Patent ID: 8186759

Claim:
A locking device for a vehicle seat, for releasably locking two components which may be moved relative to one another, the locking device comprising: a first locking element movably mounted on the first component for pivoting about a first bearing pin; a second locking element associated with the second component and, in a locked state of the locking device, interacting with the first locking element, said second locking element engaging said first locking element in said locked state, at least a portion of said first locking element being located at a spaced location from said second locking element in an unlocked state; a safety including at least one safety element pivotably mounted on a second bearing pin for movement about a center of said second bearing pin relative to the first locking element, said safety securing the locked state of the locking device; at least one spring acting upon the safety element, at a point with a force pretensioning the safety element against the first locking element or against a stop with a line of application of the force moving and approaching the center with an opening direction of movement of the safety element in the unlocked state, with a distance of the line to the center depending on the angular position of the safety element, said safety element comprising a control contour portion, said at least one spring comprising a spring arm, said control contour portion moving along said spring arm with said at least one safety element moving from one position to another position in an opening direction of movement in the unlocked state of the locking device, said spring arm being at a first distance from said center of said second bearing pin with said at least one safety element in said one position, said spring arm being located at a second distance from said center of said second bearing pin with said at least one safety element in said another position, said second distance being greater than said first distance, said at least one spring exerting a first torque on said at least one safety element with said at least one safety element in said one position, said at least one spring exerting a second torque on said at least one safety element with said safety element in said another position, said first torque being greater than said second torque.