U.S. patent application number 10/426311 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for vehicle seat latch assembly having molded cinch member.
Invention is credited to LaVoie, Scott.
Application Number | 20040217618 10/426311 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33309836 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040217618 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LaVoie, Scott |
November 4, 2004 |
VEHICLE SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY HAVING MOLDED CINCH MEMBER
Abstract
A vehicle seat latch assembly including a structural latch
member having a first engagement surface that is adapted to
secondarily engage a striker. A deformable latch member is attached
to the structural latch member and has a second engagement surface
that extends beyond the first engagement surface for primary
engagement with the striker. The second engagement surface has a
greater offset angle derived from a pivot point than the offset
angle of the first engagement surface derived from the pivot
point.
Inventors: |
LaVoie, Scott; (RedOak,
IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Clark Hill PLC
Suite 3500
500 Woodward Avenue
Detroit
MI
48226-3435
US
|
Family ID: |
33309836 |
Appl. No.: |
10/426311 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/65.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/01583 20130101;
Y10S 292/73 20130101; B60N 2205/20 20130101; B60N 2/01541
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/065.03 |
International
Class: |
B60N 002/02 |
Claims
1. A vehicle seat latch assembly comprising: a structural latch
member having a first engagement surface adapted for secondary
engagement with a striker; a deformable latch member attached to
the structural latch member, the deformable latch member having a
second engagement surface extending beyond the first engagement
surface for primary engagement of the striker; the second
engagement surface having a greater offset angle derived from a
pivot point than an offset angle of the first engagement surface
derived from the pivot point.
2. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 1 wherein the
structural latch member comprises a hook shaped body having a shank
portion terminating in a curved portion.
3. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 2 wherein the shank
portion includes a slot formed therethrough for pivotally engaging
a seat frame.
4. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 2 wherein the first
engagement surface is formed on an upper edge bounded by opposing
side surfaces of the curved portion.
5. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 2 wherein the
deformable latch member is attached to at least one opposing side
surface of the curved portion.
6. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 5 wherein the
deformable latch member is attached to both opposing side
surfaces.
7. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 5 wherein the
deformable latch member comprises a planar body attached to the
curved portion and extending upward beyond the first engagement
surface wherein the second engagement surface is defined by a
terminal edge of the planar body.
8. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 6 wherein the
deformable latch member comprises a pair of planar bodies attached
to the curved portion on the opposing side surfaces and extending
upward beyond the first engagement surface wherein the second
engagement surface is defined by terminal edges of the planar
bodies.
9. A vehicle seat latch assembly comprising: a striker; a
structural latch member having a first engagement surface for
secondary engagement with the striker; a deformable latch member
attached to the structural latch member, the deformable latch
member having a second engagement surface extending beyond the
first engagement surface for primary engagement with the striker in
a first position and maintaining the first engagement surface of
the structural latch member spaced from the striker in the first
position; the deformable latch member collapsing in response to a
force to a second position wherein the structural latch member
engages the striker and provides secondary engagement between the
first engagement surface and the striker.
10. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 9 wherein the
structural latch member comprises a hook shaped body having a shank
portion terminating in a curved portion.
11. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 10 wherein the shank
portion includes a slot formed therethrough for pivotally engaging
a seat frame.
12. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 10 wherein the first
engagement surface is formed on an upper edge bounded by opposing
side surfaces of the curved portion.
13. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 10 wherein the
deformable latch member is attached to at least one opposing side
surface of the curved portion.
14. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 13 wherein the
deformable latch member is attached to both opposing side
surfaces.
15. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 13 wherein the
deformable latch member comprises a planar body attached to the
curved portion and extending upward beyond the first engagement
surface wherein the second engagement surface is defined by a
terminal edge of the planar body.
16. The vehicle seat latch assembly of claim 14 wherein the
deformable latch member comprises a pair of planar bodies attached
to the curved portion on the opposing side surfaces and extending
upward beyond the first engagement surface wherein the second
engagement surface is defined by terminal edges of the planar
bodies.
17. A vehicle seat latch assembly comprising: a structural latch
member comprising a hook shaped body having a shank portion
terminating in a curved portion; a striker; a deformable latch
member attached to the structural latch member and engaging the
striker in a first position; the deformable latch member collapsing
in response to a force to a second position wherein the structural
latch member engages the striker.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Vehicle seat latch assemblies, and more particularly to
vehicle seat latch assemblies having a molded cinch member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known in the art that motor vehicles often incorporate
seat assemblies that are capable of pivoting to increase the amount
of cargo space available in the vehicle. Typically, known prior art
seat assemblies include a frame assembly that is adapted to be
pivotally mounted to the floor of the vehicle to support a seat
assembly. The seat frame assembly generally includes support
structure including side support arms front and back supports and a
seat back support spacing apart the side support arms. The seat
frame assembly also includes two seat back legs and two stationary
seat front legs. Latch assemblies typically associated with the two
seat back legs are used to attach to floor strikers permanently
attached to the floor of the vehicle. The seat back legs are
adapted to be rotatably attached to the seat back end on each side
of the side support arms. The stationary front legs are pivotally
mounted to the front end of each of the side support arms allowing
the seat frame assembly to pivot about the stationary front legs
relative to the vehicle floor.
[0003] Typical assemblies include multiple latch mechanisms
associated with each side of a seat assembly. Generally, a
structural latch and an anti-rattle latch are each utilized for
each seat back leg. The multiple latch assemblies provide a secure
cinching of the seat assembly to a floor striker, as well as
prevents rattle of the seat assembly due to vibrations of the
vehicle. The multiple latches increase the overall cost of a seat
assembly, as well as increase the manufacturing costs of a
vehicle.
[0004] There is therefore a need in the art for a latch mechanism
that utilizes only one latch to structurally cinch the seat
assembly to a floor of a vehicle, as well as to provide anti-rattle
characteristics.
[0005] There is also a need in the art for a vehicle seat latch
assembly that cinches or attaches to strikers in the vehicle floor,
does not rattle and is easily unlatched by a user using a minimal
amount of force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The vehicle seat latch assembly of the present invention
solves the deficiencies and needs of the prior art by providing a
vehicle seat latch assembly including a structural latch member
having a first engagement surface that is adapted for secondary
engagement with a striker. A deformable latch member is attached to
the structural latch member. The deformable latch member has a
second engagement surface that extends beyond the first engagement
surface for primary engagement with the striker. The second
engagement surface has a greater offset angle derived from a pivot
point than an offset angle of the first engagement surface derived
from the pivot point.
[0007] The deformable latch member is attached to the structural
latch member and engages the striker in a first position. The
deformable latch member collapses in response to a force exerted on
the vehicle latch assembly to a second position wherein the
structural latch member engages a striker.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features of the invention will appear from
the following description and from the drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of the vehicle
seat latch assembly of the present invention incorporated into a
seat frame assembly;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the seat latch
assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structural latch
member of the vehicle seat latch assembly;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention detailing the structural latch member having a deformable
latch member attached to both sides of the structural latch
member;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the structural latch member
and deformable latch member shown in FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view detailing a first embodiment of
a structural latch member having a deformable latch member attached
to one side of the structural latch member;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the structural latch member
and deformable latch member shown in FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a seat cushion frame assembly is
generally shown at 10. The seat cushion frame assembly 10 is
adapted to be pivotally mounted to the floor of the vehicle for
supporting the seat cushion frame assembly 10 and occupant within
the vehicle. The seat cushion frame assembly 10 includes two side
support arms 12, having a seat front end 13 and a seat back end 15,
and a seat back support 14 attached between the seat back ends 15
of the side support arms 12, thereby connecting and spacing apart
the side support arms 12. The seat cushion frame assembly 10
further includes two seat back legs 16, two stationary front legs
18, latch assemblies 20, and floor strikers 22. A seat cushion
frame assembly 10 is adapted to attach to the vehicle floor by the
two seat back legs 16 and the two seat front legs 18. The seat back
legs 16 are adapted to be rotatably attached to the seat back end
15 of each of the side support arms 12. The two stationary seat
front legs 18 are pivotally mounted to the front end 13 of each of
the two side support arms 12 allowing the seat cushion frame
assembly 10 to pivot about the stationary seat legs 18 relative to
the vehicle floor. The floor strikers 22 are adapted to be mounted
to the floor of the vehicle and engage the latch assemblies 20 as
will be discussed in more detail below.
[0017] The latch assemblies 20 include a structural steel latch
member 30 and a deformable latch member 40, both of which are
operatively attached to the seat back legs 16.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a structural latch
member 30 that has a first engagement surface 35 that is adapted
for secondary engagement with the striker 22. In a preferred
aspect, the structural latch member 30 comprises a hook shaped body
40 having a shank portion 45 terminating in a curved portion 50.
The shank portion 45 includes a slot 47 formed there through for
pivotally engaging the seat frame 10; thereby defining the pivot
point 44 of the vehicle latch assembly 20. The first engagement
surface 35 is formed on an upper edge 37 of the curved portion 50
and is bounded by opposing side surfaces 39 of the structural latch
member 30.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a first
embodiment of the vehicle seat latch assembly 20 of the present
invention. The vehicle seat latch assembly 20 includes a structural
latch member 30, as previously described with reference to FIG. 3
and a deformable latch member 55 attached to the structural latch
member 30. The deformable latch member 55 has a second engagement
surface 60 extending beyond the first engagement surface 35 of the
structural latch member 30 for primary engagement with a striker
22, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The second engagement surface 60
has a greater offset angle derived from a pivot point 44 than an
offset angle of the first engagement surface 35 derived from the
pivot point 44. The offset angle, as the term is utilized in the
specification refers to the angle formed between the center line of
the arc 65 comprising the first or second engagement surfaces and
the center line of the pivot 44 defined by the slot 47 referenced
above. Therefore, the angle between the center line of the arc 65
comprising the second engagement surface formed 60 on the
deformable latch member 55 has a greater angle than the angle
formed by the center line of the arc 70 comprising the first
engagement surface 35 both with reference to the center line of the
pivot point 44. The relationship of the second engagement surface
60 having a greater offset angle than the first engagement surface
35 allows for a person to more easily release the latch mechanism
due to the increased angle when the striker 22 interfaces with the
second engagement surface 60 for the primary engagement of the
vehicle seat latch assembly 20. In a preferred aspect of the
present invention, the second engagement surface 60 has an offset
angle ranging from 6.0 to 8.5 degrees, preferably with a 7.5 degree
offset angle, while the first engagement surface 35 preferably has
an offset angle in the range from 0 to 3 degrees preferably with a
3 degree offset angle.
[0020] The deformable latch member 55 preferably comprises a planar
body 75 attached to the curve portion 50 of the structural latch
member 30 and extending upward beyond the first engagement surface
35 wherein the second engagement surface 60 is defined by a
terminal edge 80 of the planar body 75.
[0021] In a preferred aspect of the present invention the
deformable latch member 55 comprises a resilient flexible plastic
and particularly preferred is Hytrel.TM. sold by Dupont Chemical
Corporation.
[0022] In use, the deformable latch member 55 that is attached to
the structural latch member 30 engages the striker 22 in a first
position. This position allows for the easy manipulation of the
latch assembly 20 or disengagement of the latch mechanism 20 by a
person due to the increased offset angle of the second engagement
surface 60 of the deformable latch member 55 engaging the striker
22 in its first position. The deformable latch member 55 collapses
in response to a force to move to a second position wherein the
deformable latch member 55 moves away from the striker 22 to allow
engagement of the structural latch member 35 with the striker 22.
The smaller offset angle of the first engagement surface 35 of the
structural latch member 30 prevents the backing away of the
structural latch member 30 from the striker 22 when an increased
force or load is applied to the seat. In this manner, the vehicle
seat latch assembly 20 incorporating the deformable latch member 55
and the structural latch member 30 provides both an anti-rattle
function due to the primary engagement of the striker 22 with the
plastic material of the second engagement surface 60; thereby
dampening vibrations or rattles. The vehicle seat latch assembly 20
further provides a latch mechanism that is easily manipulated by a
user, but remains securely cinched to a striker 22 when an
increased force is applied to the seat, due to the lower offset
angle 22 of the first engagement surface 35 of the structural latch
member 30.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a second
embodiment of the vehicle seat latch assembly 20 of the present
invention. The latch assembly 20 is similar in structure to the
first embodiment, outlined above with the exception that the
deformable latch member 35 comprises a pair 85 of planar bodies
attached to the curved portion 50 of the structural latch member 30
on opposing side surfaces of the structural latch member and
extend, as previously discussed, on the planar bodies 75 upward
beyond the first engagement surface 35 wherein the second
engagement surface 55 is defined by the terminal edges 80 of both
of the planar bodies 75. In all other respects, the second
embodiment is similar to that of the previously described first
embodiment.
[0024] While preferred embodiments are disclosed, a worker in this
art would understand that various modifications would come within
the scope of the invention. Thus, the following claims should be
studied to determine the scope and content of the invention.
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