# US 11,993,198 B2 · Accessible rear seat latch release > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,198 B2 - Document ID: US11993198B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/814,552 - Filed: 2022-07-25 - Published: 2022-11-10 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-22 - Assignees: BuiltRight Industries LLC - Applicants: BuiltRight Industries LLC - Inventors: Matt Beenen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993198B2 ## CPC - B60P 7/0807: {Attachment points} - B60P 3/007: {for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles} - B60R 5/00: Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like (primarily intended for stowing loads in load-transporting vehicles B60P; arrangements for stowing spare wheels B62D43/00) - B60R 5/04: arranged at rear of vehicle {(B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065)} - B60R 7/00: Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps (for radio sets, television sets, telephones or the like, mounting of cameras operative during drive, tools, or spare parts B60R11/00; for receptacles for refuse, food, beverages, cigarettes B60N) - B60R 7/02: in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} - B60R 9/00: Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like - B60R 9/02: at the sides, e.g. on running-board - B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} - B60R 9/065: {Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks} - B62D 33/0207: {Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms} - B62D 33/023: Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} - B65D 90/0053: {fixed on the side wall of the container (B65D90/0066, B65D90/0073 take precedence)} - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A rear seat latch release device is easily installed to a portion of a rear seat holding mechanism so the rear seat can be released and more effectively folded down. The rear seat latch release device is specifically designed to surround the factory latch, and allow a pull strap to be added, which can more easily and effectively operate the rear seat latch. Components of the rear seat latch release device are designed to easily cooperate with several variations in the factory latch, thereby allowing installation in many different situations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A latch release device capable of cooperating with an existing factory latch mechanism, comprising: a latch base bracket having a latch base plate and a retaining tab which extends upwardly from the latch base plate, the latch base bracket being configured for mounting immediately adjacent to the existing factory latch mechanism; a latch pull bracket having a keyhole feature therein configured to be operably coupled to a latch pin of the existing factory latch mechanism, the latch pull bracket being further held in the operable coupling relationship by the retaining tab; and a pull strap functionally coupled to the latch pull bracket; and wherein pulling on the pull strap will cause force to be applied to the latch pull bracket thereby causing the latch pull bracket to exert force in a lateral direction upon the latch pin thereby causing lateral movement of the latch pin and the releasing of the existing factory latch mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The latch release device of claim 1, wherein the latch pull bracket has an oblong opening configured to receive and cooperate with the latch pin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The latch release device of claim 1, wherein the latch base plate has a plate portion and a receiving slot positioned between the plate portion and the retaining tab, the receiving slot configured to surround a portion of the existing factory latch mechanism when installed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The latch release device of claim 1, wherein the keyhole feature comprises two overlapping holes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The latch release device of claim 1, wherein the keyhole feature comprises a narrower portion which is sized smaller than a diameter of the latch pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The latch release device of claim 1, wherein the keyhole feature comprises a recessed portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The latch release device of claim 1, wherein the latch base bracket is configured to be mounted using at least one mounting bolt which is a mounting bolt for holding the factory latch mechanism. ### Claim 8 A latch release device capable of cooperating with an existing factory latch mechanism, comprising: a latch base bracket having a latch base plate and a retaining tab which extends upwardly from the latch base plate, the latch base bracket being configured for mounting immediately adjacent to the existing factory latch mechanism; a latch pull bracket having a keyhole feature therein configured to be operably coupled to a latch pin of the existing factory latch mechanism, the latch pull bracket being further held in the operable coupling relationship by the retaining tab; and a rigid handle functionally coupled to the latch pull bracket; and wherein pulling on the rigid handle will cause force to be applied to the latch pull bracket thereby causing the latch pull bracket to exert force in a lateral direction upon the latch pin thereby causing lateral movement of the latch pin and the releasing of the existing factory latch mechanism. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The latch release device of claim 8, wherein the latch pull bracket has an oblong opening configured to receive and cooperate with the latch pin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The latch release device of claim 8, wherein the latch base plate has a plate portion and a receiving slot positioned between the plate portion and the retaining tab, the receiving slot configured to surround a portion of the existing factory latch mechanism when installed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The latch release device of claim 8, wherein the keyhole feature comprises two overlapping holes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The latch release device of claim 8, wherein the keyhole feature comprises a narrower portion which is sized smaller than a diameter of the latch pin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The latch release device of claim 8, wherein the keyhole feature comprises a recessed portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The latch release device of claim 8, wherein the latch base bracket is configured to be mounted using at least one mounting bolt which is a mounting bolt for holding the factory latch mechanism. ### Claim 15 A latch release device capable of cooperating with an existing factory latch mechanism, comprising: a latch base bracket having a latch base plate and a retaining tab which extends upwardly from the latch base plate, the latch base bracket being configured for mounting immediately adjacent to the existing factory latch mechanism; a latch pull bracket having a keyhole feature therein configured to be operably coupled to a latch pin of the existing factory latch mechanism, the latch pull bracket being further held in the operable coupling relationship by the retaining tab; and an electrical solenoid functionally coupled to the latch pull bracket, said electrical solenoid comprising a button; and wherein pushing the button will actuate the electrical solenoid and cause force to be applied to the latch pull bracket thereby causing the latch pull bracket to exert force in a lateral direction upon the latch pin thereby causing lateral movement of the latch pin and the releasing of the existing factory latch mechanism. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The latch release device of claim 15, wherein the latch pull bracket has an oblong opening configured to receive and cooperate with the latch pin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The latch release device of claim 15, wherein the latch base plate has a plate portion and a receiving slot positioned between the plate portion and the retaining tab, the receiving slot configured to surround a portion of the existing factory latch mechanism when installed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The latch release device of claim 15, wherein the keyhole feature comprises two overlapping holes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The latch release device of claim 15, wherein the keyhole feature comprises a narrower portion which is sized smaller than a diameter of the latch pin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The latch release device of claim 15, wherein the keyhole feature comprises a recessed portion.