Patent · US Expired

Latching device for articulated elements, in particular, elements forming vehicle seats

US6435616B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
11References
53Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1999
Grant dateAug 20, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60N2/366
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A latching device for a backrest of a vehicle seat is provided, including a mounting bracket having an arcuate slot extending therethrough and configured to be mounted to a support member on the vehicle, and a backrest mounting arm pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket by a first pivot. The backrest mounting arm also includes a pair of spaced detent notches to retain the backrest mounting arm in first and second positions. A release lever is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket by a second pivot spaced from the first pivot, and includes a latch pin. The latch pin extends through the arcuate slot and is engagable with a detent notch to retain the backrest mounting arm in a position. The arcuate slot, the detent notch and the latch pin are configured so that a load tending to cause relative pivoting of the mounting bracket and the backrest mounting arm tends to urge the latch pin toward a release position to aid disengagement of the latch pin from the detent notch, and when the load reaches a threshold value, the latch pin deflects to engage one side wall of the arcuate slot, to prevent the latch pin from movement out of engagement with the detent notch so that the backrest …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.