GB2163810A

GB2163810A - Manual seat recliner with positive locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2163810A
Application number: GB08521301A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Hayden; Fred F Neumann
Original assignee: American Safety Equipment Corp
Current assignee: American Safety Equipment Corp
Priority date: 1984-08-28
Filing date: 1985-08-27
Publication date: 1986-03-05
Also published as: DE3530613A1; SE8503992L; FR2569629A1; IT8548494A0; JPS6171011A; CA1227409A; GB2163810B; MX164300B; GB8521301D0; IT1182841B; FR2569629B1; SE8503992D0

Abstract

An adjustable recliner mechanism for manually adjusting the forward and rearward position of an automobile seat back relative the seat base while a passenger is seated therein includes an adjustment arm 12 having an upper end connected to the seat back, a middle portion pivoted at 30 to a support frame of the seat base and a lower end having an arcuate cogged surface 34. A drive gear 38 with a knob 42 to allow manual rotation of the drive gear is mounted to the support frame. A transfer reduction gear is positioned between the drive gear and the arcuate cogged surface to reduce the torque required to pivot said adjustment arm a sufficient amount so that manual forward and rearward adjustment of the seat back can be accomplished even when a passenger is seated in the automobile seat and exerting a rearward pressure against the seat back. A clutch assembly is associated with the drive gear 38 for positively locking the seat back in place when the adjustment knob is not being turned. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Manual seat recliner with positive locking mechanism The present invention relates generally to automobile seats and the recliner mechanisms which provide forward and rearward adjustment of the seat back relative to the base of the vehicle seat.

More particularly, the present invention relates to recliner mechanisms which are adjusted manually by the seat occupant.

It is common practice to employ recliner mechanisms in automobiles for adjusting the inclination of the seat back relative the base of the vehicle seat. A variety of recliner mechanisms are available which utilize electric motors to drive the recliner mechanism. Although the motor driven recliner systems are well suited for their intended purpose, it is many times desirable to provide a less expensive manually operated recliner mechanism in order to reduce the overall cost of the automobile.

Manually operated recliner mechanisms generally include a hand-operated knob located near the seat base which is turned by the vehicle occupant to drive a suitable mechanism which, in turn, adjusts the inclination of the seat back. It is important in such manual recliner mechanisms that the amount of torque necessary to turn the knob be low enough so that the average passenger can adjust the seat back with a minimum amount of effort.

The amount of effort necessary to turn the adjustment knob in manual recliner mechanisms is relatively low when the seat is not occupied.

However, when a passenger is seated in the automobile seat and exerting pressure against the seat back, the amount of torque necessary to turn the adjustment knob to provide forward adjustment of the seat back is increased substantially. In such situations, it is difficult for the average passenger to manually rotate the adjustment knob to move the seat back forward without the passenger having to lean forward away from the seat back.

It is an object of the present invention to disclose and provide a manually adjustable seat back recliner mechanism for use in automobile seats which allows the passenger to manually adjust the seat back to various desired positions while the passenger is seated in the seat and regardless of whether or not the passenger is exerting back pressure against the seat back.

Some type of locking mechanism is generally included as part of the seat recliner mechanism in order to securely lock the position of the seat back once it has been adjusted to the desired position.

The locking mechanism may be part of the recliner mechanism or it may be an additional device which is operated to a seat locking mode after the seat back has been adjusted to the desired position.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose and provide a recliner mechanism which includes a simple, efficient and durable locking mechanism which provides positive locking ofthe seat back in the desired position of adjustment.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable recliner mechanism is provided for manually adjusting the forward and rearward position of an automobile seat back relative the seat base while a passenger is seated therein. The mechanism is easily operated by hand to adjust the seat back forward even though the passenger is seated in the seat and exerting a backward pressure against the seat back. Further, the design of the recliner mechanism in accordance with the present invention provides for positive locking of the seat back in the position desired by the occupant.

The present invention is based upon an adjustable recliner mechanism which includes an adjustment arm having an upper end connected to the seat back, a middle portion and a lower end having an arcuate cogged surface. The adjustment arm is pivotally mounted to a support frame which is attached to the base of the automobile seat. Manual drive means associated with the arcuate cogged surface on the adjustment arm is provided for pivoting the adjustment arm to provide adjustment of the seat back.

The manual drive means includes a drive gear which is rotatably mounted to the seat base and includes a knob associated therewith for manual rotation of the drive gear by the seat occupant.

Transfer gear means are positioned between the drive gear and the cogged surface on the adjustment arm to provide a gear reduction connection between the drive gear and the cogged surface so that the number of rotations of the drive gear necessary to pivot the adjustment arm is increased sufficiently by the transfer gear means to thereby reduce the torque required to rotate the drive gear to pivot the adjustment arm so that manual forward adjustment of the seat back can be accomplished by the passenger, even when the passenger is exerting rearward pressure against the seat back.

