US3674309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle seat latch
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1970-10-30
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A latch for a vehicle seat structure having a cushion base member and a tiltable cushion back member, the latch including a striker rigidly mounted on the cushion base member, a bifurcated latch bolt pivotally mounted on the cushion back member, fixed abutment means on the cushion back member, and an inertially responsive detent lever pivotally supported on the latch bolt. When normal conditions prevail, the detent lever bypasses the abutment means to permit free movement of the latch bolt and the cushion back member. When abnormal conditions prevail, as when rapid deceleration of the vehicle induces inertially motivated tilting of the cushion back member, the detent lever engages the abutment means to retain the latch bolt in a latching position wherein the latter captures the striker to prevent tilting movement of the cushion back member.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley B Fowler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
In a vehicle body having a seat structure including a cushion base member and a cushion back member supported on said cushion base member for pivotal movement between a normal upright position and a tilted position angularly spaced from said upright position, a latch comprising, a striker, means rigidly mounting said striker on one of said cushion base member and said cushion back member, a bifurcated latch bolt, means on the other of said cushion base member and said cushion back member defining an axis thereof and supporting said latch bolt thereon for pivotal movement about said axis between a latching position capturing said striker in said upright position of said cushion back member and an unlatching position releasing said striker, abutment means, means fixedly mounting said abutment means on said other of said cushion base member and said cushion back member in an arc about said axis thereof, an inertially responsive detent lever, means on said latch bolt defining an axis thereof and supporting said detent lever thereon for pivotal movement in an arc about said axis, said arc of said detent lever intersecting said arc of said abutment means in said latching position of said latch bolt, and stop means on said latch bolt engageable on said detent lever in said latching position of said latch bolt to maintain said detent lever at a predetermined angle of inclination, said detent lever being normally movable as a unit with said latch bolt and being engageable on said abutment means in response to a change in velocity of said vehicle sufficient to induce inertially motivated tilting of said cushion back member from said upright to said tilted position to prevent movement of said latch bolt from said latching position to said unlatching position and thereby maintain said cushion back member in said upright position, the angle of inclination of said detent lever determining the minimum rate of change of velocity of said vehicle necessary to cause engagement between said detent lever and said abutment means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
335 words
In a vehicle body having a seat structure including a cushion base member and a cushion back member supported on said cushion base member for pivotal movement between a normal upright position and a tilted position angularly spaced from said upright position, a latch comprising, a striker, means rigidly mounting said striker on one of said cushion base member and said cushion back member, a bifurcated latch bolt, means on the other of said cushion base member and said cushion back member defining an axis thereof and supporting said latch bolt thereon for pivotal movement about said axis between a latching position capturing said striker in said upright position of said cushion back member and an unlatching position releasing said striker, abutment means, means fixedly mounting said abutment means on said other of said cushion base member and said cushion back member in an arc about said axis thereof, an inertially responsive detent lever, means on said latch bolt defining an axis thereof and supporting said detent lever thereon for pivotal movement in an arc about said axis, said arc of said detent lever intersecting said arc of said abutment means in said latching position of said latch bolt, and stop means on said latch bolt engageable on said detent lever in said latching position of said latch bolt to maintain said detent lever at a predetermined angle of inclination, said detent lever being normally movable as a unit with said latch bolt and being engageable on said abutment means in response to a change in velocity of said vehicle sufficient to induce inertially motivated tilting of said cushion back member from said upright to said tilted position to prevent movement of said latch bolt from said latching position to said unlatching position and thereby maintain said cushion back member in said upright position, the angle of inclination of said detent lever determining the minimum rate of change of velocity of said vehicle necessary to cause engagement between said detent lever and said abutment means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
253 words
In a vehicle having a seat structure including a cushion base member and a cushion back member supported on said cushion base member for pivotal movement between a normal upright position and a tilted position angularly spaced from said upright position, a latch comprising, striker means, means mounting said striker means on one of said cushion back member and said cushion base member, a latch bolt, means mounting said latch bolt on the other of said cushion back member and said cushion base member for movement between a latching position capturing said striker means in said upright position of said cushion back member and an unlatching position releasing said striker means, abutment means, means rigidly mounting said abutment means on said other of said cushion back member and said cushion base member, an inertially responsive detent lever, means pivotally supporting said detent lever on said latch bolt, said detent lever normally remaining remote from said abutment means and being engageable thereon in the upright position of said cushion back member in response to a change in the velocity of said vehicle to prevent movement of said latch bolt from said latching to said unlatching position and inertially motivated movement of said cushion back member from said upright to said tilted position, and control means on said latch bolt and on said inertially responsive detent lever operable to vary the minimum rate of change of velocity of said vehicle necessary to effect engagement between said inertially responsive detent lever and said fixed abutment means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
253 words
In a vehicle having a seat structure including a cushion base member and a cushion back member supported on said cushion base member for pivotal movement between a normal upright position and a tilted position angularly spaced from said upright position, a latch comprising, striker means, means mounting said striker means on one of said cushion back member and said cushion base member, a latch bolt, means mounting said latch bolt on the other of said cushion back member and said cushion base member for movement between a latching position capturing said striker means in said upright position of said cushion back member and an unlatching position releasing said striker means, abutment means, means rigidly mounting said abutment means on said other of said cushion back member and said cushion base member, an inertially responsive detent lever, means pivotally supporting said detent lever on said latch bolt, said detent lever normally remaining remote from said abutment means and being engageable thereon in the upright position of said cushion back member in response to a change in the velocity of said vehicle to prevent movement of said latch bolt from said latching to said unlatching position and inertially motivated movement of said cushion back member from said upright to said tilted position, and control means on said latch bolt and on said inertially responsive detent lever operable to vary the minimum rate of change of velocity of said vehicle necessary to effect engagement between said inertially responsive detent lever and said fixed abutment means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |