Vehicle swivel seat

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle seats. Disclosed is a vehicle swivel seat, comprising: a rotating plate, which is provided with a locking slot; and an unlocking mechanism, which comprises a latch assembly that connects to the locking slot in an engagement manner, wherein the locking slot and the unlocking mechanism are both arranged on the side of the swivel seat close to the front of a vehicle, and the opening of the locking slot faces the front of the vehicle.

Description

A rotating car seat

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202421787534.9, filed on July 23, 2024, entitled "A Rotating Seat for an Automobile", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to, but is not limited to, the field of automotive seat technology, specifically to a rotating automotive seat. Background Technology

[0004] A car rotating seat is a seat design that allows the seat to rotate. This design allows passengers to easily turn around, face or move away from a certain direction within the vehicle, facilitating communication or enjoying the in-car entertainment system. The design philosophy of car rotating seats is primarily based on humanization, comfort, and convenience. It can improve passenger comfort and allow passengers to move and change positions more freely within the vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Car rotating seats are generally equipped with unlocking mechanisms, which are manually operated to unlock when the seat angle or orientation needs to be changed. During car safety crash tests, the impact from the front of the vehicle is the greatest. The unlocking mechanism of rotating seats is prone to failure during vehicle safety testing, thus failing to meet safety test requirements. Taking one type of rotating seat unlocking mechanism as an example, the unlocking mechanism is located on the rear side of the seat near the rear of the vehicle. In the locked state, the locking tongue of the unlocking mechanism engages with a groove on the periphery of the seat base. In a frontal impact, under the force of the external force, the locking tongue can easily disengage away from the groove, unlocking the seat and failing to meet the car safety test requirements.

[0006] In view of this, this application provides a rotating car seat to solve the problem that the unlocking mechanism of a rotating seat is prone to unlocking upon impact, failing to meet automotive safety testing requirements. The following is an overview of the subject matter described in detail herein. This overview is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0007] This application provides a rotating car seat, comprising:

[0008] The rotating disc is equipped with a locking groove;

[0009] The unlocking mechanism includes a latch assembly that engages with the locking groove. Both the locking groove and the unlocking mechanism are located on the side of the rotating seat near the front of the vehicle, and the opening of the locking groove faces the front of the vehicle.

[0010] Beneficial effects: In automotive safety tests, the impact from the front of a vehicle is the greatest, followed by side impacts, while the impact from the rear is the least. In other words, the front of the vehicle experiences the greatest impact force, and the rear experiences the least. By placing the unlocking mechanism and locking slot on the front side of the rotating seat near the front of the vehicle, with the opening of the locking slot facing the front, the locking reliability and safety of the rotating seat are enhanced because the direction of the impact force on the front side, where the greatest impact occurs, is opposite to the unlocking direction. This makes unlocking less likely during a collision in vehicle safety testing, thus meeting the requirements of automotive safety testing.

[0011] In one optional embodiment, the unlocking mechanism further includes an electric drive assembly and a transmission assembly; the latch assembly includes an operating handle and a latch tongue disposed at a first end of the operating handle, and the second end of the operating handle is drively connected to the electric drive assembly through the transmission assembly.

[0012] Beneficial effects: The second end of the latch assembly is connected to the electric drive assembly via a transmission assembly. When the seat needs to be unlocked, the electric drive assembly controls the latch assembly through the transmission assembly to achieve electric unlocking, which improves the convenience of operation compared to the manual unlocking method in related technologies. Moreover, the electric drive assembly drives the operating handle to move, and the latch quickly disengages from the locked position, resulting in a fast response speed.

[0013] In one alternative embodiment, the operating handle is L-shaped, with the long side of the L-shaped operating handle corresponding to the second end connected to the transmission assembly, and the short side of the L-shaped operating handle corresponding to the first end extending vertically to form the locking tongue.

[0014] Beneficial effects: The L-shaped operating handle offers higher stability due to its greater moment of inertia during rotation, better resisting external disturbances and providing more stable rotation. The better balance and stability of the L-shaped lever provide higher rotational accuracy. Because of its higher stability and load-bearing capacity, the L-shaped lever can withstand more rotational cycles, thus extending its service life. Furthermore, the larger moment of inertia allows it to bear greater loads. In addition, the L-shaped operating handle has a simple structure, facilitating on-site repair and adjustment, and making installation and maintenance easier.

[0015] In one alternative embodiment, the operating handle is provided with a connecting shaft, and the operating handle is adapted to rotate along the connecting shaft.

[0016] Beneficial effects: The second end of the operating handle rotates along the connecting shaft under the drive of the transmission component, causing the first end of the operating handle to move away from the locking position and the locking tongue to disengage from the limit. This design makes operation convenient and saves effort.

[0017] In one alternative embodiment, the transmission assembly includes a pull cable, one end of which is connected to the output end of the drive assembly, and the other end of which is connected to the second end of the operating handle.

[0018] Beneficial effects: The transmission component includes a pull cable, which acts on the operating handle, enabling it to quickly and accurately apply force to the point of application, resulting in high efficiency.

[0019] In one alternative embodiment, the unlocking mechanism further includes a bracket, on which the pull cable is mounted near the operating handle.

[0020] Beneficial effects: The pull cable is mounted on the bracket near the operating handle, which makes it easy to control the direction of the pull cable force. The direction of the force is perpendicular to the second end of the operating handle, and there is no additional force loss. The design is reasonable.

[0021] In one alternative embodiment, the pull cable is provided with a sheath near the operating handle.

[0022] Beneficial effects: The sheath protects the pull cable, preventing friction between the pull cable and the bracket from causing wear and tear on the pull cable, which could affect the reliability of the unlocking mechanism.

[0023] In one alternative embodiment, the unlocking mechanism further includes a resilient return mechanism, which is drively connected to the operating handle.

[0024] Beneficial effects: The elastic return mechanism enables the operating handle to automatically return to its original position after unlocking, allowing the locking tongue at the first end of the operating handle to relock under the action of the elastic return mechanism's rebound force, eliminating the need for external force to drive the operating handle, which is convenient and time-saving.

[0025] In one alternative embodiment, the rotating disk includes:

[0026] The locking groove is disposed on the lower plate;

[0027] The upper plate is rotatably disposed on the lower plate, and the upper plate has a through groove for the locking tongue to pass through;

[0028] The latch has a locked state in which it engages with the locking groove to lock the upper plate and the lower plate together, and an unlocked state in which it separates from the locking groove to allow the upper plate to rotate relative to the lower plate.

[0029] Beneficial effects: The lower plate is provided with a locking groove, which cooperates with the unlocking mechanism provided on the upper plate to facilitate locking or unlocking between the upper and lower plates. The locking tongue on the operating handle passes through the through groove opened on the upper plate and extends between the upper and lower plates, locking or disengaging with the locking groove on the lower plate to achieve locking and unlocking between the upper and lower plates.

[0030] In one alternative embodiment, the lower plate has an upward protrusion on the side facing the upper plate, near the end face of the through groove, forming the locking groove.

[0031] Beneficial effects: A locking groove is provided on the end face of the lower plate near the through groove, which facilitates locking at the end of the operating handle's stroke, resulting in a compact structure; the lower plate protrudes upward to form a locking groove, which facilitates the locking tongue to engage with it.

[0032] After reading and understanding the accompanying diagrams and detailed descriptions, the other aspects can be understood. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an unlocking mechanism for a rotating seat according to an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 2 is a top view of the rotating disk of a rotating seat according to an embodiment of this application, showing the unlocked state of the operating handle.

[0036] Figure 3 is a top view of the rotating disk of a rotating seat according to an embodiment of this application, showing the locked state of the operating handle.

[0037] Figure 4 is a partial enlarged structural diagram of part A in Figure 3;

[0038] Figure 5 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the upper plate of a rotating disk according to an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 6 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the lower plate of a rotating disk according to an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the impact magnitudes experienced by the vehicle in various directions during the whole vehicle test.

[0041] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Rotating disc; 11. Lower disc; 12. Upper disc; 121. Through groove; 2. Locking groove; 3. Unlocking mechanism; 31. Locking assembly; 311. Operating handle; 3111. First end; 3112. Second end; 312. Locking tongue; 33. Transmission assembly; 331. Pull line; 3311. Sheath; 34. Bracket; 35. Elastic return mechanism; 36. Connecting shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0043] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0044] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application depending on the specific circumstances.

[0045] The embodiments of this application are described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

[0046] According to an embodiment of this application, a car rotating seat is provided, comprising:

[0047] Rotary disk 1 is provided with a locking groove 2;

[0048] The unlocking mechanism 3 includes a latch assembly 31 that is connected to the locking groove 2. Both the locking groove 2 and the unlocking mechanism 3 are located on the side of the rotating seat near the front of the vehicle, and the opening of the locking groove 2 faces the front of the vehicle.

[0049] In vehicle safety testing, the impact from the front is the greatest, followed by the side impact, while the impact from the rear is the least. In other words, the front of the vehicle experiences the greatest impact force, and the rear experiences the least. By placing the unlocking mechanism 3 and the locking groove 2 on the front side of the rotating seat near the front of the vehicle, with the opening of the locking groove 2 facing the front, the locking reliability and safety of the rotating seat are enhanced because the direction of the impact force on the front side, where the impact is greatest, is opposite to the unlocking direction. This makes the seat less prone to unlocking during vehicle safety testing and meets the requirements of automotive safety testing.

[0050] In some embodiments, the unlocking mechanism 3 further includes an electric drive assembly and a transmission assembly 33; the latch assembly 31 includes an operating handle 311 and a latch 312 disposed at a first end 3111 of the operating handle 311, and the second end 3112 of the operating handle 311 is connected to the electric drive assembly via the transmission assembly 33.

[0051] The second end 3112 of the latch assembly 31 is connected to the electric drive assembly via the transmission assembly 33. When the rotating seat needs to be unlocked, the electric drive assembly controls the latch assembly 31 to achieve electric unlocking via the transmission assembly 33, which improves the convenience of operation compared with the manual unlocking method in related technologies. Moreover, the electric drive assembly drives the operating handle 311 to move, and the locking tongue 312 quickly disengages from the locked position, with a fast response speed.

[0052] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1, the operating handle 311 is L-shaped. The long side of the L-shaped operating handle 311 corresponding to the second end 3112 is connected to the transmission component 33, and the short side of the L-shaped operating handle 311 corresponding to the first end 3111 extends vertically to form a locking tongue 312.

[0053] The operating handle 311 is L-shaped, offering higher stability due to its greater moment of inertia during rotation. This allows it to better resist external disturbances and provide more stable rotation. The L-shaped lever provides higher rotational accuracy due to its better balance and stability. Because of its higher stability and load-bearing capacity, the L-shaped lever can withstand more rotational cycles, thus extending its service life. Furthermore, its larger moment of inertia allows it to bear greater loads. In addition, the L-shaped design of the operating handle 311 is simple in structure, facilitating on-site repair and adjustment, and making installation and maintenance easier.

[0054] In some embodiments, the operating handle 311 is provided with a connecting shaft 36, and the operating handle 311 is adapted to rotate along the connecting shaft 36.

[0055] The second end 3112 of the operating handle 311 rotates along the connecting shaft 36 under the drive of the transmission component 33, so that the first end 3111 of the operating handle 311 moves away from the locking position and the locking tongue 312 disengages from the limit. This setting is convenient to operate and saves effort.

[0056] Furthermore, by using the long side of the L-shaped operating handle 311 as the transmission side, it is convenient to set a connecting shaft 36 on the long side to convert the linear motion of the transmission component 33 into the rotational motion of the operating handle 311, which facilitates the control of the locking tongue 312 on the short side of the L-shaped operating handle 311 to make a quick response and action, thereby unlocking or locking.

[0057] In some embodiments, the transmission assembly 33 includes a pull cable 331, one end of which is connected to the output end of the drive assembly, and the other end of which is connected to the second end 3112 of the operating handle 311.

[0058] The pull line 331 acts on the operating handle 311, which can quickly and accurately apply force to the point of application, resulting in high efficiency.

[0059] In some embodiments, the unlocking mechanism 3 further includes a bracket 34, and a pull line 331 is mounted on the bracket 34 near the operating handle 311.

[0060] The pull line 331 is mounted on the bracket 34 near the operating handle 311, which makes it easy to control the direction of force applied by the pull line 331. The direction of force applied is perpendicular to the second end 3112 of the operating handle 311, and there is no additional force loss. The design is reasonable.

[0061] It should be noted that the bracket 34 of the unlocking mechanism 3 is located on the upper plate 12 near the front of the vehicle, and the locking assembly 31 is spaced apart on the bracket 34 near the front of the vehicle. The operating handle 311 of the locking assembly 31 is pivotally connected to the upper plate 12 via the connecting shaft 36. One end of the pull cable 331 of the transmission assembly 33 passes through the slot on the bracket 34 and is connected to the second end 3112 of the operating handle 311. The other end of the pull cable 331 is connected to the power output end of the electric drive assembly. The electric drive assembly can be a motor. The motor is connected to the vehicle's control unit and can be controlled by the control unit to start and stop the motor.

