Patent ID: 7044552

Claim:
A locking mechanism that is for a vehicle seat, and for interacting with a mating element, the locking mechanism comprising: a pivotably mounted pawl for locking to the mating element in a locked state of the locking mechanism, and for being unlocked with respect to the mating element in an opened state of the locking mechanism, with the pawl including a first functional surface and a second functional surface; and at least one securing element operatively associated with the pawl for (a) interacting with the first functional surface of the pawl while the locking mechanism is in the locked state, to exert a force on the pawl and thereby at least partially secure the locking mechanism in the locked state, and (b) interacting with the second functional surface of the pawl while the locking mechanism is in the opened state, to exert an opening moment on the pawl and thereby at least partially secure the locking mechanism in the opened state, wherein the at least one securing element comprises a spring-loaded clamping eccentric and an intercepting component, the clamping eccentric includes a clamping surface, the clamping surface acts on the first functional surface of the pawl while the locking mechanism is in the locked state, to exert the force on the pawl and thereby at least partially secure the locking mechanism in the locked state, the intercepting component includes an intercepting surface, and the intercepting component is operative so that, in response to a crash having predetermined characteristics, the intercepting surface supports the pawl by way of the pawl's first functional surface to secure the locking mechanism in the locked state.