Inertia lock apparatus

• US 7,607,729 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Udriste, Daniel I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYNCH, PATRICK D
• Application Number:
  US11/689,973
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/216.16, 297/216.18, 297/344.11, 296/68.1
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/43 Safety locks for back-rests B60N2/433

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for securing a moveable seat substructure of a vehicle seating system to a stationary base substructure of the vehicle seating system during a dynamic event such as, for example, rapid vehicle deceleration. In one aspect, an inertia lock apparatus is provided for a vehicle seating system and includes: a striker bar; a pendulum latch pivotally moveable between a normal orientation and a latching orientation, wherein the pendulum latch includes a first end with a mass portion configured to pivot about a pivot point relative to a predetermined deceleration, a second end with a catch portion configured to catch the striker bar in the latching orientation and a cam slot intermediate the first end and the second end; and a lock mechanism configured to prevent the pendulum latch from moving from the latching orientation to the normal orientation. In another aspect, a vehicle seating system including the inertia lock apparatus is provided.

Claims

1. An inertia lock apparatus for a vehicle seating system including a base substructure attached to a vehicle floor, and a laterally moveable seat substructure coupled with the base substructure, the apparatus comprising:

a striker bar connected to one of the base substructure and the laterally moveable seat substructure;

a pendulum latch coupled at a pivot point to the other one of the base substructure and the laterally moveable seat substructure for movement between a normal orientation and a latching orientation, the pendulum latch including a first end with a mass portion configured to pivot about the pivot point relative to a predetermined deceleration, a second end including a catch portion configured to catch the striker bar in the latching orientation, and a cam slot with a cam surface intermediate the first end and the second end;

a lock mechanism coupled with the pendulum latch and configured to prevent the pendulum latch from moving from the latching orientation to the normal orientation, the lock mechanism including a lock pivot point connected to the pendulum latch below the pivot point and intermediate the first and second ends, a stop member connected to the pendulum latch proximate the lock pivot point, and a lock member pivotally coupled to the lock pivot point and including a normal bias that urges the lock member against the stop member; and

a combination cam follower and pawl member, the combination cam follower and pawl member being configured in the cam slot for intimate contact with the cam surface for pivoting the lock member about the lock pivot point and for preventing pivoting of the pendulum latch during a deceleration that is less than the predetermined deceleration.

2. The inertia lock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined deceleration is in the range of about 6 G to about 9 G.

3. The inertia lock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the striker bar comprises an axle of a rotary actuator configured to move the laterally moveable seat substructure relative to the base substructure.

4. The inertia lock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a spring connecting the lock member with a portion of the pendulum latch.

5. The inertia lock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lock member is generally triangular in shape and includes an upper shoulder that extends past the cam surface for contacting with the combination cam follower and pawl member.

6. The inertia lock apparatus of claim 5 wherein the upper shoulder and the combination cam follower and pawl member interfere to prevent the pendulum latch from moving from the latching orientation to the normal orientation.

7. The inertia lock apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an elongated link with a first end coupled with the pivot point, and a second end coupled with the combination cam follower and pawl member.

8. A vehicle seating system comprising:

a base substructure connected to a floor of the vehicle;

a laterally moveable seat substructure coupled with the base substructure;

a striker bar connected to one of the base substructure and the laterally moveable seat substructure;

a pendulum latch coupled at a pivot point to the other one of the base substructure and the laterally moveable seat substructure for movement between a normal orientation and a latching orientation, the pendulum latch comprising a first end including a mass portion configured to pivot about the pivot point relative to a predetermined deceleration, a second end including a catch portion configured to catch the striker bar in the latching orientation, and a cam slot with a cam surface intermediate the first end and the second end;

a lock mechanism coupled with the pendulum latch and configured to prevent the pendulum latch from moving from the latching orientation to the normal orientation, the lock mechanism including a lock pivot point connected to the pendulum latch below the pivot point and intermediate the first and second ends, a stop member connected to the pendulum latch proximate the lock pivot point, and a lock member pivotally coupled to the lock pivot point and including a normal bias that urges the lock member against the stop member; and

a combination cam follower and pawl member, the combination cam follower and pawl member being configured in the cam slot for intimate contact with the cam surface for pivoting the lock member about the lock pivot point and for preventing pivoting of the pendulum latch during a deceleration that is less than the predetermined deceleration.

9. The vehicle seating system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined deceleration is in the range of about 6 G to about 9 G.

10. The vehicle seating system of claim 8 wherein the striker bar comprises an axle of a rotary actuator configured to move the laterally moveable seat substructure relative to the base substructure.

11. The vehicle seating system of claim 8 wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a spring connecting the lock member with a portion of the pendulum latch.

12. The vehicle seating system of claim 8 wherein the lock member is generally triangular in shape and includes an upper shoulder that extends past the cam surface for contacting with the combination cam follower and pawl member.

13. The vehicle seating system of claim 12 wherein the upper shoulder and the combination cam follower and pawl member interfere to prevent the pendulum latch from moving from the latching orientation to the normal orientation.

14. The vehicle seating system of claim 13 further comprising an elongated link including a first end pivotally coupled with the pivot point, and a second end coupled with the combination cam follower and pawl member.

15. An aircraft seating system comprising:

a stationary base substructure connected to a floor of the aircraft, the stationary base substructure including a rotary actuator having a gear;

a laterally moveable seat carriage coupled with the stationary base substructure, the laterally moveable seat carriage including a gear rack that meshes with the gear;

a failsafe means configured to prevent the laterally moveable seat carriage from becoming uncoupled from the stationary base substructure during a deceleration in the range of about 6 g to about 9 g, the failsafe means comprising;

a striker means comprised of an axle of the rotary actuator on which the gear is disposed, the striker means connected to one of the stationary base substructure and the laterally moveable seat carriage;

a latch means coupled at a pivot point to the other one of the stationary base substructure and the laterally moveable seat carriage for movement between a normal orientation and a latching orientation, the latch means comprising a first end including a mass portion configured to pivot about the pivot point relative to a predetermined deceleration, a second end including a catch portion configured to catch the striker means in the latching orientation;

a lock means configured to prevent the latch means from moving from the latching orientation to the normal orientation; and

a means for preventing pivoting of the latch means during a deceleration that is less than the predetermined deceleration.

16. An aircraft seating system comprising:

a stationary base substructure connected to a floor of the aircraft, the stationary base substructure including an actuator having a gear;

a laterally moveable seat carriage coupled with the stationary base substructure, the laterally moveable seat carriage including a gear rack that meshes with the gear;

a failsafe means configured to prevent the laterally moveable seat carriage from becoming uncoupled from the stationary base substructure during a deceleration in the range of about 6 g to about 9 g, the failsafe means comprising;

a striker means connected to one of the stationary base substructure and the laterally moveable seat carriage;

a latch means coupled at a pivot point to the other one of the stationary base substructure and the laterally moveable seat carriage for movement between a normal orientation and a latching orientation, the latch means comprising a first end including a mass portion configured to pivot about the pivot point relative to a predetermined deceleration, a second end including a catch portion configured to catch the striker means in the latching orientation;

a lock means configured to prevent the latch means from moving from the latching orientation to the normal orientation; and

a means for preventing pivoting of the latch means during a deceleration that is less than the predetermined deceleration, said means for preventing pivoting comprised of;

a cam slot including a cam surface, the cam slot being configured intermediate the first end and the second end of the latch means; and

a pawl member of the lock means that extends through the cam slot, the pawl member being in intimate contact with the cam surface.