[0062] In some embodiments, a sheath 3311 is provided on the pull cable 331 near the operating handle 311.

[0063] The sheath 3311 protects the pull cable 331, preventing friction between the pull cable 331 and the bracket 34 from causing wear on the pull cable 331 and affecting the reliability of the unlocking mechanism 3.

[0064] In some embodiments, the unlocking mechanism 3 further includes an elastic return mechanism 35, which is connected to the operating handle 311.

[0065] The elastic return mechanism 35 can automatically return the operating handle 311 after unlocking, so that the locking tongue 312 of the first end 3111 of the operating handle 311 is relocked under the action of the elastic return mechanism 35, without the need to drive the operating handle 311 to move by external force, which is convenient and time-saving.

[0066] It should be noted that the elastic return mechanism 35 is located on the upper plate 12 near the front of the vehicle and is connected to the operating handle 311 in a transmission manner.

[0067] Specifically, the elastic return mechanism 35 includes a return torsion spring sleeved on the connecting shaft 36. When the latch 312 is in the locked state, the return torsion spring is in the natural state. When the pull cable 331 pulls the second end 3112 of the operating handle 311, the operating handle 311 rotates, causing the latch 312 at its first end 3111 to disengage from the locking groove 2 and move away from the locked position. At this time, the return torsion spring tightens as the connecting shaft 36 rotates, accumulating elastic potential energy. When the rotating seat rotates to the appropriate position, the electric drive assembly is de-energized, and the pull cable 331 no longer applies force to the operating handle 311. The operating handle 311 then rotates in the opposite direction to reset under the rebound action of the return torsion spring, so that the latch 312 returns to the locked state.

[0068] According to an embodiment of this application, another aspect provides a rotating disk 1, comprising:

[0069] The lower plate 11 is equipped with a locking groove 2;

[0070] The upper plate 12 is rotatably mounted on the lower plate 11, and the upper plate 12 has a through groove 121 for the locking tongue 312 to pass through;

[0071] The unlocking mechanism 3, the locking tongue 312 of the operating handle 311 has a locked state in which it engages with the locking groove 2 to lock the upper plate 12 and the lower plate 11, and an unlocked state in which it separates from the locking groove 2 to allow the upper plate 12 to rotate relative to the lower plate 11.

[0072] A locking groove 2 is provided on the lower plate 11, which cooperates with the unlocking mechanism 3 provided on the upper plate 12 to facilitate locking or unlocking between the upper plate 12 and the lower plate 11. The locking tongue 312 on the operating handle 311 passes through the through groove 121 opened on the upper plate 12 and extends between the upper plate 12 and the lower plate 11, locking or disengaging with the locking groove 2 on the lower plate 11 to achieve locking and unlocking between the upper plate 12 and the lower plate 11.

[0073] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG6, the side of the lower plate 11 facing the upper plate 12 has an upward protrusion near the end face of the through groove 121 to form a locking groove 2.

[0074] A locking groove 2 is provided on the end face of the lower plate 11 near the through groove 121, which facilitates locking at the end of the stroke of the operating handle 311 and has a compact structure; the lower plate 11 protrudes upward to form the locking groove 2, which facilitates the locking tongue 312 to engage with it.

[0075] As shown in Figures 2 to 6, an embodiment of this application provides a rotating disk 1 for a car rotating seat. The rotating disk 1 includes an upper disk 12 as shown in Figure 5 and a lower disk 11 as shown in Figure 6. The lower disk 11 is provided with a locking groove 2, and the upper disk 12 is equipped with an unlocking mechanism 3. As shown in Figure 1, the unlocking mechanism 3 includes an L-shaped operating handle 311 and a pull cable 331. One end of the pull cable 331 is connected to a motor, and the other end of the pull cable 331 is fixed to the second end 3112 of the L-shaped operating handle 311, that is, the end of the long side. The first end 3111 of the L-shaped operating handle 311, that is, the short side, extends vertically to form a columnar locking tongue 312. A through groove 121 for the locking tongue 312 to pass through is opened on the upper disk 12. A connecting shaft 36 is fixedly provided in the middle of the long side of the L-shaped operating handle 311, and a torsion spring is provided on the connecting shaft 36. When the upper plate 12 and lower plate 11 are locked, the locking tongue 312 is engaged in the locking groove 2 under the preload of the torsion spring. When it is necessary to unlock the rotating seat, the motor is started, and the motor drives the pull cable 331. The pull cable 331 pulls the operating handle 311 to rotate along the connecting shaft 36. The locking tongue 312 moves away from the locking groove 2 with the operating handle 311, disengaging from the locking groove 2, thus unlocking the rotating seat (see Figure 2). At this time, the torsion spring is contracted and tightened. After the rotating seat adjustment is completed, the motor is de-energized, and the operating handle 311 rotates in the opposite direction under the rebound of the torsion spring. The locking tongue 312 re-engages in the locking groove 2 and re-locks (see Figures 3 and 4).

[0076] Before leaving the factory, vehicles undergo full-vehicle testing to verify compliance with the safety requirements of E-NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) and C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program). Referring to Figure 7, in the full-vehicle test, the impact from the front is the greatest, followed by the side impact, while the impact from the rear is the least; that is, the front of the vehicle experiences the greatest impact force, and the rear experiences the least. In the vehicle using this application, the unlocking mechanism 3 and the locking groove 2 are located on the front side of the rotating seat, with the opening of the locking groove 2 facing the front of the vehicle. Since the direction of the impact force on the front side, where the impact is greatest, is opposite to the unlocking direction, the locking reliability of the rotating seat is higher, resulting in greater safety.

[0077] In addition, the use of an electric drive component to control the latch component 31 facilitates the setting of a controller for intelligent control, improves convenience, and adapts to intelligent needs.

[0078] Although embodiments of this application have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of this application, and all such modifications and variations fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An automobile rotary seat, comprising: a rotary disc (1) provided with a locking groove (2); an unlocking mechanism (3) comprising a lock catch assembly (31) connected with the locking groove (2), the locking groove (2) and the unlocking mechanism (3) are arranged on the side of the rotary seat close to the vehicle head, and the opening direction of the locking groove (2) is towards the vehicle head.

2. The automotive swivel seat according to claim 1, wherein, The unlocking mechanism (3) further comprises an electric drive assembly and a transmission assembly (33); The lock catch assembly (31) comprises an operating handle (311) and a lock tongue (312) arranged on the first end (3111) of the operating handle (311), the second end (3112) of the operating handle (311) is in transmission connection with the electric drive assembly through the transmission assembly (33).

3. The automotive swivel seat according to claim 2, wherein, The operating handle (311) is L-shaped, the long side corresponding to the second end (3112) of the L-shaped operating handle (311) is connected with the transmission assembly (33), and the short side corresponding to the first end (3111) of the L-shaped operating handle (311) extends vertically to form the lock tongue (312).

4. The automotive swivel seat according to claim 2, wherein, A connecting shaft (36) is arranged on the operating handle (311), and the operating handle (311) is adapted to rotate along the connecting shaft (36).

5. The automotive swivel seat according to claim 2, wherein, The transmission assembly (33) comprises a pulling wire (331), one end of the pulling wire (331) is connected with the output end of the drive assembly, and the other end of the pulling wire (331) is connected with the second end (3112) of the operating handle (311).

6. The automotive swivel seat according to claim 5, wherein, The unlocking mechanism (3) further comprises a bracket (34), and the pulling wire (331) is arranged on the bracket (34) close to the operating handle (311).

7. The automotive swivel seat according to claim 5, wherein, The pulling wire (331) is provided with a sheath (3311) close to the operating handle (311).

8. The automotive swivel seat according to any one of claims 2-7, wherein, The unlocking mechanism (3) further comprises a resilient return mechanism (35), and the resilient return mechanism (35) is in transmission connection with the operating handle (311).

9. The automotive swivel seat of claim 8, wherein, The rotary disc (1) comprises: a lower disc (11), the locking groove (2) is arranged on the lower disc (11); an upper disc (12) rotatably arranged on the lower disc (11), and a through groove (121) is formed on the upper disc (12) for the lock tongue (312) to pass through; The lock tongue (312) has a locking state of being engaged with the locking groove (2) to lock the upper disc (12) and the lower disc (11), and an unlocking state of being separated from the locking groove (2) to make the upper disc (12) rotatable relative to the lower disc (11).

10. The automotive swivel seat according to claim 9, wherein, The lower disc (11) has an end face close to the through groove (121) and protruding upward to form the locking groove (2).

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