GB2448404A

GB2448404A - Reclining apparatus with memory mechanism including free plate and memory plate with external gear

Info

Publication number: GB2448404A
Application number: GB0806017A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mitsunao Koumura
Original assignee: Imasen Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Imasen Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-10
Filing date: 2008-04-03
Publication date: 2008-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-03
Also published as: JP4361100B2; JP2008259562A; GB2448404B; GB0806017D0

Abstract

A reclining apparatus with a memory mechanism comprises a free plate (30) provided with a cutout groove (36) for receiving therein a projection portion (17a) of the lock gear (17) and a free portion (37) for allowing the projection portion (17a) of the lock gear (17) to get thereon and a memory plate (31) provided with an external gear (40) engageable with a second internal gear (7) of the gear plate (5) and supported at a position where the external gear (40) is not engaged with the second internal gear (7) of the gear plate (5). A lever plate (22) is provided with a step portion (42) for bringing the external gear (40) of the memory plate (31) into engagement with the second internal gear (7) in order to memorize an adjustment angular position of a seatback, and also with a cam hole (35) for withdrawing the projection portion (17a) of the gear lock (17) from the cutout groove (36) of the free plate (30) to allow the projection portion (17a) to get onto the free portion (37), so that the seatback is brought into a lock free state.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

RECLINING APPARATUS WITH A MEMORY MECHANISM

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a reclining apparatus with a memory mechanism capable of adjusting a seatback to a desired inclination angular position and capable of memorizing the original angular position when the seatback is moved to a forward faUing position by walk-in operation or the like and returning the seatback to that inclination angular position.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

A reclining apparatus with two handles is known from a Laid-Open Publication of French Patent Application No. 9805235, in which the inclination angular position of a seatback is adjusted by actuating a first handle, and the adjustment angular position of the seatback is memorized and the seatback is moved to the forward falling position and returned and is lock to the original adjustment angular position by actuating a second handle.

In this known reclining apparatus, a lock unit having an external gear and two pins, a lock device adapted to engage the lock unit, a spring for engaging the lock device and biasing it radially outward so that the external gear is brought into engagement with an internal gear of a movable flange and a first control plate turnably disposed at a control shaft of the first handle and engaged with a pin of one of the lock device and the lock unit, are arranged between the movable flange and a fixing flange. By actuating the first handle, a first control plate is turned to disengage the external gear of the lock unit from the internal gear of the movable flange, so that the inclination angle of the seatback can be adjusted. There are further arranged a second control plate capable of engaging the first control plate and including a metal sleeve attached with a second handle, a memory retaining unit including a pm capable of fitting to an external support end edge of a second control plate and an external gear capable of engaging and disengaging from the internal gear of the movable flange, a memory retaining control device attached with a memory retaining unit and including a cutout for guiding the pin of the lock unit and a limit stopper, and a circular rib having a limit stopper attached to a fixing flange in order to guide the rotation between the memory retaining unit and the memory retaining control device. By actuating the second handle, the second control plate is turned so that the external support end edge of the second control unit is engaged with the pin of the memory retaining unit and the external gear of the memory retaining unit is brought into engagement with the internal gear of the movable flange, thereby memorizing the inclination position of the seatback. At the same time, by turning the second control plate, the first control plate is turned to bring the external gear of the lock unit out of engagement with the internal gear of the is movable flange. By further moving the lock unit radially inward, one peg of the lock unit is brought out of the cutout of the retaining control device to turn the movable flange together with the memory retaining control device with respect to the fixing flange, so that the seatback can be moved to a forward falling position. Then, the movable flange is moved in the reverse direction together with the memory retaining unit and the memory retaining limit control device with respect to the fIxing flange, and one pin of the lock unit is abutted with the limit stopper of the memory retaining control device, so that the seatback can be returned to the original inclination position.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional reclining apparatus mentioned above, since the unlocking operation and the controlling operation of the memory retaining unit are carried out by two control units, i.e., the first control plate turned by actuating the first handle and the second control plate turned by actuating the second handle, the structure of the apparatus is very complicated. In addition, since deviation occurs in movements between the two control plates, it is impossible to memorize the adjustment inclination angle of the seatback correctly.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a reclining apparatus with a memory mechanism which is very simple in structure, and which is capable of memorizing the adjustment inclination angle of the seatback correctly and returning the seatback to the memorized adjustment inclination angle correctly and reliably.