As another feature of the present invention; the recliner mechanism includes a positive locking feature to prevent movement of the seat back except upon manually operated adjustment of the mechanism. The locking feature is incorporated into the recliner mechanism and is operated automatically to a locking position when rotation of the recliner mechanism adjustment knob is ceased.

The locking mechanism is reactivated to an unlocked or disengaged position upon initial manual rotation of the recliner mechanism adjustment knob.

As a particular feature of the locking mechanism, adjustment lock means are provided for releasably connecting the drive geartothe supportframeto prevent rotation of the drive gear when the seat back is not being adjusted to thereby positively lock the seat back in place when the seat is not being adjusted. The adjustment lock means includes a clutch assembly which is operable to an engaged position to prevent rotation of the drive gear when manual rotation of the drive gear is ceased. The clutch assembly is further operable to a disengaged position to allow rotation of the drive gear when manual rotation of the drive gear is begun.

The recliner mechanism including the positive lock feature in accordance with the present invention provides an improved manual adjustment mechanism which is simple, inexpensive, durable, easily operated and additionally provides positive locking of the seat back in the desired seat back inclination. The present mechanism provides the advantage of allowing a passenger to adjust his or her seat forward with a minimal amount of effort even while leaning against the seat back and additionally provides the feature of positive locking of the seat back even during application of extreme forces to the seat back.

The above described and many other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view of an exemplary preferred recliner mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a more detailed partial sectional view of the recliner mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken in the Ill-Ill plane.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 taken in the IV-IV plane showing an exemplary preferred clutch asembly in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the spring element of the clutch assembly.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken in the V > VI plane.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Fig. 2taken in the VIl-VIl plane.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken in the VIlI-VIlI plane.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 taken in the IX-IX plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An exemplary preferred adjustable recliner mechanism in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 10 in Fig. 1. The recliner mechanism is designed for use in adjusting the seat back of an automobile seat relative the seat base (automobile seat not shown). The recliner mechanism 10 includes adjustment arm 12 which as best shown in Fig. 2 and 8 includes an upper end 14, a middle portion 16 and a lower end 18. The upper end of the adjustment arm 14 is securely connected to the seat back by way of bolts orfasteners 20. A support frame shown generally at 22 is attached to the seat base or the floor of the vehicle by way of mounting flange 24. The support frame 22 includes an inner plate 26 and outer plate 28.

Means for pivotally mounting the middle portion of the adjustment arm 16 to the support frame 22 is provided by bolt or pin 30. Bushing or bearing 32 is provided as is conventionally known to allow smooth pivoting of arm 12 about pin 30.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the adjustment arm 12 includes an arcuate cogged surface 34 having teeth 36 designed for meshing with the manual drive mechanism to pivot the adjustment arm 12 about pin 30, as will be described in detail below. The cogged surface 34 is an arcuate portion of the circle which has as its center pin 30.

The manual drive means in accordance with the present invention for pivoting the adjustment arm 12 about pin 30 to adjust the forward and rearward position of the seat back is shown generally at 36 in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. The manual drive means includes a drive gear 38 which is mounted to the inner and outer plates 26 and 28 of support frame 22 by way of rod 40. The rod 40 is rotatably mounted to plates 26 and 28 by suitable bearings or bushings. A manually rotatable knob 42 is secured to rod 40 by way of bolt 44. Cover 46 is snap-fit over bolt 44 to reduce the possibility of injury to the occupant when the knob 42 is manually turned to rotate drive gear 38.A cover plate 48 is also provided as a housing surrounding the support frame 22 and manual drive means 36 to protect the occupant from the gear mechanism and to prevent jamming of the gear drive by debris and other items which may fall into the mechanism.

Transfer gear means such as reduction gear 50 is positioned between the drive gear 38 and cogged surface 34 on the adjustment arm 12. Reduction gear 50 provides a gear reduction connection between the drive gear 38 and the cogged surface 34, so that the number of rotations of the drive gear 38 necessary to pivot the adjustment arm 12 is increased sufficiently by the reduction gear 50 to reduce the torque required to rotate knob 42 so that the adjustment arm 12 may be pivoted to provide forward and rearward adjustment of the seat back, even when the passenger is seated in the seat and exerting a rearward pressure against the seat back.

