Vertical and angular adjustment device for vehicle seats

Claim 1

A vertical and angular position adjusting device for use in vehicle seats, comprising: a base frame connected to the floor of the vehicle; a seat carrier connected to the seat; linking means including a two-bar elbow joint hinged between first juxtaposed ends of said frame and said carrier and one bar hinged between second ends of said frame and said carrier to form therewith a five bar linkage; a first gear segment secured to said one bar; a first latch supported for tilting movement in the plane of said first gear segment and having at least one tooth engageable with the latter and a recessed face defining two switching portions; a second gear segment secured to a bar of said elbow joint; a second latch in the form of a two-arm lever supported for a combined tilting and linear movement in the plane of said second gear segment and having on one arm thereof provided with a locking tooth engageable with said second gear segment and the other arm thereof provided with a projecting cam engageable with one switching portion of said first latch corresponding to a locking position of said first latch with said first gear segment, and, alternately with the other switching portion corresponding to the releasing position of said first latch; means for guiding said second latch in a linear direction between a locking position in which said locking tooth is in engagement with said second gear segment and a releasing position away from said second gear segment; spring means normally biasing said second latch into said locking position; a hand-operated lever coupled to said second latch to rotate the same between a first end position in which said cam engages said one switching face portion and an opposite second end position in which said cam engages said other switching face portion and to displace said second latch in said guiding means against said biasing spring.