Patent ID: 6644746
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A latch assembly adapted for use with a vehicle seat and forming a part of a reclining mechanism, the seat including a seat bottom and a pivotally engaged seat back, said latch assembly comprising:a pair of inner and outer support plates forming a part of the seat bottom and adapted to be secured to at least one of first and second sides of the seat bottom; the seat back including an upwardly extending arm hingedly connected between said pair of support plates, said arm being pivotally associated relative to said support plates, said arm further including a latch gear at a lower end thereof, an exterior facing surface of said latch gear being defined, in part, by a first plurality of teeth; a first cam pivotally secured between said support plates at a first location and which is in operative engagement with a rotatable handle; a second cam pivotally secured between said support plates at a second location and which is in pivotal engagement with said first cam, said first and second cams being configured so that, upon rotation of said first cam, said second cam rotates in an opposite direction; a pawl secured in combined pivotal and translational fashion between said support plates at a third location, a solid pin extending between substantially peanut shaped apertures defined in said plates and engaging said pawl, said peanut shaped apertures in said plates each further comprising a first substantially circular shaped section and a second substantially circular shaped section communicating with said first circular section by a narrowed boundary disposed therebetween, said second circular section being substantially smaller in dimension than said first circular section, said pawl being engageable by said second cam in normal operation and including a second plurality of teeth arrayed in opposing fashion to said first plurality of teeth of said latch gear, said pawl further including an extending end configuration; a wedge block fixedly secured between said support plates at a fourth location, said wedge block including at least one shoulder support surface; and responsive to a determined inertial load, said pawl shifting relative to said solid pin and so that said solid pin radially shifts across said narrowed boundary to said second circular section, said extending end configuration engages upon said at least one shoulder support surface and said second plurality of teeth of said pawl are forcibly engaged against said first plurality of teeth of said latch gear.