A reclining apparatus with a memory mechanism according to the present invention comprises a lock gear disposed between a base plate supported by a turnable shaft and a gear plate supported by a cylindrical portion of a lever plate which is turnably assembled to the base plate, and provided with an external gear engageable with an internal gear of the gear is plate; a cam turnably fitted to the turnable shaft and engaged with the lock gear and turnably biased by a spring to bring the external gear of the lock gear into engagement with the internal gear of the gear plate; a lever plate engaged with the cam and the lock gear so that the lock gear is slid radially inward by rotation of the cam, thereby to release engagement between the external gear of the lock gear and the internal gear of the gear plate. A control lever is attached to one end of the turnable shaft, the other end of the turnable shaft is passed through a tubular portion which is attached to the lever plate, and the tubular portion of the lever plate is attached with a pedal.

A free plate disposed at an outer peripheral surface of the lock gear is provided with a cutout groove for receiving therein a projection portion of the lock gear and with a free portion for allowing the projection portion of the lock gear to get thereon. A memory plate turnably attached to the free plate is provided with an external gear which is engageable with a second internal gear of the gear plate and supported at a position where the external gear is not engaged with a second external gear of the gear plate. The lever plate is provided with a step portion for pressing, by actuation of a pedal, a memory plate for memorizing an adjustment angular position of a seatback to bring the external gear of the memory plate into engagement with another internal gear of the gear plate, and also with a cam hole for engaging with a projection of the lock gear to withdraw the projection portion of the gear lock from the cutout groove of the free plate to allow the projection portion to get onto the free portion, so that the seatback is brought into a lock free state.

The turnable shaft of the present invention is provided with an annular portion having an arcuate groove so as to be abutted with an outer surface of the base plate, a stopper inserted in the arcuate groove of the annular portion is formed on the base plate in such a manner as to project from an outer surface of the base plate, and turn of the lever plate caused by the control lever includes turn of the turnable shaft whose turn is restricted to a prescribed angle, for example, about 17 degrees. The turnable shaft is provided with a chamfering portion for allowing the cam to fit thereto through the shaft hole of the cam, the shaft hole of the cam to be fitted to the chamfering portion of the turnable shaft is provided with play, and turn, about 27 degrees, of the lever plate caused by the pedal includes turn, about 17 degrees, of the turnable shaft and turn of the cam which is restricted to, for example, about 10 degrees.

An arcuate spring for biasing the lock gear radially outward is locked to the projection portions of the two lock gears so that when the seatback is in the lock off state, the external gear of the lock gear is disengaged from the internal gear of the gear plate and the projection portion of the lock gear is positioned within the cutout groove formed on the free plate.

In a reclining apparatus according to the present invention, the engagement between the lock gear and the gear plate is released by the cam hole of the lever plate and the memory plate is brought into engagement with the gear plate by the step portion of the lever plate. Since the lock gear is released and engagement/disengagement of the memory p]ate is controlled by a single lever plate, the apparatus can be made very simple in structure, the adjustment angle of the seatback can be memorized correctly and the seatback can be returned to the memorized adjustment angular position correctly and reliably. In addition, since the lock gear is pressed in such a manner as to be biased radially outward by the spring, the projection portion of the lock gear located in the cutout groove of the free plate can be prevented from being withdrawn, by mistake, to a position where the projection part of the lock gear gets on the free portion at the time of operation of the control lever.

it is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention is as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. i is a vertical sectional front view of a seatback, when viewed from a gear plate side, of a reclining apparatus according to the present invention, in which the seat back is in a locking position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view taken on line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of main component members of a reclining apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of basic component members, when viewed from a washer side, of a reclining apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view, like FIG. 1, of a backseat of a reclining apparatus according to the present invention, wherein operation of reclining adjustment of the seatback is shown.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional front view, like FIG. 1, of a backseat of a reclining apparatus according to the present invention, wherein an adjustment angular position of the seatback is memorized.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional front view, like FIG. 1, of a backseat of a reclining apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the seatback is in a forward faffing position.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional front view, like FIG. 1, of a seatback of a reclining apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the seatback is returned from a forward falling position to the original adjustment angular position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT TIlE INVENTION

A reclining apparatus according to the present invention comprises a circular base plate 3 attached to a fixing flange 1 through a cover plate 2 and a circular gear plate 5 attached to a movable flange 4 (see FIG. 2). The gear plate 5 includes an internal gear 6 and another internal gear 7 which is smaller than the inside diameter of the internal gear 6. The internal gears 6 and 7 are arranged in a twostage structure. The gear plate 5 having the internal gears 6, 7 is turnably assembled to the base plate 3 by a fixing ring 8.

The base plate 3 is supported by a turnable shaft 9, together with the cover plate 2 and the fixing flange 1. The turnable shaft 9 has a control lever attached to one end thereof and an annular member 12 formed between the cover plate 2 and the base plate 3. The annular member 12 is provided with an annular groove 11 adapted to allow a stopper 13, which is attached to the base plate 3, to be inserted therein. Since turn of the turnable shaft 9 is limited within the annular groove 11 of the annular member 12 by the stopper 13, the control lever 10 is actuated to allow the turnable shaft 9 to turn only by about 17 degrees. A chamfering portion 15 adapted to turn a cam 14 is formed on the turnable shaft 9.

Two lock gears 17 each having an external gear 16 engageable with the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5 are arranged between the base plate 3 and the gear plate 5. The lock gear 17 is provided at an upper surface thereof with a projection portion 17a. A cam projection 17b is disposed at an upper surface of the projection portion 17a. The lock gear 17 is linearly slidable in a radially inward direction and in a radially outward direction along fixing guides 18 formed on an inner surface of the base plate 3 and engaged with the cam 14 having a shaft hole 19 adapted to fit to the chamfering portion 15 of the rotatable shaft 9. The cam 14 is turnably biased by two springs 20 which are attached to an inner surface of the base plate 3. The cam 14 turnably biased by the two springs 20 presses the lock gear 17 radially outward so that the external gear 16 of the lock gear 17 is brought into engagement with the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5 and the seatback is locked. The cam 14 is turnably fitted to the chamfering portion 15 of the rotatable shaft 9 through its shaft hole 19 with play.

A lever plate 22 is placed on the cam 14 through a washer 21. The lever plate 22 is provide with two pin holes 24 and a cam hole 25. The pin holes 24 are adapted to allow two pins 23 projecting from the cam 14 to fit therein, and the cam hole 25 is adapted to allow the cam projection 17b disposed at the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 to fit therein. When the turnable shaft 9 is turned by actuation of the control lever 10, the cam 14 is turned against the springs 20. In accordance with turn of the cam 14, the lever plate 22 is turned about the turnable shaft 9. Since the cam hole 25 of the lever plate 22 allows the cam projection 17b of the lock gear 17 to be brought therein radially inward, the external gear 16 of the lock gear 17 is disengaged from the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5 and the seatback is locked off.

