GB2278772A

GB2278772A - Lever actuated seat recliner

Info

Publication number: GB2278772A
Application number: GB9311957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Paul Hyde; Shaun Geldard
Original assignee: Adwest Johnson Controls Ltd
Current assignee: AJC Johnson Controls Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-10
Filing date: 1993-06-10
Publication date: 1994-12-14
Also published as: GB9311957D0

Abstract

A seat reclining mechanism comprising a longitudinally moveable actuating rod 23 slidably mounted on a support 18, arresting means 30, 31 mounted on the support for locking the actuating rod against longitudinal movement, drive means 50 mounted on the support for moving the actuating rod in one or other longitudinal direction and operating means 61 operably connected to both the arresting and drive means, the operating means when activated causing the drive means to drive the rod in one longitudinal direction and causing the arresting means to release the rod to enable movement in said direction. The arresting means comprises a pair of apertured plates 30, 31 through which the rod 23 passes. When these are inclined in opposite directions they grip the rod. The drive means is also an apertured plate 51 which grips and moves the rod when caused to tilt by the pins 58. The rod 23 is connected to the base of the seat back 14, which is pivoted at 16. <IMAGE>

Description

LEVER ACTUATED SEAT RECLINER The present invention relates to a seat reclining mechanism.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat reclining mechanism comprising a longitudinally moveable actuating rod slidably mounted on a support, arresting means mounted on the support for locking the actuating rod against longitudinal movement, drive means mounted on the support for moving the actuating rod in one or other longitudinal direction and operating means operably connected to both the arresting and drive means, the operating means when activated causing the drive means to drive the rod in one longitudinal direction and causing the arresting means to release the rod to enable movement in said direction.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a reclining seat having a seat cushion frame pivotally connected to a seat squab frame via a pivotal connector and a seat reclining mechanism as defined above connected between said frames for causing relative movement of the frames about the pivotal connection.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic side view of a seat reclining mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The mechanism 10 includes a base plate 12 which in use is secured to the seat cushion frame (not shown). The seat cushion frame is secured to a seat squab from 14 via a pivotal connection 16.

A support plate 18 is pivotally mounted on the base plate 12 via a pivotal connection 19.

The support plate 18 has mounted thereon guide member 22 through which an actuating rod 23 extends. The guide members 22 include aligned apertures (not shown) through which the rod 23 passes to thereby enable the rod 23 to move longitudinally in a guided manner relative to the support plate 18.

Longitudinal movement of the rod 23 is prevented by arresting means 28 mounted on the support plate 18.

The arresting means comprises a pair of inclined gripper plates 30, 31 each having an opening (not shown) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the rod 23 so that when in the inclined position shown, the edges of each opening grippingly engage the rod 23.

The plates 30, 31 are normally held in their inclined gripping position by biasing means 32, in the form of springs interposed between respective plates 30, 31 and adjacent guide member 22, which bias the plates 30, 31 into contact with a reaction plate 36 fixedly mounted on the support plate 18.

Plate 30 serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the rod 23 in a direction to the right as viewed in the figures whereas plate 31 serves to prevent longitudinal movement to the left.

The arresting means 28 further includes a release mechanism 40 in the form of a rocking lever 42 pivotally mounted on the support plate 18 via a pivotal connection 43. The rocking lever 42 carries a pin 44 which is located inbetween plates 30, 31.

Rotation of the lever 42 in a clockwise direction causes the pin 44 to move plate 31 causing it to pivot on reaction plate 36 and so move its gripping edges out of gripping contact with the rod 23 and thereby permit the rod 23 to move longitudinally to the left.

Rotation of the lever 42 is an anti-clockwise direction causes the pin 44 to move plate 30 causing it to pivot on reaction plate 36 and so move its gripping edges out of gripping contact with the rod 23 and thereby permit the rod 23 to move longitudinally to the right.

A pair of stops 80 are provided for limiting the rotational movement of rocking lever 42 in both directions.

The rod 23 is driven longitudinally to the right or left by drive means 50. The drive means 50 includes a gripping plate 51 having an aperture (not shown) of greater diameter than the outer diameter of rod 23.

The plate 51 is biased by opposed biasing means in the form of springs 53 which maintain the plate 51 at a non-inclined position to rod 23. In this position the plate 51 does not grippingly engage the rod 23.

The driving means 50 further includes a rocking lever 54 which is pivotally connected to the support plate 18 via a pivotal connection 56.

The rocking lever 54 has mounted thereon a pair of projections 58 located either side of the upper portion of plate 51.

Accordingly rotation of rocking lever 54 in one direction causes the plate 51 to move in the same direction to an inclined position until the edges of its aperture grip the rod 23. Continued movement of the reclining lever 54 in that direction urges the rod 23 to move in that direction.

