Patent ID: 8430455

Claim:
A device for maintaining a seat hinge in an unlocked position, comprising: a seat side member attached to a seat cushion of a seat; a fitting attached to a backrest of the seat; a locking mechanism fixed to the seat side member and the fitting and including radial sprags and a toothed ring, the radial sprags and the toothed ring being configured in a locked position to prevent the fitting from rotating with respect to the seat side member; a hinge pin configured to be maneuvered via a handle to a first position to unlock the locking mechanism by separating the radial sprags from the toothed ring such that the fitting is rotatable with respect to the seat side member; and a cam connected to the seat side member, a profile of the cam is configured to move a rotation member connected to the hinge pin from a rest position to force rotation of the hinge pin to the first position when the backrest is positioned forward of a first inclination angle to separate the radial sprags from the toothed ring such that the fitting is rotatable with respect to the seat side member to a range of inclination angles greater than the first inclination angle, and the profile of the cam is configured to stop acting on the rotation member so that the rotation member returns to the rest position to maneuver the hinge pin to a second position when the backrest is positioned forward of a second inclination angle greater than the first inclination angle such that the radial sprags and the toothed ring are returned to the locked position to prevent the fitting from rotating with respect to the seat side member.