Latch assembly and seat hinge with interlock

• US 6,290,297 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
• Inventors: Yu, Shihong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US09/407,494
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 297/354.12, 297/361.1, 297/366, 297/367, 297/368, 297/369, 297/378.12, 297/316, 297/340, 296/65.01, 296/65.05
• US Class Current: 297/378.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01583 locking on transversal elements on the vehicle floor or rail, e.g. transversal rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/962 the locking system disabling tilting of the back-rest to the vertical position, when the seat is not properly installed

Abstract

A latch assembly with an interlock incorporatable into a seat hinge assembly for use in a vehicle connectable to a striker on a vehicle body. The seat hinge assembly includes a lower hinge member, an upper hinge member, a first latching mechanism, second latching mechanism, and an interlock operatively coupled to the first and second latching mechanisms. The first latching mechanism is operable in a latched mode to couple the lower hinge member to a striker and in an unlatched mode to allow movement of the lower hinge member relative to the striker. The second latching mechanism is operable in a locked mode for securing the upper hinge members in a fixed position relative to the lower hinge member and in an unlocked mode to allow movement of the upper hinge member relative to the lower hinge member. The interlock is operable in a disabling mode when the first latching mechanism is in its unlatched mode and in an enabling mode when the first latching mechanism is in its latched mode. In its disabling mode the interlock prevents movement of the second latching mechanism from its unlocked mode to its locked mode. Conversely, when in its enabling mode, the interlock allows movement of the second latching mechanism from its unlocked mode to its locked mode.

Claims

1. A seat hinge assembly for use with a vehicle seat connectable to a striker on a vehicle body, the seat hinge assembly comprising:

a lower hinge member;

an upper hinge member;

a first latching mechanism operable in a latched mode to couple one of said lower hinge member and said upper hinge member to the striker and in an unlatched mode to allow movement of said one of said lower hinge member and said upper hinge member relative to the striker;

a second latching mechanism operable in a locked mode to secure the other of said lower hinge member and said upper hinge member in a fixed position relative to said one of said lower hinge member and upper hinge member and in an unlocked mode to allow movement of the other of said lower hinge member and upper hinge member relative to said one of said lower hinge member and upper hinge member; and

an interlock operatively coupled to said first and second latching mechanisms, said interlock being operable in a disabling mode when said first latching mechanism is in said unlatched mode wherein said interlock prevents movement of said second latching mechanism from said unlocked mode to said locked mode, and said interlock being operable in an enabling mode when said first latching mechanism is in said latched mode allowing movement of said second latching mechanism from said unlocked mode to said locked mode.

2. The seat hinge assembly of claim 1 wherein movement of said first latching mechanism into said unlatched mode causes movement of said interlock into its disabling mode.

3. The seat hinge assembly of claim 2 wherein movement of said first latching mechanism into said latched mode causes movement of said interlock into its said enabling mode.

4. The seat hinge assembly of claim 1 further including a release coupled to one of said upper and lower hinge members for movement between a non-actuated position, an intermediate actuated position, and an interlock position, said release coupled to said second latching mechanism to move said second latching mechanism into its locked mode when said release is moved to said non-actuated position and into said unlocked mode when said release is moved into said intermediate actuated position.

5. The seat hinge assembly of claim 4 wherein said release is coupled to said interlock to move said interlock between said enabling and disabling modes when said release is moved between said intermediate actuated position and said interlock position.

6. The seat hinge assembly of claim 5 wherein said interlock is coupled to said first latching mechanism to move said first latching mechanism between said latched and unlatched modes when said interlock is moved between said enabling and disabling modes.

7. The seat hinge assembly of claim 6 wherein said interlock includes a link assembly interconnecting said first and second latching mechanisms, said link assembly moving between an aligned position when said interlock is in said enabling mode and an offset position when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

8. The seat hinge assembly of claim 7 wherein said link assembly includes a pin coupled to said second latching mechanism for movement therewith along a travel path and a link having a slot defining a motion axis, said travel path being coaxial with said motion axis when said interlock is in said enabling mode, said travel path being out of alignment with said motion axis when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

9. The seat hinge assembly of claim 8 wherein when said interlock is in said enabling mode said pin moves coaxial with said motion axis along said travel path between a first position when said second latching mechanism is in said locked mode and a second position when said second latching mechanism is in said unlocked mode.

10. The seat hinge assembly of claim 9 wherein said link includes a detent offset from said motion axis, said pin engaging said detent to prevent movement of said second latching mechanism to said locked mode when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

11. The seat hinge assembly of claim 10 wherein said link includes a passage and a pivot between said slot and said passage, said slot includes an enlarged pocket, said detent being adjacent said enlarged pocket, said first latching mechanism including a rivet pin disposed in said passage to operatively couple said first latching mechanism to said link.

12. The seat hinge assembly of claim 11 wherein said first latching mechanism includes a latch plate, a latch lever, and a cam coupled for movement with said latch lever, said rivet pin coupling said latch lever to said link, said latch lever pivotably coupled to said lower hinge member and to move said cam to block said latch plate into an engaged position when said first latching mechanism is in said latched mode.

13. The seat hinge assembly of claim 6 wherein said interlock includes a pin and a link, said link having a slot, an unlatch detent, and an interlock detent, said pin fixed to said second latching mechanism for movement therewith and engaging said interlock detent when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

14. The seat hinge assembly of claim 13 wherein said link further includes a second slot and a second pin slidably coupled to said second slot and fixed for movement with said first latching mechanism.

