SEAT

Abstract

A seat may comprise a base frame part, an upholstery frame part provided on one side of the base frame part, a leg frame part rotatably provided on one side of the upholstery frame part, a coupling part whose one side is coupled to the leg frame part and whose other side is fixed relative to the base frame part, a lever part whose one side is rotatably connected to the leg frame part, a cable element whose one side is connected to the lever part and whose other side is connected to the coupling part, and an elastic connector whose one side is connected to the leg frame part and whose other side is connected to the upholstery frame part.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REGISTRATION

[0001] This application claims priority over Korean patent application No. 10-2024-0190376, which was filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on December 18, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL AREA

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a seat, in particular a seat capable of changing position. BACKGROUND

[0003] The facts described in this section “Background” serve only to provide a better understanding of the background of the disclosure and are not to be understood as an acknowledgment that they correspond to the state of the art already known to those skilled in the art.

[0004] Vehicle seats are primarily designed to accommodate occupants. However, in multi-purpose vehicles, such as special-purpose vehicles (PBVs) with various uses, the seats may be designed not only for occupants but also for other usage scenarios.

[0005] For example, a seat may be designed to take up minimal or reduced volume when items are loaded and transported in a vehicle. In such cases, the presence of the seat can decrease the efficiency of using the vehicle's interior space. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present disclosure was made in an effort to propose a new structure capable of minimizing or reducing the volume of space occupied by a vehicle seat.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a seat can comprise a base frame part, a cushion frame part provided on one side of the base frame part, a leg frame part rotatably provided on one side of the cushion frame part, a coupling part, one side of which is coupled to the leg frame part and the other side of which is fixed relative to the base frame part, a lever part, one side of which is rotatably connected to the leg frame part, a cable element, one side of which is connected to the lever part and the other side of which is connected to the coupling part, and an elastic connector, one side of which is connected to the leg frame part and the other side of which is connected to the cushion frame part.

[0008] The seat, wherein the coupling part may have a first coupling part which is coupled at one side to the cable element and rotatably connected to the leg frame part, and a second coupling part, the one side of which is fixed relative to the base frame part, and wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are arranged to be coupled together in order to interlock.

[0009] The seat, wherein the first coupling part may have a hook area, and the second coupling part is arranged to be grasped by the hook area.

[0010] The seat, wherein the lever part may have a lever body element coupled to the leg frame part and configured to be rotatable by a lever pivot shaft, wherein the lever pivot shaft lies horizontally along a left / right direction of the seat and one side of the cable element is coupled to the lever body element.

[0011] The seat, wherein the lever body element may have a first lever body section configured to extend towards the coupling part based on the lever pivot shaft, and a second lever body section configured to extend away from the coupling part based on the lever pivot shaft, and wherein the cable element is connected to one side of the first lever body element.

[0012] The seat, wherein the lever part may further have a lever handle element connected to one side of the lever body element, and the lever handle element is connected to one side of the first lever body section.

[0013] The seat, wherein a first distance is a distance between the lever pivot shaft and a section of the first lever body section to which the lever handle element is coupled, wherein a second distance is a distance between the lever pivot shaft and a section of the first lever body section to which the cable element is coupled, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

[0014] The seat, wherein the lever body element may have a curved lever section with a curved shape.

[0015] The seat, wherein the lever body element may have a shape that projects convexly backwards in the curved lever section.

[0016] The seat, wherein a first distance between the curved lever section and the clutch part is shorter than a second distance between the lever pivot shaft and the clutch part.

[0017] The seat may further comprise a back frame part which is provided above the leg frame part and rotatably connected to the leg frame part, and a tilt adjuster which is provided in an area where the leg frame part and the back frame part are coupled, wherein the tilt adjuster is configured to control whether the rear frame part is fixed to the leg frame part or rotatable relative to it, and in conjunction with a movement of the lever body element to reversibly switch between a fixed state and an unfixed state, wherein in the fixed state the leg frame part and the rear frame part are prevented from rotating relative to each other, and wherein in the unfixed state the leg frame part and the rear frame part are rotatable relative to each other.

[0018] The seat, wherein the lever part may further comprise a lever extension element, one side of which is connected to the lever body element and the other side of which is connected to the mediating element.

[0019] The seat may further comprise an additional base frame part, which is spaced apart from the base frame part in a lateral direction of the seat and extends to the left and right over the seat, an additional upholstery frame part, which is spaced apart from the upholstery frame part in a lateral direction and is rotatably connected to the additional base frame part, and an additional leg frame part, which is spaced apart from the leg frame part in a lateral direction and is arranged to be rotatable relative to the additional upholstery frame part.

[0020] The seat may also have a connecting element, one side of which is rotatably connected to the additional leg frame part and the other side of which is rotatably connected to the additional base frame part.

