Patent ID: 6554361
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A hinge mechanism for a vehicle seat for interconnecting two elements forming parts of the seat and mounted to pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis, said hinge mechanism comprising:first and second cheek plates for securing respectively to the two seat elements, said cheek plates being mounted to pivot relative to each other about said pivot axis, the second cheek plate being permanently secured to a set of teeth extending over at least an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation a plurality of locking slugs each provided with a set of teeth suitable for co-operating with the teeth of the second cheek plate, each locking slug being movable relative to the first cheek plate between firstly an engagement position in which the teeth of the locking slug co-operate with the teeth of the second cheek plate to lock the hinge mechanism, and secondly a retracted position in which the locking slug does not co-operate with said teeth of the second cheek plate; and a cam mounted to pivot about the pivot axis and urged resiliently towards a rest angular position, said cam presenting a peripheral edge cut out in such a manner as to bear against the locking slugs, placing said locking slugs in their engagement position when the cam is in its rest position, and the cam being movable by a user into an actuation angular position in which said cam enables the locking slugs to move towards their retracted positions, and disengagement means adapted to place the locking slugs in their retracted positions when the cam is in its actuation position, wherein there are two locking slugs, and said locking mechanism further comprises at least two abutment zones which are fixed relative to the first cheek plate and which face substantially radially towards the central pivot axis and towards the two locking slugs respectively, the peripheral edge of the cam being shaped so as to bear radially against said abutment zones when the cam is in its rest position, the two locking slugs being placed on one side of a diametral line intersecting the pivot axis, and the two abutment zones being placed on the opposite side of said diametral line.