Automotive seat recliner interlock
First Claim
1. An automotive seat recliner interlock, comprising:
- a seat frame including a seat pan, a back frame, and a recliner supporting said back frame on said seat pan;
a supporting assembly for supporting said seat frame for forward and backward movement, said supporting assembly including a rail mechanism, said rail mechanism including a fixed rail and a moveable rail; and
an interlock means secured to both said recliner and said supporting assembly for mechanically interlocking said recliner with said supporting assembly, said interlock means including first and second pieces secured to said recliner and said supporting assembly respectively, but said second piece not directly secured to the fixed rail of said rail mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive seat assembly including a recliner interlock reducing the likelihood that the recliner will break away from the remainder of the seat assembly in a collision. The seat assembly includes a base having a pedestal and a rail mechanism, a seat frame including a seat pan and a seat back interconnected by the recliner, and a recliner interlock for mechanically securing the recliner to the seat base. The interlock includes a J-shaped retainer secured to the recliner and an inverted J-shaped track secured to the pedestal. The retainer and track slidably interfit with one another to allow the recliner retainer to move along the pedestal track when the seat is moved forward and backward.
28 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automotive seat recliner interlock, comprising:
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a seat frame including a seat pan, a back frame, and a recliner supporting said back frame on said seat pan; a supporting assembly for supporting said seat frame for forward and backward movement, said supporting assembly including a rail mechanism, said rail mechanism including a fixed rail and a moveable rail; and an interlock means secured to both said recliner and said supporting assembly for mechanically interlocking said recliner with said supporting assembly, said interlock means including first and second pieces secured to said recliner and said supporting assembly respectively, but said second piece not directly secured to the fixed rail of said rail mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An automotive vehicle seat, comprising:
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a pedestal; a seat having a seat back, a seat pan, and a rail mechanism including a fixed rail and a moveable rail, said seat secured to pedestal and including a recliner for allowing said seat back to recline with respect to said seat pan; and an interlock means for interconnecting said recliner and said pedestal, said interlock means includes a retainer secured to said recliner and a track secured to said pedestal but said track not directly secured to the fixed rail of said rail mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An improved automotive vehicle seat assembly having a base assembly including a pedestal and a rail mechanism including a fixed rail and a moveable rail mounted on said pedestal, a seat frame supported by said rail mechanism, said seat frame having a seat pan and seat back interconnected by a recliner, wherein the improvement comprises an interlock comprising:
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a retainer connected to said recliner; and a track connected to said pedestal but said track not directly connected to said fixed rail of said rail mechanism, said retainer and said track cooperating to secure said recliner to said pedestal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification