Latch assembly

Abstract

To provide a latch assembly in which rattling noise can be reduced.SOLUTION: A latch assembly according to an embodiment comprises: a latch bracket that is mounted on a seat back frame; a latch whose rear part is hinge-joined to a latch bracket and whose front part is bent downward, in which a claw part is formed at an end part; a cable connected to an upper surface of the latch; a hinge bracket joined to the rear part of the latch; a pressing bar positioned horizontally below the claw part; and a link unit that when the latch rotates downward, connects the hinge bracket to the pressing bar so that the pressing bar moves up, which is joined to the latch bracket.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a latch assembly.

Background Art

[0002] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2163881 discloses a latch assembly for adjusting a seat back of a vehicle.

[0003] The latch assembly disclosed in the publication includes a latch bracket attached to a seat back frame of a vehicle seat back; a body part supported by the latch bracket, a claw part formed by bending downward from the front side of the body part and having a plurality of fastening grooves spaced upward from the lower end, and a bracket coupling part formed at the upper end of the body part; a latch; a rotary bracket hinge-coupled to the bracket coupling part; and a cable connected to the rotary bracket.

[0004] The above-described latch assembly has a problem in that a rattle noise occurs during operation because the striker is fixed only in one direction (from above to below) by the latch.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a latch assembly with reduced rattle noise.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The latch assembly according to the embodiment includes a latch bracket attached to the seat back frame, a latch having a rear portion hinge-coupled to the latch bracket, a front portion bent downward, and a claw portion formed at an end thereof, a cable connected to an upper surface of the latch, a hinge bracket coupled to a rear portion of the latch, a pressing bar horizontally positioned below the claw portion, a connection between the hinge bracket and the pressing bar such that the pressing bar rises when the latch rotates downward, and a link unit coupled to the latch bracket.

[0008] Further, the latch bracket of the latch assembly according to the embodiment includes a coupling portion attached to the seat back frame and a support plate portion vertically provided on one side of the coupling portion. The link unit may include a first link bar having one end hinge-coupled to the hinge bracket and a second link bar having one end hinge-coupled to the other end of the first link bar, the other end vertically coupled to the pressing bar, and a body hinge-coupled to the support plate portion.

[0009] Furthermore, the latch assembly according to the embodiment may further include a return spring having one end coupled to the support plate portion and the other end coupled to the second link bar to apply an upward elastic restoring force to the pressing bar.

[0010] Moreover, the latch assembly according to the embodiment may further include a return spring having one end coupled to the latch bracket and the other end coupled to the latch to apply a downward elastic restoring force to the latch.

[0011] Also, an end portion of the claw portion of the latch assembly according to the embodiment may be bent toward the coupling portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] In the latch assembly according to the embodiment, since the latch and the pressing bar fix the striker from both directions, the fixing force is improved and the rattle sound is reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] The advantages, features, and methods for achieving them of the present disclosure will become apparent by referring to the embodiments described in detail hereinafter together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and can be realized in various different forms. However, this embodiment is provided to make the present disclosure complete and to fully inform those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains of the scope of the invention. The present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of a latch assembly 100 (hereinafter referred to as "latch assembly 100") according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2, which is an exploded view of the latch assembly 100, the latch assembly 100 includes a latch bracket 110, a latch 120, a hinge bracket 130, a pressure bar 140, a link unit 150, and a cable 160.

[0016] The latch assembly 100 is attached to a seat back frame and is for adjusting the seat back, and is coupled to a striker S that protrudes from an adjacent vehicle body and is attached.

[0017] That is, the striker S is coupled to a latch 120 described later to specify a position, and the seat back is configured to be capable of multi-stage tilt adjustment according to the coupling position of the latch 120.

[0018] The latch bracket 110 is attached to the seat back frame and includes a coupling portion 111 and a support plate portion 112.

[0019] The coupling portion 111 is plate-shaped and is coupled to the seat back frame.

[0020] The support plate portion 112 is provided perpendicular to one side of the coupling portion 111. Further, the support plate portion 112 guides and supports the latch 120 described later, and guide grooves 112a can be formed on the front surface and the side surface so that the striker S can be coupled to the latch 120.

[0021] The hinge portion 113 can be horizontally coupled to the support plate portion 112, and the latch 120 is hinge-coupled thereto.

[0022] The latch 120 is hinge-coupled to the latch bracket 110. Specifically, the latch 120 includes a body portion 121 and a claw portion 122.

[0023] The body portion 121 is plate-shaped, and the rear portion is hinge-coupled to the hinge portion 113 of the latch bracket 110.

[0024] The claw portion 122 is shaped to bend downward from the front portion of the body portion 121. A fastening groove 122a is formed at the end of the claw portion 122 so that the striker S can be coupled thereto. Further, the end of the claw portion 122 may be shaped to bend toward the coupling portion 111. By configuring the end of the claw portion 122 to be bent, the rotation of the latch 120 can be more effectively prevented when a collision load occurs.

[0025] A return spring 113a can be provided on the hinge portion 113 of the latch bracket 110.

[0026] The return spring 113a can have one end coupled to the latch bracket 110 and the other end coupled to the latch 120. Specifically, one end of the return spring 113a can be coupled to either the coupling portion 111 or the support plate portion 112 of the latch bracket 110, and the other end can be coupled to the body portion 121 of the latch 120, so that when the latch 120 rotates about the hinge portion 113, an elastic restoring force is applied to the latch 120.

[0027] The hinge bracket 130 is coupled to the rear portion of the latch 120. Specifically, the hinge bracket 130 can have an "L" shape, and a hole 131 can be formed so that the link unit 150 can be hinge-coupled.

