Seat shell with integrally formed latch handle holder and fore-aft position adjustment assembly
View Patent ↗A fore-aft adjustable vehicle seat formed of a plastic seat shell having an integrally formed latch handle recess molded into the shell that pivotally receives and retains a latch having a handle at one end and that is disposed in pivotal engagement with the shell at its opposite end. The latch is provided by an elongate bar that is spring biased outwardly into a slide plate engaging position that opposes fore-aft seat movement. A preferred latch handle recess includes a recessed latch seating channel integrally molded into the shell in communication with a latch receiver pocket integrally molded into the shell in which one end of the latch bar is pivotally received with engagement between the latch bar and shell defining a pivot about which the latch is biased by a coil spring outwardly toward a seat position adjustment opposing position where the latch bar releasably engages the slide plate.
1. A seat shell and latch assembly comprising: (a) a seat shell having a latch-receiver pocket formed therein; (b) a manually operated position adjustment latch in operable cooperation with the seat shell, the latch comprised of a latch bar having one end received in the latch-receiver pocket pivotally engaging the seat shell with the pivotal engagement between the one end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket and the seat shell defining a pivot about which the latch bar is movable toward a position adjustment opposing position, wherein the seat shell further comprises an opening formed therein that is disposed in the latch-receiver pocket and wherein a portion of the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket is received in the opening in the latch-receiver pocket.
2. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 1 wherein the one end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket is offset from the rest of the latch bar.
3. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a slide in operable communication with the seat shell and latch bar that is releasably engaged by the latch bar preventing position adjustment when the latch bar is urged outwardly toward the position adjustment opposing position.
4. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 3 wherein the latch is spring biased outwardly away from the seat shell toward the position adjustment opposing position.
5. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 4 further comprising a spring disposed between the seat shell and the latch bar that spring biases the latch bar outwardly away from the seat shell toward the position adjustment opposing position.
6. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 5 wherein the spring comprises a coil spring.
7. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 3 wherein the slide comprises a slide plate underlying a bottom of the seat shell with the latch bar disposed between the seat shell bottom and the slide plate and wherein engagement of the latch bar with the slide plate prevents fore-aft position adjustment.
8. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat shell has a bottom with a recessed latch bar seating channel formed therein disposed adjacent the latch-receiver pocket formed in the seat shell bottom and wherein the latch bar has a portion seated in the latch bar seating channel with the one end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket and having an opposite end extending outwardly from the seat shell that is manually graspable by a seat occupant.
9. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 8 wherein the latch-receiver pocket is recessed deeper into the seat shell bottom than the latch bar seating channel.
10. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 9 wherein the latch bar is three dimensionally contoured to substantially conform to the contour of the latch bar seating channel and the latch-receiver pocket when part of the latch bar is seated in the latch bar seating channel and the one end of the latch bar is received in the latch-receiver pocket.
11. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 8 wherein a position of the seat shell is adjustable in a fore-aft direction and wherein the latch bar seating channel is generally transverse to the fore-aft direction of position adjustment.
12. A seat shell and latch assembly comprising:
(a) a seat shell having a latch-receiver pocket and a latch bar seating channel formed therein;
(b) a manually operated position adjustment latch in operable cooperation with the seat shell, the latch comprising an elongate latch bar having one end pivotally received in the latch-receiver pocket enabling pivotable movement of the latch bar relative to the seat shell; and
wherein pivotal movement of the latch bar relative to the seat shell is caused by engagement between the latch bar and the seat shell when the one end of the latch bar is received in the latch-receiver pocket;
wherein the latch bar seating channel extends outwardly from adjacent the latch-receiver pocket and receives a portion of the latch bar spaced from the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket; and
wherein the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket is bent offsetting the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket from the portion of the latch bar received in the latch bar seating channel.
13. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 12 further comprising a coil spring disposed between the latch bar and seat shell.
14. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 12 wherein the seat shell has an opening formed in the latch-receiver pocket receiving part of the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket producing pivotal engagement between the latch bar and the seat shell.
15. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 14 wherein the latch bar has an intermediate portion extending between opposite latch bar ends with the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket having a first bend providing a first offset and the portion of the end of the latch bar received in the opening in the latch bar receiving pocket having a second bend providing a second offset.
16. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 15 wherein the latch bar seating channel formed in the seat shell extends outwardly from the latch receiver pocket, and wherein the intermediate portion of the latch bar is seated in the latch bar seating channel when the latch bar is pivotally engaged with the seat shell.
17. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 14 wherein the seat shell is comprised of plastic, wherein the latch-receiver pocket is integrally formed in a bottom of the seat shell, and wherein the opening comprises a slot disposed in the latch receiver pocket that extends completely through the seat shell.
18. A seat shell and latch assembly comprising:
(a) an elongate seat position adjustment latch bar having a pair of opposite ends with one of the ends comprising a handle and the other one of the ends having a pair of oppositely outwardly extending latch bar retainer ears;
(b) a seat shell having a bottom with a latch-receiver pocket integrally formed in the seat shell bottom that pivotally receives the end of the latch bar opposite the handle with the latch-receiver pocket having a pair of latch ear receiving recesses that each receive a corresponding one of the latch bar retainer ears when the end of the latch bar opposite the handle is received in the latch-receiver pocket retaining the end of the latch bar opposite the handle in the latch-receiver pocket.
19. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 18 further comprising a coil spring captured between the latch bar and the seat shell bottom urging the latch bar pivotally outwardly toward a seat position adjustment opposing position.
20. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 19 further comprising a seat slide underlying the seat shell bottom and the latch bar that prevents fore-aft seat position adjustment when the latch bar is urged pivotally outwardly by the coil spring toward the seat position adjustment opposing position into engagement with the slide plate.
21. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 20 wherein the seat shell bottom has a latch bar seating channel integrally formed in the seat shell bottom in which a portion of the latch bar seats and which is adjacent the latch receiver pocket and wherein the coil spring is disposed in the latch bar seating channel between the latch bar and the seat shell.
22. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 21 wherein the latch bar seating channel extends generally transversely relative to the direction of fore-aft position adjustment.
23. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 18 wherein the seat shell bottom has an opening integrally formed in the seat shell bottom that is disposed in the latch-receiver pocket which receives a portion of the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket that extends outwardly from the end of the latch bar generally in a lengthwise direction relative to the latch bar.
24. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 23 wherein the portion extending outwardly from the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket in a lengthwise direction relative to the latch bar comprises a tongue that is narrower than the end of the latch bar and wherein the opening integrally formed in the seat shell bottom that is disposed in the latch-receiver pocket comprises a slot in which the tongue is received.
25. A seat shell and latch assembly comprising:
(a) a seat position adjustment latch comprised of an elongate latch bar having a pair of opposite ends with one of the ends comprising a handle;
(b) a seat shell having a bottom with a latch-receiver pocket integrally formed in the seat shell bottom having an opening formed in the latch-receiver pocket that pivotally receives at least a portion of the end of the latch bar opposite the handle with engagement between the end of the latch bar received in the latch-receiver pocket and the seat shell enabling pivotable movement of the latch bar toward a seat position adjustment opposing position;
(c) a spring disposed between the seat shell bottom and the latch bar urging the latch bar outwardly away from the seat shell bottom toward the seat position adjustment opposing position; and
(d) a slide plate underlying the seat shell bottom and at least part of the latch bar that opposes seat position adjustment when the latch bar is urged by the spring toward the seat position opposing position into engagement with the slide plate.
26. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 25 wherein the opening formed in the latch-receiver pocket comprises a slot integrally formed in the seat shell bottom that captures at least a portion of a tongue extending outwardly from the one end of the latch bar that is pivotally received in the latch-receiver pocket.
27. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 25 wherein the end of the latch bar that is received in the latch-receiver pocket comprises a pair of latch bar retainer ears extending oppositely outwardly generally transverse to a lengthwise direction of the latch bar and wherein the latch-receiver pocket comprises a pair of spaced apart latch ear receiving recesses that each receive a corresponding one of the latch bar retainer ears when the end of the latch bar is pivotally received in the latch-receiver pocket.
28. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 27 wherein the latch-receiver pocket comprises an opening integrally formed in the seat shell bottom that captures at least a portion of the one end of the latch bar that is pivotally received in the latch-receiver pocket.
29. The seat shell and latch assembly of claim 28 wherein the opening comprises a slot and the portion of the one end of the latch bar pivotally received in the latch-receiver pocket comprises a tongue.
30. A seat shell and latch assembly comprising:
(a) a seat position adjustment latch comprising an elongate latch bar having a pair of ends with one of the ends comprising a handle and the other one of the ends opposite the handle comprising an offset portion extending outwardly generally in a lengthwise direction and a pair of latch retainer ears that extend outwardly generally in opposite directions from one another;
(b) a plastic seat shell having a bottom integrally formed to retain and pivotally engage the end of the latch bar opposite the handle, the seat shell having a latch-receiver pocket integrally formed in the bottom to receive the offset portion and the pair of latch retainer ears when the end of the latch bar opposite the handle is received in the latch-receiver pocket;
(c) a coil spring disposed between the latch bar and the seat shell bottom urging the latch bar away from the seat shell bottom into a seat position adjustment opposing position; and
(d) a slide plate underlying the seat shell bottom and at least part of the latch bar that prevents seat position adjustment when the latch bar is urged away from the seat shell bottom by the coil spring toward the seat position adjustment opposing position into engagement with the slide plate.
31. A seat shell and latch assembly comprising:
(a) a fore-aft movable plastic seat shell having a bottom comprising a latch bar seating channel formed in the seat shell bottom, the latch bar seating channel comprising a latch receiver pocket formed in the seat shell bottom having a slot formed therein;
(b) a latch comprised of an elongate latch bar seated in the latch bar seating channel having one end received in the latch receiver pocket with at least a portion of the one end received in the slot producing pivotal engagement with the seat shell bottom and an opposite end extending outwardly from the seat shell comprising a manually graspable handle;
(c) a coil spring disposed in the latch bar seating channel between the seat shell bottom and the latch bar pivotally urging the latch bar away from the seat shell bottom; and
(d) a slide plate underlying the seat shell bottom and at least part of the latch bar that prevents fore-aft seat position adjustment when the latch bar is pivotally urged outwardly away from the seat shell bottom by the coil spring into engagement with the slide plate.