Latch arrangement for vehicle seat adjusters and the like

Claim 2

An improvement in a latch arrangement having an operative latch member normally being held in latch position comprising; guide means associated with said latch arrangement comprising spaced apart parallel walls forming a guidance travel area; said latch member having an extension received in said guidance area for travel therein; means prearranging a linear section of a marginal portion along said guidance area to being displaced therefrom upon said section receiving an impact having a predetermined force and reconstruct the said marginal portion into a reception area to receive the impact inflicting extension in a lockment therein and secure thereby said latch member in latch position.

Claim 3

The improvement in claim 1; said reception area being formed to receive said extension from its position held with said latch member in latched position, said extension moving laterally relative to its normal travel to preclude travel in said guidance area.

Claim 4

In a vehicle seat adjuster assembly having a pair of telescopic tracks, latch means including a latch member being normally held securing said tracks from movement relative to each other and being manually operative to release said tracks from securement to each other, and means for the lockment of said latch member in its normally held position in response to occurrence of kinetic energy disturbance thereagainst comprising; an arm integral with and in movement with said latch member; guide means having a guide area receiving and guiding the travel of said arm; means structurally arranging at least one linear section of the marginal edge section along said guidance area to being structurally altered to form a reception area in lateral communication with said guidance area upon said linear section being impacted by said arm upon conduction of said disturbance thereto, and said reception area receiving said arm in displacement from said guidance area.

Claim 5

In a vehicle seat adjuster assembly having a pair of telescopic tracks, latch means including a latch member being normally held securing said tracks from movement relative to each other and being manually operative to release said tracks from securement to each other, and means for the lockment of said latch member in its normally held position in response to occurrence of kinetic energy disturbance thereagainst comprising; an arm integral with and in movement with said latch member; guide means having a guide area receiving and guiding the travel of said arm; means structurally arranging at least one linear section of the marginal edge section along said guidance area to being structurally altered to form a reception area in lateral communication with said guidance area upon said linear section being impacted by said arm upon conduction of said disturbance thereto, and said reception area receiving said arm in displacement from said guidance area.

Claim 6

In a vehicle seat adjuster assembly of claim 3; said arm extending through said guidance area and having a hook arrangement adjacent its terminated end, said hook arrangement being adapted for engagement with said guide means to prevent withdrawal of said arm from said guide area.

Claim 7

An improvement in a latch arrangement in a vehicle seat adjuster assembly having a pair of telescopic tracks, said latching arrangement having a latch member manually operative and means normally holding said latch member to secure said tracks from movement relative to each other comprising; bracket means secured to one of said tracks and means pivotally securing said latch member to said bracket means; an arm carried in movement by said latch member; a guide slot formed in said bracket means receiving and guiding the travel of said arm as carried in movement by said latch member; slots formed in said bracket means extending along opposed sides of said guide slot in spaced longitudinal relation therewith for a sectional length of said guide slot and forming therebetween retaining walls defining a portional length of said guide slot adapted, upon being selectively impacted by said arm with a predetermined force, into being moved into displacement into the slot adjacent thereto, and said arm being received in displacement in the area vacated by the displacement of said retaining wall.

Claim 8

An improvement in a latch arrangement in a vehicle seat adjuster assembly having a pair of telescopic tracks, said latching arrangement having a latch member manually operative and means normally holding said latch member to secure said tracks from movement relative to each other comprising; bracket means secured to one of said tracks and means pivotally securing said latch member to said bracket means; an arm carried in movement by said latch member; a guide slot formed in said bracket means receiving and guiding the travel of said arm as carried in movement by said latch member; slots formed in said bracket means extending along opposed sides of said guide slot in spaced longitudinal relation therewith for a sectional length of said guide slot and forming therebetween retaining walls defining a portional length of said guide slot adapted, upon being selectively impacted by said arm with a predetermined force, into being moved into displacement into the slot adjacent thereto, and said arm being received in displacement in the area vacated by the displacement of said retaining wall.

Claim 9

The improvement in claim 5; said slots being arranged opposed to a longitudinal area of said guide slot occupied by said arm being held by said latch member being held by said means.

Claim 10

The improvement in claim 6; said slots being restricted in its longitudinal length with said guide slot to restrict the forming of said reception area to receiving said arm in a movement lateral to its direction of travel and precluding travel of such arm in said guide slot.

Claim 11

The improvement in claim 5; said bracket means having spaced apart leg section embracing opposed sides of said track assembly, means securing said bracket means to one of the said tracks having at least one leg thereof extending and terminating beyond said other track and said leg having formed therein said slots and guide slot, said latch member extended between said legs in close proximity to said other track having said arm received in said slot; and means pivotally securing said latch member to said other leg.

Claim 12

The improvement on claim 8; keeper notches formed in said other track for engagement by said latch member arranged intermediate the pivotal securement and the guidance of said latch member.