[0021] The seat, wherein one side of the elastic connector is provided to press the leg frame part, and another side of the elastic connector is provided to press the upholstered frame part.

[0022] According to the present disclosure, a method for converting a seat may comprise pulling a lever part to rotate a lever body element about a lever pivot axis, releasing a coupling part between a leg frame part and a base frame part by transmitting a tensile force via a cable element, causing an upholstery frame part to rotate about a connection with the base frame part by a compressive force from an elastic connector, causing a leg frame part rotatably coupled to the upholstery frame part to rotate in conjunction with the upholstery frame part, and converting the seat from a sitting state to a folded state when the upholstery frame part and the leg frame part rotate upwards.

[0023] The method wherein the release of the coupling may involve rotating a first coupling element having a hook area to release itself from a second coupling element which is configured to be grasped by the hook area.

[0024] The method, wherein the lever part may have a lever handle element and the pulling of the lever part may involve pulling the lever handle element backwards, wherein the lever handle element is connected to a first section of the lever body element.

[0025] The method wherein a distance between the lever pivot shaft and the lever handle element is longer than a distance between the lever pivot shaft and a point where the cable element is connected to the lever body element.

[0026] The method may further include unlocking a tilt adjuster connecting a back frame part to the leg frame part, and changing the tilt adjuster from a fixed state to an unfixed state based on the rotation of the lever body element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of a perspective view of a seat according to the present revelation. Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary view of a lateral structure of the seat according to the present disclosure when the seat is in a first state in which a person can sit on the seat. Fig. Figure 3 shows an exemplary view of a lateral structure of the seat according to the present disclosure when the seat is in a second state in which the seat is folded. Fig. Figure 4 shows an exemplary view of a lateral structure of the seat according to the present disclosure, immediately after a first coupling element and a second coupling element have been uncoupled during a process in which the seat changes from the first state to the second state. Fig. Figure 5 shows an exemplary view of a lateral structure after a certain period of time has elapsed since the state in Fig. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] For the purposes of this application and the claims that use the exemplary phrase "at least one of: A; B; or C" or "at least one of A, B or C", the phrase means "at least one A or at least one B or at least one C or any combination of at least one A, at least one B and at least one C". Furthermore, exemplary phrases used herein, such as "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C", "at least one of A, B or C", etc., may mean any of the listed elements or all possible combinations of the listed elements. For example, "at least one of A or B" may refer to (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, the terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have meanings which are generally understood by those skilled in the field to which the present disclosure relates.

[0029] The terms used here, such as "exhibit," "can exhibit," "include," "can include," "have," "can have," etc., are intended to signify the presence of a characteristic (e.g., a function, a process, a component, etc.) and do not exclude the presence of other additional characteristics. That is, these terms are to be understood as open concepts that include the possibility of other examples being present.

[0030] A singular used here can include the meaning of the plural, unless the context indicates otherwise, which also applies to the singular described in the claims.

[0031] The expression “based on” used here is intended to describe one or more factors influencing an action or process of determining or deciding that is described in a phrase or sentence containing this expression, and this expression does not exclude any additional factors influencing the action or process of determining or deciding.

[0032] Depending on the context, the expression "set up to" as used here can have meanings such as "intended to," "capable of," "modified to," "made to," "able to," etc. This expression is not limited to the meaning of "specifically designed in hardware to do so." For example, a processor set up to perform a particular operation can refer to a general-purpose processor capable of performing the specific operation by executing software, or to a specialized computer structured through programming to perform the specific operation.

[0033] The units, parts, and / or elements described herein can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both. The units, parts, and / or elements described herein (and / or their functions) can be implemented and / or executed by one or more processors. The units may include, for example, processor(s), microprocessor(s), graphics processing unit(s), logic circuit(s), dedicated circuit(s), application-specific integrated circuit(s), programmable array logic, field-programmable gate array(s), control unit(s), microcontroller, and / or other suitable hardware. The units may also, or alternatively, include software control modules implemented, for example, with a processor and / or logic circuits. The units may, for example, contain memory and / or otherwise access it, such as...One or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, flash / other storage devices, data registers, databases, and / or other suitable hardware. One or more storage media may include one or all of the accessible memory of computers, processors, or the like, or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives, and the like, which can provide non-transitory memory for software programming at any time.

[0034] Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of a perspective view of a seat according to the present disclosure, Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary view of a lateral structure of the seat according to the present disclosure when the seat is in a first state in which a person can sit on the seat, and Fig. Figure 3 shows an exemplary view of a lateral structure of the seat according to the present disclosure when the seat is in a second state in which the seat is folded.

[0035] The seat according to the present disclosure can be a seat with a structure capable of changing its position (e.g., for reconfiguration between use and stow modes, etc.). More specifically, the seat according to the present disclosure can have a structure that can reversibly change between the first state, in which a person can sit on the seat, and the second state, in which the seat is folded (e.g., upright or compactly stowed, etc.). In particular, the seat according to the present disclosure can have a structure in which a width in a forward / backward direction can be minimized in the aforementioned second state (e.g., to allow more cabin space for cargo, standing passengers, or modular reconfigurations, etc.).Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to minimize the volume occupied by the seat in situations where the person does not need to sit on the seat (e.g., when items need to be loaded around the seat, when transporting large luggage, when loading goods, or when alternative seating needs to be provided, etc.). The seat according to the present disclosure can be installed in a movable body such as a vehicle (e.g., a car, a van, a bus, or a special-purpose vehicle (PBV), etc.). However, the seat according to the present disclosure can be used in various locations where a seat is needed (e.g., in trains, airplanes, modular housing units, mobile offices, or temporary installations at event venues, etc.).

[0036] With reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. According to the present disclosure, a seat 10 can have a base frame part 100. The base frame part 100 can be attached to a floor (e.g., a floor of the moving body such as the vehicle, or a cabin floor of a vehicle). The base frame part 100 can be attached to the floor without moving while the seat changes between the first and second states. The base frame part 100 can project upwards from the aforementioned floor or extend vertically or obliquely upwards.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the seat 10 can have a padded frame part 200 provided on one side of the base frame part 100 (e.g., at the rear or in the upper region, depending on the seat orientation, etc.). More precisely, the padded frame part 200 can be rotatably connected to the base frame part 100 (e.g., via a hinge, a pivot pocket, or a bushing-supported shaft, etc.). In particular, a pivot shaft, with which the padded frame part 200 and the base frame part 100 are coupled, can be provided parallel to a left / right direction W of the seat 10 (e.g., extending laterally across the width of the seat to allow for smooth folding, etc.). The padded frame part 200 can be configured to support the lower body of the person (e.g., thighs, hips, or buttocks, etc.) when the person is seated on the seat.More precisely, the upholstery frame part 200 can be arranged so that in the first state mentioned above it extends in a direction close to a forward / backward direction (e.g. providing a horizontal seating surface to support the occupant, etc.), and the upholstery frame part 200 can be arranged so that in the second state mentioned above it extends in an upward / downward direction (e.g. forming a vertically oriented profile for a compact stowing or standing mode, etc.).

[0038] Furthermore, the seat 10 can have a leg frame section 300 that is rotatably mounted on one side of the upholstery frame section 200 (e.g., at a rear or lower end of the upholstery frame, depending on the structural configuration, etc.). The leg frame section 300 can be rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the upholstery frame section 200 (e.g., to allow coordinated movement during the folding or unfolding process, etc.). In particular, a pivot shaft for coupling the upholstery frame section 200 and the leg frame section 300 can be provided parallel to the left / right direction W of the seat 10 (e.g., to allow lateral pivoting along a horizontal axis extending across the width of the seat, etc.). A portion of the leg frame section 300 can be configured to support a rear surface section of the person seated in the seat, together with a back frame section described below (e.g.,Thighs, buttocks or pelvic area, etc.). More precisely, the leg frame part 300 can be arranged so that in the first state mentioned above it extends in a backward-tilting direction, and the leg frame part 300 can be arranged so that in the second state mentioned above it extends in an upward / downward direction, for example to allow vertical stowage with minimal intrusion into the cabin space.

[0039] With continued reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. The seat may further comprise a coupling part 400, one side of which is coupled to the leg frame part 300 and the other side of which is attached to the base frame part 100. In this case, the configuration in which the other side of the coupling part 400 is attached relative to the base frame part 100 does not necessarily mean a configuration in which the other side of the coupling part 400 is directly coupled to the base frame part 100. Rather, the other side of the coupling part 400 may be attached to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. It must be attached to the floor on which the seat is to be installed (e.g., via an intermediate bracket, a subframe, a mounting plate, or a floor rail, etc.). A detailed configuration of the coupling part 400 is described below, following the configurations described below.

[0040] Furthermore, the seat 10 according to the present disclosure can have a lever part 500, one side of which is rotatably connected to the leg frame part 300, and a cable element 600, one side of which is connected to the lever part 500 and the other side of which is connected to the coupling part 400 (e.g. a latch, hook or locking mechanism of the coupling part, etc.).

[0041] According to the present disclosure, when the seat 10 is in the first state mentioned above, both sides of the coupling part 400 can be coupled to each other (e.g., via a latch-and-stop, hook-and-slot, or cam-lock engagement, etc.). In this case, when the person pulls the lever part 500 so that the seat 10 moves into the second state mentioned above, the lever part 500 pulls the cable element 600, so that one side of the coupling part 400, which is connected to the cable element 600, is actuated to perform a movement (e.g., rotating, sliding, or retracting, etc.). Therefore, one and the other side of the coupling part 400 can be decoupled, and the leg frame part 300, to which one side of the coupling part 400 is coupled, can move upwards (e.g. pivoting about a joint axis into a vertical orientation, etc.).

