Patent ID: 6328381
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A single control handle release mechanism for use with a vehicle seat hinge having a mounting plate securely attachable to a vehicle seat cushion, a sector plate pivotally mounted on said mounting plate for selective pivotal movement about a first lower pivot axis, and a rotational control plate pivotally mounted on said sector plate for selective pivotal movement about a second upper pivot axis and securely attachable to a vehicle seatback, wherein, when said vehicle seat hinge is installed in a vehicle seat, said vehicle seatback is pivotally movable with respect to said vehicle seat cushion about said first lower pivot axis between a plurality of angular positions and forwardly foldable with respect to said vehicle seat cushion about said second upper pivot axis between a design position and a forwardly dumped position, said single control handle release mechanism having:a primary latch means operatively interconnected between said mounting plate and said sector plate so as to be selectively movable between a latched configuration whereat said mounting plate and said sector plate are pivotally fixed with one with respect to the other, and an unlatched configuration whereat said mounting plate and said sector plate are free to pivot about said first lower pivot axis such that said vehicle seatback is pivotally movable, as aforesaid, between said plurality of angular positions;a secondary latch means operatively interconnected between said sector plate and said rotational control plate so as to be selectively movable between a latched configuration whereat said sector plate and said rotational control plate are pivotally fixed one with respect to the other, and an unlatched configuration whereat said sector plate and said rotational control plate are free to forwardly fold, as aforesaid, between said design position and said forwardly dumped position;a manually grippable handle means rotatably mounted on said seat cushion and operatively connected to said primary latch means, for movement from an initial position, corresponding to said latched configuration of said primary latch means and said latched configuration of said secondary latch means, to a first release position, at said first release position said manually grippable handle means effects said unlatched configuration of said primary latch means, thereby permitting pivotal folding, as aforesaid, of said vehicle seatback about said first lower pivot axis between said plurality of angular positions; wherein the improvement comprises:an elongate link arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said vehicle seat cushion and a second end operatively connected to said secondary latch means for movement of said secondary latch means from said latched configuration to said unlatched configuration upon relative movement of said link arm and said secondary latch means with respect to each other beyond a threshold position, thereby to release said vehicle seatback to be forwardly foldable over the vehicle seat cushion about said second upper pivot axis, as aforesaid, and wherein said first end of the link arm is pivotally mounted as aforesaid on the mounting plate and wherein said relative movement of said link arm and said secondary latch means with respect to each other occurs upon forwardly folded pivotal movement of said vehicle seatback about said first lower pivot axis following said movement of the handle means to said first released position.