Abstract: The backrest of a seat is linked to the seat part by a pivot mechanism comprising two plates which can be joined by means of toothed bearing plates controlled by a cam. To allow the backrest of the seat to be folded down forwards and this backrest then returned to its initial position, the cam of the pivot mechanism co-operates with an outer indexing mechanism, which comprises a control lever joined to this cam by a mechanical link with a lost motion designed so that operation of the cam will not cause the operating lever to be displaced and so that when the operating lever is operated, the cam will be driven in displacement into its locked position.

Abstract: An articulation mechanism comprising a fixed cheek web, a rotational cheek web fitted with a circular tooth portion, two toothed inserts arranged at 120 degrees from each other, sliding relative to the fixed cheek web and adapted to engage with the circular tooth portion so as to lock the rotational cheek web, a cam to control the movement of the inserts, and a stop belonging to the fixed cheek web, arranged at 120 degrees from each of the inserts and acting as a support for the cam.

Abstract: A pivot mechanism comprising first and second frames linked so as to pivot, in which locking members may co-operate with teeth on one of the frames in order to lock the mechanism, and a central cam which is urged toward a rest position by a single spring, the spring being rolled in an indentation of the second frame.

Abstract: A pivot mechanism comprising first and second frames linked so as to pivot, in which locking members may co-operate with teeth on one of the frames in order to lock the mechanism, and at least one stop member which is joined to the second frame and which is arranged so that the locking member abuts at an angle against said stop member if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a pivot torque in a first direction of rotation whilst the locking member is in its locked position: if this torque exceeds a threshold value, the stop member is displaced towards the over-locking member and pushes it against the teeth of the frame in order to lock it.

Abstract: A pivot mechanism comprising first and second frames linked so as to pivot, in which locking members may co-operate with teeth on one of the frames in order to lock the mechanism, and at least one stop member which is joined to the second frame and which is arranged so that the locking member abuts at an angle against said stop member if the pivot mechanism is subjected to a pivot torque in a first direction of rotation whilst the locking member is in its locked position: if this torque exceeds a threshold value, the stop member is displaced towards the over-locking member and pushes it against the teeth of the frame in order to lock it.

Abstract: A seat whose back is connected to the seat proper by first and second side hinges, each comprising two cheek-plates that can be locked together by toothed slugs under the control of a cam. The first hinge includes a resilient ring having notches in which the corresponding slugs can engage. The two hinges are interconnected by a link mechanism having lost motion so that actuating the cam of the first hinge unlocks the slugs in both hinges and also causes the slugs in the first hinge to disengage from the notches in the resilient ring, while actuating the cam of the second hinge does no more than release the slugs in both hinges while leaving the slugs of the first hinge engaged in their respective notches.

Abstract: A vehicle seat adjustment system has at least two tracks and each track includes: a stationary female number, a male member slidably mounted in the female member, and a unitary locking device for removably securing the male member in the female member. The device has a first end secured to the female member, an intermediate flexible section, and a vertically displaceable second end section. The second end section has an L-shaped flange received within a slot formed in an upper surface of the female member. Cutouts are longitudinally formed along a bend in the flange and normally engage: a) longitudinally formed notches in an upper surface portion of the male member; and b) longitudinally formed notches in a flange return of the female member, the return underlying an outwardly extending flange of the male member. Vertical displacement of the locking device removes the cutouts from the engaged notches thereby allowing sliding movement of the male member within the female member.

Abstract: The hinge device for a vehicle seat comprises an intermediate plate carrying first and second cheek-plates, one designed to be fixed to the seat-back and the other to the seat proper. The first cheek-plate is connected to the intermediate plate via a mechanism enabling the inclination of the seat-back to be adjusted in substantially continuous manner. The second cheek-plate is connected to the intermediate plate via a locking mechanism controlled by the same handle as the mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the seat-back.

Abstract: A vehicle seat slideway has a male channel member whose two flanges are outwardly extended by flaps extending at an angle outwards and towards the web of the male channel member to a vertical end portion, and a female channel member having flanges extended by reentrant troughs penetrating between the flanges and the flaps of the male channel member. Same-diameter balls are disposed firstly between each flap and the corresponding reentrant trough, bearing against at least the vertical end portion of the flap and against a sloping flat portion which extends an initial horizontal portion of the reentrant trough, and secondly against the flap and a corner zone situated at the junction between the web and the corresponding flange of the female channel member.

Abstract: The slideway comprises first and second section members that are slidable relative to each other, together with a locking mechanism for locking the seat longitudinally, which mechanism comprises four resiliently flexible blades each including teeth suitable for co-operating, in a locking position, with notches formed in the second section member. The first section member has unlocking means suitable for acting simultaneously on all four blades, causing them to bend elastically so that the teeth of all of the blades are disengaged from the notches. The blades are disposed relative to each other in such a manner that in most positions of the first section member relative to the second section member, at least one of the blades meshes with the notches.

Abstract: Within a housing 4, the hinge includes a fixed cheek plate 1 and a moving cheek plate 2, one secured to the seat proper and the other secured to the seat back. Slugs 5 are mounted to move radially in grooves 7 of the stationary cheek plate and can hold the hinge in position by their outwardly directed sets of teeth 6 engaging in an inwardly directed set of teeth 3 of the moving cheek plate. The user can move the slugs by means of a lever and a central cam 8. The moving cheek plate 2 includes a set of notches 20 concentric with the set of teeth 3 and having a notch pitch that is equal to a multiple of the locking pitch of the set of teeth 3; at least one of the slugs 5 has a tooth 12 suitable for engaging in the set of notches 20 so as to enable the outwardly directed set of teeth 6 of the slug 5 to mesh in the inwardly directed set of teeth 3 of the second cheek plate 2, thereby obtaining a notch pitch that is considerably greater than the locking pitch.

Abstract: An articulation for a vehicle seat backrest, comprising a closed box formed of a seat part cheek and of a backrest cheek with internal toothing, the box containing followers which are toothed externally and can be shifted radially under the control of a rotary cam. Each follower comprises a first peg capable of interacting with a track of the backrest cheek in order to hold the follower in the unlocked position and a second peg capable of interacting with an opening of a plate connected to the cam in order positively to control the unlocking of the follower.

Abstract: A slide for a vehicle seat comprises a first bar having a narrow channel section with vertical flanges that are extended outwardly by rims, and a second bar having a wide upside-down channel section enveloping the first bar with the ends of the vertical flanges being extended inwardly by reentrant troughs, the two bars being shaped to form four ball tracks between them. Each outer vertical flange has an outwardly directed ridge, and each rim has an extension suitable for hooking against the inside face of a ridge when a vertical force is exerted tending to pull the two bars apart.

Abstract: A damping element is provided between bulges of the vertically upwardly extending end sections of the side portions of an upside down U-shaped upper profiled member and the side portions and legs of the upper and lower profiled members. The damping element is made of a deformable semi-flexible material and firmly maintains the upper and lower profiles with respect to one another both in a vertical direction and in a transverse direction.