Seat recliner and floor latch with interlock

Abstract

A latch system for providing adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat bottom includes a seat-back latch mechanism interconnecting the seat back and the seat bottom for movement of the seat back between a use position and a folded position and a floor-latch mechanism selectively connecting the seat bottom to the base for movement of the seat bottom between a deployed position and a stowed position. An interlock mechanism interacts with the floor-latch mechanism and the seat-back latch mechanism to selectively block operation of the floor-latch mechanism and the seat-back latch mechanism.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to vehicle scat assembly and, more particularly, to a seat latch system operable to adjustably recline the seat back, selectively lock the seat back in an upright position and a folded position, and place the vehicle seat in stowed and deployed positions, with an interlock mechanism interconnecting a seat-back latch mechanism and floor-latch mechanism to ensure a predetermined sequence of latch operation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Seat assemblies of the type used in motor vehicles are commonly equipped with locking pivot mechanisms that can be selectively actuated to permit angular adjusting of the seat back relative to the seat bottom, thereby providing added comfort and convenience to the seat occupant. Typically, these locking mechanisms include a housing fixed to the seat bottom, a quadrant fixed to the seat back and supported from the housing for pivotal movement about a first pivot point, a lock pawl sup...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a seat assembly with a simple and cost-effective interlock system that ensures proper seat latch operation and safety. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back that can move between a use position and a folded position. The interlock mechanism includes a lock-out lever that blocks the floor-latch mechanism when the seat bottom is in the stowed position and the seat-back latch mechanism when the seat bottom is in the upright position. This ensures that the seat latch is operated in the correct order and prevents accidental activation of the latch mechanisms.

Problems solved by technology

Although pawl-type pivot mechanisms enable a seat back to be reclined to a substantially flat position, they may not enable the seat back to be folded completely forward to improve accessibility to storage space or provide an increased cargo area.

As such, the cam must be designed to withstand these extreme forces, thereby increasing the complexity and cost of the seat-back dump mechanism.

While existing mechanisms are generally effective at performing this intended function, they may present safety problems.

Thai is, such prior designs do not ensure that the seat is not able to pivot when the seat back is locked and that the seat back is not able to pivot when the floor latch is not fully engaged.

While existing interlock mechanisms are generally effective at performing this function, they do not provide necessary safety features, or a consistency of operation, in a cost-effective and simplified interlock arrangement.

Images