Locking device for a seat back of a trunk through-seat(sic)

Claim 1

A locking device for a seat back of a vehicle trunk through-seat comprising: a seat back of a vehicle rear seat including a seat cushion, said seat back divided into a plurality of seat back portions, the divided portions being individually supported pivotably and individually tiltable forwards and backwards with respect to a seat cushion so that the portions may be used as individual seat backs; locking holes provided in the pivotable seat back portions, each of the holes defined by an opening at an upper part of the seat back portions; a plurality of independently operable lock pins which are slidably supported in a seat back in a plurality of respective housings for movement in a substantially vertical direction toward and away from a respective seat back portion; a base plate mounted in the seat back to support said lock pin housings and positioned to support said lock pins opposite to respective locking holes, said lock pins each individually biased in a downward direction so that a lower end portion of each of said lock pins can be inserted into respective ones of said locking holes; an elongated slider slidably carried in said base plate for movement in a transverse direction relative to the direction of movement of said lock pins; a plurality of stoppers carried by said slider and extending outwardly from said slider to overlie respective ones of said lock pins to limit upward movement of the lock pins; a lever pivotably carried in each of said locking holes of said pivotable seat back portions to move a respective lock pin upward from and outward of its associated locking hole upon rotation of said lever by an operating member that extends outwardly of the seat back; and a key carried by said base plate, said key including a projection engageable with said slider, said projection extending from a pivotable key arm carried by said key; said slider being movable to carry said stoppers from a position overlying said lock pins by the operation of the key to permit the lock pins to move vertically by the pivoting of said levers by operation of each operating member to individually release each pivotable seat back portion to permit access to a vehicle trunk.