Mechanism for adjusting the position and folding down the backrest of a seat and a seat, in particular for an automobile vehicle, including said mechanism

Claim 2

A mechanism for adjusting in a given range and maintaining in position a movable element relative to a fixed element and for shifting the movable element away from the range of adjustment, said mechanism comprising an intermediate element movable relative to the fixed element and movable element, means for guiding the movable element relative to the intermediate element between two extreme positions of adjustment, means for guiding the intermediate element relative to the fixed element between an adjusting position and a position remote from the adjusting position, control means, a first locking means integral with the contRol means and movable in a guided manner relative to the fixed element for movement between a first position of locking engagement with the movable element and a second position of locking engagement with the intermediate element, the first locking means having between the first position and second position an intermediate position for releasing the movable element and the intermediate element, second locking means movable in a guided manner relative to the intermediate element between a first position of locking engagement with the movable element and a second position for releasing the movable element, the second locking means being co-operative with the first locking means so that the second locking means is shifted from the first position to the second position of the second locking means when the first locking means is moved from the intermediate position to the second position of the first locking means.

Claim 3

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable element is mounted on the fixed element to pivot about an axis of rotation, the intermediate element being mounted on the fixed element to rotate about said axis.

Claim 4

A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable element comprises a part-circular ring sector.

Claim 5

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for respectively maintaining the two locking means in the first positions of the two locking means.

Claim 6

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two locking means are guided in a transverse displacement relative to the displacement of the movable element and intermediate element relative to the fixed element.

Claim 7

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking means is mounted on the fixed element to pivot about an axis of rotation.

Claim 8

A mechanism as claimed in claim 6, comprising a torsion spring disposed between the fixed element and the first locking means so as to bias the first locking means to the first position of the first locking means.

Claim 9

A mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first locking means has the shape of a T and has a limb portion which is pivotable about said axis and two arm portions having locking projecting portions which lockingly co-operate respectively with the movable element and the intermediate element.

Claim 10

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable element is mounted on the fixed element to pivot about an axis of rotation, the intermediate element being mounted on the fixed element to rotate about said axis, the first locking means being mounted on the fixed element to pivot about a second axis of rotation separate from the axis of rotation the intermediate element.

Claim 11

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate element is constituted by a case having two recesses in which recesses the movable element and the second locking means are respectively guided.

Claim 12

A mechanism as claimed in claim 10, comprising resiliently yieldable means disposed between the second locking means and an end of the corresponding recess toward which end the second locking means moves in moving to the second position of the second locking means.

Claim 13

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, comprising teeth on the two locking means and teeth on the movable element which are engageable by the teeth on the locking means.

Claim 14

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate element has a nose portion and the first locking means has a heel portion capable of hooking in the second position of the first locking means on the nose portion of the intermediate element while bearing on a portion of the second locking means so as to cause the second locking means to move from the first position of the second locking means to the releasing position.

Claim 15

A seat comprising means defining a squab, means defining a foldable backrest and a mechanism for adjusting the backrest in a given range and maintaining the backrest in position relative to the squab and for folding the backrest away from said range of adjustment, saId mechanism comprising an intermediate element movable relative to the squab and backrest, means for guiding the backrest relative to the intermediate element between two extreme positions of adjustment, means for guiding the intermediate element relative to the squab between an adjusting position and a position remote from the adjusting position, control means, a first locking means integral with the control means and movable in a guided manner relative to the squab for movement between a first position of locking engagement with the backrest and a second position of locking engagement with the intermediate element, the first locking means having between the first position and second position an intermediate position for releasing the backrest and the intermediate element, second locking means movable in a guided manner relative to the intermediate element between a first position of a locking engagement with the backrest and a second position for releasing the backrest, the second locking means being co-operative with the first locking means so that the second locking means is shifted from the first position to the second position of the second locking means when the first locking means is moved from the intermediate position to the second position of the first locking means, the backrest being pivotable relative to the squab about an axis of rotation and the intermediate element being pivotable relative to the squab about said axis.

Claim 16

A seat comprising means defining a squab, means defining a foldable backrest and a mechanism for adjusting the backrest in a given range and maintaining the backrest in position relative to the squab and for folding the backrest away from said range of adjustment, saId mechanism comprising an intermediate element movable relative to the squab and backrest, means for guiding the backrest relative to the intermediate element between two extreme positions of adjustment, means for guiding the intermediate element relative to the squab between an adjusting position and a position remote from the adjusting position, control means, a first locking means integral with the control means and movable in a guided manner relative to the squab for movement between a first position of locking engagement with the backrest and a second position of locking engagement with the intermediate element, the first locking means having between the first position and second position an intermediate position for releasing the backrest and the intermediate element, second locking means movable in a guided manner relative to the intermediate element between a first position of a locking engagement with the backrest and a second position for releasing the backrest, the second locking means being co-operative with the first locking means so that the second locking means is shifted from the first position to the second position of the second locking means when the first locking means is moved from the intermediate position to the second position of the first locking means, the backrest being pivotable relative to the squab about an axis of rotation and the intermediate element being pivotable relative to the squab about said axis.

Claim 17

A seat as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control means comprises a lever which is pivotable about a second axis, the first locking means also being pivotable about the second axis.

Claim 18

A seat as claimed in claim 14, wherein a part of the mechanism consisting of the control means is disposed on one side of the seat and a remaining part of the mechanism is disposed on the opposite side of the seat, a transverse shaft interconnecting said two parts of the mechanism.

Claim 19

A seat as claimed in claim 14, wherein said mechanism is disposed on one side of the seat and a third locking means identical to said first locking means is disposed on the opposite side of the seat, a transverse shaft rigidly interconnecting the first locking means and third locking means so that the third locking means is made to lockingly engage the backrest when the first locking means is moved to the first position of the first locking means.