CA1185512A - Recliner adjustment method and apparatus - Google Patents
Recliner adjustment method and apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1185512A CA1185512A CA000394924A CA394924A CA1185512A CA 1185512 A CA1185512 A CA 1185512A CA 000394924 A CA000394924 A CA 000394924A CA 394924 A CA394924 A CA 394924A CA 1185512 A CA1185512 A CA 1185512A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pawl
- teeth
- seat back
- axis
- pivotal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
- B60N2/22—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable
- B60N2/235—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable by gear-pawl type mechanisms
- B60N2/2352—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable by gear-pawl type mechanisms with external pawls
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)
- Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
RECLINER ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS
ABSTRACT:
An adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat wherein a seat back support arm has locking teeth engaged by pawl teeth of a pivotally mounted pawl is provided with an improved pivoted mounting means for the pawl wherein the pivotal axis of the pawl may be adjusted after assembly of the recliner mechanism to compensate for tolerance build up in the mechanism parts, the pivotal mounting means including a unitary bushing member having a pair of spaced bearing cylindrical surfaces pivotally received coaxially in a support frame associated with the vehicle seat and a cylindrical journal surface positioned between the bearing surfaces upon which the pawl is pivotally mounted, the eccentrically relative to the center line of the bearing surfaces.
ABSTRACT:
An adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat wherein a seat back support arm has locking teeth engaged by pawl teeth of a pivotally mounted pawl is provided with an improved pivoted mounting means for the pawl wherein the pivotal axis of the pawl may be adjusted after assembly of the recliner mechanism to compensate for tolerance build up in the mechanism parts, the pivotal mounting means including a unitary bushing member having a pair of spaced bearing cylindrical surfaces pivotally received coaxially in a support frame associated with the vehicle seat and a cylindrical journal surface positioned between the bearing surfaces upon which the pawl is pivotally mounted, the eccentrically relative to the center line of the bearing surfaces.
Description
ss~p The present invention relates in general to automotive vehicle seat back recliner mechanisms and more specifically to an apparatus and method for adjusting the recliner mechanism parts employed for holding the seat bac]c in a desired position relative the vehicle seat.
It is now common in automotive vehicles to employ a recliner mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the seat back relative the vehicle seat, particularly in so called "bucket"
front seats. Normally, the seat back is spring biased to a fully forward position with a release lever being manually operable to disengage a locking pawl from a seat back associated support arm to allow the passenger, when seated in the vehicle seat, to lift the release lever and lean backward or forward to adjust the seat back to a desired location and hold it in such location through release of the manually operated lever. The seat back position is further normally maintained through the engagement of teeth on the locking pawl meshing with mating teeth on the seat back support arrn.
It has been found that due to tolerance build up of -the ~0 various recl.iner mechanism parts, particularly with regard to the locking pawl, seat back associated support arm, the limiting means limiting seat back movement relative the pawl and the components mounting the pawl some times produce a less than optimum mesh between the pawl teeth and the support arm associated teeth. The narrowing of manufacturing tolerances and the increasing of inspection standards in order to maintain overall acceptable tooth mesh between the pawl and seat back support arm is considered to be an expensive and time consuming solution which may or may not '~
;: :
actually overcome the inherent statistical possibilities for a poor tooth to tooth mesh condition due to the build up of even narrow tolerance Iimits for the various parts of the recliner mechanism.
It is therefore the primary object of the present inven-tion to disclose and provide an apparatus and a method for achiev-ing an optimum mesh condition between the pawl teeth and the seat back support arm locking teeth even where normal tolerance limits are employed for mechanism parts and which can compensate for an undue amount of tolerance build up causing an otherwise poor mesh condi.tion to occur. It is a further object of the presen-t inven-tion to disclose and provide such an apparatus and method which is easily and simply practiced, is economical and time efficient in use and can be employed after full assembly of all of the recliner mechanism parts and associated components to the vehicle seat and seat back so that an optimum mesh condition can be attained in a specific vehicle seat use environment.
S~JMM~R~ O~ THE INVENTION
Generally stated, the present inventi.on includes the provision of pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl of the recliner mechanism wherein the axis about which the pawl pivots is selectively adjustable after full assembly of the recliner mechanism to the vehicle seat. More specifically, the present invention provides pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl of an adjustable seat back recliner mechanism, said mounting means comprising: journal means for pivotally mounting said pawl thereon for pivotal movement about a first axis; and bearing means for pivotally mounting said journal means for pivotal movement about a second axis spaced eccentrically relative said first axis.
The inven-tion also provides in an adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat back wherein seat back position lock-ing teeth on an upper arm associated with the seat back are engag-able by pawl teeth by a pawl pivotally mounted on a lower support frame associated with the vehicle seat, the improvement comprising the provision of: means for pivotally mounting said pawl on an adjustable pivotal axis on said frame whereby said pawl pivotal axis may be selectively adjusted after assembly of said upper arm, pawl and support frame to bring said pawl teeth and seat back posi-tion locking teeth into an improved mesh relation when manufactur-ing tolerance build up of said upper arm, pawl and support frame having produced a less than desirably complete mesh between said tecth.
From another aspect, the invention provides a method of adjusting the mesh of locking teeth between a pivoted pawl and a seat back associated support arm in an adjustable seat back recliner mechanism comprising the steps of: pivoting the pawl member to bring its associated pawl teeth into engagement with
It is now common in automotive vehicles to employ a recliner mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the seat back relative the vehicle seat, particularly in so called "bucket"
front seats. Normally, the seat back is spring biased to a fully forward position with a release lever being manually operable to disengage a locking pawl from a seat back associated support arm to allow the passenger, when seated in the vehicle seat, to lift the release lever and lean backward or forward to adjust the seat back to a desired location and hold it in such location through release of the manually operated lever. The seat back position is further normally maintained through the engagement of teeth on the locking pawl meshing with mating teeth on the seat back support arrn.
It has been found that due to tolerance build up of -the ~0 various recl.iner mechanism parts, particularly with regard to the locking pawl, seat back associated support arm, the limiting means limiting seat back movement relative the pawl and the components mounting the pawl some times produce a less than optimum mesh between the pawl teeth and the support arm associated teeth. The narrowing of manufacturing tolerances and the increasing of inspection standards in order to maintain overall acceptable tooth mesh between the pawl and seat back support arm is considered to be an expensive and time consuming solution which may or may not '~
;: :
actually overcome the inherent statistical possibilities for a poor tooth to tooth mesh condition due to the build up of even narrow tolerance Iimits for the various parts of the recliner mechanism.
It is therefore the primary object of the present inven-tion to disclose and provide an apparatus and a method for achiev-ing an optimum mesh condition between the pawl teeth and the seat back support arm locking teeth even where normal tolerance limits are employed for mechanism parts and which can compensate for an undue amount of tolerance build up causing an otherwise poor mesh condi.tion to occur. It is a further object of the presen-t inven-tion to disclose and provide such an apparatus and method which is easily and simply practiced, is economical and time efficient in use and can be employed after full assembly of all of the recliner mechanism parts and associated components to the vehicle seat and seat back so that an optimum mesh condition can be attained in a specific vehicle seat use environment.
S~JMM~R~ O~ THE INVENTION
Generally stated, the present inventi.on includes the provision of pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl of the recliner mechanism wherein the axis about which the pawl pivots is selectively adjustable after full assembly of the recliner mechanism to the vehicle seat. More specifically, the present invention provides pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl of an adjustable seat back recliner mechanism, said mounting means comprising: journal means for pivotally mounting said pawl thereon for pivotal movement about a first axis; and bearing means for pivotally mounting said journal means for pivotal movement about a second axis spaced eccentrically relative said first axis.
