Floor release latch mechanism for a vehicle seat
AssigneeBAE Industries, Inc.
InventorsTavis Lutzka, Keith Brantley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A release latch for use with a vehicle seat. A latch plate is rotatably secured to the seat and engages a floor mounted striker. A cam is rotatably secured to the seat and defines a shoulder biasingly seating against a support surface of the latch plate. A lever actuates the cam away from the support surface. A coil spring extends between the cam and a location of the latch plate offset from its pivot point. Forward pivoting of the seat occurs upon the shoulder separating from the support surface, the coil spring causing the latch plate to further rotate in a disengaging direction relative to the striker and upon the coil spring exceeding an over center portion relative to the pivot point of rotation of the latch plate.
Claims20
A release latch mechanism for use with a seat and engaged to a striker associated with a vehicle floor, said latch mechanism comprising:
- a support plate secured to the seat proximate to the floor supported striker;
- a latch plate rotatably secured to said support plate, an arcuate configuration defined in said latch plate defining a recess for receiving the striker in an engaged position;
- a first cam rotatably secured to a further location associated with said support plate, a shoulder defined in said first cam seating against a support surface of said latch plate;
- a second cam rotatably secured to said support plate in coaxial fashion relative to said first cam;
- and
- a spring extending between said first cam and a location of said latch plate offset from said rotatable securement to said support plate;
- said second cam being actuated to rotate in a direction away from said support surface, continued rotation causing said first cam to rotate in unison and, upon said shoulder separating from said support surface, forward pivoting of the seat causing said latch plate to rotate relative to the striker, a specified degree of tension exerted on said spring causing said latch plate to further rotate to a fully disengaged position.
A release latch for use with a vehicle seat, comprising:
- a latch plate rotatably secured to the seat and exhibiting a recess adapted to engage a floor mounted striker;
- a cam rotatably secured to the seat and defining a shoulder biasingly seating against a support surface associated with said latch plate;
- a lever actuating said cam in an unseating direction away from said support surface;
- and
- a coil spring extending between said cam and a location of said latch plate offset from its pivot point of rotation;
- forward pivoting of said seat occurring upon said shoulder separating from said support surface, said coil spring causing said latch plate to further rotate in a disengaging direction relative to the striker and upon said coil spring exceeding an over center portion relative to said pivot point of rotation of said latch plate.
A release latch assembly for use with a vehicle seat, comprising:
- an inner support plate secured to the seat proximate to a floor supported striker, an outer support plate secured in spaced apart fashion relative to said inner support plate;
- a latch plate secured in pivotal fashion between said inner and outer support plates, an arcuate configuration defined in said latch plate defining a recess for receiving the striker in an engaged position;
- an anti-chuck cam rotatably secured to a further location associated with said support plate, a shoulder defined in said anti-chuck cam seating against a support surface of said latch plate;
- a secondary cam rotatably secured to said support plate in coaxial fashion relative to said first cam, said secondary cam exhibiting a secondary shoulder positioned proximate said primary support shoulder and said support surface, said cams being biased in an engaging direction against said latch plate;
- a spring extending between said anti-chuck cam and a location of said latch plate offset from a pivot point of said latch plate;
- and
- actuation of a lever secured to an exposed surface of said outer support plate creating a disengaging rotation of said first and second cams and, upon said shoulders separating from said latch plate support surface, forward pivoting of the seat causing said latch plate to rotate relative to the striker, a specified degree of tension exerted on said spring corresponding to said latch plate further rotating to a fully disengaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.