[0042] The coupling part 400 can comprise a first coupling element 410, one side of which is connected to the cable element 600 and rotatably coupled to the leg frame part 300, and a second coupling element 420, one side of which is attached relative to the base frame part 100 (e.g., mounted directly on the base frame, attached via a bracket, or fixed to the vehicle floor, etc.). For example, one side of the coupling part 400 can correspond to the first coupling element 410 (e.g., a latch, hook, or movable pin, etc.), and the other side of the coupling part 400 can correspond to the second coupling element 420 (e.g., a stop, a groove, or a fixed lock, etc.).

[0043] According to the present disclosure, the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 can be coupled to engage with each other (e.g., via a latch-hook engagement, a snap lock, or a rotary lock, etc.). For example, according to the present disclosure, when the seat is in the first state mentioned above, the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 can physically engage with each other so that the leg frame part 300 can be attached to the floor on which the seat 10 is provided (e.g., to stabilize the seat during occupancy or vehicle movement, etc.).When the person then operates the lever part 500, the first coupling element 410 can be rotated by the cable element 600, and the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 can be decoupled, so that the upholstered frame part 200 and the leg frame part 300 can be rotated relative to the base frame part 100 and the upholstered frame part 200, allowing the seat to change into the second state mentioned above (e.g. a folded or standing position for space-saving purposes, etc.).

[0044] As in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the first coupling element 410 can, for example, be provided as a locking element with a hook area 410a (e.g. integrally formed with the locking element as a recessed groove, angled notch or contoured projection, etc.), and the second coupling element 420 can be provided as a stop element that is configured to be engaged by the hook area 410a (e.g. a projecting rod, a pin or a counter tab, etc.).

[0045] With continued reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. According to the present disclosure, the seat 10 can have an elastic element 650 (e.g., an elastic connector) whose one side is connected to the leg frame part 300 and whose other side is connected to the upholstery frame part 200. The elastic element 650 can be configured to press the upholstery frame part 200 and the leg frame part 300, for example, in their respective directions of rotation when the seat is folded or unfolded. That is, one side of the elastic element 650 can be designed to press the leg frame part 300, and the other side of the elastic element 650 can be designed to press the upholstery frame part 200 (e.g., via clamps, fastening tabs, or connections, etc.).More precisely, in the state in which the seat is in the aforementioned first state, one side of the elastic element 650 can be connected to a lower area of ​​the leg frame part 300, and the other side of the elastic element 650 can be connected to a rear area of ​​the upholstered frame part 200 (e.g., adjacent to the hinge axis or near the rear edge, etc.). For example, in the aforementioned first state, one side of the elastic element 650 can be positioned beneath the other side of the elastic element 650, and the entire elastic element 650 can be arranged in an upward / downward direction (e.g., vertically oriented or slightly inclined, depending on the seat configuration, etc.).

[0046] As described above, if the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 are decoupled by actuating the lever part 500, the rear section of the upholstery frame part 200 is pushed upwards by the elastic element 650 (e.g., by stored spring force or compressed gas pressure, etc.). Therefore, the upholstery frame part can rotate about the area coupled to the base frame part 100, allowing the rear section of the upholstery frame part 200 to move upwards (e.g., by pivoting about the first hinge axis, etc.). Consequently, the upholstery frame part 200 can be positioned in the upward / downward direction, allowing the seat to be in the second state mentioned above (e.g., in a folded or stowed standing position, etc.). The elastic element 650 can, for example, be a gas spring (e.g., a sealed cylinder with a pressurized gas chamber and a sliding rod, etc.).However, the type of elastic element 650 is not limited to the gas spring; any elastic element can be used (e.g., a coil spring, a torsion spring, or an elastomer damper, etc.) as long as the elastic element can exert an elastic force.

[0047] The lever part 500 can have a variety of components. That is, the lever part 500 can have a lever body element 510 that is coupled to the leg frame part 300 and configured to allow a lever pivot shaft LX to rotate (e.g., a fixed pivot pin, a hinge axis, or a bushing-supported shaft, etc.). One side of the cable element 600 can be connected to the lever body element 510 (e.g., via a hook, a clamp, or a crimp connection, etc.). According to the present disclosure, the lever body element 510 can rotate about the lever pivot shaft LX when the person actuates the lever part 500 to transmit a movement to release one or more locking components. In particular, the lever pivot shaft LX can be arranged in a direction parallel to the left / right direction W (i.e., in a lateral direction across the seat width, etc.).