The washer 21 is disposed between the lock gear 17 and the lever plate 22. A projection portion 26 is formed on the washer 21. The projection portion 26 is high enough to fill a space between the lock gear 17 and the lever plate 22. The height of the projection portion 26 generally corresponds to that of the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17. The projection portion 26 is adapted to facilitate the cam projection 17b disposed at the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 to be engaged with the cam hole 25 of the lever plate 22. Thus, the washer 21 is functioned as a spacer between the lock gear 17 and the lever plate 22. The washer 21 is further provided with a center hole 27 into which the turnable shaft 9 is allowed to pass through. The center hole 27 is provided at a perimeter thereof with a groove io 28 adapted to fit the pin 23 of the cam 14 therein. Owing to the foregoing arrangement, the washer 21 is turned in accordance with turn of the cam 14.

A spring 29 set on the washer 21 is an arcuate spring. With both end edges of the spring 29 hooked on the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17, the spring 29 biases the two lock gears 17 linearly outward.

A free plate 30 disposed at outer peripheries of two lock gears 17 consists of a ring-like plate. The free plate 30 is provided at a circumferential surface thereof with three projections 33, 34, 35 adapted to turnably attach a memory plate 31 to the free plate 30. The free plate 30 is provided at an inner peripheral edge thereof with a cutout groove 36 for allowing the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 to be inserted therein and with a free portion 37 for allowing the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 to get thereon. A ring portion of a spring 32 is attached to the projection portion 33, a hole 38 of the memory plate 31 is fitted to the projection portion 3480 that the memory plate 31 is turnably supported thereon, and the projection portion 35 is abutted with a projection portion 39 formed on the memory plate 31 in order to prevent the memory plate 31 is overly withdrawn inward by the spring 32. In the seatback is in a locked position where the external gear 16 of the lock gear 17 is in engagement with the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5, the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 is inserted in the cutout groove 36 of the free plate 30. In case where the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 is withdrawn from the cutout groove 36 of the free plate 30 until the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 gets on the free portion 37, the external gear 16 of the lock gear 17 is disengaged from the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5 and the seatback is brought into a lock free state.

The memory plate 31 attached to the free plate 30 includes a projection portion 39 abutted with the projection portion 35 of the free plate 30, a hole 38 fitted to the projection portion 34 of the memory plate 31 and an external gear 40 engageable with the second internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5. The memory plate 31 is turnably supported by the projection portion 34 of the free plate 30. The memory plate 31 is biased by the spring 32 one end of which is locked to the free plate 30 and the other end of which is engaged with a projection portion 41 of the memory plate 31 about the projection portion 34 of the free plate 30 such that the external gear 40 of the memory plate 31 is disengaged from the second internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5. When a step portion 42 formed on the lever plate 22 presses the memory plate 31, the external gear 40 of the memory plate 31 is brought into engagement with the second internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5 against the biasing force of the spring 32.

The lever plate 22 is placed on the washer 21, and the lever plate 22 includes the pin hole 24 for allowing the pin 23 of the cam 14 to fit thereto.

The pin 23 of the cam 14 is fitted to the pin hole 24 of the lever plate 22.

Accordingly, when the cam 14 is turned by operation of the control lever 10, the lever plate 22 is also turned in accordance with turn of the cam 14. Since, in this case, the control lever 10 is turned only about 17 degrees by the arcuate groove 11 and the stopper 13, the lever plate 22 is also turned only within that amount, i.e., about 17 degrees. The lever plate 22 is provided with a cylindrical portion 43 integrally attached thereto and the step portion 42 formed on its outer peripheral edge. The cylindrical portion 43 extends inward through a center hole 44 of the gear plate 5 and through a center hole of the movable flange 4. A connection rod 46 and a pedal 47 are attached to one end of the cy]indrical portion 43. The turnable shaft 9 is passed through the cylindrical portion 43 of the lever plate 22 and extended inward.

