Locking device for a vehicle seat

A vehicle seat, comprising:

• first and second fitting parts mounted for there being relative movement therebetween;
• and
• an adjusting means for causing relative movement between the first and second fitting parts, wherein the adjusting means includes a locking device having:
• first and second toothed elements mounted for alternately being engaged to one another and disengaged from one another, wherein the first toothed element is pivotally mounted on the first fitting part, the second toothed element is mounted on the second fitting part, the locking device is for allowing the relative movement between the first and second fitting parts while the first and second toothed elements are disengaged from one another, and the locking device is for restricting the relative movement between the first and second fitting parts while the first and second toothed elements are engaged to one another;
• a clamping element pivotally mounted on the first fitting part for generally keeping the first and second toothed elements engaged to one another while the locking device is in a locked state, wherein the first and second toothed elements restrict operation of the adjusting means while the first and second toothed elements are kept engaged to one another;
• and
• an intercepting element including at least two intercepting surfaces, wherein the intercepting element is pivotally mounted on the first fining part so that in the event of a crash, the intercepting element supports the first toothed element via at least one of the intercepting surfaces to keep the first and second toothed elements engaged to one another.

A locking device for releasably restricting movement of at least part of a vehicle seat, the locking device comprising:

• first and second toothed elements, wherein the first toothed element is mounted for moving into and out of engagement with the second toothed element, and the locking device is for restricting movement of at least part of the vehicle seat while the first toothed element is in engagement with the second toothed element;
• a plurality of clamping elements that are pivotally mounted and biased for generally keeping the first toothed element in engagement with the second toothed element, with the plurality of clamping elements including:
• a first clamping element positioned for urging the first toothed element in a first direction, and
• a second clamping element positioned for urging the first toothed element in a second direction which is different from the first direction;
• and
• a plurality of intercepting elements respectively pivotally mounted in close proximity to the clamping elements for supporting the first toothed element to keep the first toothed element in engagement with the second toothed element in the event of a crash,
• wherein for at least one of the intercepting elements, the intercepting element includes at least two intercepting surfaces, and in the event of a crash, the intercepting element supports the first toothed element via at least one of the intercepting surfaces further to keeping the first toothed element in engagement with the second toothed element.