The inven-tion also provides in an adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat back wherein seat back position lock-ing teeth on an upper arm associated with the seat back are engag-able by pawl teeth by a pawl pivotally mounted on a lower support frame associated with the vehicle seat, the improvement comprising the provision of: means for pivotally mounting said pawl on an adjustable pivotal axis on said frame whereby said pawl pivotal axis may be selectively adjusted after assembly of said upper arm, pawl and support frame to bring said pawl teeth and seat back posi-tion locking teeth into an improved mesh relation when manufactur-ing tolerance build up of said upper arm, pawl and support frame having produced a less than desirably complete mesh between said tecth.
From another aspect, the invention provides a method of adjusting the mesh of locking teeth between a pivoted pawl and a seat back associated support arm in an adjustable seat back recliner mechanism comprising the steps of: pivoting the pawl member to bring its associated pawl teeth into engagement with
2~ mating teeth of the seat back support arm after full assembly of the recliner rnechanism to the seat; thereafter adjusting the pivotal axis of said pawl until an optimum axis location is attained for an optimum mesh condition between said pawl teeth and said support arm teeth.
q'he pivotal mounting for the locking pawl preferably comprises a unitary bushing member having bearing means by which it is pivotally mounted to the vehicle seat associated frame and ~b journal means by which it pivotally mounts the pawl, the center line of pivotal movement of the pawl on the journal means being offset in an eccentric manner relative -the pivotal axis of the bushing member in the support frame. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the unitary bushing member includes a pair of spaced concentric cylindrical bearing surfaces mounted in spaced frame members with a cylindrical journal surface between the bearing means and thereby located between the frame members to pivotally mount the pawl between the frame members on an axis which is eccentric of the bushing member pivotal axis an amount equal to at least one-half of the distance between the apex of two adjacent teeth of the locking pawl. Since this eccentricity distance can be positioned above or below the center line of rotation of the bushing member/ the pivotal axis for the pawl has a vertical adjust-able extent of a distance at least equal to the distance between apexes of adjacent teeth on the locking pawl in the preferred exemplary embodiment.
It is believed that those skilled in the art will gain a better understanding of the present invention and a recognition of additional objects and advantages therefore, from a consider-ation of the following detailed description of a preferredexemplary embodiment of the present invention in recliner adjust-ment method and apparatus. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings which will first be described briefly.
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle sea-t back in which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl of the recliner mechan-~, ism is illustrated generally at 40;
Figure 2 is a detail front view of the exemplary embodi-ment of pivotal mounting means in accordance with the present inven-tion;
Figure 3 is a detail view of the exemplary embodiment of mounting means of E'igure 2 taken therein along the plane III-III;
Figure 4 is a detail view showing a. poor mesh condition between the locking teeth of the recliner mechanism locking pawl and seat back support arm of the mechanism of Fi.gure l;
Figure 5 is a detail view as in Figure 4 showing an optimum mesh condition between the locking pawl teeth and the seat back support arm teeth obtained in accordance with the method and apparatus for pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl in accor-dance with the present invention;
Figure 6 is a front view of the exemplary embodiment of pivotal mounting means after it has been operated in accordance wi.th the method and apparatus of the present invention to attain the optimum mesh condition for the mating teeth as in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a section view of the pivotal mounting means of E':igure 6 taken therein along the plane VII-VII.
~0 Referri.ng now in.itially to Figure 1, an exemplary embodi-ment of adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat back is illustrated with a conventional seat back support indicated general-ly at 10. It should be understood that this seat back support mechanism is on one side of the sea-t only with conventional seat back support means on an opposite side of the seat. The exemplary seat back support arm includes the support arm body ll having sui-t-able bolt receiving apertures 12, 13 and 14 for a-ttachment to the ;~ vehicle seat in conventional manner. Support arm lO is pivotally mounted by pivot pin 15 on a support frame, including front plate 16 and back plate 17 interconnected by cross brace pins or rivets 18, 19 and 20. The support frame including pla-tes 16 and 17 may be associated with the vehicle seat frame supporting the vehicle seat relative to which the vehicle seat back associated wi-th arm 10 is pivoted. Pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat is limited by a stop pin 20 secured between plates 16 and 17 which rides in slot 21 formed in arrn 10. A conventional seat back bias-ing spring, not shown, is normally employed with the spring being connected between spring end post 22 at one end and being fitted through pivot pin 15 at its other end to bias the arm 10, fixed -to pin 15, in a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 1.
