US3848923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety locking device for automobile reclining seats
Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract The reclining seats of a motor vehicle, which include a stationary section and a reclining section pivotally connected to said stationary section, are provided with a safety locking device whereby a ratchet wheel mounted with said reclining section may be engaged by a locking pawl upon sudden motion of the motor vehicle to prevent undesired pivotal movement of the reclining section of the seat. The ratchet wheel is mounted to rotate with the reclining section and the pawl is mounted upon the stationary section of the seat in a position to engage the ratchet wheel. Spring means normally bias the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and actuating means which are mounted for displacement in response to sudden movements of the motor vehicle operate to urge the pawl into locking engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent tilting of the reclining section.
Inventors
- 👤 B Dehler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/42; B60N2/433; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/235; B60N2/2352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A safety locking device for reclining seats of a motor vehicle, said seats including a stationary section and a reclining section pivotally connected to said stationary section, said device comprising ratchet means mounted to rotate with said reclining section upon pivotal motion thereof, pawl means pivotally mounted relative to said stationary section in a position to enable engagement of said pawl means with said ratchet means to lock said ratchet means against rotation, means normally biasing said pawl means out of locking engagement with said ratchet means, and actuating means displaceable in response to abrupt motion of said motor vehicle for urging said pawl means into locking engagement with said ratchet means thereby to prevent pivotal motion of said reclining section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A safety locking device for reclining seats of a motor vehicle, said seats including a stationary section and a reclining section pivotally connected to said stationary section, said device comprising ratchet means mounted to rotate with said reclining section upon pivotal motion thereof, pawl means pivotally mounted relative to said stationary section in a position to enable engagement of said pawl means with said ratchet means to lock said ratchet means against rotation, means normally biasing said pawl means out of locking engagement with said ratchet means, and actuating means displaceable in response to abrupt motion of said motor vehicle for urging said pawl means into locking engagement with said ratchet means thereby to prevent pivotal motion of said reclining section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprise a hemispherically-shaped member having a lower convex portion and an upper cam surface, said lower portion having an outer diametral dimension, a support member defining therein an opening having an outer diametral dimension smaller than the outer diametral dimension of said lower convex surface, said hemispherical member being mounted upon said support member in abutting relationsHip therewith with said lower convex surface extending into said opening and with said upper cam surface engaged to effect displacement of said pawl, said hemispherical member being displaceable upon abrupt motion of said motor vehicle by cooperating engagement between said lower convex surface and said support member to effect actuation of said pawl into locking engagement with said ratchet means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said hemispherical member includes a lower pendulous portion extending below the abutment between said hemispherical member and said support member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said reclining section is pivotally mounted to said stationary section by a pivot pin and wherein said ratchet means is mounted concentrically with said pivot pin to be rotatable with said reclining section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A locking device according to claim 1 wherein said reclining seat includes a manually operable seat adjusting mechanism comprising a pinion rotatably mounted relative to said stationary section and gear means fixed relative to said reclining section and engaging said pinion in meshing engagement therewith, said ratchet means being mounted concentrically with said pinion by a common mounting structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said pawl means includes a lever arm positioned to be engaged by said actuating means to cause pivotal motion of said pawl upon displacement of said actuating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A locking device according to claim 1 wherein said pawl means comprise a pair of pawls each pivotally mounted upon an axis spaced perpendicularly from the axis of rotation of said ratchet means, each of said pawls being oriented to effect locking engagement with said ratchet means for different directions of acceleration of said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said ratchet means comprise sawteeth and wherein said pawl means comprise an engaging tooth correspondingly shaped to engage said sawteeth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A locking device according to claim 7 wherein said ratchet means include a pair of ratchet wheels each having sawteeth, with the teeth of one of said ratchet wheels sloped in the direction opposite to the slope of the teeth of said other ratchet wheel, each of said pawls being arranged to engage, respectively, one of said ratchet wheels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein each of said pawls is arranged to engage a common ratchet wheel at opposite sides thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said common ratchet wheel has sawteeth sloped in a first direction extending over one portion of its circumference and sawteeth sloped in a direction opposite to said first direction over another portion of its circumference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said ratchet means comprise a ratchet wheel having uniformly shaped straight gear teeth with said pawl means comprising correspondingly shaped gear teeth adapted to engage said ratchet wheel gear teeth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein said pawls are formed in a single integral structure in a forked configuration extending about opposite sides of said ratchet means, said integral forked configuration having a single pivotal mounting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a pendulum body arranged to swing about a pivotal connection, said pendulum body having a portion thereof situated above said pivotal connection and including at least one surface acting as a cam surface in engagement to effect actuation of said pawl means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device according to claim 14 wherein said pendulum body includes a hemispherical bearing surface extending in a downward direction, said device further including mounting means having a support bore hole of a diameter smaller than the diameter of said hemispherical bearing surface, with said hemispherical bearing surface being mounted to extend into said bore hole and to engage said support member thereat to enable pendulous motion of said pendulum member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means include a movable body having a vertical blind hole formed therein, a support member including a pivot element configured with a diameter smaller than the diameter of said blind hole, said movable body including an upper hemispherical recessed surface engaged to actuate said pawl means when said movable body is displaced about said pivot.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said means normally biasing said pawl means out of locking engagement with said ratchet means comprise spring means pivotally urging said pawl means in a direction away from said ratchet means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
149 words
A device according to claim 1 further including an auxiliary safety locking mechanism operable to lock said reclining section against pivotal movement thereof when said reclining section is moved relative to said stationary section at a rate of motion in excess of a predetermined desired rate, said auxiliary mechanism comprising a locking pawl pivotally mounted relative to said stationary section, said locking pawl having a portion thereof arranged for sliding engagement with said ratchet means and an oppositely arranged ratchet engaging tooth, spring means urging said sliding portion in engagement with said ratchet means whereby rotation of said ratchet means will operate to alternatively cause engagement and disengagement of said engaging tooth with said ratchet means by pivotal motion of said locking pawl, said engaging tooth operating to remain in engagement with said ratchet means when said ratchet means is rotated in excess of a predetermined rate of rotation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 18 wherein a second pivotable locking pawl is provided, each of said locking pawls operating to engage said ratchet means, respectively, during opposite directions of rotation of said ratchet 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) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |