# US 2018/0022256 A1 · Articulating locking mechanism for a seatback > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022256 A1 - Document ID: US20180022256A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/215,205 - Filed: 2016-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Bryan D. Warju, II; Mark Caye; Peter Kennedy; Michael Kryzaniwskyj; Khaled Ayyash; Kurt Kormos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022256A1 ## CPC - B60N 2/682: {Joining means} - B60N 2/36: into a loading platform {(B60N2/065 takes precedence)} - F16B 2/241: {of sheet metal} - F16C 11/04: Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) - F16C 27/02: Sliding-contact bearings - B60N 2002/684: {the back rest being mounted or joined with an easy attachment system to the seat} - B60N 2205/20: Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash - F16C 2326/08: Vehicle seats, e.g. in linear movable seats - Y10T 403/32336: Engaging notch or recess in outer periphery of component - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An articulating locking mechanism includes a support bracket with an upwardly opening receiving slot having an open top portion and closed bottom portion. A spring member is coupled to the support bracket at a mounting portion and includes a ramp portion disposed adjacent to the receiving slot. A pivot member includes a pivot bushing and a rotating mounting shaft extending outwardly from the pivot bushing. The pivot busing is received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, and is retained by the ramp portion of the spring member when the pivot busing is fully seated in the receiving slot of the support bracket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An articulating locking mechanism, comprising: a support bracket having an upwardly opening receiving slot with an open top portion and closed bottom portion; a spring member coupled to the support bracket at a mounting portion, the spring member including a ramp portion disposed adjacent to the receiving slot; and a pivot member having a pivot bushing and a rotating mounting shaft extending outwardly from the pivot bushing, wherein the pivot busing is received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, and further wherein the pivot bushing is retained by the ramp portion of the spring member when fully seated in the receiving slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the pivot bushing includes an outer sleeve having first and second shoulder members spaced-apart from one another to define an inset channel therebetween. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the upwardly opening receiving slot includes a rim portion that is received in the inset channel when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 3, wherein the first shoulder member is disposed on an inner surface of the support bracket when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot, and further wherein the second shoulder member is disposed on an outer surface of the support bracket when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 4, wherein the second shoulder member includes an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is engaged by a lower edge of the ramp portion of the spring member when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot to positively retain the pivot member in the receiving slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 5, including: a bumper disposed on the support bracket below the closed bottom portion of the upwardly opening receiving slot, wherein the bumper is a flexibly resilient member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 6, wherein the lower surface of the second shoulder member engages an upper contact surface of the bumper when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 7, wherein the bumper imparts an upward force on the pivot bushing when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot. ### Claim 9 An articulating locking mechanism, comprising: a support bracket having a receiving slot; a spring member coupled to the support bracket and including a deflectable ramp portion disposed adjacent to the receiving slot; and a pivot member having a pivot bushing received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, wherein the pivot bushing is retained by the ramp portion of the spring member as received in the receiving slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the support bracket includes an anchor portion configured to couple to a vehicle frame and a riser portion extending upwardly from the anchor portion and having a body portion with inner and outer surfaces and a mounting tab. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 10, wherein the mounting tab extends outwardly from the body portion and is coupled to a mounting portion of the spring member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 11, wherein the deflectable ramp portion extends inwardly at an angle from the mounting portion towards the receiving slot in an at-rest position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 12, wherein the pivot member is configured to be vertically received in the receiving slot, and further wherein an outermost portion of the pivot member is configured to engage and deflect the deflectable ramp portion from the at-rest position to a loaded position as the pivot member is received in the receiving slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 13, wherein the deflectable ramp portion of the spring member is biased to move from the loaded position to the at-rest position when the outermost portion of the pivot member clears a lower edge of the spring member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 14, wherein the outermost portion of the pivot member is engaged by the lower edge of the deflectable ramp portion of the spring member when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot to positively retain the pivot member in the receiving slot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 15, including: a bumper disposed on the support bracket, wherein the bumper is a flexibly resilient member configured to impart an outward force on the pivot bushing when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot. ### Claim 17 An articulating locking mechanism, comprising: a support bracket having an outwardly opening receiving slot with an open top portion and closed bottom portion; a spring member coupled to the support bracket at a mounting portion, the spring member including a ramp portion operable between at-rest and loaded positions adjacent to the receiving slot; and a pivot member having a pivot bushing and a rotating mounting shaft extending outwardly from the pivot bushing, wherein the pivot bushing is received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, and further wherein the pivot bushing is retained by the ramp portion of the spring member when fully seated in the receiving slot. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 17, wherein an outermost portion of the pivot member is configured to engage and deflect the ramp portion of the spring member from the at-rest position to the loaded position as the pivot member is received in the receiving slot. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 18, including: a bumper disposed on the support bracket, wherein the bumper is a flexibly resilient member configured to impart an outward force on the pivot bushing when the pivot member is received in the receiving slot. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The articulating locking mechanism of claim 17, wherein the ramp portion of the spring member is disposed at an angle directed towards the receiving slot in the at-rest position.