Actuation means 60, preferably in the form of an elongate handle 61, are provided for simultaneously operating the driving means 50 and arresting means 28.

The handle 61 is pivotally attached to rocking lever 42 via a pivotal connection 64 and is pivotally attached to the rocking lever 54 via a pivotal connection 66 having lateral play. The pivotal connection 66 is preferably defined by a pin 67 mounted on the rocking lever 54 which projects through a longitudinally extending slot 68 formed in handle 61.

In view of the relative positions of the pivotal connections between rocking levers 42, 54, plate 18 and the handle 61 respectively, movement of the handle 61 in an upwards direction first causes the handle to pivot about pivotal connection 64 causing the rocking lever 54 to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction and move plate 51 into an inclined position to grip rod 23. Continued upward movement of handle 61 now causes the handle to pivot on pivotal connection 66 thereby causing rocking lever 42 to be moved in a clockwise direction and thereby moving plate 31 to release its grip on rod 23. Accordingly continued upward movement of the handle 61 now causes the rod 23 to be moved to the left. Preferably the length of stoke permitted in one or other longitudinal direction is determined by a pair of stops 90. When the lever 54 engages one of the stops 90 continued movement of the handle 61 is stopped and the handle is released. On release of the handle 61, it is moved back to its central position as illustrated by virtue of the bias of biasing means 32, 53.

Movement of the handle 61 in the downwards direction initially causes rotation of rocking lever 54 in the clockwise direction and then rocking lever 42 in the anti-clockwise direction to effect release of rod 23 and enable it to be moved towards the right.

The rod 23 is connected by suitable linkings to the seat squab frame 14 such that movement of the rod 23 to the left or right effects the desired raising or lowering movement of the squab frame 14 about pivotal connection 16.

Claims

1. A seat reclining mechanism comprising a longitudinally moveable actuating rod slidably mounted on a support, arresting means mounted on the support for locking the actuating rod against longitudinal movement, drive means mounted on the support for moving the actuating rod in one or other longitudinal direction and operating means operably connected to both the arresting and drive means, the operating means when activated causing the drive means to drive the rod in one longitudinal direction and causing the arresting means to release the rod to enable movement in said direction.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the arresting means includes a pair of opposed gripper plates each of which is pivotally moveable relative to the support between a rod gripping position and a rod release position, biasing means for biasing each plate to its rod gripping position and release means moveable in one direction for moving one of said plates to its rod release position, whilst the other plate remains at its rod gripping position, and moveable in the opposite direction for moving the other of the plates to its release position whilst said one plate remains at its rod gripping position.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the release means comprises an arresting rocking lever pivotally mounted on the support and a pin mounted on the rocking lever so as to project inbetween said opposed gripper plates for moving one or the other of the gripper plates to its release position in dependence upon the direction of pivotal movement of the arresting rocking lever.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein a pair of stops are provided for limiting the pivotal movement of the arresting rocking lever in both directions of pivotal movement.

5. A mechanism according to any preceding claim wherein the drive means includes a drive gripper plate moveably mounted on a drive rocking lever for movement relative to the actuating rod between a rod release position and first and second rod gripping positions, biasing means for biasing the drive gripper plate to its rod release position, the arrangement being such that movement of the drive rocking lever in one pivotal direction initially moves the drive gripper plate to its first rod gripping position and thereafter continued movement of the drive rocking plate in that direction causes the rod to be moved in that direction and that movement of the drive gripper plate in the opposite pivotal direction initially moves the drive gripper plate to its second rod gripping position and thereafter continued movement of the drive rocking plate in that direction causes the rod to be moved in that direction.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5 wherein a pair of stops are provided for limiting the pivotal movement of the drive rocking lever in both pivotal directions.

7. A mechanism according to claim 5 or 6 when dependent upon claim 3 or 4 wherein the operating means includes an elongate operating handle pivotally mounted on both the arresting rocking lever and the drive rocking lever, the arrangement being such that movement of the handle in one pivotal direction initially causes the drive gripper plate to be moved to one of its rod gripping positions, thereafter causes the arresting rocking lever to move one of the gripper plates to its rod release position and thereafter causes the drive rocking lever to move in one pivotal direction to axially move the rod in that direction.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7 wherein the pivotal connection between the handle and the drive rocking lever permits lateral play therebetween.

9. A mechanism according to any preceding claim wherein the support is pivotally mounted on a base.

10. A seat reclining mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

11. A reclining seat having a seat cushion frame pivotally connected to a seat squab frame via a pivotal connector and a seat reclining mechanism according to any preceding claim connected between said frames for causing relative movement of the frames about the pivotal connection.