[0048] The lever body element 510 can have a first lever body section 512, i.e., a section that extends on the basis of the lever pivot shaft LX towards the clutch part 400 (i.e. downwards, based on the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3), and a second lever body section 514, i.e., a section extending in one direction away from the coupling part 400 based on the lever pivot shaft LX (e.g. upwards or backwards, depending on the mounting orientation, etc.). In this case, the cable element 600 can be connected to one side (e.g., one end) of the first lever body element 512 (e.g., where the mechanical force transmission for pulling the cable is optimized, etc.).

[0049] Furthermore, the lever part 500 can have a lever handle element 520 that is connected to a side or side section of the lever body 510 (e.g., by welding, bolting, or integral casting, etc.). The lever handle element 520 can be configured to be gripped directly by the person when the person operates the lever part 500 (e.g., to initiate folding, unlocking, or tilting of the seat, etc.). The lever handle element 520 can be connected to a side (e.g., an end) of the first lever body element 512. In particular, the lever handle element 520 can extend from a lower end of the first lever body section 512 toward a rear of the seat (e.g., in a direction suitable for pulling by the user while operating the seat, etc.).

[0050] In this case, according to the present disclosure, i) the distance between the lever pivot shaft LX and the section of the first lever body section 512 to which the lever handle element 520 is connected can be longer than ii) the distance between the lever pivot shaft LX and the section of the first lever body section 512 to which the cable element 600 is connected (e.g., to establish a lever arm ratio that is favorable for efficient cable operation, etc.). This can serve to move the area of ​​the cable element 600 connected to the first lever body section 512 backward when the person pulls the lever handle element 520 backward (e.g., to enable a coordinated release of the locking mechanism by mechanical force transmission to allow synchronized unlocking, to improve the ergonomic leverage, or to reduce the required user force, etc.).

[0051] The lever body element 510 can have a shape that is generally curved as a whole. More precisely, the lever body element 510 can have a curved section 510a that has a curved shape (e.g., an angled arc, a curved joint, or a recessed contour, etc.). In this case, the lever body element 510 can be described with reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. have a shape that projects convexly backwards in the curved lever section 510a (e.g., forming a backward-pointing arc or hump, etc.). In the drawings, for example, i) the distance between the curved section 510a of the lever and the coupling part 400 may be shorter than ii) the distance between the lever pivot shaft LX and the coupling part 400, and the cable element 600 may be connected to the curved section 510a of the lever (e.g., to achieve an optimal angle of pull, a compact packing, or a distance to surrounding structures, etc.).

[0052] With continued reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. The seat may further comprise a back frame part 700, which is provided above the leg frame part 300 and rotatably coupled to the leg frame part 300 (e.g., via a hinge connection, a pivot pin, or a tilting mechanism, etc.), and a mediating element 750 (e.g., a tilt adjuster, a latch, a locking mechanism, a rotational lock, etc.) which is provided in an area where the leg frame part 300 and the back frame part 700 are connected, wherein the mediating element 750 is configured to mediate the coupling between the leg frame part 300 and the back frame part 700 (e.g., to selectively lock or unlock the back frame part 700 with respect to the leg frame part 300, to control whether the back frame part 700 is fixed or rotatable relative to the leg frame part 300, to control tilting or folding operations, to adjust the angular positioning, or to engage the locking mechanism). to enable during use, etc.).More precisely, the mediating element 750 can be located in the area where the leg frame part 300 and the back frame part 700 are rotatably connected (e.g., via a hinge, pivot, or joint, etc.). In this case, the mediating element 750 can be configured such that i) a fixed state, in which the leg frame part 300 and the back frame part 700 are rigidly connected to each other (e.g., by preventing them from rotating relative to each other), and ii) an unfixed state, in which the leg frame part 300 and the back frame part 700 can rotate relative to each other, can be reversibly repeated in conjunction with the movement of the lever body element 510 (e.g., to allow the backrest to be tilted or stored upright, the seat to be folded for compact storage, or an ergonomic adjustment, etc.). The mediating element 750 mentioned above can be a tilt adjuster (e.g.,a ratchet mechanism, a torsionally damped tilt adjuster, or a cam-lock mechanism, etc.). Alternatively, the mediating element 750 can be replaced by a locking element, such as a latching element (e.g., a spring-loaded bolt or a hook lock, etc.).

[0053] The lever part 500 can further comprise a lever extension element 530 extending upwards from the lever body element 510, one side of which is coupled to the lever body element 510 and the other side of which is connected to the mediating element 750 (e.g., a tilt adjuster or a locking unit located between the leg frame and the back frame, etc.). More precisely, the lever extension element 530 can be connected to one side of the second lever body section 514 (e.g., near its upper end or intermediate region, etc.). Therefore, when the lever body element 510 rotates, the lever extension element 530 can also rotate together with the lever body element 510 (e.g., by direct attachment or a common pivot point, etc.). Consequently, the mediating element 750 connected to the lever extension element 530 can also rotate (e.g.,to switch between locked and unlocked states, etc.). Therefore, according to the present disclosure, if the person operates the lever handle element 520 and rotates the lever body element 510 when the seat 10 is in the first state mentioned above, i) the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 can be decoupled by the first lever body section 512, and simultaneously ii) the leg frame part 300 and the back frame part 700, which are rigidly coupled by the mediating element 750, can also be decoupled by the second lever body section 514 (e.g., to allow both the release of the lock and the unlocking of the tilt adjuster in a single user action, in order to fold or stow the seat in a space-saving manner, etc.).

