Latches and latch systems for vehicle seats and vehicle seats
AssigneesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsNicholas J. Schutzman, Vikas Bhatia, Yi-Ru C. Sosnowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch for a vehicle seat includes a latch body and a bracket having a plate defining a pivot point and a slot is provided. The latch body is pivotably coupled to the bracket at the pivot point and movably coupled to the bracket at the slot such that the latch body pivots about the pivot point between a latched position and a variation absorbing position. The latch body has a supporting shaft slidably supported by the plate at the slot. A biasing assembly is disposed between the pivot point and the supporting shaft and biasing the latch body toward the latched position.
Claims9
A latch for a vehicle seat, comprising:
- a bracket having a plate defining a pivot point and a slot;
- a latch body pivotably coupled to the bracket at the pivot point and movably coupled to the bracket at the slot such that the latch body pivots about the pivot point between a latched position and a variation absorbing position, and the latch body having a supporting shaft slidably supported by the plate at the slot;
- and
- a biasing assembly comprising a first end hooked to the plate, a second end contacting the supporting shaft, and a helical portion between the first and second ends and disposed around the pivot point, the biasing assembly biasing the latch body toward the latched position.
A latch system for a vehicle seat, comprising:
- a latch comprising:
- a bracket having a plate defining a pivot point and a slot;
- a latch body pivotably coupled to the bracket at the pivot point and movably coupled to the bracket at the slot such that the latch body pivots about the pivot point between a latched position and a variation absorbing position, and the latch body having a supporting shaft slidably supported by the plate at the slot;
- and
- a biasing assembly comprising a first end hooked to the plate, a second end contacting the supporting shaft, and a helical portion between the first end and the second end and disposed around the pivot point, the biasing assembly biasing the latch body toward the latched position;
- and
- a striker configured to engage with the latch.
A vehicle seat, comprising:
- a seat frame;
- a first latch coupled to the seat frame including:
- a bracket having a plate defining a pivot point and a slot;
- a latch body pivotably coupled to the bracket at the pivot point and movably coupled to the bracket at the slot such that the latch body pivots about the pivot point between a latched position and a variation absorbing position, and the latch body having a supporting shaft slidably supported by the plate at the slot;
- and
- a biasing assembly comprising a first end hooked to the plate, a second end contacting the supporting shaft, and a helical portion between the first and second ends and disposed around the pivot point, the biasing assembly biasing the latch body toward the latched position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.