Two-position, high-mount latch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9493097-B2
Application number	US-201514751346-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jul 10, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A latch mechanism that selectively receives a striker is provided. The latch mechanism includes a housing having a channel and a locking mechanism having a claw rotatably supported by the housing and movable between a first locked state and a second locked state. The claw locks the striker at a first location along a length of the channel in the first locked state and locks the striker at a second location along a length of the channel different than the first location in the second locked state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A latch mechanism that selectively receives a striker, the latch mechanism comprising:
a housing having a channel; and
a locking mechanism including a claw rotatably supported by the housing and movable between a first locked state and a second locked state, the claw locking the striker at a first location along a length of the channel in the first locked state and locking the striker at a second location along a length of the channel different than the first location in the second locked state,
wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and engaging the claw in the first locked state to restrict rotation of the claw relative to the housing,
wherein the locking mechanism includes a tolerance-absorbing cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and including a slot receiving a pin of the lock cam.

2. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the claw is in a first rotational position in the first locked state and a second rotational position in the second locked state.

3. The latch mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a first stop cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and selectively restricting movement of the striker from the first location along the length of the channel to the second location along the length of the channel.

4. The latch mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the lock cam includes a locking projection that engages a first locking recess in the claw in the first locked state and engages a second locking recess in the claw in the second locked state.

5. The latch mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a second cam stop mounted for rotation relative to the housing and engaging the first cam stop in the first locked state to restrict rotation of the first cam stop relative to the housing.

6. The latch mechanism of claim 5 , further comprising a release lever mounted for rotation relative to the housing and engaging the tolerance-absorbing cam such that rotation of the release lever causes corresponding rotation of the tolerance-absorbing cam, wherein rotation of the tolerance-absorbing cam causes rotation of the lock cam.

7. The latch mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the claw and the first cam stop are rotatable about a first pivot, wherein the lock cam and the tolerance-absorbing cam are rotatable about a second pivot that is spaced apart from the first pivot, and wherein the second cam stop is rotatable about a third pivot that is spaced apart from the first and second pivots.

8. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the claw includes a claw channel in which the striker is received in the first locked state, and wherein the striker is outside of the claw channel in the second locked state.

9. A seat assembly comprising:
a seat bottom;
a seatback that is rotatable relative to the seat bottom among a fold-flat position, a first upright position and a second upright position; and
a latch mechanism mounted to an upper portion of the seatback and receiving a striker in the first and second upright positions, the latch mechanism including a housing and a locking mechanism, the housing including a channel, the locking mechanism including a claw rotatably supported by the housing and movable between a first locked state and a second locked state, the claw locking the striker at a first location along a length of the channel in the first locked state and locking the striker at a second location along a length of the channel different than the first location in the second locked state,
wherein the seatback is locked in the first upright position when the locking mechanism is in the first locked state, and the seatback is locked in the second upright position when the locking mechanism is in the second locked state,
wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and engaging the claw in the first locked state to restrict rotation of the claw relative to the housing,
wherein the lock cam includes a locking projection that engages a first locking recess in the claw in the first locked state and engages a second locking recess in the claw in the second locked state.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the claw is in a first rotational position in the first locked state and a second rotational position in the second locked state.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a first stop cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and selectively restricting movement of the striker from the first location along the length of the channel to the second location along the length of the channel.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a tolerance-absorbing cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and including a slot receiving a pin of the lock cam.

13. The seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a second cam stop mounted for rotation relative to the housing and engaging the first cam stop in the first locked state to restrict rotation of the first cam stop relative to the housing.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a release lever mounted for rotation relative to the housing and engaging the tolerance-absorbing cam such that rotation of the release lever causes corresponding rotation of the tolerance-absorbing cam, wherein rotation of the tolerance-absorbing cam causes rotation of the lock cam.

15. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the claw and the first cam stop are rotatable about a first pivot, wherein the lock cam and the tolerance-absorbing cam are rotatable about a second pivot that is spaced apart from the first pivot, and wherein the second cam stop is rotatable about a third pivot that is spaced apart from the first and second pivots.

16. The seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the claw includes a claw channel in which the striker is received in the first locked state, and wherein the striker is outside of the claw channel in the second locked state.

17. A latch mechanism that selectively receives a striker, the latch mechanism comprising:
a housing having a channel; and
a locking mechanism including a claw rotatably supported by the housing and movable between a first locked state and a second locked state, the claw locking the striker at a first location along a length of the channel in the first locked state and locking the striker at a second location along a length of the channel different than the first location in the second locked state,
wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and engaging the claw in the first locked state to restrict rotation of the claw relative to the housing,
wherein the lock cam includes a locking projection that engages a first locking recess in the claw in the first locked state and engages a second locking recess in the claw in the second locked state.

18. The latch mechanism of claim 17 , wherein the claw is in a first rotational position in the first locked state and a second rotational position in the second locked state, wherein the locking mechanism includes a first stop cam mounted for rotation relative to the housing and selectively restricting movement of the striker from the first location along the length of the channel to the second location along the length of the channel.

19. The latch mechanism of claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a second cam stop mounted for rotation relative to t

Assignees

• Fisher & Co Inc

Inventors

• Pejathaya Srinivas

Classifications

• B60N2/3011 Primary

  the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement" · CPC title

• B60N2/2245 Primary

  provided with a lock mechanism on the upper part of the back-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/366

  characterised by the locking device · CPC title