Patent US4366978A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4366978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking means for a forwardly foldable seat back
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1981-03-16
•
Granted: 1983-01-04
•
Expires: 2001-03-16
Abstract
Abstract An automobile has an operable rear panel such as a rear trunk lid or a back door. A rear seat assembly has a rear seat back which is forwardly foldable to provide an increased package space. A locking mechanism is provided for holding the seat back in the upright position. The locking mechanism can be unlocked by moving the rear panel beyond an open position.
Inventors
- 👤 Teruo Hamatani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/32; B60N2/36; B60N2/366
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An automobile including a body having a rear panel connected with said body through hinge means so that it is moved between a closed and open positions and further to an unlocking position which is beyond the open position, rear seat means having rear seat back means foldable forwardly from an upright position, locking means for locking said rear seat back means in said upright position, said locking means including unlocking means which is connected with said rear panel so that said locking means is actuated to an unlocking position when the rear panel is moved beyond the open position to the unlocking position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automobile including a body having a rear panel connected with said body through hinge means so that it is moved between a closed and open positions and further to an unlocking position which is beyond the open position, rear seat means having rear seat back means foldable forwardly from an upright position, locking means for locking said rear seat back means in said upright position, said locking means including unlocking means which is connected with said rear panel so that said locking means is actuated to an unlocking position when the rear panel is moved beyond the open position to the unlocking position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automobile in accordance with claim 1 which includes dual stop means for yieldably stopping the rear panel at the open position and for stopping it at the unlocking position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An automobile in accordance with claim 1 in which said unlocking means includes cable means for connecting the locking means with the rear panel through lost-motion means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An automobile in accordance with claim 3 in which said lost-motion means is constituted by providing said cable means with an unlocking cable which is appropriately slackened when the rear panel is in the closed position but stretched in the open position of the rear panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An automobile in accordance with claim 3 in which said lost-motion means includes a lost-motion mechanism provided in at least one end of the cable means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1648205A
Cited
US3817571A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-03 | 1986-07-05 | 1987-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-03 | 1990-07-05 | 1991-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-03 | 1994-07-05 | 1995-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |