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US4779927A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Locking mechanism for a rear seat back rest

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1987-09-24
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Granted: 1988-10-25
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Expires: 2007-09-24
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Abstract

Abstract In a locking device for a rear seat back cushion, a locking lever forms a constructional unit together with its shaft and a tension spring pretensioning it in the locking direction. During assembly, this unit is inserted from one end into a pit in a plastic component and is retained in the end position by means of snap lugs. The locking lever is unlocked by means of an actuation rod hitched onto it.

Inventors

  • 👤 Walter Trutter
  • 👤 Karl Stenz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 18:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/32; B60N2/36; B60N2/366; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/38

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 176 words
A locking device for a rear seat back cushion of a motor vehicle with a ratchet device placed in a plastic housing of the rear seat back cushion, which has a single-arm locking lever with a latching lug, pivotably mounted by means of a shaft in the plastic housing, which by means of a tension spring reaches towards a recess in a locking tongue of a rear part of the body, and in which a release device is provided in the rear seat back cushion to pivot the locking lever into the unlocked position, which has a rod which can be displaced within the rear seat back cushion, characterized by the fact that the shaft of the locking lever is located in a pit leading into the plastic housing from one side, which is as wide as the shaft is long, and it is retained there by two elastic snap lugs with the shaft being located in each case between a contact surface at the end of the pit and snap surfaces of the snap lugs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 176 words
A locking device for a rear seat back cushion of a motor vehicle with a ratchet device placed in a plastic housing of the rear seat back cushion, which has a single-arm locking lever with a latching lug, pivotably mounted by means of a shaft in the plastic housing, which by means of a tension spring reaches towards a recess in a locking tongue of a rear part of the body, and in which a release device is provided in the rear seat back cushion to pivot the locking lever into the unlocked position, which has a rod which can be displaced within the rear seat back cushion, characterized by the fact that the shaft of the locking lever is located in a pit leading into the plastic housing from one side, which is as wide as the shaft is long, and it is retained there by two elastic snap lugs with the shaft being located in each case between a contact surface at the end of the pit and snap surfaces of the snap lugs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a passage is located in each of the side surfaces of the plastic housing aligned with the assembled shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each end of the shaft has a flat over which is slid a connecting rod leading to another locking device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the open end of the pit is at least partially covered by a cover which is injection-molded onto the plastic housing and is attached to it by a flat hinge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A locking device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the cover is designed to be secured in the closed position by means of at least one catch projection on the plastic housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the locking lever has an eye for hitching up the actuation rod of the release device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the locking lever is configured together with the shaft and the tension spring as a subassembly that can be inserted into the pit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the latching lug is curved and that the center of curvature lies outside the shaft of the locking lever.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that bushings for drift rivets are provided in the plastic housing for the attachment thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the tension spring is a single-side leg spring, one leg of which presses against the locking lever and the other leg of which presses against the plastic housing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2922673A Cited
US4639040A Cited
FR2531130A1 Cited
US4580822A Cited
US4540206A Cited
US4684175A Cited
US4711493A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-10-25 1992-04-25 1992-10-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-10-25 1996-04-25 1996-10-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-10-25 2000-04-25 2000-10-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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