Patent ID: 6481799
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A seat comprising:a seatback; a seat bottom; an inertia sensitive hinge mechanism having a first hinge member coupled to a second hinge member for rotation about a pivot between a first position and a second position, said seatback and said seat bottom coupled to said first hinge member, said inertia sensitive hinge mechanism further including: a guide assembly coupled to said first and second hinge members and including a tab fixed for movement with one of said first and second hinge members, said tab having a first detent and a cam surface, said guide assembly further including a follower movable between a detent position and a cam position, said follower being in said detent position and engaging said first detent when said first member is in said first position, said follower being in said cam position when said first member is between said first and second positions; an inertial actuator operatively connected to and rotatable with respect to the other of said first and second hinge members between a blocking position and a retracted position, said inertial actuator including a center of rotation and a center of gravity spaced from said center of rotation; and wherein, when said first hinge member is in said first position and a predetermined deceleration force is present, said predetermined deceleration force places said inertial actuator in said blocking position to operatively engage said follower and prevent said follower from moving from said detent position to said cam position.