plate 100, the press end 405 of the leadscrew 404 presses on the upper surface of the gearbox 403, so that the support plate 401, in which the gearbox 403 is installed, and the frame 200, in which the support plate 401 is installed, compress the spring 305 to move together, and at the same time the seat or personal mobility including the frame 200 is also moved downwards.

[0059] As described above, as in Fig. Figure 7 shows that the seat for a vehicle or personal mobility can be freely moved into a desired position in the vehicle interior using the movement device 300 and then fixed firmly to the base plate 100 using the locking device 400, so that the seat or personal mobility can be freely adjusted and arranged in a desired direction and in a desired position in an interior of an autonomous vehicle according to a desired purpose.

[0060] In the embodiment described above, the process of moving the leadscrew 404 upwards was described as being carried out electrically by the motor 402 and the gearbox 403, but the process of moving the leadscrew 404 upwards can also be carried out manually.

[0061] For this purpose, a lever 410 for manual rotary actuation can also be installed in a head section of the leadscrew 404.

[0062] More precisely, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, by excluding the motor 402 and the gearbox 403, the lever 410, which can be turned directly by a user, is formed in the head section of the leadscrew 404.

[0063] Therefore, if the user directly holds and turns the lever 410, a rotational force from the lever 410 is transferred to the leadscrew 404, allowing the leadscrew 404 to be rotated and moved downwards to fix the seat or personal mobility device.

[0064] In addition to the lead screw method, a structure in which a clip or hook structure is detachably locked and engaged with the base plate 100, and a locking structure which uses an electromagnetic force or hydraulic pressure, can be used as a locking device 400.

[0065] The present disclosure offers the following effects through the problem-solving means described above.

[0066] Firstly, a seat for a vehicle or for personal mobility can be freely moved into a desired position in the vehicle interior by means of a movement device.

[0067] Secondly, the seat or the person mobility device, which has been brought into the desired position in the vehicle interior, can be firmly fixed to a floor plate with a locking device.

[0068] Thirdly, since the seat or passenger mobility can be freely moved to a desired position on the floor plate in a vehicle using the movement device and the locking device, and then fixed firmly in that desired position, the position of the seat can be freely adjusted and arranged in the interior of an autonomous vehicle according to a desired purpose.

[0069] Fourthly, since the seat or passenger mobility can be freely moved to a desired position on the floor plate in a vehicle using the movement device and the locking device, and then fixed firmly in the desired position, it is possible to achieve a reduction in weight and manufacturing costs by omitting the existing complicated seat forward and backward mechanism and a seat swivel or pivot mechanism.

[0070] The effects of this revelation are not limited to those described above. It should be understood that the effects of this revelation include all effects that can be derived from the description above.

Claims

[1] Movement and locking device for a seat and a personal mobility vehicle, comprising: a base plate (100) with a plurality of position guide grooves (101) and a plurality of locking holes (102), which are formed on the base plate (100) in rows and columns; a motion device (300) installed in a frame (200) of the seat or a frame (200) of the personal mobility vehicle, wherein the motion device (300) is seated in one of the position guide grooves (101) selected from the plurality of position guide grooves (101) by rolling and moving it along the base plate (100); and a locking device (400) which is installed in the frame (200) to be movable upwards and downwards and to be releasably locked and engaged with one of the locking holes (102) selected from the plurality of locking holes (102). [2] Motion and locking device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a central section of the position guide groove (101) and a central section of the locking hole (102) is equal to a distance between a central section of a roller (303) of the motion device (300) and a central section of a leadscrew (404) of the locking device (400). [3] Movement and locking device according to claim 1, wherein the movement device (300) comprises: a support shaft (301) which is inserted and installed in positions in a lower section of the frame (200) in all directions; a support bracket (302) installed in a lower end section of the support shaft (301); and a roller (303) which is installed in the support bracket (302) and configured to be rolled and moved along the base plate (100) to sit in the position guide groove (101). [4] Movement and locking device according to claim 3, wherein a guide hole is formed in the frame (200) into which an upper end section of the support shaft (301) is inserted. [5] Movement and locking device according to claim 4, wherein a damping element (304) is attached in lockable contact with an upper surface section of the frame (200) around the guide hole on the upper end section of the support shaft (301). [6] Movement and locking device according to claim 3, wherein a spring (305) which is elastically mounted between a lower surface of the frame (200) and an upper surface of the support bracket (302) is inserted and arranged in an outer diameter section of the support shaft (301). [7] Movement and locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking device (400) comprises: a support plate (401) installed in the frame (200); a motor (402) installed in the carrier plate (401); and a leadscrew (404) which engages with a gearbox (403) of the motor (402) to be movable upwards and downwards, and which is detachably locked with and engages in the locking hole (102). [8] Motion and locking device according to claim 7, wherein a press end (405) which is brought into pressable contact with an upper surface of the transmission (403) is integrally formed in an upper end section of the lead screw (404). [9] Movement and locking device according to claim 8, wherein an internal thread section for engagement with the lead screw (404) is formed in an internal diameter section of the locking hole (102). [10] Motion and locking device according to claim 8, wherein a lever for manual rotary actuation is installed in a head section of the leadscrew (404).

Images