The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 03, 1976
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1975
Alfonsas Arlauskas, Troy, MI (US);
Richard D Loose, Birmingham, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An inertia seat back lock includes first and second pivotally interconnected members respectively secured to a seat back and seat cushion to pivot the back to the cushion for forward tilting movement. The first member includes a pair of detent shoulders spaced circumferentially of each other relative to the seat back pivot to define respective first and second locked positions of the seat back. The first member has a first limit shoulder engageable with a stop on the second member to define the forward limit position of normal tilting movement of the seat back. An inertia member pivoted to the second member engages a stop on the second member under gravity bias to positively locate a latch shoulder thereof in a normal inoperative position out of the path of movement of the detent shoulders during normal tilting movement of the seat back. The center of gravity of the inertia member is below the pivot thereof. Inertia forces applied to the seat cushion are transferred to the inertia member to swing the inertia member to an operative position in the path of movement of the detent shoulders for engagement by one shoulder to lock the seat back in a respective locked position against tilting movement. The line of force between the engaged shoulders is normal to a line between the engaged shoulders and seat back pivot to bias the inertia member further toward the operative position and maintain the shoulders in engagement. A second limit shoulder of the first member engages the inertia member pivot to locate the seat back in upright position. A manually operable push button may be provided to swing the inertia member from the operative position to the inoperative position prior to full cessation of the inertia forces.