Patent ID: 6112370
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B60N,Y10T

Abstract:
A hinge for a seat, in particular for an automobile vehicle, comprising:at least one connecting flange (24, 26) adapted to be fixed to a seat cushion (A) or squab (D) and one support-flange (38) that can be attached to the cushion and/or to the squab, said connecting and support flanges (24, 26, 38) being mounted to rotate relative to each other about a hinge axis (X) that is substantially perpendicular to them; andat least one lever (34a-34d), for coupling the connecting and support flanges together, having a first end (36A) mounted to pivot on the support-flange (38) about a pivot axis substantially parallel to the hinge axis (X) so that the coupling lever (34a-34d) can pivot between a position, in which a second end (36B) of the lever is attached to the connecting flange (24, 26) by virtue of cooperation of complementary shapes (42a-42d) 44a, 44b, 48), and a position in which said second end (36B) is released,said hinge further comprising means (100-104) for immobilising the second end (36B) of the lever in the attached position activated only when the flanges (24, 26, 38) are coupled together and are subjected to a torque tending to uncouple them accidentally;wherein the immobilising means comprise: two complementary immobilising ramps (100, 102) respectively carried by the support-flange (38) and by the second end (36B) of the coupling lever, the ramps (100, 102) being separated when the coupling lever is in the attached position; and a weakened area (104) of the support-flange (38) adapted to deform when the flanges (24, 26, 38) are subjected to the accidental torque to enable movement of the coupling lever (34a-34d) relative to the support-flange (38) until the immobilising ramps (100, 102) come into contact and cooperate to immobilise the second end (36B) of the coupling lever in the position attached to the connecting flange (24, 26);wherein the pivot axis of the coupling lever (34a-34d) is defined by a pivot (P) carried by the first end (36A) of said lever pivoting in a pivot slot (L) in the support-flange (38), and wherein the weakened area includes a portion (104) of the support-flange extending between the pivot slot (L) and a weakening slot (106) in the support flange (38) near the pivot slot (L) and between the pivot slot (L) and the immobilising ramp (100) carried by the support-flange (38).