Means are provided to adjust the location of the seat back associated with arm 10 relative to the seat associated frame including plates 16 and 17. In the exemplary embodiment, such adjustment means are indicated generally at 25 and include the provision of locking teeth 26 on upper arm 10 which are adapted to be engaged by paw]. teeth 23 on pawl 27. Pawl 27 has a pivot bore 29 by which it is pivota].ly mounted on the exemplary embodiment oE
~0 p.ivotal mounting means indicated generally at 40, in accordance with the present invention as will be discussed more fully herein-after.
The adjustment means of the exemplary embodiment further comprises the provision of cam 30 mounted on pivot pin 31 to be operated manually by the release handle 32 provided on handle arm 33 which is fastened by conventional bol.ts or rivets 34 and 35 to cam 30. A spring 36 is connected at one end to spring post 37 mounted between support frame plates 16 and 17 and at the other ~ ~5~
end on the bolt or ri.vet 35 as seen in Figure l. As can be seen from the foregoing description, the seat back recliner mechanism -thus far described is considered conventional in that a selected seat back position is maintained by the engagement of pawl 27 with arm lO, specifically pawl teeth 28 with support arm locking teeth 26, with the pawl being maintained in such a locked condition by the presence of cam 30 thereunder. The seat back position can be adjusted by manually lifting handle 32 to remove cam 30 from beneath the pawl, the seat back moved to a new locatior and, on release of handle 32, spring 36 will return cam 30 to its pawl locking condition in conventional manner.
As is particularly contemplated within the present inven-tion, pivotal mounting means are provided in accordance with present invention Eor selectively adjusting the pivotal axis of pawl 27 after it is fully assembled into the recliner mechanism as illustrated in Figure l. As noted hereinbefore, during manufactur-ing operations, manufacturing tolerance build up in the mechanism parts including pawl 27, upper arm 10, slot 21, stop in 20 and the pivotal mounting itself for pawl 27 can produce a less than optimum me~h condition between pawl teeth 28 and support arm locking teeth 26 even where close tolerances and high inspection standards are maintained. In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for pivotally mounting pawl 27 on an adjustable pivotal axis whereby the pawl pivotal axis may be selectively adjusted to compensate for tolerance build up, such pivotal mounting means being illustrated generally at 40 in the exemplary embodiment.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 in addition to Figure l, the exemplary embodiment of pivotal mounting means, indicated generally at 40, in aceordanee with present invention, includes the provision of a unitary bushing member having a first cylindri-eal bearing surfaee 41 rotatably mounted in a bore in front plate 16, as seen in Figure 3, and a seeond cylindrical bearing surface 42 pivotally mounted in a mating bore in the rear plate 17. The cylindrical bearing surfaces 41 and 42 are coneentrie to pivotally rnount the unitary bushing member for pivotal movement about a first axis 50. The unitary bushing member, indicated generally at 40, further ineludes -the provision of a eylindrieal journal surface ]0 43 which is loeated between bearing surfaces 41 and 42 and is pro-vided with a suitable eylindrical extent to fit freely between front plate 16 and back plate 17 as seen in Figure 3. The cylindri-cal journal surface 43 is further provided eccentrically o:E -the bear:ing surfaees 41 and 42, the eenter line 51 of eylindrical sur-face 43 being off set relative eenter line 50 of bearing surfaees 41 and 42. Preferably, the offset of een-ter lines 50 and 51, tha-t :is -the eceentrieity of the eenter line of journal surfaee 43 rela-ti.ve to che center line of bearing surfaees 41 and 42, is a distanee equal -to approximately one-half the distanee between the apex of two adjust teeth of the pawl teeth 28. ~s seen in Figure
q'he pivotal mounting for the locking pawl preferably comprises a unitary bushing member having bearing means by which it is pivotally mounted to the vehicle seat associated frame and ~b journal means by which it pivotally mounts the pawl, the center line of pivotal movement of the pawl on the journal means being offset in an eccentric manner relative -the pivotal axis of the bushing member in the support frame. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the unitary bushing member includes a pair of spaced concentric cylindrical bearing surfaces mounted in spaced frame members with a cylindrical journal surface between the bearing means and thereby located between the frame members to pivotally mount the pawl between the frame members on an axis which is eccentric of the bushing member pivotal axis an amount equal to at least one-half of the distance between the apex of two adjacent teeth of the locking pawl. Since this eccentricity distance can be positioned above or below the center line of rotation of the bushing member/ the pivotal axis for the pawl has a vertical adjust-able extent of a distance at least equal to the distance between apexes of adjacent teeth on the locking pawl in the preferred exemplary embodiment.
