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:
Dec. 25, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 14, 1999
Gregor Vossmann, Vreden, DE;
Keiper GmbH & Co., Kaiserlautern, DE;
Abstract
A locking mechanism has a lower member secured to a seat base, and an upper member that can rotate relative to the lower member and is secured to a seat back. A control element is capable of being rotated with a bar. A spring biases the control element toward a first configuration in which the control element drives a locking element radially away from the bar so that the locking element restricts rotation of the upper member relative to the lower member. The bar is capable of being rotated to a second configuration, and the control element rotates with the bar so that the locking element is capable of traveling radially toward the bar during the second configuration. A drive mechanism rotates with the bar and drives the locking element radially toward the bar during the second configuration, so that rotation of the upper member relative to the lower member is allowed. A transmission element is positioned between the control element and the bar. The transmission element has a first flange proximate the outer side of the upper member and a second flange proximate the outer side of the lower member, and the flanges restrict movement of the upper and lower members away from one another so that the transmission element functions as an axial safety device.