Description:A CENTER HINGE SEAT BACK MOUNTING STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a center hinge area mount for a seat back of a vehicle. The present invention is particularly related to a center hinge structure for a seat back mounting located on the center hinge mount area of a vehicle. The present invention is such that seat back folding can be easily accessed from boot space/luggage space and get folded without manual pushing of a user.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter.
[0003] The seat back of a vehicle has two components, one is a cushion and another is a backrest that is located at an obtuse angle corresponding to the cushion. The backrest has a lever that is provided at the top side of the seat back.
[0004] By pulling the lever, a striker and a lock mechanism that is provided on the back side of the backrest gets unlocked when the lever is pulled. Afterward, the user has to mechanically push the backrest of the seat back against gravity and towards the cushion of the seat back, thereby folding the backrest on top of the cushion.
[0005] In an existing center hinge area mount, a lever is located on the seat back to allow the back of the rear seat to drop down to accommodate bulky luggage. To operate this lever, the driver/user must reach the rear side door, operate the lever, recline the seat manually and wait for gravity to take over.
[0006] The problem with the existing art is that the seat back cannot be remotely folded. A user has to be near the seat back to access the lever. Moreover, the user has to manually pull the lever and push the backrest of the seat back towards the cushion.
[0007] It is therefore desirable to provide a back seat folding structure that can be easily accessed from the boot space/luggage space and get folded without the manual pushing of a user.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0009] It is a primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a center hinge structure for a seat back mounting such that seat back folding can be accessed from boot space/luggage area.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a center hinge structure that gets folded without the manual pushing of a user.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a center hinge structure that pushes down on its own by gravity.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective solution to achieve the above objectives.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0014] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0015] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a center hinge structure for seat back mounting located on a center hinge area mount of a vehicle to allow folding of a seat back in a forward direction. The center hinge seat back mounting structure includes a base L-shaped bracket mounted on a floor of the vehicle at the center hinge area mount. A center vertical bracket connected with a vertical portion of the base L-shaped bracket, the center vertical bracket defines a hinge pin at top portion to receive a L-shaped hinge bracket, wherein a first portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket has a mounting hole to pivotally coupled with the hinge pin and a second portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket has a mounting hole to attach with the seat back, wherein one edge of the second portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket has a U-shaped recess. A flange extends outward from the base L-shaped bracket in opposite direction of mounting of the center vertical bracket in a direction of the second portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket. A flat spring mounted on the flange in vertical direction of the vehicle, wherein a bottom end portion of the flat spring is mounted on the flange and a top end portion is free to take load and rotate in radial direction, when the seat back is in un-folded condition, the top end of the flat spring abuts on the U-shaped recess of the second portion of the side hinge bracket in a torqued condition.
[0016] In an aspect, when the seat back is in folded condition, the top end of the flat spring releases from the U-shaped recess of the second portion of the side hinge bracket.
[0017] In an aspect, an emboss is provided at joinery of the first portion and the second portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket.
[0018] In an aspect, the second portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket applies continuous force on the top end of the flat spring when the seat back is in un-folded condition as the second portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket rotates the flat spring in anti-clockwise direction to generate torque while un-folding the seat back.
[0019] In an aspect, the top end of the flat spring rotates clockwise in a folding condition and stops at a predefined position.
[0020] In an aspect, the U-shaped recess on the second portion of the L-shaped hinge bracket arrests movement of the top end of the flat spring at a point from where the seat back is un-folded with application of force.
[0021] In an aspect, the top end of the flat spring disengages with the U-shaped recess at a predefined angle range during the folding of the seat back.
[0022] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0023] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0024] Fig. 1 illustrates a mounting of a center hinge structure according to the present disclosure;
[0025] Fig. 2A illustrates an unfolded condition of a center hinge structure according to the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 2B illustrates a prespective view of the center hinge structure according to the present disclosure
[0027] Fig. 3 illustrates a folding condition of the center hinge structure according to the present disclosure;
[0028] Fig. 4A-4B illustrates a folded condition of the center hinge structure according to the present disclosure;
[0029] Fig. 4C illustrates a back view of the folded condition of the center hinge structure according to the present disclosure.
[0030] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0031] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0032] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0033] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0035] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0036] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0037] The present invention discloses a center hinge mounting structure for a seat back mounting located on a center hinge area mount of a vehicle. The present invention aims at folding and unfolding the seat back without the manual pushing of the seat back by a user. Moreover, the seat back gets folded by itself by overcoming mass and gravity after a predetermined position.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. The base L-shaped bracket (201) is mounted on a floor of a rear side of the vehicle at the center hinge area mount (101). The base L-shaped bracket (201) further has a horizontal side and a vertical side (208). The horizontal side is connected to the vehicle body.
[0039] Further, a center vertical bracket (202) is provided adjacent to the base L-shaped bracket (201) and the center vertical bracket (202) is connected to an inner side of the vertical side (208) of the base L-shaped bracket (201).
[0040] Furthermore, a hinge pin (203) is provided at a top portion of the center vertical bracket (202) to receive an L-shaped hinge bracket (204). The L-shaped hinge bracket (204) has a first portion (205a) and a second portion (205b). The first portion (205a) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) has a mounting hole (210a) to pivotally coupled with the hinge pin (203).
