Unlocked-state retention device and seat assembly having the same

摘要

An unlocked-state retention device is adapted for use in a seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a base frame and a seat body, which is mounted removably on the base frame through a locking unit to lock or unlock the seat body relative to the base frame such that the seat body is placed in a locked state or an unlocked state. The unlocked-state retention device includes a pusher adapted to be disposed movably in one of the base frame and the seat body, and includes a push member to retract ably project from the one of the base frame and the seat body and to push the other one of the base frame and the seat body when the seat body is unlocked relative to the base frame.

主权项

1. A seat assembly comprising:
a base frame; a seat body removably mounted on said base frame; a locking unit that releasably interlocks said base frame and said seat body when said seat body is mounted on said base frame, said locking unit being operable
to lock said seat body relative to said base frame so that said seat body is placed in a locked state, where said seat body is irremovable from said base frame, orto unlock said seat body relative to said base frame so that said seat body is placed in an unlocked state, where said seat body is removable from said base frame; and an unlocked-state retention device that separates said seat body from said base frame and thereby prevents said seat body from moving to the locked state when said seat body is in the unlocked state, wherein: said locking unit has
a socket formed in an upper surface of said base frame,a column body that projects downwardly from a bottom surface of said seat body and extends into said socket when said seat body is disposed on said upper surface of said base frame, andtongue that is mounted slidably in said base frame and operable to move between a projecting position where a distal portion of said ton ue projects into said socket, and a retracted position where said distal portion of said tongue is retracted from said socket, and said column body has a locking groove that is engaged with said tongue to place said seat body in the locked state when said distal portion of said tongue is at the projecting position, wherein said unlocked-state retention device includes a pusher that is disposed movably in said seat body and includes a push member to retractably project from said bottom surface of said seat body and to push said upper surface of said base frame when said seat body is in the unlocked state, wherein said pusher further includes a first resilient member disposed between said push member and said seat body to urge said push member when said seat body is in the unlocked state, said push member being retracted into said seat body when said seat body is in the locked state, and wherein: said push member is disposed in proximity to said column body; said column body further has a column bottom surface that is opposite to said bottom surface of said seat body, and a column side surface that extends from said column bottom surface to said bottom surface of said seat body and that is formed with said locking groove; said column body further has a restricting groove that is indented from said column side surface; and said push member extends partially into said restricting groove such that said push member is restricted from projecting from said bottom surface of said seat body beyond a limited distance.