US3576347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle seat assembly
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1969-06-12
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle seat assembly comprising a cushion and a backrest forwardly swingable over the cushion. A two-stage latch mechanism interposed between the cushion frame structure and a backrest support arm includes a control lever operable for first stage release of the latch mechanism to unlock the backrest for forward tilting movement and further operable for second stage release of the latch mechanism sequentially of the first stage to permit angular adjustment of the backrest.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd R Vivian
- 👤 Karl Budde
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/235; B60N2/2352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat cushion supported on a frame structure, a backrest having depending support arms at each side thereof, pivot means pivotally supporting the support arms in juxtaposition to the seat cushion for forwardly swingable movement of the backrest between an upstanding position and a forwardly inclined position, and a two-stage latch mechanism interposed between the frame structure and one of the support arms controlling backrest angle lock and backrest angle adjustment, the latch mechanism having a control lever pivotally supported on the seat cushion frame structure and operable to release the first stage of the latch mechanism to permit angular adjustment of the backrest over the seat cushion through a limited range of movement, a control plate interposed between the frame structure and the one support arm for pivotal movement about the pivot means supporting the latter, the first stage of the latch mechanism comprising a detent means engaged with a first part of the control plate and the second stage a pawl means engaged with a second part of the control plate, the detent means being integral with the control lever so that movement of the latter to a predetermined position results in disengagement of the detent means from the first part of the control plate whereby the backrest is unlocked for full forward tilting movement, the pawl means being independently pivotally supported on the support arm and engageable by the control lever upon movement of the latter beyond the detent means disengagement position, the pawl means upon engagement by the control lever being disengaged from the second part of the control plate whereby the backrest support arm and thereby the backrest can be moved relative to the control plate to change the backrest adjustment angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat cushion supported on a frame structure, a backrest having depending support arms at each side thereof, pivot means pivotally supporting the support arms in juxtaposition to the seat cushion for forwardly swingable movement of the backrest between an upstanding position and a forwardly inclined position, and a two-stage latch mechanism interposed between the frame structure and one of the support arms controlling backrest angle lock and backrest angle adjustment, the latch mechanism having a control lever pivotally supported on the seat cushion frame structure and operable to release the first stage of the latch mechanism to permit angular adjustment of the backrest over the seat cushion through a limited range of movement, a control plate interposed between the frame structure and the one support arm for pivotal movement about the pivot means supporting the latter, the first stage of the latch mechanism comprising a detent means engaged with a first part of the control plate and the second stage a pawl means engaged with a second part of the control plate, the detent means being integral with the control lever so that movement of the latter to a predetermined position results in disengagement of the detent means from the first part of the control plate whereby the backrest is unlocked for full forward tilting movement, the pawl means being independently pivotally supported on the support arm and engageable by the control lever upon movement of the latter beyond the detent means disengagement position, the pawl means upon engagement by the control lever being disengaged from the second part of the control plate whereby the backrest support arm and thereby the backrest can be moved relative to the control plate to change the backrest adjustment angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
240 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat cushion, a frame structure for the seat cushion having depending brackets at the sides thereof, a backrest having depending support arms at each side thereof, pivot means pivotally coupling the support arms to the brackets, the backrest being swingable about the pivot axis of the pivot means from an at rest upstanding position to a forwardly inclined position over the seat cushion, a latch mechanism interposed between one of said brackets and an adjacent one of the support arms, the latch mechanism having a detent means controlling backrest angle lock and a pawl means controlling backrest angle adjustment, the latch mechanism having a single control lever pivotally supported on the one bracket for swinging movement and a control plate interposed between the one bracket and the one support arm, the control plate being pivotal about the pivot means coupling the one support arm to the one bracket, detent means for controlling the backrest angle lock comprises coacting abutments on control plate and control lever which when in abutting relation to each other restrain forward swinging movement of the backrest about its pivot axis, the control lever being operable to release the detent means to unlock the backrest for forward tilting movement or to release the pawl means sequentially of the release of the detent means to permit backrest angle adjustment, and stop means restricting movement of said backrest rearwardly over said seat cushion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
240 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat cushion, a frame structure for the seat cushion having depending brackets at the sides thereof, a backrest having depending support arms at each side thereof, pivot means pivotally coupling the support arms to the brackets, the backrest being swingable about the pivot axis of the pivot means from an at rest upstanding position to a forwardly inclined position over the seat cushion, a latch mechanism interposed between one of said brackets and an adjacent one of the support arms, the latch mechanism having a detent means controlling backrest angle lock and a pawl means controlling backrest angle adjustment, the latch mechanism having a single control lever pivotally supported on the one bracket for swinging movement and a control plate interposed between the one bracket and the one support arm, the control plate being pivotal about the pivot means coupling the one support arm to the one bracket, detent means for controlling the backrest angle lock comprises coacting abutments on control plate and control lever which when in abutting relation to each other restrain forward swinging movement of the backrest about its pivot axis, the control lever being operable to release the detent means to unlock the backrest for forward tilting movement or to release the pawl means sequentially of the release of the detent means to permit backrest angle adjustment, and stop means restricting movement of said backrest rearwardly over said seat cushion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 2, in which: the pawl means for controlling the backrest angle adjustment comprises a pawl pivotally mounted on the one support arm coacting with a circular segment of the control plate, the pawl and the control plate circular segment having interlocking abutment portions which when interlocked prevent relative movement of the support arm and control plate thereby maintaining the backrest at a selected angle of adjustment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 3, in which: the stop means comprises an abutment carried on the one bracket coacting with the control plate, and the control plate when held between the control lever abutment and the bracket abutment preventing movement of the backrest forwardly over the seat cushion or rearwardly beyond a predetermined upright position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 2, in which: the pawl means for controlling the backrest angle adjustment comprises a pawl pivotally mounted on the one support arm coacting with a circular segment of the control plate, the pawl and circular segment having engageable teeth which when engaged prevent relative movement of the support arm and control plate thereby maintaining the backrest at a preselected angle of adjustment when in an upstanding position, the control lever upon being swung to a first position to release the first detent means causing disengagement of the coacting abutment on the control plate and control lever whereby the backrest is swingable about the support arm pivot means to a forwardly tilted position over the seat cushion, the control lever upon being swung beyond the first position to a second position further causing disengagement of the pawl from the circular segment teeth whereby the pawl, and therefor the support arm carrying the latter, are shiftable for backrest angle adjustment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 5, in which: the stop means comprises an abutment carried on the one bracket coacting with the control plate, the control plate is held between the control lever abutment and the bracket abutment to prevent movement of said backrest forwardly over said seat cushion or rearwardly beyond a predetermined upright position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 6 in which a tension spring extends between the control plate and the support arm to maintain the control plate, the pawl and the bracket abutment in biased relationship to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 7, in which a tension spring extends between the one support arm and a part of the pawl to urge the latter in circular segment engagement direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 8, in which a tension spring exTends between the one b4acket and the control lever to urge the latter in bracket abutment engaging direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |