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:
Nov. 05, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 21, 2000
NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, JP;
Abstract
An emergency locking scat hinge device includes an inner and outer members defining a plurality of chambers therebetween, each having a relatively wide central part and end parts which get progressively narrower circumferentially away from the central part, a rolling member received in each of the chambers, a resiliently supported retaining member which retains each of the rolling members in the side central part of the corresponding chamber, and an acceleration sensitive locking device which actuates the retaining member so as to cause the rolling members to wedge between the inner and outer members. Because this seat hinge device permits free rotation under normal condition but prevents the relative rotation in a high acceleration situation, it can effectively increase the mechanical strength and rigidity of a seat back against tilting particularly when it is used on one side of a vehicle seat while a normal recliner hinge device is used on the other side of the vehicle seat.