Patent ID: 7152926

Claim:
A locking device for a vehicle seat, with the locking device comprising: locking elements that are cooperative for (a) interacting with one another to lock the locking device, and (b) at least one of the locking elements being moved away from another of the locking elements to unlock the locking device; at least one securing element that is mounted for being moved at least between a first position and a second position, wherein the securing element moves away from the at least one of the locking elements while the securing element is moved from the first position to the second position, and the securing element is operative for (a) restricting the at least one of the locking elements from being moved away from the another of the locking elements, to thereby restrict unlocking of the locking device, while the at least one securing element is in the first position, and (b) allowing the at least one of the locking elements to be moved away from the another of the locking elements, to thereby enable unlocking of the locking device, while the at least one securing element is in the second position; and a blocking element that is operative for restricting movement of the securing element from the second position to the first position so long as the at least one of the locking elements has not been moved away from the another of the locking elements.