[0054] The seat 10 according to the present disclosure can contain the components which are spaced apart from each other in the left / right direction W and correspond to each other (e.g. for symmetrical support, better stability or bilateral actuation, etc.).

[0055] For example, the seat 10 may further comprise an additional base frame part 100-1, which is spaced in the left / right direction W from the base frame part 100 and corresponds to the base frame part 100, an additional upholstery frame part 200-1, which is spaced in the left / right direction W from the upholstery frame part 200 and corresponds to the upholstery frame part 200 and is rotatably connected to the additional base frame part 100-1, and an additional leg frame part 300-1, which is spaced in the left / right direction W from the leg frame part 300 and corresponds to the leg frame part 300 and is configured to be rotatable relative to the additional upholstery frame part 200-1 (e.g. forming a mirrored connection on the opposite side of the seat structure for balanced operation, synchronized movement or structural stability, etc.).The descriptions of the base frame part 100, the upholstered frame part 200, and the leg frame part 300 mentioned above can, in principle, be applied in the same way to the additional base frame part 100-1, the additional upholstered frame part 200-1, and the additional leg frame part 300-1 (e.g., using similar pivot points, material types, or ranges of motion, etc.). In contrast to the description in . Fig. The configuration shown in section 1 illustrates the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. To simplify the description, the base frame part 100 and the additional base frame part 100-1 are integrated into a single component, and the leg frame part 300 and the additional leg frame part 300-1 are integrated into a single component (e.g. as a single structural element or simplified for clarity of drawing, etc.).

[0056] According to the present disclosure, the seat can further comprise a connecting element 800, one side of which is rotatably connected to the additional leg frame part 300-1 and the other side of which is rotatably connected to the additional base frame part 100-1 (e.g., via hinge pins, bushings, or ball joints, etc.). According to the present disclosure, the additional base frame part 100-1, the additional upholstered frame part 200-1, the additional leg frame part 300-1, and the connecting element 800 can form a four-bar linkage (e.g., a mechanical four-bar linkage to ensure synchronized movement, etc.). Thus, when, as described above, the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 are disengaged while the person operates the lever part 500, the upholstered frame part 200 and the leg frame part 300 can rotate, and the connecting element 800 can rotate in accordance with the rotation (e.g.,in coordination with the other components to maintain structural alignment and smooth folding behavior).

[0057] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the seat 10 can have a shaft element configured to allow the movements of the upholstered frame part 200 and the leg frame part 300, as well as the movements of the additional upholstered frame part 200-1 and the additional leg frame part 300-1, to be carried out in conjunction with one another (e.g., to maintain symmetry, synchronization, and mechanical stability between the left and right sides, etc.). More specifically, the seat can also have a connecting shaft element 900 extending in the left / right direction W and configured to successively pass through the leg frame part 300, the upholstered frame part 200, the additional upholstered frame part 200-1, and the additional leg frame part 300-1 (e.g., through coaxial pivot points or bushing assemblies, etc.).For example, the leg frame part 300, the upholstery frame part 200, the additional upholstery frame part 200-1, and the additional leg frame part 300-1 can rotate around the connecting shaft element 900 (e.g., in response to a single actuation event such as lever actuation, etc.). The connecting shaft element 900 can also rotate in conjunction with the movements of the leg frame part 300 and the upholstery frame part 200. The movements of the additional upholstery frame part 200-1 and the additional leg frame part 300-1 can be performed together with the upholstery frame part 200 and the leg frame part 300 according to the rotation of the connecting shaft element 900 (e.g., to allow a mirrored folding operation on both sides of the seat with minimal offset or delay, etc.).

[0058] The following describes the shape and structure of the seat during the process of moving the seat from the state (i.e., the first state) into Fig. 1 into state (i.e. the second state) in Fig. 2 transitions (e.g., a transition from a configuration used as a seat to a space-saving folded configuration, etc.).