[0028] The pressing bar 140 is rod-shaped with a predetermined length and is horizontally positioned below the claw portion 122 of the latch 120. Specifically, the pressing bar 140 can be rod-shaped with a length about the width of the claw portion 122 of the latch 120 and is horizontally positioned below the claw portion 122 of the latch 120. At this time, the pressing bar 140 can be positioned in front of and below the claw portion 122 of the latch 120.

[0029] The link unit 150 connects the hinge bracket 130 and the pressing bar 140 so that when the latch 120 rotates downward, the pressing bar 140 rises, and is coupled to the latch bracket 110.

[0030] Specifically, the link unit 150 includes a first link bar 151 and a second link bar 152.

[0031] The first link bar 151 is rod-shaped, but one end is hinge-coupled to the hinge bracket 130. A long hole 151a is formed in the longitudinal direction at the other end of the first link bar 151.

[0032] The second link bar 152 has one end hinged to the other end of the first link bar 151, the other end vertically coupled to the pressing bar 140, and the body hinged to the support plate portion 112 of the latch bracket 110. Specifically, one end of the second link bar 152 is hinged to the long hole 151a of the first link bar 151.

[0033] The link unit 150 may further include a return spring 153.

[0034] One end of the return spring 153 can be coupled to the latch bracket 110 and the other end can be coupled to the link unit 150. Specifically, one end of the return spring 153 is coupled to either the coupling portion 111 or the support plate portion 112 of the latch bracket 110, and the other end is coupled to the second link bar 152, so that when the pressing bar 140 rotates with respect to the body of the second link bar 152, an elastic restoring force is applied to the pressing bar 140.

[0035] The cable 160 is coupled to the upper surface of the latch 120 and serves to lift the front portion of the latch 120.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8 which are the usage state diagram and side view of the latch assembly 100, the operating method of the latch assembly 100 will be described.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 which is the side view of FIG. 3, when the cable 160 is pulled upward, the latch 120 rotates upward, and the hinge bracket 130 coupled to the latch 120 also moves upward together. When the hinge bracket 130 moves upward, one end of the first link bar 151 moves upward, and one end of the second link bar 152 moves from the upper end to the lower end of the long hole 151a of the first link bar 151.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 which is a side view of FIG. 5, when one end of the second link bar 152 is located at the lower end of the elongated hole 151a of the first link bar 151, the pressing bar 140 rotates downward with respect to the body of the second link bar 152 while the second link bar 152 rotates. At this time, due to the elongated hole 151a of the first link bar 151, the second link bar 152 rotates at an angle smaller than the angle at which the latch 120 rotates.

[0039] Since the latch 120 rotates upward and the pressing bar 140 rotates downward, the striker S disengages from the fastening groove 122a of the claw portion 122. As a result, the user can adjust the angle of the seat back.

[0040] Subsequently, referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 which is a side view of FIG. 7, when the force pulling the cable 160 in the state of FIG. 5 is removed, the return spring 113a causes the latch 120 to rotate downward, and the hinge bracket 130 coupled to the latch 120 also moves downward together. As the hinge bracket 130 moves downward and one end of the first link bar 151 moves downward, one end of the second link bar 152 moves from the lower end to the upper end of the elongated hole 151a of the first link bar 151. When one end of the second link bar 152 is located at the upper end of the elongated hole 151a of the first link bar 151, the pressing bar 140 rises with respect to the body of the second link bar 152 while the second link bar rotates by the return spring 153. As a result, the striker S is inserted into the fastening groove 122a of the claw portion 122, and the latch 120 presses upward and the pressing bar 140 presses downward, significantly reducing rattle noise.

[0041] The expressions (terms, visualized images, etc.) used when describing the embodiments of the present disclosure are merely selected for the instrumental purpose of enhancing the understanding of the technology.

[0042] In addition, the present disclosure is described by a limited number of embodiments, and an ordinary technician can devise new embodiments without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure based on the described embodiments.

[0043] Therefore, the scope of the claims of the present disclosure should not be limited by some of the expressions shown in the "Description of the Invention" and the "Drawings", but should be interpreted broadly based on the technical idea of the present application inherent in the whole of the specification.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 100 Latch assembly 110 Latch bracket 111 Coupling part 112 Support plate part 112a Guide groove 113 Hinge part 113a Return spring 120 Latch 121 Body part 122 Claw part 122a Fastening groove 130 Hinge bracket 140 Pressing bar 150 Link unit 151 First link bar 151a Long hole 152 Second link bar 153 Return spring 160 Cable

Claims

1. a latch bracket attached to the seat back frame; a latch having a rear portion hinged to the latch bracket, a front portion bent downward, and a claw portion formed at an end thereof; a cable coupled to an upper surface of the latch; a hinge bracket coupled to a rear portion of the latch; A pressure bar positioned horizontally below the claw portion; a link unit coupled to the latch bracket, the link unit connecting the hinge bracket and the pressure bar such that the pressure bar rises when the latch rotates downward.

2. The latch bracket is A coupling portion attached to the seat back frame; a support plate portion provided perpendicularly to one side of the coupling portion, The link unit includes: a first link bar having one end hinged to the hinge bracket; 2. The latch assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a second link bar having one end hinged to the other end of the first link bar and the other end vertically connected to the pressure bar, and a body hinged to the support plate portion.

3. 3. The latch assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a return spring having one end connected to said support plate portion and the other end connected to said second link bar for applying an upward elastic restoring force to said pressure bar.

4. 2. The latch assembly of claim 1, further comprising a return spring having one end coupled to said latch bracket and an opposite end coupled to said latch for exerting a downward elastic restoring force on said latch.

5. 3. The latch assembly according to claim 2, wherein an end of said claw portion is bent toward said coupling portion.

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