It is believed that those skilled in the art will gain a better understanding of the present invention and a recognition of additional objects and advantages therefore, from a consider-ation of the following detailed description of a preferredexemplary embodiment of the present invention in recliner adjust-ment method and apparatus. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings which will first be described briefly.
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle sea-t back in which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl of the recliner mechan-~, ism is illustrated generally at 40;
Figure 2 is a detail front view of the exemplary embodi-ment of pivotal mounting means in accordance with the present inven-tion;
Figure 3 is a detail view of the exemplary embodiment of mounting means of E'igure 2 taken therein along the plane III-III;
Figure 4 is a detail view showing a. poor mesh condition between the locking teeth of the recliner mechanism locking pawl and seat back support arm of the mechanism of Fi.gure l;
Figure 5 is a detail view as in Figure 4 showing an optimum mesh condition between the locking pawl teeth and the seat back support arm teeth obtained in accordance with the method and apparatus for pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl in accor-dance with the present invention;
Figure 6 is a front view of the exemplary embodiment of pivotal mounting means after it has been operated in accordance wi.th the method and apparatus of the present invention to attain the optimum mesh condition for the mating teeth as in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a section view of the pivotal mounting means of E':igure 6 taken therein along the plane VII-VII.
~0 Referri.ng now in.itially to Figure 1, an exemplary embodi-ment of adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat back is illustrated with a conventional seat back support indicated general-ly at 10. It should be understood that this seat back support mechanism is on one side of the sea-t only with conventional seat back support means on an opposite side of the seat. The exemplary seat back support arm includes the support arm body ll having sui-t-able bolt receiving apertures 12, 13 and 14 for a-ttachment to the ;~ vehicle seat in conventional manner. Support arm lO is pivotally mounted by pivot pin 15 on a support frame, including front plate 16 and back plate 17 interconnected by cross brace pins or rivets 18, 19 and 20. The support frame including pla-tes 16 and 17 may be associated with the vehicle seat frame supporting the vehicle seat relative to which the vehicle seat back associated wi-th arm 10 is pivoted. Pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat is limited by a stop pin 20 secured between plates 16 and 17 which rides in slot 21 formed in arrn 10. A conventional seat back bias-ing spring, not shown, is normally employed with the spring being connected between spring end post 22 at one end and being fitted through pivot pin 15 at its other end to bias the arm 10, fixed -to pin 15, in a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 1.
Means are provided to adjust the location of the seat back associated with arm 10 relative to the seat associated frame including plates 16 and 17. In the exemplary embodiment, such adjustment means are indicated generally at 25 and include the provision of locking teeth 26 on upper arm 10 which are adapted to be engaged by paw]. teeth 23 on pawl 27. Pawl 27 has a pivot bore 29 by which it is pivota].ly mounted on the exemplary embodiment oE
~0 p.ivotal mounting means indicated generally at 40, in accordance with the present invention as will be discussed more fully herein-after.