[0059] When the person operates the lever element 520 and the seat 10 is in the state according to Fig. 1, i) the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 are decoupled and simultaneously ii) the leg frame part 300 and the back frame part 700, which are coupled by the mediating element 750, are decoupled, so that a physical distance between the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 increases and the back frame part 700 rotates forward relative to the leg frame part 300 (e.g., enabling the transition to a compact stowed state, see Fig. 4) For example, when the first coupling element 410 and the second coupling element 420 are decoupled, the rear portion of the upholstered frame part 200 is rotated while being moved upwards by a compressive force from the elastic element 650, which presses on the upholstered frame part 200 and the leg frame part 300 (e.g., a gas spring or a coil spring that creates an upward preload, etc.), so that the leg frame part 300, which is rotatably coupled to the upholstered frame part 200, also rotates (e.g., pivoting about the second hinge axis to assist the folding process, see Fig. 5) Then the elastic element 650 presses evenly on the upholstered frame part 200, so that the seat 10 reaches the second state, as in Fig. 3 shown (e.g. a completely stationary position with reduced volume requirements, etc.).

[0060] An example of the present disclosure provides a seat comprising: a base frame part; a cushion frame part provided on one side of the base frame part; a leg frame part rotatably provided on one side of the cushion frame part; a coupling part, one side of which is coupled to the leg frame part and the other side of which is fixed relative to the base frame part; a lever part, one side of which is rotatably coupled to the leg frame part; a cable element, one side of which is connected to the lever part and the other side of which is connected to the coupling part; and an elastic element, one side of which is connected to the leg frame part and the other side of which is connected to the cushion frame part.

[0061] The coupling part may comprise: a first coupling element, one side of which is connected to the cable element and rotatably coupled to the leg frame part; and a second coupling element, one side of which is fixed relative to the base frame part, and the first coupling element and the second coupling element may be arranged to be able to be coupled together.

[0062] The first coupling element can be designed as a locking element with a hook area, and the second coupling element as a stop element that is designed to be engaged by the hook area.

[0063] The lever part may have a lever body element connected to the leg frame part and configured to be rotatable to a lever pivot shaft LX, and one side of the cable element may be connected to the lever body element.

[0064] The lever body element can have: a first lever body section, which is a section extending towards the coupling part on the basis of the lever pivot shaft LX; and a second lever body section, which is a section extending away from the coupling part on the basis of the lever pivot shaft LX, and the cable element can be connected to one side of the first lever body section.

[0065] The lever part may further comprise a lever handle element connected to one side of the lever body element, and the lever handle element may be connected to one side of the first lever body element.

[0066] i) A distance between the lever pivot shaft LX and a section of the first lever body element to which the lever handle element is connected may be longer than ii) a distance between the lever pivot shaft LX and a section of the first lever body element to which the cable element is connected.

[0067] The lever body element can have a curved section with a curved shape.

[0068] The lever body can have a convex shape that projects backward into the curved lever section.

[0069] i) The distance between the curved lever section and the clutch part may be shorter than ii) the distance between the lever pivot shaft LX and the clutch part.

[0070] The seat may further comprise: a back frame part provided above the leg frame part and rotatably connected to the leg frame part; and an intermediary element provided in an area where the leg frame part and the back frame part are connected, wherein the intermediary element is configured to provide a coupling between the leg frame part and the back frame part, wherein the intermediary element is configured such that i) a fixed state in which the leg frame part and the back frame part are rigidly coupled to each other (e.g. prevented from rotating relative to each other), and ii) an unfixed state in which the leg frame part and the back frame part are rotatable relative to each other, are reversibly repeated in conjunction with a movement of the lever body element.

[0071] The lever part may further comprise a lever extension element, one side of which is connected to the lever body element and the other side of which is connected to the mediating element.

[0072] The seat may further comprise: an additional base frame part spaced from the base frame part in a left / right direction W; an additional upholstery frame part spaced from the upholstery frame part in the left / right direction W and rotatably connected to the additional base frame part; and an additional leg frame part spaced from the leg frame part in the left / right direction W and arranged to be rotatable relative to the additional upholstery frame part.

[0073] The seat may also include: a connecting element, one side of which is rotatably connected to the additional leg frame part and the other side of which is rotatably connected to the additional base frame part.

[0074] One side of the elastic element can be designed to press against the leg frame part, and the other side of the elastic element can be designed to press against the upholstered frame part.

[0075] According to the present disclosure, the volume of space occupied by a vehicle seat can be minimized or reduced, which can improve the use of the vehicle's interior space.

[0076] The present disclosure has been described with reference to the limited examples and drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure can be implemented in various forms by those skilled in the art in the field to which it relates, within the technical spirit of the present disclosure and the scope corresponding to the appended claims. Reference symbol list 10 seats 100 base frames 100-1 Additional base frame 200 upholstered frames 200-1 Additional upholstered frame 300 leg frames 300-1 Additional Leg Frame 400 Clutch part 410 First coupling element 410a Hook area 420 Second coupling element 500 lever part 510 Lever body element 510a Bent lever section 512 First lever body section 514 Second lever body section 520 Lever handle element 530 Lever extension element 600 cable element 650 Elastic element 700 back frame element 750 mediation element 800 connecting element 900 connecting shaft W Left / Right direction LX lever shaft QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] KR 10-2024-0190376

