Articulating locking mechanism for a seatback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10259365-B2
Application number	US-201615215205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2016
Priority date	Jul 20, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

An articulating locking mechanism includes a support bracket with an upwardly opening receiving slot having an open top portion and closed bottom portion. A spring member is coupled to the support bracket at a mounting portion and includes a ramp portion disposed adjacent to the receiving slot. A pivot member includes a pivot bushing and a rotating mounting shaft extending outwardly from the pivot bushing. The pivot bushing is received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, and is retained by the ramp portion of the spring member when the pivot bushing is fully seated in the receiving slot of the support bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An articulating locking mechanism, comprising:
a support bracket having an upwardly opening receiving slot with an open top portion and closed bottom portion;
a spring member having a mounting portion and a ramp portion extending downwardly from the mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion of the spring member is fixedly coupled to the support bracket, and further wherein the ramp portion of the spring member is disposed adjacent to the receiving slot; and
a pivot member having a pivot bushing and a rotating mounting shaft extending outwardly from the pivot bushing, wherein the pivot bushing is received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, and further wherein an outermost portion of the pivot member is configured to engage and deflect the ramp portion of the spring member from an at-rest position to a loaded position as the pivot member is received in the receiving slot, wherein the pivot bushing is retained in the receiving slot by a lower edge of the ramp portion of the spring member when the pivot bushing is fully seated in the receiving slot.

2. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the pivot bushing includes an outer sleeve having first and second shoulder members spaced-apart from one another to define an inset channel therebetween.

3. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the upwardly opening receiving slot includes a rim portion that is received in the inset channel when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot.

4. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the first shoulder member is disposed on an inner surface of the support bracket when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot, and further wherein the second shoulder member is disposed on an outer surface of the support bracket when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot.

5. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the second shoulder member includes an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is engaged by a lower edge of the ramp portion of the spring member when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot to positively retain the pivot member in the receiving slot.

6. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 5 , including:
a bumper disposed on the support bracket below the closed bottom portion of the upwardly opening receiving slot, wherein the bumper is a flexibly resilient member.

7. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the lower surface of the second shoulder member engages an upper contact surface of the bumper when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot.

8. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the bumper imparts an upward force on the pivot bushing when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot.

9. An articulating locking mechanism, comprising:
a support bracket including an anchor portion configured to couple to a vehicle frame and a riser portion extending upwardly from the anchor portion and having a body portion with inner and outer surfaces, a mounting tab, and a receiving slot, wherein the mounting tab extends outwardly from the body portion;
a spring member having a mounting portion coupled to the mounting tab of the support bracket, wherein the spring member includes a deflectable ramp portion disposed adjacent to the receiving slot, and further wherein the deflectable ramp portion extends inwardly at an angle from the mounting portion towards the receiving slot in an at-rest position; and
a pivot member having a pivot bushing received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, wherein the pivot bushing is retained by the ramp portion of the spring member as received in the receiving slot, wherein the pivot member is configured to be vertically received in the receiving slot, and further wherein an outermost portion of the pivot member is configured to engage and deflect the deflectable ramp portion from the at-rest position to a loaded position as the pivot member is received in the receiving slot.

10. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the deflectable ramp portion of the spring member is biased to move from the loaded position to the at-rest position when the outermost portion of the pivot member clears a lower edge of the spring member.

11. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the outermost portion of the pivot member is engaged by the lower edge of the deflectable ramp portion of the spring member when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot to positively retain the pivot member in the receiving slot.

12. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 11 , including:
a bumper disposed on the support bracket, wherein the bumper is a flexibly resilient member configured to impart an outward force on the pivot bushing when the pivot member is fully seated in the receiving slot.

13. An articulating locking mechanism, comprising:
a support bracket having an outwardly opening receiving slot with an open top portion and closed bottom portion;
a spring member having a mounting portion and a ramp portion extending downwardly from the mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion of the spring member is fixedly coupled to the support bracket, and further wherein ramp portion of the spring member is operable between at-rest and loaded positions adjacent to the receiving slot; and
a pivot member having a pivot bushing and a rotating mounting shaft extending outwardly from the pivot bushing, wherein the pivot bushing is received in the receiving slot of the support bracket, and further wherein the pivot bushing is retained by the ramp portion of the spring member when fully seated in the receiving slot.

14. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 13 , wherein an outermost portion of the pivot member is configured to engage and deflect the ramp portion of the spring member from the at-rest position to the loaded position as the pivot member is received in the receiving slot.

15. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 1 , including:
a bumper disposed on the support bracket, wherein the bumper is a flexibly resilient member configured to impart an outward force on the pivot bushing when the pivot member is received in the receiving slot.

16. The articulating locking mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the ramp portion of the spring member is disposed at an angle directed towards the receiving slot in the at-rest position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Warju Ii Bryan D
• Caye Mark
• Kennedy Peter
• Kryzaniwskyj Michael
• Ayyash Khaled
• Kormos Kurt

Classifications

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title

• B60N2/682 Primary

  Joining means · CPC title

• F16B2/241

  of sheet metal · CPC title

• F16C27/02

  Sliding-contact bearings · CPC title

• Y10T403/32336

  Engaging notch or recess in outer periphery of component · CPC title