Cam lock for vehicle seating
View Patent ↗A locking apparatus for a moveable component of an aircraft seat. The locking apparatus includes a housing for being slidably received in a track, a first pair of opposed cams pivotally mounted in the housing, and a release member. The cams are moved between a lock position where the cams prevent the housing from sliding within the track and a release position. The release member is selectively moveable between a first position where the cams are maintained in the lock position and a second position where the cams are maintained in the release position.
1. A locking apparatus, comprising:
(a) a housing for being slidably received in a track;
(b) a first pair of opposed cams pivotally mounted in the housing, the cams being moveable between a lock position and a release position, wherein the cams prevent the housing from sliding within the track when in the lock position;
(c) a second pair of opposed cams pivotally mounted in the housing; and
(d) a release member selectively moveable from a first position where at least the first pair of opposed cams are maintained in the lock position and a second position where at least the first pair of opposed cams are maintained in the release position.
2. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second pair of opposed cams has a pivot point that is offset from the center of the cam for creating a progressive lobe for each respective cam.
3. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first pair of opposed cams is connected to one of the second pair of opposed cams by a spring.
4. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first pair of opposed cams has a pivot point that is offset from the center of the cam for creating a progressive lobe for each respective cam.
5. A locking apparatus, comprising:
(a) a housing for being slidably received in a track;
(b) a pair of opposed cams pivotally mounted in the housing, the cams being moveable between a lock position and a release position, wherein the cams prevent the housing from sliding within the track when in the lock position;
(c) a release member selectively moveable from a first position where the pair of cams are maintained in the lock position and a second position where the pair of cams are maintained in the release position; and
(d) at least one roller carried by the housing for permitting the housing to slide within the track.
6. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first pair of opposed cams are mounted in a recess of the housing.
7. The locking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first pair of cams protrude from the housing when in the lock position to engage the track and thereby prevent the housing from sliding within the track.
8. A reclining seat, comprising:
(a) a track fixedly attached to a frame;
(b) a seat pan assembly mounted for sliding movement within the track; and
(c) a locking apparatus fixedly attached to the seat pan assembly, the locking apparatus comprising:
(i) a housing for being slidably received in the track;
(ii) a first pair of opposed cams pivotally mounted in the housing, the cams being moveable between a lock position and a release position, wherein the cams prevent the housing from sliding within the track when in the lock position; and
(iii) a release member selectively moveable from a first position where the cams are maintained in the lock position and a second position where the cams are maintained in the release position.
9. The reclining seat according to claim 8 , and further comprising a second pair of opposed cams pivotally mounted in the housing.
10. The reclining seat according to claim 9 , wherein each of the first pair of opposed cams and each of the second pair of opposed cams has a pivot point that is offset from the center of the cam for creating a progressive lobe for each respective cam.
11. The reclining seat according to claim 8 , wherein the seat pan assembly includes a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending rails connected by a plurality of cross-members.
12. The reclining seat according to claim 11 , wherein the locking apparatus is positioned on an outside surface of each of the respective rails at a rear end of each rail.
13. The reclining seat according to claim 11 , wherein each of the rails includes a roller for being received in the track.
14. The reclining seat according to claim 8 , and further including a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat pan assembly.
15. The reclining seat according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first pair of opposed cams has a pivot point that is offset from the center of the cam for creating a progressive lobe for each respective cam.
16. The reclining seat according to claim 8 , wherein at least one roller is carried by the housing.
17. The reclining seat according to claim 8 , wherein the first pair of cams are mounted in a recess of the housing.
18. The reclining seat according to claim 8 , wherein the first pair of cams protrude from the housing when in the lock position to engage the track and thereby prevent the housing from sliding within the track.