The adjustment means of the exemplary embodiment further comprises the provision of cam 30 mounted on pivot pin 31 to be operated manually by the release handle 32 provided on handle arm 33 which is fastened by conventional bol.ts or rivets 34 and 35 to cam 30. A spring 36 is connected at one end to spring post 37 mounted between support frame plates 16 and 17 and at the other ~ ~5~
end on the bolt or ri.vet 35 as seen in Figure l. As can be seen from the foregoing description, the seat back recliner mechanism -thus far described is considered conventional in that a selected seat back position is maintained by the engagement of pawl 27 with arm lO, specifically pawl teeth 28 with support arm locking teeth 26, with the pawl being maintained in such a locked condition by the presence of cam 30 thereunder. The seat back position can be adjusted by manually lifting handle 32 to remove cam 30 from beneath the pawl, the seat back moved to a new locatior and, on release of handle 32, spring 36 will return cam 30 to its pawl locking condition in conventional manner.
As is particularly contemplated within the present inven-tion, pivotal mounting means are provided in accordance with present invention Eor selectively adjusting the pivotal axis of pawl 27 after it is fully assembled into the recliner mechanism as illustrated in Figure l. As noted hereinbefore, during manufactur-ing operations, manufacturing tolerance build up in the mechanism parts including pawl 27, upper arm 10, slot 21, stop in 20 and the pivotal mounting itself for pawl 27 can produce a less than optimum me~h condition between pawl teeth 28 and support arm locking teeth 26 even where close tolerances and high inspection standards are maintained. In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for pivotally mounting pawl 27 on an adjustable pivotal axis whereby the pawl pivotal axis may be selectively adjusted to compensate for tolerance build up, such pivotal mounting means being illustrated generally at 40 in the exemplary embodiment.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 in addition to Figure l, the exemplary embodiment of pivotal mounting means, indicated generally at 40, in aceordanee with present invention, includes the provision of a unitary bushing member having a first cylindri-eal bearing surfaee 41 rotatably mounted in a bore in front plate 16, as seen in Figure 3, and a seeond cylindrical bearing surface 42 pivotally mounted in a mating bore in the rear plate 17. The cylindrical bearing surfaces 41 and 42 are coneentrie to pivotally rnount the unitary bushing member for pivotal movement about a first axis 50. The unitary bushing member, indicated generally at 40, further ineludes -the provision of a eylindrieal journal surface ]0 43 which is loeated between bearing surfaces 41 and 42 and is pro-vided with a suitable eylindrical extent to fit freely between front plate 16 and back plate 17 as seen in Figure 3. The cylindri-cal journal surface 43 is further provided eccentrically o:E -the bear:ing surfaees 41 and 42, the eenter line 51 of eylindrical sur-face 43 being off set relative eenter line 50 of bearing surfaees 41 and 42. Preferably, the offset of een-ter lines 50 and 51, tha-t :is -the eceentrieity of the eenter line of journal surfaee 43 rela-ti.ve to che center line of bearing surfaees 41 and 42, is a distanee equal -to approximately one-half the distanee between the apex of two adjust teeth of the pawl teeth 28. ~s seen in Figure
3, the mounting means, indieated generally at 40, has the journal surfaee center line 51 disposed below the center line 50 of rota-tion of the mounting means.
In the event that a less than optimum mesh lS a-ttained between the pawl teeth 28 and support arm locking means 26, as seen in Figure 4, the unitary bushing member may be manually rotated through rotation of hex head 44 to adjust the center line 51 loca-tion about which pawl 27 pivots until a desired optimum mesh con-i53~2 dition is obtained as illustrated in Figure 5. As can be seen from a comparison of the position of the unitary bushing member of the exemplary pivotal mounting means, indicated generally at 40 in each figure, the bushing member has been rotated approximately 180 degrees to elevate the center line 51 of rotation for pawl 27, pawl 27 rotating about journal surface 43 as discussed hereinbefore.
