US3756655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seat assembly
Assignee: McCord Corp
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Filing: 1972-03-20
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1992-03-20
Abstract
Abstract An automobile seat assembly is provided with a latch mechanism to lock the seat back in the uprignt, seat forming position. The seat back includes a latching arm engaging a pin carried by a mounting bracket in a slot having an elongated portion and an end portion generally transverse to the elongated portion. The seat back is locked in the upright, seat forming position when the pin is in the end portion of the slot and misaligned with the elongated portion. When a vehicle door is opened, a solenoid connected to the pin is energized and the pin is aligned with the elongated portion of the slot to unlock the seat back. As an alternative, a manually operated release lever can be actuated to align the pin with the elongated portion of the slot to unlock the seat back.
Inventors
- 👤 J Perkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A seat assembly, comprising: a support means; a seat back pivotally connected to said support means for movement between an upright, seat forming position and a forwardly folded position; a latching means connected to said seat back selectively preventing and allowing pivotal movement of said seat back, said latching means including a first member having a slot with an elongated portion and an end portion generally transverse to the elongated portion, said latching means including a second member disposed adjacent the end portion of the slot when said seat back is in the seat forming position, and said latching means including a pin extending through the slot for preventing pivotal movement of said seat back when said pin is in the end portion of the slot and misaligned with the elongated portion of the slot and for allowing pivotal movement of said seat back when said pin is aligned with the elongated portion of the slot; and automatic actuation means for automatically actuating said latching means to align said pin, when in the end portion of the slot, with the elongated portion of the slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A seat assembly, comprising: a support means; a seat back pivotally connected to said support means for movement between an upright, seat forming position and a forwardly folded position; a latching means connected to said seat back selectively preventing and allowing pivotal movement of said seat back, said latching means including a first member having a slot with an elongated portion and an end portion generally transverse to the elongated portion, said latching means including a second member disposed adjacent the end portion of the slot when said seat back is in the seat forming position, and said latching means including a pin extending through the slot for preventing pivotal movement of said seat back when said pin is in the end portion of the slot and misaligned with the elongated portion of the slot and for allowing pivotal movement of said seat back when said pin is aligned with the elongated portion of the slot; and automatic actuation means for automatically actuating said latching means to align said pin, when in the end portion of the slot, with the elongated portion of the slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A seat assembly as in claim 1 including a manually operated release means to actuate said latching means to align said pin, when in the end portion of the slot, with the elongated portion of the slot and a lost motion means connecting both said automatic actuation means and said manually operated release means with said pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A seat assembly as in claim 2 including a biasing means connected with said lost motion means to misalign said pin with the elongated portion of the slot when said pin is in the end portion of the slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A seat assembly as in claim 3 wherein said manually operated release means is pivotally mounted to said first member of said latching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A seat assembly as in claim 4 wherein said automatic actuation means is a solenoid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A seat assembly as in claim 5 including a door-actuated switch to control the energization of said solenoid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A seat assembly as in claim 6 wherein the armature of said solenoid includes a tapered section and wherein said lost motion means includes a flange with a hole through which said tapered section is passed to effect the lost motion connection between said solenoid and said lost motion means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A seat assembly as in claim 7 wherein said lost motion means includes a tap providing a lost motion connection between said lost motion means and said manually operated release means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
An automobile seat as in claim 8 wherein said first member of said latching means is a bifurcated mounting bracket; said econd member of said latching means is a latch arm attached to said seat back; said support means is integral with said bifurcated mounting bracket such that seat back is pivotally connected to said bifurcated mounting bracket for movement between an upright, seat forming position and a forwardly folded position; the end portion of the slot in said bifurcated mounting bracket is a substantially vertical slot; the elongated portion of the slot in said bifurcated mounting bracket is a substantially arcuate slot; said lost motion means is a bracket; said biasing means connected to said lost motion means is a spring; and said manually operated release means is a lever pivotally mounted on said bifurcated mounting bracket.
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) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |