Locking device for vehicle seats, in particular motor vehicle seats

A locking arrangement for vehicle seats, having two, relatively displaceable seat parts, comprising:

• a rail associated with one seat part having a longitudinal axis extending in a displacement direction and having at least one row of snap-in openings arranged along said longitudinal axis, said snap-in openings being separated from one another by web-like material sections;
• ratchets associated with the other seat part and displaceable transverse to said longitudinal axis relative to said rail between disengaging positions and locking positions in said snap-in openings;
• an operator coupled to said ratchets for controlling movement of said ratchets between said disengaging positions and said locking positions;
• and
• at least one retaining element, coupleable to each of said ratchets, for preventing undesired disengagement of the respective ratchet from the locking position thereof, each said retaining device being a catch device force locking the respective ratchet, each said catch device being a movable catching hook controlled by a dovetail tenon part of said operator and by a compression spring to move between a release position and an engaged position retaining the respective ratchet in said locking position thereof.

A locking arrangement for vehicle seats, having two, relatively displaceable seat parts, comprising:

• a rail associated with one seat part having a longitudinal axis extending in a displacement direction and having at least one row of snap-in openings arranged along said longitudinal axis, said snap-in openings being separated from one another by web-like material sections;
• ratchets associated with the other seat part and displaceable transverse to said longitudinal axis relative to said rail between disengaging positions and locking positions in said snap-in openings;
• an operator coupled to said ratchets for controlling movement of said ratchets between said disengaging positions and said locking positions;
• at least one retaining element, coupleable to each of said ratchets, for preventing undesired disengagement of the respective ratchet from the locking position thereof, each said retaining element being a movable catching hook in a channel guide on the respective ratchet, each said catching hook cooperates by a base plate with a control hook, each said control hook moving the respective catching book and being controlled by a dovetail tenon part of said operator;
• a housing including guides spaced from one another along and extending transverse to said longitudinal axis, said guides receiving and guiding movement of said ratchets;
• and
• bias springs holding said ratchets in said locking positions, said bias springs being compression springs having first ends supported on a sheet metal cover of said housing and second ends supported on said ratchets.