[0001]

Claims

Seat comprising: a base frame part; an upholstered frame part provided on one side of the base frame part; a leg frame part rotatably provided on one side of the upholstered frame part; a coupling part, one side of which is coupled to the leg frame part and the other side of which is fixed relative to the base frame part; a lever part, one side of which is rotatably connected to the leg frame part; a cable element, one side of which is connected to the lever part and the other side of which is connected to the coupling part; and an elastic connector, one side of which is connected to the leg frame part and the other side of which is connected to the upholstered frame part. Seat according to claim 1, wherein the coupling part comprises: a first coupling part which is coupled to the cable element at one side and rotatably connected to the leg frame part; and a second coupling part, the one side of which is fixed relative to the base frame part, and wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are arranged to be coupled to each other in order to interlock. Seat according to claim 2, wherein the first coupling part has a hook area, and the second coupling part is arranged to be engaged by the hook area. Seat according to claim 1, wherein the lever part has a lever body element coupled to the leg frame part and arranged to be rotatable by a lever pivot shaft, wherein the lever pivot shaft lies horizontally along a left / right direction of the seat and one side of the cable element is coupled to the lever body element. Seat according to claim 4, wherein the lever body element comprises: a first lever body section configured to extend towards the coupling part based on the lever pivot shaft; and a second lever body section configured to extend away from the coupling part based on the lever pivot shaft, and wherein the cable element is connected to one side of the first lever body element. Seat according to claim 5, wherein the lever part further comprises a lever handle element connected to one side of the lever body element, and the lever handle element is connected to one side of the first lever body section. Seat according to claim 6, wherein a first distance is a distance between the lever pivot shaft and a section of the first lever body section to which the lever handle element is coupled, wherein a second distance is a distance between the lever pivot shaft and a section of the first lever body section to which the cable element is coupled, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. Seat according to claim 4, wherein the lever body element has a curved lever section with a curved shape. Seat according to claim 8, wherein the lever body element has a shape that projects convexly to the rear in the curved lever section. Seat according to claim 8, wherein a first distance between the bent lever section and the coupling part is shorter than a second distance between the lever pivot shaft and the coupling part. Seat according to claim 4, further comprising: a back frame part provided above the leg frame part and rotatably connected to the leg frame part; and a tilt adjuster provided in a region where the leg frame part and the back frame part are coupled, wherein the tilt adjuster is configured: to control whether the rear frame part is fixed to the leg frame part or rotatable relative to it, and in conjunction with a movement of the lever body element to reversibly switch between a fixed state and an unfixed state, wherein in the fixed state the leg frame part and the rear frame part are prevented from rotating relative to each other, and wherein in the unfixed state the leg frame part and the rear frame part are rotatable relative to each other. Seat according to claim 11, wherein the lever part further comprises a lever extension element, one side of which is connected to the lever body element and the other side of which is connected to the mediating element. Seat according to claim 1, further comprising: an additional base frame part which is spaced apart from the base frame part in a lateral direction of the seat and extends to the left and right over the seat; an additional upholstery frame part which is spaced apart from the upholstery frame part in the lateral direction and is rotatably connected to the additional base frame part; and an additional leg frame part which is spaced apart from the leg frame part in the lateral direction and is arranged to be rotatable relative to the additional upholstery frame part. Seat according to claim 13 further comprising: a connecting element, one side of which is rotatably connected to the additional leg frame part and the other side of which is rotatably connected to the additional base frame part. Seat according to claim 1, wherein one side of the elastic connector is provided to press the leg frame part, and another side of the elastic connector is provided to press the upholstered frame part. A method for converting a seat, comprising: pulling a lever part to rotate a lever body element about a lever pivot axis; releasing a coupling part between a leg frame part and a base frame part by transmitting a tensile force via a cable element; causing an upholstery frame part to rotate about a connection with the base frame part by a compressive force from an elastic connector; causing a leg frame part rotatably coupled to the upholstery frame part to rotate in conjunction with the upholstery frame part; and converting the seat from a seated state to a folded state when the upholstery frame part and the leg frame part rotate upwards. Method according to claim 16, wherein releasing the coupling comprises rotating a first coupling element having a hook area to release itself from a second coupling element which is configured to be engaged by the hook area. Method according to claim 16, wherein the lever part has a lever handle element and the pulling of the lever part comprises pulling the lever handle element backwards, wherein the lever handle element is connected to a first section of the lever body element. Method according to claim 18, wherein a distance between the lever pivot shaft and the lever handle element is longer than a distance between the lever pivot shaft and a point where the cable element is connected to the lever body element. The method according to claim 16 further comprising: unlocking a tilt adjuster connecting a back frame part to the leg frame part; and changing the tilt adjuster from a fixed state to an unfixed state based on the rotation of the lever body element.

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