15. A seat hinge assembly of claim 13 wherein said release is coupled to one of said upper and lower hinge members for movement from said intermediate actuated position, past said interlock position, and into a full actuated position, wherein said seat hinge assembly further includes a spring biasing said release from said full actuated position to said interlock position, and wherein said pin engages said unlatch detent when said release is in said full actuated position.

16. A seat for use with a vehicle having a striker, the seat being coupled to the vehicle for movement relative thereto between a deployed position and a stowed position, said seat comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seatback;

a seat hinge assembly having an upper hinge member coupled to the seatback and a lower hinge member coupled to the seat bottom, said seat hinge assembly further including a first latching mechanism operable in a latched mode to couple the lower hinge member to the striker and in an unlatched mode to allow movement of said lower hinge member relative to the striker, a second latching mechanism operable in a locked mode to secure said upper hinge member in a fixed position relative to said lower hinge member and in an unlocked mode to allow movement of said upper hinge member relative to said lower hinge member, and an interlock assembly operatively engaging said first and second latching mechanisms and operable in a disabling mode when said first latching mechanism is in said unlatched mode wherein said interlock assembly prevents movement of said second latching mechanism from said unlocked mode to said locked mode and in an enabling mode when said first latching mechanism is in said latched mode to allow movement of said second latching mechanism from said unlocked mode to said locked mode.

17. The seat of claim 16 wherein movement of said first latching mechanism into said unlatched mode causes movement of said interlock into its disabling mode.

18. The seat of claim 17 wherein movement of said first latching mechanism into said latched mode causes movement of said interlock into its said enabling mode.

19. The seat of claim 17 further including a release coupled to one of said upper and lower hinge members for movement between a non-actuated position, an intermediate actuated position, and an interlock position, said release coupled to said second latching mechanism to move said second latching mechanism into its locked mode when said release is moved to said non-actuated position and into said unlocked mode when said release is moved into said intermediate actuated position.

20. The seat of claim 19 wherein said release is coupled to said interlock to move said interlock between said enabling and disabling modes when said release is moved between said intermediate actuated position and said interlock position.

21. The seat of claim 20 wherein said interlock is coupled to said first latching mechanism to move said first latching mechanism between said latched and unlatched modes when said interlock is moved between said enabling and disabling modes.

22. The seat of claim 21 wherein said interlock includes a link assembly interconnecting said first and second latching mechanisms, said link assembly moving between an aligned position when said interlock is in said enabling mode and an offset position when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

23. The seat of claim 22 wherein said link assembly includes a pin coupled to said second latching mechanism for movement therewith along a travel path and a link having a slot defining a motion axis, said travel path being coaxial with said motion axis when said interlock is in said enabling mode, said travel path being out of alignment with said motion axis when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

24. The seat of claim 23 wherein when said interlock is in said enabling mode said pin moves coaxial with said motion axis along said travel path between a first position when said second latching mechanism is in said locked mode and a second position when said second latching mechanism is in said unlocked mode.

25. The seat of claim 24 wherein said link includes a detent offset from said motion axis, said pin engaging said detent to prevent movement of said second latching mechanism to said locked mode when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

26. The seat of claim 21 wherein said interlock includes a pin and a link, said link having a slot, an unlatch detent, and an interlock detent, said pin fixed to said second latching mechanism for movement therewith and engaging said interlock detent when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

27. The seat of claim 26 wherein said link further includes a second slot and a second pin slidably coupled to said second slot and fixed for movement with said first latching mechanism.

28. A seat of claim 26 wherein said release is coupled to one of said upper and lower hinge members for movement from said intermediate actuated position, past said interlock position, and into a full actuated position, wherein said seat hinge assembly further includes a spring biasing said release from said full actuated position to said interlock position, and wherein said pin engages said unlatch detent when said release is in said full actuated position.

29. A latch assembly comprising:

a first latching mechanism operable in a latched mode and in an unlatched mode;

a second latching mechanism operable in a locked mode and in an unlocked mode; and

an interlock operatively engaging said first and second latching mechanisms, said interlock being operable in a disabling mode when said first latching mechanism is in said unlatched mode wherein said interlock prevents movement of said second latching mechanism from said unlocked mode to said locked mode, and said interlock being operable in an enabling mode when said first latching mechanism is in said latched mode allowing movement of said second latching mechanism from said unlocked mode to said locked mode.

30. The latch assembly of claim 29 wherein movement of said first latching mechanism into said unlatched mode causes movement of said interlock into its disabling mode and wherein movement of said first latching mechanism into said latched mode causes movement of said interlock into its said enabling mode.

31. The latch assembly of claim 29 further including a release movable between a non-actuated position, an intermediate actuated position, and an interlock position, said release coupled to said second latching mechanism to move said second latching mechanism into its locked mode when said release is moved to said non-actuated position and into said unlocked mode when said release is moved into said intermediate actuated position.

32. The latch assembly of claim 31 wherein said release is coupled to said interlock to move said interlock between said enabling and disabling modes when said release is moved between said intermediate actuated position and said interlock position and wherein said interlock is coupled to said first latching mechanism to move said first latching mechanism between said latched and unlatched modes when said interlock is moved between said enabling and disabling modes.

33. The latch assembly of claim 32 wherein said interlock includes a link assembly interconnecting said first and second latching mechanisms, said link assembly moving between an aligned position when said interlock is in said enabling mode and an offset position when said interlock is in said disabling mode.

34. The latch assembly of claim 33 wherein said link assembly includes a pin coupled to said second latching mechanism for movement therewith along a travel path and a link having a slot defining a motion axis, said travel path being coaxial with said motion axis when said interlock is in said enabling mode, said travel path being out of alignment with said motion axis when said interlock is in said disabling mode.