Device for interlocking two relatively slidable elements

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam is rotatable about an axis and, in said locking position, planes tangent to the faces of the cam and said teeth of the rack at points of contact with each roller are perpendicular to a plane containing the axis of the roller and the axis of rotation of the cam.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 2, comprising arcuate guide means for one of said rollers concentric with the axis of rotation of said cam, said cam having a projecting poRtion for shifting the roller in a direction for its withdrawal from said rack.

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said rollers is shifted by a ramp of said cam in opposition to the action of a spring.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam is rotatable about a spindle and said slide means comprises the combination of a half-fork and a slide block interposed between said spindle and said slideway.

Claim 7

A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rollers are guided in apertures formed in said slide block.

Claim 8

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slide means comprises a half-fork and a lateral retaining member and apertures in said half-fork for guiding said rollers.

Claim 9

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said teeth of the rack have part-circular flanks.

Claim 10

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said teeth of the rack have rectilinear flanks.

Claim 11

Structure comprising an element in the form of an adjustable vehicle seat, an element in the form of a vehicle floor, and a device for interlocking said elements, said device comprising a rack integral with a first of said elements; a slideway integral with said rack, said rack having teeth and recesses disposed between said teeth; slide means integral with a second of said elements and movable along said slideway which it encompasses; two locking rollers carried by said slide means and movable between a locking position in which they are engaged in two of said recesses in said rack and an unlocking position in which they are withdrawn from the recesses; a cam mounted on the slide means to be movable between an inoperative position in which said rollers are withdrawn from said rack and an operative position in which said cam maintains said rollers engaged in said recesses; resiliently yieldable means biasing said cam to said operative position for locking; a control device for shifting said cam to said inoperative position; and means for withdrawing said rollers from said rack when said cam pivots to said inoperative position.

Claim 12

Structure comprising an element in the form of an adjustable vehicle seat, an element in the form of a vehicle floor, and a device for interlocking said elements, said device comprising a rack integral with a first of said elements; a slideway integral with said rack, said rack having teeth and recesses disposed between said teeth; slide means integral with a second of said elements and movable along said slideway which it encompasses; two locking rollers carried by said slide means and movable between a locking position in which they are engaged in two of said recesses in said rack and an unlocking position in which they are withdrawn from the recesses; a cam mounted on the slide means to be movable between an inoperative position in which said rollers are withdrawn from said rack and an operative position in which said cam maintains said rollers engaged in said recesses; resiliently yieldable means biasing said cam to said operative position for locking; a control device for shifting said cam to said inoperative position; and means for withdrawing said rollers from said rack when said cam pivots to said inoperative position.