Locking device for adjustable seat track structure

Claim 1

A locking device, for an adjustable seat track structure: comprising an elongated stationary track for securement on the floor of a vehicle compartment, a movable track slidably mounted on the stationary track along the longitudinal direction thereof to be locked in a selected position; an elongated, continuously toothed, lock plate secured to and under said stationary track; a support member secured on said movable track and including a pair of legs straddling both sides of said stationary track; a latch member of U-shaped cross-section having its web under said stationary track and its upwardly directed arms slidably guided by said support member for up and down movements toward and away from said lock plate, said latch member being provided with a latch element located under said lock plate to be engaged with a selected portion of the continuous teeth on the lock plate; an outwardly directed pin secured to each arm of said latch member; a rotary member having a U-shaped cross-section with upwardly disposed arms, each arm being pivoted to a leg of said support member, the web of said rotary member being located under the latch element of said latch member and each arm of said rotary member being provided with a cam slot engaged with one of said pins of said latch member, said cam slots each including a supporting cam face to support one of said pins thereon and an arcuate cam face to permit upward and downward movement of said pin upon rotary movement of said rotary member; an operation handle on said rotary member for manual actuation to rotate the rotary member; and resilient means for biasing said rotary member to maintain the engagement of said latch element with said continuous teeth on the lock plate.