LOCK MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE REAR SEAT

摘要

A conventional lock mechanism requires a lock-off operation in order to set a seat back of a seat at a design reference position, as a result of which, the seat can not ne smoothly mounted to a vehicle body. In the present invention, a first surface 22a1 and a second surface 22a2 of a latch 22 are each adapted to serve as a permitting guide surface which permits sliding passage of the latch from a front leg 30F of a striker, upon either of the first and second surfaces 22a1, 22a2 being forcibly contacted with the front leg 30F. A third surface 22a3 defined in the inward edge of a containing space 22c of the latch serves as a stopper adapted for non-sliding contact with the front leg of the striker to stop the latch, and further, the third surface 22a3 is arranged in the inward edge of the containing space at a point where the front leg of the striker is to contact the third surface, while the rear leg 30R of the striker is to be brought in alignment with the lock groove 22b upon contact of the front leg with the third surface. Since the second surface 22a2 is the permitting guide surface, the latch can be guided therealong when the second surface 22a2 is forcibly contacted with the front leg 30F, so that the second surface may slide on and past the front leg 30F. Therefore, by unfolding a seat back upwards continuously until the third surface 22a3 contacts the front leg, the seat back can be set to a design reference position.