The reduction gear 50 includes a large gear wheel 52 having a cogged perimeter 54 and a small gear wheel 56 having a cogged perimeter 58. The two gear wheels 52 and 56 are coaxially mounted on rod 60 for common rotation only. Rod 60 is rotatably mounted to plates 26 and 28 by suitable bushings or bearings. The reduction gear 50 is positioned between drive gear 38 and cogged surface 34 so that the cogged perimeter on large gear wheel 52 meshes with drive gear 38 and the cogged perimeter on small gear wheel 56 meshes with the cogged surface 34. The teeth on the various cogged perimeters and cogged surfaces are chosen to be of suitable size so that driving engagement is possible between the teeth along the cogged surfaces.

Preferably, the perimeter of the circle defined by the arcuate cogged surface 34 is from 15 to 25 times larger than the perimeter of drive gear 38. More preferably, the perimeter of the circle defined by the arcuate cogged surface 34 is approximately 20 times larger than the perimeter of the drive gear 38.

Preferably, the large gear wheel 52 has a perimeter which is from 3--10 times largerthanthe perimeter ofthe small gear wheel 56 to provide the desired gear reduction between drive gear 38 and cogged surface 34. Particularly preferred is a large gear wheel 52 having a perimeter which is approximately 4 times larger than the perimeter of the small gear wheel 56.

Preferably, adjustment limitation means such as pin 62 and slot 64 are provided for positively limiting the forward and rearward pivoting of adjustment arm 12. The slot 64 includes a front-end 66 and rearend 68. The pin 62 is securely mounted to plate 28 and extends perpendicularly through slot 64 so that abutment of pin 62 against the front end 66 of the slot positively limits the rearward adjustment of the seat back while abutment of pin 62 against the rearend 68 of the slot positively limits forward adjustment of the seat back.

Adjustment lock means such as the clutch assembly shown generally at 100 in Fig. 3 is provided for reieasably connecting the drive gear 38 to the supportframe 22 to prevent rotation of the drive gear 38 when the seat back is not being adjusted. The clutch assembly 100 provides positive locking of the seat back in place when the seat back is not being adjusted.

The clutch assembly 100 includes a housing 102 which is securely attached to support plate 28 by way of rivet or bolt 104 or other suitable connector.

The housing includes an inner surface 106 which defines a clutch engagement surface. The clutch assembly 100 further includes a clutch spring attachment member 108 which is connected to the drive gear 38 by way of shaft 40. Both drive gear 38 and clutch spring attachment member 108 may be press fit or otherwise securely fastened to rod or shaft 40 in order to provide common rotation only. A collar 110 along with spring washer 112 are provided for positioning driver gear 38 and clutch spring attachment member 108 at the desired location within the recliner mechanism.

The clutch assembly 100 also includes a clutch spring 114 which is a coiled spring as best shown in Fig. 5 that has a clutch surface 116 which is movable into engagement with the clutch engagement surface 106 on housing 102. The clutch spring 114 includes a rod shaped element 118 which is coiled to provide a clutch spring having a first end 120 and a second end 122. The hook-shaped spring ends 120 and 122 provide means for connecting the clutch spring 114 to the clutch spring attachment member 108 so that clutch surface 116 is moved out of engagement with the housing 102 when the shaft 40 is rotated. When rotation of shaft 40 is stopped, the clutch spring re-expands outward so that clutch surface 116 engages housing 102 to thereby provide positive locking between the drive gear 38 and support frame 22.

The clutch spring attachment member 108 includes opening 124 into which spring ends 120 and 122 are inserted. Referring to Fig. 4, as attachment member 108 is rotated clockwise, the spring end 120 is also moved clockwise to tighten the coil of the spring 114 and thereby move clutch surface 116 away from its engaged position with housing 102. When the attachment member 108 is rotated counterclockwise, spring end 122 is also rotated counterclockwise to again coil spring 114 more tightly and thereby move clutch surface 116 away from its engaged position with housing 102.

When rotation of engagement member 108 is stopped, the clutch spring 114 re-expands to its original coiled position in which clutch surface 116 is biased outward against the housing in orderto provide positive locking engagement between the drive gear 38 and support frame 22.

The support frame 22 is preferably bolted to or otherwise securely attached to the seat base shown in phantom in Fig. 2 at 76 by way of bolts 78 or other suitable means. The housing or cover plate 48 is preferably secured to the support frame 22 by way of machine screw 80. The knob 42 preferably includes an undulating surface 82 as best shown in Fig. 2 in order to enhance gripping of the knob to provide easy rotation of the knob 42 and drive gear 38.

