P. L. Porter Co.

Porter Engineered Systems, Inc.

Kevin N Tribbett

Donald T Heckel, Jr

Jim Zhuang

Three mechanical locks are part of a mechanism for adjusting and dumping a vehicle seat. A master mechanical lock attaches to the seat back. When it is unlocked, depending on the condition of the other locks, one can adjust or dump the seat. A dumping mechanical lock also attaches to the seat back through an intermediary of a slave mechanical lock. When the dumping mechanical lock is unlocked, a connection to the master mechanical lock also opens that lock to allow the seat back to dump. When one unlocks just the master mechanical lock, a connection between that lock and the slave lock unlocks the slave lock. When that lock is unlocked, one can adjust the distance of dumping mechanical lock to the seat back. Because the slave lock remains locked during dumping, the distance between the dumping mechanical lock and the seat back remains constant after dumping. A latch mechanism keeps the dumping lock unlocked until the dumping lock returns to a predetermined position. A connection between the master and dumping locks keeps the master lock unlocked as long as the latch mechanism keeps the dumping lock unlocked.

Memory system for seat back recliner

The mechanical lock includes a rod having one end extending into a housing and another end extending out of the housing. The rod translate through bores through bushings within the housing. Coil springs in the housing and surround the rod. When the springs are in their normal orientation, they grip the rod tightly and prevent the rod from translating. The rod and bushings have complementary structure for preventing the rod from rotating within the bushings and housing. In the exemplary embodiment, the structure are flat surfaces along the rod and the bushing that mate with each other.

Mechanical seat lock with translating rod that does not rotate

A rack mounted within the housing of a mechanical lock translates. The rack, which has a rectangular cross-section, has teeth along one surface. A toothed pawl pivots housing between a locked and unlocked position. The teeth on the pawl engage the rack teeth when the pawl is locked. The pawl has a window that receives a cam. The cam has a first surface that engages a surface of the window when the cam is in the locked position. In that position, the cam prevents pawl movement teeth away from the teeth on the rack. A second surface of the cam pushes against a different surface of the window when the cam is in the unlocked position. In that position, the cam disengages the pawl teeth from the rack teeth. The window has a chamfered surface to move the pawl to its locked position.

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Noblesville, IN, United States of America

Kevin N Tribbett