Patent ID: 6454354
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A locking mechanism for a vehicle seat, comprising:an upper member; a lower member including a guideway having a bearing surface engaging the upper member so that the upper member is supported by the lower member and the upper and lower members are relatively rotatable about a central axis; two symmetrically arranged locking elements positioned between the upper member and the lower member and movable in opposite directions within the guideway radially away from the central axis so that the locking elements engage both the lower member and the upper member to restrict rotation of the upper member relative to the lower member; a cam plate for rotating about the central axis, wherein the locking elements are driven radially away from the central axis by the cam plate in response to rotation of the cam plate about the central axis, wherein the locking elements engage both the lower member and the upper member to restrict rotation of the upper member relative to the lower member while the locking elements are driven radially away from the central axis by the cam plate; and a control disk for rotating about the central axis, wherein the locking elements are drawn radially toward the central axis by the control disk in response to rotation of the control disk about the central axis.