Patent ID: 8544931

Claim:
A latch assembly for a vehicle seat, comprising: a base having a receiving pocket for accommodating a striker of a vehicle body; a catch rotatably coupled to the base to rotate between a locking position where the catch supports the striker accommodated in the receiving pocket and an unlocking position where the catch allows the striker to escape from the receiving pocket; a damping plate rotatably coupled to the base with the same rotating axis as the catch to elastically press the catch to rotate to the unlocking position and having a damping surface to elastically press and support the striker accommodated in the receiving pocket; a pawl plate rotatably coupled to the base and having a pressing surface to press the catch rotated to the locking position; and a pawl rotatably coupled to the base with the same rotating axis as the pawl plate and having a supporting surface to support the catch to prevent a further rotation of the catch when the catch at the locking position starts rotating by passing the pressing surface of the pawl plate due to an outer impact, wherein the catch has a catch pocket which, at the locking position of the catch, accommodates and supports the striker accommodated in the receiving pocket of the base, and the damping surface of the damping plate elastically presses and supports, at the locking position of the catch, the striker accommodated in the receiving pocket in a state that the damping surface protrudes into the catch pocket, wherein the damping plate has a damping pocket which, at the locking position of the catch, accommodates and supports the striker accommodated in the receiving pocket, and the damping pocket includes the damping surface as a part thereof.