Claims

1. An adjustable recliner mechanism for manually adjusting and locking in place the forward and rearward position of an automobile seat back relative the seat base while a passenger is seated therein comprising: an adjustment arm having an upper end connected to said seat back, a middle portion and a lower end having an arcuate cogged surface; a support frame attached to the seat base; means for pivotally mounting the middle portion of said adjustment arm to said support frame; manual drive means associated with said arcuate cogged surface on said adjustment arm for pivoting said adjustment arm to provide adjustment of said seat back, said drive means including:: a drive gear rotatably mounted to said seat base and having associated therewith a knob for manual rotation of said drive gear; transfer gear means positioned between said drive gear and said cogged surface on said adjustment arm for providing a gear reduction connection between said drive gear and said cogged surface, wherein the number of rotations of said drive gear necessary to pivot said adjustment arm are increased sufficiently by said transfer gear means to thereby reduce the torque required to rotate said drive gear to pivot said adjustment arm to provide manual forward and rearward adjustment of said seat back when said passenger is seated in said seat and exerting a rearward pressure against said seat back; and adjustment lock means for releasably connecting said drive gearto said support frame to prevent rotation of said drive gear when said seat back is not being adjusted to thereby lock said seat back in place when said seat back is not being adjusted.

2. An adjustable recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment lock means includes a clutch assembly which is operable to an engaged position to prevent rotation of said drive gear when manual rotation of said drive gear is ceased and which is operable to a disengaged position to allow rotation of said drive gear when manual rotation of said drive gear is begun.

3. An adjustable recliner mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said clutch assembly includes a spring clutch which is engaged and disengaged by manual rotation of said drive gear.

4. An adjustable recliner mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said clutch assembly includes: a housing securely attached to said support frame, said housing having an inner surface defining a clutch engagement surface; a clutch spring attachment member connected to said drive gear for common rotation only of said drive gear and clutch spring attachment member; a clutch spring having a clutch surface which is movable into engagement with said clutch engagement surface on said housing; and means for connecting said clutch spring to said clutch spring attachment member to operably move said clutch spring out of engagement with said housing when said drive gear is manually rotated and to return said clutch spring into engagement with said housing when manual rotation of said drive gear is stopped to thereby provide a positive locking engagement between said drive gear and said housing.

5. An adjustable recliner according to claim 4 wherein said clutch spring includes a rod shaped spring element having a first end and a second end, said spring element being coiled to form a cylinder having an outer surface defining said clutch surface with said spring element ends protruding radially from the cylinder defined by said coiled spring element for connection to said clutch spring attachment member wherein the diameter of said cylinder is decreased to move said clutch surface away from the housing to disengage said clutch spring when said drive gear is rotated.

6. An adjustable recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said transfer gear means includes a gear reduction assembly comprising; a large gearwheel having a cogged perimeter; means for rotatable mounting of said small gear wheel to said support frame at a position to provide driving engagement of said drive gear with the cogged perimeter of the large gear wheel; a small gear wheel having a cogged perimeter; means for rotatable mounting of said small gear wheel for common rotation only with said large gear wheel, said small gearwheel being positioned to mesh with the arcuate cogged surface on said adjustment arm to provide pivoting of said adjustment arm when said small gear wheel is rotated.

7. An adjustable recliner according to claim 6 wherein said large gearwheel and said small gear wheel are mounted coaxially.

8. An adjustable reciiner mechanism according to claim 1 further including adjustment limitation means for providing positive limitation of the forward and rearward adjustment of said seat back.

9. An adjustable recliner mechanism according to claim 8 wherein said adjustment limitation means includes a surface in said adjustment arm defining a slot having a front end and a rear end; and a pin mounted to said support frame and extending perpendicularly through said slot wherein positive limitation of the forward and rearward adjustment of said seat back is provided by abutment of said pin against the front end or rear end of said slot.

10. An adjustable recliner according top claim 6 wherein said arcuate cogged surface is defined by a circle having a perimeter which is from 15 to 20 times larger than the perimeter of said drive gear.

11. An adjustable recliner mechanism according to claim 6 wherein said large gear wheel has a perimeter which is from 3 to 10 times larger than the perimeter of said small gearwheel.

12. An adjustable recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said support frame includes an inner plate and an outer plate having a space therebetween wherein said adjustment arm, drive gear and transfer gear means are located in said space.

13. An adjustable recliner mechanism for manually adjusting the forward and rearward position of an automobile seat back relative the seat base while a passenger is seated therein, the mechanism comprising an adjustment arm having an upper end connected to the seat back, a middle portion and a lower end having an arcuate cogged surface, the middle portion of the adjustment arm being pivotally mounted to a support frame secured to the seat base, manual adjustment means including a drive gear to allow manual adjustment of the seat back, a transfer gear position between the drive gear and the arcuate cogged surface to reduce the torque required to rotate the drive gear to pivot said adjustment arm a sufficient amount so that manual forward and rearward adjustment of the seat back can be accomplished even when a passenger is seated in the automobile seat and exerting a rearward pressure against the seat back, and a clutch assembly for positively locking the seat back in place when the manual adjustment means is not being turned.

14. An adjustable recliner mechanism substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.