A connection rod 48 is attached to the other end of the turnable shaft 9. The lever plate 22 can be turned also by operation of the pedal 47. In this case, since the shaft hole 19 of the cam 14 is fitted to the chamfering portion 15 with play of about 10 degrees, the pedal 47 can turn for an amount upto about 27 degrees ((17 degrees (turn of the control lever 10) + 10 degrees (turn of the cam) = 27 degrees)). Thus, the lever plate 22 also can turn for an amount equal thereto, i.e., 27 degrees. By turn of the lever plate 22 for an amount of about 27 degrees, the step portion 42 formed on the circumferential edge of the lever plate 22 presses the memory plate 31 to bring the external gear 40 of the memory plate 31 into engagement with the second internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5, so that the adjustment angular position of the seatback is memorized.

Operation of the normal reclining adjustment of a seatback will be described hereinafter. In case the reclining adjustment operation is carried out by actuating the control lever 10, the control lever 10 is actuated to turn the turnable shaft 9. In accordance with turn of the turnable shaft 9, the cam 14 is turned and the lever plate 22 is turned. Since the control lever 10 is turned only about 17 degrees and the lever plate 22 is also turned only within that amount, i.e., about 17 degrees, the lever plate 22 is, as shown in FIG. 5, not turned to a position where the step portion 42 presses the memory plate 21 and the cam hole 25 does not withdraw the cam projection 1 7b of the lock gear 17 to a position where the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 gets on the free portion of the free plate 30. Thus, in operation of the control lever 10, the external gear 40 of the memory plate 31 is not brought into engagement with the internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5 and the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 is not brought out of the cutout groove 36 of the free plate 30. Thus, even if the gear plate 5 is turned, the free plate 14 is not turned, thereby realizing the normal reclining adjustment where the external gear 16 of the lock gear 17 is disengaged from the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5 and they are brought into engagement with each other again in a new angular position..

Operation for moving the seatback to the forward falling position and returning the seatback to the original adjustment angular position and locking the same in that position, by memorizing the adjustment angular position of the seatback.

When, in an optional rec]ining adjustment position, the pedal 47 is actuated, the cylindrical portion 43 attached to the pedal 47 is turned and the lever plate 22 having the cylindrical portion 43 is also turned. Owing to play between the turnable shaft 9 and the shaft hole 19 of the cam 14, the pedal 47 is allowed to turn by 27 degrees. Since the lever plate 22 is also turned within that amount, i.e., 27 degrees, the lever plate 22, as shown in FIG. 6, is turned to a position where its step portion 42 presses the memory plate 31.

The memory plate 31 pressed by the step portion 42 of the lever plate 22 is turned about the projection portion 34 against the biasing force of the spring 32 and the external gear 40 is brought into engagement with the second internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5, thereby memorizing the adjustment angular position of the seatback.

At the same time when the external gear 40 of the memory plate 31 is engaged with the internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5, the cam hole 25 of the lever plate 22 withdraws, as shown in FIG. 6, the cam projection 17b of the lock gear 17 to a position where the external gear 16 of the lock gear 17 is disengaged from the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5 and the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 gets on the free portion 37 of the free plate 30.

Thus, the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 is brought out of the

V

cutout groove 36 of the free plate 30, thereby realizing the forward falling operation of the sea tback.

In the memory plate 31 memorizing the adjustment angular position in the forward falling position of the seatback, the external gear 40 is in engagement with the external gear 7 of the gear plate 5 and thus, when the gear plate 5 is turned with respect to the base plate 3, the free plate 30 is also turned together with the gear plate 5. Since the cam hole 25 of the lever plate 22 withdraws the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 to a position where the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 gets on the free portion 37 of the free plate 30, the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 gets on the free portion 37 of the free plate 30, thereby providing a free state (see FIG. 7). Since the memory plate 31 gets on the step portion 42 of the lever plate 22 in the lock free state as shown in FIG. 7, the engagement between the external gear 40 of the memory plate 31 and the internal gear 7 of the gear plate is maintained.

In case the seatback is returned to the original adjustment angular position from the lock free state where the seat back is in the forward falling position, the gear plate 5 is turned with respect to the base plate 3. Then, the gear plate 5 is turned together with the free plate 30, the free portion 37 of the free plate 30, as shown in FIG. 8, is moved beyond the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 and the cutout groove 36 of the free plate 30 reaches the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17. Then, the projection portion 17a of the lock gear 17 drops to the cutout groove 36 of the free plate 30 by the spring 20 and the spring 29, and the external gear 16 of the lock gear 17 is brought into engagement with the internal gear 6 of the gear plate 5. Thus, the seatback is locked again in the original adjustment angular position memorized by the memory plate 31. At the same time, the memory plate 31 also drops from the step portion 42 of the lever plate 22. Thus, the Ia engagement between the external gear 40 of the memory plate 31 and the internal gear 7 of the gear plate 5 is released.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided that they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAiMS 1. A reclining apparatus with a memory mechanism comprising: a

lock gear (17) disposed between a base plate (3) supported by a turnable shaft (9) and a gear plate (5) supported by a cylindrical portion (43) of a lever plate (22) which is turnably assembled to the base plate (3), and provided with an external gear (16) engageable with an internal gear (6) of the gear plate (5); a cam (14) turnably fitted to the turnable shaft (9) and engaged with the lock gear (17) and turnably biased by a spring (20) to bring the external gear (16) of the lock gear (17) into engagement with the internal gear (6) of the gear plate (5); a lever plate (22) engaged with the cam (14) and the lock gear (17) so that the lock gear (17) is slid radially inward by rotation of the cam (14), thereby to release engagement between the external gear (16) of the lock gear (17) and the internal gear (6) of the gear plate (5); a control lever (10) being attached to one end of the turnable shaft (9), the other end of the turriable shaft (9) being passed through a tubular portion (43) which is attached to the lever plate (22), the tubular portion (43) of the lever plate (22) being attached with a pedal (47); a free plate (30) disposed at an outer peripheral surface of the lock gear (17) being provided with a cutout groove (36) for receiving therein a projection portion (17a) of the lock gear (17) and with a free portion (37) for allowing the projection portion (17a) of the lock gear (17) to get thereon; a memory plate (31) turnably attached to the free plate (30) being provided with an external gear (40) which is engageable with a second internal gear (7) of the gear plate (5); and the lever plate (22) being provided with a step portion (42) for pressing, by actuation of a pedal (47), a memory plate (31) for memorizing an adjustment angular position of a seatback to bring the external gear (40) of the memory plate (31) into engagement with the second internal gear (7) of the gear plate (5), and also with a cam hole (25) for engaging with a projection (17b) of the lock gear (17) to withdraw the projection portion (17a) of the gear lock (17) from the cutout groove (36) of the free plate (30) to allow the projection portion (17a) to get onto the free portion (37), so that the seatback is brought into a lock free state.
2. A reclining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the turnable shaft (9) is provided with an annular portion (12) having an arcuate groove (ii) so as to be abutted with an outer surface of the base plate (3), a stopper (13) inserted in the arcuate groove (ii) of the annular portion (12) is formed on the base plate in such a manner as to project from an outer surface of the base plate (3), turn of the lever plate (22) caused by the control lever (10) includes turn of the turnable shaft (9) restricted to a prescribed angle and the turnable shaft (9) is provided with a chamfering portion (15) for allowing the cam (14) to fit thereto through the shaft hole (19) of the cam (14), the shaft hole (19) of the cam (14) to be fitted to the chamfering portion (15) of the turnable shaft (9) is provided with play, and turn of the lever plate (22) caused by the pedal (47) includes turn of the turnable shaft (9) restricted to a prescribed angle and turn of the cam (14).
3. A reclining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an arcuate spring (29) for biasing the lock gear (17) radially outward is locked to the projection portion (17a) of the lock gear (17) so that when the seatback is in the lock off state, the external gear (16) of the lock gear (17) is disengaged from the internal gear (6) of the gear plate (5) and the projection portion (17a) of the lock gear (17) is positioned within the cutout groove (36) formed on the free plate (30).
4. A reclining apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.