# US 2023/0056083 A1 · Device for folding seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0056083 A1 - Document ID: US20230056083A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/872,591 - Filed: 2022-07-25 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-17 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation; Dayou A-Tech Co., Ltd.; Daewon Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.; Hyundai Transys Inc. - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation; Dayou A-Tech Co., Ltd.; DAEWON Precision Industrial Co., LTD; Hyundai Transys Inc. - Inventors: Sang Uk YU; Seok Hwan KIM; Seon Hyeok LEE; Sung Young Bok; Seon Chae NA; Hae Won LEE; Ui Bo SHIM; Dae Keon JANG; Ji Sung BAE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056083A1 ## CPC - B60N 2/20: the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) - B60N 2/3004: {by rotation only} - B60N 2/206: {to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray} - B60N 2/22: the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A device for folding a seat may include: a lower arm stopper fixed to a predetermined radial position with respect to a reclining hinge shaft of a seatback as a center; a lock plate configured to rotate about a rotation shaft as a center while being hooked to the lower arm stopper in a process of reclining forward together with the seatback with respect to the reclining hinge shaft as the center; and a folding link limited to rotate by being hooked to the lock plate and configured to make folding rotation together with the seatback with respect to a folding hinge shaft, as a center, located at a part above the reclining hinge shaft, by being released from being hooked to the lock plate according to the rotation of the lock plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for folding a seat, the device comprising: a lower arm stopper fixed to a predetermined radial position with respect to a reclining hinge shaft of a seatback as a center; a lock plate configured to rotate about a rotation shaft as a center while being hooked to the lower arm stopper in a process of reclining forward together with the seatback with respect to the reclining hinge shaft as the center; and a folding link configured to be limited to rotate by being hooked to the lock plate and configured to make folding rotation together with the seatback with respect to a folding hinge shaft, as a center, located at a part above the reclining hinge shaft, by being released from being hooked to the lock plate according to the rotation of the lock plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the reclining hinge shaft and the folding hinge shaft are coupled to opposite ends of a folding bracket, respectively; the folding bracket is configured to make rotation relative to the lower arm stopper with respect to the reclining hinge shaft as the center; the folding link is configured to make rotation relative to the folding bracket with respect to the folding hinge shaft as the center; and the rotation shaft of the lock plate is coupled to the folding bracket. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein, with the rotation shaft of the lock plate as a center, one end and an opposite end of the lock plate extend toward the lower arm stopper and the folding link, respectively; and as the one end of the lock plate rotates while being hooked to the lower arm stopper, the opposite end of the lock plate is released from being hooked to the folding link. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the one end of the lock plate is provided with a stopper locking part; and the lower arm stopper is disposed on a rotation path of the stopper locking part so that the stopper locking part is pushed by the lower arm stopper to rotate the lock plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein an end of the folding link is provided with a locking groove part; the opposite end of the lock plate is provided with a link locking part; and in a state in which the link locking part is hooked to the locking groove part, the link locking part is released from being hooked to the locking groove part according to the rotation of the lock plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a plate spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a rotational direction to which the lock plate is hooked to the folding link. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a lever configured to manipulate a reclining or folding operation of the seatback, wherein according to a manipulation of the lever, locking between the seatback and the seat cushion is released so that the lock plate and the folding link together with the seatback rotate forward about the reclining hinge shaft as the center. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein, with the reclining hinge shaft as the center, a guide pin is fixed at a predetermined radial position; and a guide hole of a long hole into which the guide pin is inserted extends along a rotation path of the lever in the lever, thereby allowing the lever to rotate in a guide hole section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, further comprising a lever spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a rotational direction opposite to an operation direction of the lever. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the lock plate rotates about the reclining hinge shaft as the center according to an operation of the lever; and by the lock plate, the folding link is released from being hooked so that the folding link rotates with the folding hinge shaft as the center, whereby the folding operation is performed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a folding spring configured to provide an elastic restoring force in a folding direction of the seatback.