When a desired optimum mesh condition is obtained between the pawl teeth 26 and support arm locking teeth 28, the position of the bushing member may be fixed by staking portions of bearing surface 41 to front plate 16, a suitable stake therefore being illustrated at 45 In accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention in pivotal mounting means, it is contemplated that inltially handle 32 will be lifted to temporarily release pawl 27 Erom arm 10 to allow the seat back to pivot fully forward under the bias of the seat back associated spring employed in conven-tlonal vehicle seat constructions. Handle 32 may then be released to allow movement oE cam 30 under the action of spring 36 to bring pawl 27 back into engagement with the seat back support arm 10 when the seat back is in a Eully forward position. The mesh between pawl teeth 28 and support arm locking teeth 26 may then be examined to determine whether an optimum mesh condition exists or not. In the event that such a condition does not exist, the pivotal axis 51 of the pawl 27 may be adjusted through selective rotation of the pivotal mounting means, indicated generally at 40, until axis 51 is relocated relative to stationary bearing surEace axls 50 in such a manner as to move pawl teeth 28 into an optimum mesh condition with teeth 26 of the seat back arm. The pivotal _g_ mounting means, indicated generally at ~0, can then be fixed in the thus attained optimum condition through -the provision of suit-able securing means, such as stake 45 discussed hereinbefore.
Having thus described a preferred exemplary embodiment in pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl in a vehicle seat ~ack recliner mechanism, it should be now apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention attains the advantages and objects stated hereinbefore and that various alternative embodi-men-ts, modifications and adaptations thereof may be made in accordance with the present invention which is defined by the following claims.
--10 ~
In the event that a less than optimum mesh lS a-ttained between the pawl teeth 28 and support arm locking means 26, as seen in Figure 4, the unitary bushing member may be manually rotated through rotation of hex head 44 to adjust the center line 51 loca-tion about which pawl 27 pivots until a desired optimum mesh con-i53~2 dition is obtained as illustrated in Figure 5. As can be seen from a comparison of the position of the unitary bushing member of the exemplary pivotal mounting means, indicated generally at 40 in each figure, the bushing member has been rotated approximately 180 degrees to elevate the center line 51 of rotation for pawl 27, pawl 27 rotating about journal surface 43 as discussed hereinbefore.
When a desired optimum mesh condition is obtained between the pawl teeth 26 and support arm locking teeth 28, the position of the bushing member may be fixed by staking portions of bearing surface 41 to front plate 16, a suitable stake therefore being illustrated at 45 In accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention in pivotal mounting means, it is contemplated that inltially handle 32 will be lifted to temporarily release pawl 27 Erom arm 10 to allow the seat back to pivot fully forward under the bias of the seat back associated spring employed in conven-tlonal vehicle seat constructions. Handle 32 may then be released to allow movement oE cam 30 under the action of spring 36 to bring pawl 27 back into engagement with the seat back support arm 10 when the seat back is in a Eully forward position. The mesh between pawl teeth 28 and support arm locking teeth 26 may then be examined to determine whether an optimum mesh condition exists or not. In the event that such a condition does not exist, the pivotal axis 51 of the pawl 27 may be adjusted through selective rotation of the pivotal mounting means, indicated generally at 40, until axis 51 is relocated relative to stationary bearing surEace axls 50 in such a manner as to move pawl teeth 28 into an optimum mesh condition with teeth 26 of the seat back arm. The pivotal _g_ mounting means, indicated generally at ~0, can then be fixed in the thus attained optimum condition through -the provision of suit-able securing means, such as stake 45 discussed hereinbefore.
Having thus described a preferred exemplary embodiment in pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl in a vehicle seat ~ack recliner mechanism, it should be now apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention attains the advantages and objects stated hereinbefore and that various alternative embodi-men-ts, modifications and adaptations thereof may be made in accordance with the present invention which is defined by the following claims.