[0041] The second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) has a mounting hole (210b) to attach with the seat back (102). Also, the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) has a U shaped recess (206) at one edge.
[0042] Further, a flange (207) is provided on a vertical portion (208) of the base L-shaped bracket (202) that extends and protrudes outward from the base L-shaped bracket (201) in an opposite direction of mounting of the center vertical bracket (202) and in the direction of the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204). The flange (207) and the U-shaped recess (206) of the second portion (205b) face each other.
[0043] The flange (207) has a plurality of fastening holes and on top of the fastening holes, a flat sping (209) is mounted using fasteners. The flat spring (209) is further mounted on the flange (207) in vertical direction of the vehicle. The flat spring (209) has a top end portion and a bottom end portion. The bottom end portion of the flat spring (209) is mounted on the flange (207) using fasteners and the top end portion is free to take load and rotate in a radial direction.
[0044] Also, the top end of the flat spring (209) rests on the U-shaped recess (206) of the second side (205b) of the side hinge bracket (204).
[0045] Working of the invention
[0046] Ref. to FIG. 2A, In an un-folded condition where the seat back (102) is in upright condition, the flat spring (209) is in torqued condition. Therefore, the top end of the flat spring (209) abuts or rests on the U-shaped recess (206) of the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204).
[0047] Further, the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) applies a continuous force on the top end portion of the flat spring when the seat back (107) is in un-folded condition as the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) rotates the flat spring (209) in anti-clockwise direction to generate torque while un-folding of the seat back (102).
[0048] In this condition, the flat spring (209) is kept in contact with the U-shaped recess (206) of the second portion (205b) until the flat spring (209) is made to actuate with a remote button.
[0049] Also, the U-shaped recess (206) provided on the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) arrests the movement of the top end portion of the flat spring (209) at a point from where the seat back (102) is un-folded with application of force.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 3 a folding condition (300) is shown. The top end portion of the flat spring (209) is released from the U-shaped recess (206) (as provided in FIG.2) of the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204).
[0051] Referring to FIG. 4A-4C. In the folded condition (400), the top end portion of the flat spring (209) rotates in a clockwise direction and pushes the seat back (102) in a folding direction and stops at a predefined position.
[0052] When the seat back (102) is in folded condition (400), the top end of the flat spring (209) is released from the U-shaped recess (206) of the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204).
[0053] Also the top end of the flat spring (209) disengages with the U-shaped recess at a predefined angle range such that from that point the seat back (102) is folded due to self-weight as the interia acts upon the seat back (102) and afterwards it gets folded down by gravity.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0054] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the present invention is able to unfold the seat back using the flat spring.
[0055] The flat spring actuates the folding mechanism of the seat back up to a predefined position and the backrest of the seat back further folds down to the cushion by inertia and further by gravity.
[0056] The manual efforts by a user are considerably improved.
[0057] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0058] Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A center hinge structure (200) for a seat back (102) mounting located on a center hinge area mount (101) of a vehicle to allow folding of the seat back (102) in a forward direction, the center hinge mounting structure (200) comprising:
a base L-shaped bracket (201) mounted on a floor of the vehicle at the center hinge area mount (101);
a center vertical bracket (202) connected with a vertical portion (208) of the base L-shaped bracket (201), the center vertical bracket (202) defines a hinge pin (203) at top portion to receive a L-shaped hinge bracket (204), wherein a first portion (205a) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) has a mounting hole (210a) to pivotally coupled with the hinge pin (203) and a second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) has a mounting hole (210b) to attach with the seat back (102);
wherein one edge of the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) has a U-shaped recess (206);
a flange (207) extends outward from the base L-shaped bracket (201) in opposite direction of mounting of the center vertical bracket (202) in a direction of the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204); and
a flat spring (209) mounted on the flange (207) in vertical direction of the vehicle, wherein a bottom end portion of the flat spring (209) is mounted on the flange (207) and a top end portion is free to take load and rotate in radial direction,
when the seat back (102) is in un-folded condition, the top end of the flat spring (209) abuts on the U-shaped recess (206) of the second portion (205b) of the side hinge bracket (204) in a torqued condition.
2. The center hinge structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the seat back (102) is in folded condition, the top end of the flat spring (209) releases from the U-shaped recess (206) of the second portion (205b) of the side hinge bracket (204).
3. The center hinge structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an emboss (211) is provided at joinery of the first portion (205a) and the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204).
4. The center hinge structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) applies continuous force on the top end of the flat spring (209) when the seat back (102) is in un-folded condition as the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) rotates the flat spring (209) in anti-clockwise direction to generate torque while un-folding the seat back (102).
5. The center hinge structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top end of the flat spring (209) rotates clockwise in a folding condition and stops at a predefined position.
6. The center hinge structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the U-shaped recess (206) on the second portion (205b) of the L-shaped hinge bracket (204) arrests movement of the top end of the flat spring (209) at a point from where the seat back (102) is un-folded with application of force.
7. The center hinge structure (200) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top end of the flat spring (209) disengages with the U-shaped recess (206) at a predefined angle range () during the folding of the seat back (102).