# US 2014/0197670 A1 · Vehicle seat latching mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197670 A1 - Document ID: US20140197670A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/153,642 - Filed: 2014-01-13 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Lear Corporation - Applicants: Lear Corporation - Inventors: Nizar Freijy; Rahul Deshmukh; Jianliang Ma; ShuYing Xia; YiHua Huang; Michael Heinrich Joop Heyer; Norbert Hertling; Martin Stanner; Stephan Purnhagen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197670A1 ## CPC - B60N 2/2222: {the back-rest having two or more parts} - B60N 2/206: {to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray} - B60N 2/366: {characterised by the locking device} - B60N 2205/35: Seat, bench or back-rests being split laterally in two or more parts - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom adapted to mount to a vehicle. The seat assembly further includes a first seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom, and a second seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom proximate to the first seat back defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom. A pin is pivotally connected to the second seat back, is sized to be received within a latch mechanism on the first seat back, and is operably connected to the second seat back to pivot to a stowed position when the first seat back is pivoted to a recline angle that is less than the second seat back recline angle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seat assembly comprising: a seat bottom adapted to mount to a vehicle; a first seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom; a second seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom proximate to the first seat back defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom; and a pin pivotally connected to the second seat back sized to be received within a latch mechanism on the first seat back, and operably connected to the second seat back to pivot to a stowed position when the first seat back is pivoted to a recline angle that is less than the second seat back recline angle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising an actuator cable mechanically connected to the first seat back such that pivoting the first seat back forward of the second seat back reduces a tensile force in the actuator cable thereby pivoting the pin into the stowed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the tensile force in the actuator cable increases thereby rotating the pin to a deployed position when either the first or second seat back is pivoted to a recline angle substantially the same as the other of the first or second seat back. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The seat assembly of claim 2 further comprising a compensator spring disposed in a middle portion of the actuator cable configured to take up slack in the actuator cable when tension is released. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a return spring configured to bias the pin to the stowed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the latch mechanism defines an opening capable of receiving the pin, and the opening is disposed on a rear facing surface of the first seat back. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the first and the second seat backs provides a limit to prevent the first seat back from pivoting to a recline angle more rearward than the recline angle of the second seat back. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a lower torsion spring configured to bias the first seat back forward. ### Claim 9 A latching mechanism comprising: a releasable catch adapted to mount to a first seat back; a pin adapted to mount to a second seat back and configured to cooperate with the releasable catch; a spindle affixed to the first seat back; and a cable disposed on the second seat back having a first end in mechanical connection with the pin, and a second end wrapped about a portion of the spindle, wherein a forward pivoting of the spindle relative to the second seat back unwraps the cable releasing a tensile force in the cable, thereby pivoting the pin to a stowed position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The latching mechanism of claim 9 wherein a rotation of either of the first or second seat back to a recline angle substantially the same as the other of the first or second seat back causes a tensile force increase in the cable and thereby moves the pin to a deployed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The latching mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a return spring operably connected to the pin, and configured to bias the pin towards the stowed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The latching mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a compensator spring disposed in a middle portion of the cable configured to expand and take up an excess length in the cable when tensile force is released from the cable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The latching mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a bell crank operably connected to the pin and configured to transfer tensile force in the cable into a rotational force to pivot the pin towards a deployed position. ### Claim 14 A seat assembly comprising: a seat bottom adapted to mount to a vehicle; a first seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom; a second seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom; a retractable pin connected to the second seat back and configured to be received within a latch on the first seat back; and an actuator cable operably connected to both the pin and first seat back, wherein a pivoting of the first seat back to a recline angle that is less than the recline angle of the second seat back causes an increase in a tensile force of the cable thereby pivoting the pin to a stowed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The seat assembly of claim 14 further comprising a spindle attached to the first seat back wherein the actuator cable wraps a portion of the spindle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein pivoting either the first seat back or the second seat back to substantially the same recline angle as the other of the first seat back or the second seat back causes a reduction in the tensile force of the actuator cable thereby pivoting the pin to a deployed position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The seat assembly of claim 14 further comprising a compensator spring disposed in a middle portion of the actuator cable configured to take up slack in the actuator cable when the tensile force of the cable is reduced. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The seat assembly of claim 14 further comprising a return spring connected to the pin and configured to bias the pin to a deployed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the latch defines an opening to receive the pin and the opening is disposed on a rear facing portion of the first seat back.