US3819142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking mechanism for a tilting vehicle seat
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1972-11-20
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A locking mechanism for holding a tilting vehicle seat in a selected tilted position includes a locking element mounted on the seat adjuster which supports the seat for this tilting movement. The locking element includes an elongated arcuate slot generated about the axis of seat movement and including locking openings along each of its sides. These locking openings are arranged in opposed pairs along lines oriented at 45* to the elongated axis of the slot. A locking bar is rotatably mounted on the seat and includes an end portion of a generally rectangular cross section received within the slot in the locking element. A handle of the locking bar allows selective movement of the end portion between a first position where it is aligned with the slot to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where it is received within a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position. A positioning member is spring biased into engagement with a portion of the locking bar and includes a positioning groove for initially positioning the seat in an intermediate tilted position so as to align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Inventors
- 👤 Fusco E De
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/04; B60N2/16; B60N2/18; B60N2/1807; B60N2/1842; B60N2/1892; B60N2/1896; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32262; Y10T403/32319; Y10T403/32327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion member and means pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor member for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position compriSing, a locking element mounted on one of the members and defining an elongated slot with locking openings on each side of the slot, the locking openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines which are oblique relative to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the other member and including a locking portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the locking portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, means for selectively rotating the locking bar between a first position where its locking portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the locking portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, and a positioning element mounted on the one member so as to be biased into engagement with the locking bar and including a positioning portion for receiving the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion member and means pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor member for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position compriSing, a locking element mounted on one of the members and defining an elongated slot with locking openings on each side of the slot, the locking openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines which are oblique relative to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the other member and including a locking portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the locking portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, means for selectively rotating the locking bar between a first position where its locking portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the locking portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, and a positioning element mounted on the one member so as to be biased into engagement with the locking bar and including a positioning portion for receiving the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat adjuster pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position comprising, a locking element mounted on the seat adjuster and defining an elongated arcuate slot generated about the axis of tilting seat movement, the slot including locking openings at each side thereof and these locking openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines which are oblique relative to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the seat cushion and including a locking portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the locking portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, manually operable means for selectively rotating the locking bar between a first position where its locking portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the locking portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, and a positioning member mounted on the seat adjuster so as to be spring biased into engagement with the locking bar and including a positioning portion for receiving the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat adjuster pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position comprising, a locking element mounted on the seat adjuster and defining an elongated arcuate slot generated about the axis of tilting seat movement, the slot including locking openings at each side thereof and these locking openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines which are oblique relative to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the seat cushion and including a locking portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the locking portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, manually operable means for selectively rotating the locking bar between a first position where its locking portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the locking portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, and a positioning member mounted on the seat adjuster so as to be spring biased into engagement with the locking bar and including a positioning portion for receiving the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
280 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat adjuster pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position comprising, a locking element mounted on the seat adjuster and defining an elongated arcuate slot generated about the axis of tilting seat movement, the slot including locking openings at each side thereof and these openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines oriented at about 45* to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the seat cushion and including an end portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the end portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, a handle connected to the locking bar so as to allow selective rotation of the locking bar between a first position where its end portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the locking portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, a positioning member pivotally supported on the seat adjuster and including a slot, and a helical spring extending between the positiOning member and the seat adjuster in a manner that biases the positioning member into engagement with the locking bar so that the slot receives the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
280 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat adjuster pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position comprising, a locking element mounted on the seat adjuster and defining an elongated arcuate slot generated about the axis of tilting seat movement, the slot including locking openings at each side thereof and these openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines oriented at about 45* to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the seat cushion and including an end portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the end portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, a handle connected to the locking bar so as to allow selective rotation of the locking bar between a first position where its end portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the locking portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, a positioning member pivotally supported on the seat adjuster and including a slot, and a helical spring extending between the positiOning member and the seat adjuster in a manner that biases the positioning member into engagement with the locking bar so that the slot receives the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
262 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat adjuster pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position comprising, a locking element mounted on the seat adjuster and defining an elongated arcuate slot generated about the axis of tilting seat movement, the slot including locking openings at each side thereof and these openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines oriented at about 45* to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the seat cushion and including an end portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the end portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, a handle connected to the locking bar so as to allow selective rotation of the locking bar between a first position where its end portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the end portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, and a positioning member mounted on the seat adjuster so as to be biased into engagement with the locking bar and including a positioning portion for receiving the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
262 words
In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat adjuster pivotally supporting a rear portion of the seat on a vehicle floor for tilting movement relative thereto, a locking mechanism for holding the seat in a selected tilted position comprising, a locking element mounted on the seat adjuster and defining an elongated arcuate slot generated about the axis of tilting seat movement, the slot including locking openings at each side thereof and these openings being arranged in opposed pairs along lines oriented at about 45* to the elongated axis of the slot, a locking bar rotatably mounted on the seat cushion and including an end portion of a generally rectangular cross section, the end portion of the locking bar being received within the slot in the locking element, a handle connected to the locking bar so as to allow selective rotation of the locking bar between a first position where its end portion is aligned with the slot in the locking element to allow tilting seat movement and a second position where the end portion is received by a selected pair of the locking openings to hold the seat in a selected tilted position, and a positioning member mounted on the seat adjuster so as to be biased into engagement with the locking bar and including a positioning portion for receiving the locking bar to initially position the seat in an intermediate tilted position and align the end portion of the locking bar with the associated pair of locking openings for movement thereinto upon selected rotation of the locking bar.
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) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |