IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,617,472
Granted Patent B2
US 12,617,472 · App. 18/217,778 · Granted May 5, 2026

Locking unit for vehicle

Inventors: Jin Ho Hwang (Cheonan-si, KR); Dong Eun Cha (Hwaseong-si, KR); Sang Heon Lee (Seoul, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
B62D25/20B60N2/01516
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,617,472
App. No.
18/217,778
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A locking unit of a vehicle may include a mounting portion having a plurality of mounting grooves formed on an upper surface thereof, wherein supporting legs of a vehicle interior portion are configured to be inserted into the mounting grooves, installing the vehicle interior portion in the indoor compartment of the vehicle; and a plurality of locking devices provided on inner peripheries of the mounting grooves inside the mounting portion, respectively, such that, by selectively fixing or unfixing the supporting legs of the vehicle interior portion inserted in the mounting grooves, the vehicle interior portion is attached to or detached from the mounting portion.

Claims (16)

1 . A locking unit for a vehicle, the locking unit comprising:

a mounting portion having a plurality of mounting grooves formed on an upper surface thereof, wherein supporting legs of a vehicle interior portion are insertable into the plurality of mounting grooves; and

a plurality of locking devices provided on inner peripheries of the plurality of mounting grooves inside the mounting portion, respectively,

wherein by selectively fixing the supporting legs of the vehicle interior portion in the plurality of mounting grooves, the vehicle interior portion is selectively attached to the mounting portion,

wherein a locking groove is formed on an external circumferential surface of each of the supporting legs of the vehicle interior portion,

wherein a locking protrusion is provided on a side of each of the locking devices,

wherein each of the locking devices selectively inserts the locking protrusion into the locking groove so that the supporting legs of the vehicle interior portion are selectively coupled to the plurality of mounting grooves,

wherein a magnetic force portion connected to the locking protrusion is provided at the side of each of the locking devices, and

wherein each of the locking devices selectively attaches the locking protrusion to the locking groove through magnetic force of the magnetic force portion so as to selectively insert the locking protrusion into the locking groove,

wherein the magnetic force portion includes at least one of a fixation magnet, a rotating magnet, or an electromagnet,

wherein the magnetic force portion has a magnetic path changed according to a magnetism change of the electromagnet,

wherein the supporting legs are fixed to the plurality of mounting grooves when the magnetic force portion and each of the supporting legs together form the magnetic path, and

wherein the supporting legs are unfixed from the plurality of mounting grooves when only the magnetic force portion forms the magnetic path.

2 . The locking unit of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle interior portion includes a seat or a table, and the supporting legs are provided on a lower end portion of the seat or the table.

3 . The locking unit of claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion includes one or more panels, and the one or more panels are coupled to an upper surface of a vehicle floor to form a portion of a floor.

4 . The locking unit of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic force portion include the rotating magnet and the electromagnet, and wherein the rotating magnet rotates according to a magnetism of the electromagnet to reinforce the magnetic path.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: HWANG, JIN HO; CHA, DONG EUN; LEE, SANG HEON
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064140/0208 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0054301 · Apr 27, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17506053 · Oct 20, 2021
Related Publication 20230347989A1 · Nov 2, 2023
References Cited (22)
US 5326067A · Gonzalez · 1994 [cited by examiner]
US 6312037B1 · Garrido · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 6840703B2 · Blanchard · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 8010255B2 · Darraba · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 9517712B1 · Masanek, Jr. et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 10773784B2 · Huber et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11584259B2 · Cantos · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20120219352A1 · Schmidt et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20200047643A1 · Ellis et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220063452A1 · Hwang · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220340211A1 · Hwang · 2022 [cited by examiner]
CN 119176063A · 2024 [cited by examiner]
FR 2855467A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
GB 971537A · 1964 [cited by applicant]
KR 19980051813U · 1998 [cited by examiner]
KR 1019980075948A · 1998 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020050112829A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020060017306A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020060024908A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020110051626A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2025104580A1 · 2025 [cited by examiner]
Office Action issued on Apr. 21, 2025 in corresponding Korean patent application No. 10-2021-0054301. [cited by applicant]