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:
Oct. 24, 1995
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1994
John F Whalen, Macomb, MI (US);
Fisher Dynamics Corporation, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
Abstract
An inertia-sensitive seat hinge mechanism allows rotation of a seatback relative to a seat bottom under normal use conditions and yet prevents such rotation in response to deceleration forces exceeding a predetermined threshold level. The seat hinge mechanism includes a lower hinge member connected to the seat bottom and an upper hinge member connected to the seatback and an inertia-sensitive latch assembly. The inertia-sensitive latch assembly includes a component carried by the upper member which defines first and second stop surfaces. The first stop surface limits rotation of the upper hinge member in one direction. An inertial actuator is rotatable with respect to the upper hinge member and includes an engaging finger for engaging the second stop surface when the upper hinge member attempts to rotate in an opposite direction due to exertion of the predetermined deceleration forces thereon. The inertial actuator also includes a projection located adjacent a center of rotation. Moreover, the inertial actuator has a center of gravity spaced from the center of rotation. A release lever engages the projection to rotate the inertial actuator into a normal position against the component when the upper hinge member is fully rotated against the first stop surface. A biasing device, located on the component, biases the release lever to release the projection when the upper hinge member is rotated in the opposite direction and allows the inertial actuator to rotate by gravity if the predetermined deceleration forces are not present.