--10 ~
Claims (11)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In an adjustable recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat back wherein seat back position locking teeth on an upper arm associated with the seat back are engageable by pawl teeth by a pawl pivotally mounted on a lower support frame associated with the vehicle seat, the improvement comprising the provision of:
means for pivotally mounting said pawl on an adjustable pivotal axis on said frame whereby said pawl pivotal axis may be selectively adjusted after assembly of said upper arm, pawl and support frame to bring said pawl teeth and seat back position lock-ing teeth into an improved mesh relation when manufacturing toler-ance build up of said upper arm, pawl and support frame having pro-duced a less than desirably complete mesh between said teeth.
means for pivotally mounting said pawl on an adjustable pivotal axis on said frame whereby said pawl pivotal axis may be selectively adjusted after assembly of said upper arm, pawl and support frame to bring said pawl teeth and seat back position lock-ing teeth into an improved mesh relation when manufacturing toler-ance build up of said upper arm, pawl and support frame having pro-duced a less than desirably complete mesh between said teeth.
2. The improvement as in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said pawl comprises:
a unitary bushing member having bearing means for pivotally mounting said member on said support frame and journal means for pivotally mounting said pawl thereon, said journal means being eccentric to said bearing means.
a unitary bushing member having bearing means for pivotally mounting said member on said support frame and journal means for pivotally mounting said pawl thereon, said journal means being eccentric to said bearing means.
3. The improvement as in claim 2 wherein said support frame includes front and back frame members with said pawl positioned therebetween and said bearing means comprises:
a first cylindrical bearing surface pivotally mounted in a first bore of said support frame front member: and a second cylindrical bearing surface pivotally mounted in a second bore in said support frame back member, said first and second bores being concentric.
a first cylindrical bearing surface pivotally mounted in a first bore of said support frame front member: and a second cylindrical bearing surface pivotally mounted in a second bore in said support frame back member, said first and second bores being concentric.
4. The improvement as in claim 3 wherein said journal means comprises:
a cylindrical journal surface integral of said bushing member and formed therein between said first and second bearing surfaces whereby said journal surface is disposed between said support frame front and back members and wherein said pawl is pivotally mounted thereon by a pawl bore freely fit about said journal surface.
a cylindrical journal surface integral of said bushing member and formed therein between said first and second bearing surfaces whereby said journal surface is disposed between said support frame front and back members and wherein said pawl is pivotally mounted thereon by a pawl bore freely fit about said journal surface.
5. The improvement as in claim 4 wherein manually operable means are provided for turning said unitary bushing member on said frame to selectively adjust the pivotal axis for said pawl.
6. The improvement as in claim 5 wherein:
means are provided permanently securing said unitary bushing member in a selected position relative said frame.
means are provided permanently securing said unitary bushing member in a selected position relative said frame.
7. Pivotal mounting means for the locking pawl of an adjust-able seat back recliner mechanism, said mounting means comprising:
journal means for pivotally mounting said pawl thereon for pivotal movement about a first axis; and bearing means for pivotally mounting said journal means for pivotal movement about a second axis spaced eccentrically relative said first axis.
journal means for pivotally mounting said pawl thereon for pivotal movement about a first axis; and bearing means for pivotally mounting said journal means for pivotal movement about a second axis spaced eccentrically relative said first axis.
8. The pivotal mounting means of claim 7 wherein said mount-ing means comprises:
a unitary bushing member having a central cylindrical journal surface forming a part of said journal means and a pair of concentric bearing surfaces located on opposite sides of said journal surface forming a part of said bearing means.
a unitary bushing member having a central cylindrical journal surface forming a part of said journal means and a pair of concentric bearing surfaces located on opposite sides of said journal surface forming a part of said bearing means.
9. The pivotal mounting means as in claim 8 wherein said mounting comprises:
manually operable means for turning said unitary bushing member to selectively adjust tile location of said first axis about which said pawl pivots relative to said second axis about which said bushing member pivots.
manually operable means for turning said unitary bushing member to selectively adjust tile location of said first axis about which said pawl pivots relative to said second axis about which said bushing member pivots.
10. A method of adjusting the mesh of locking teeth between a pivoted pawl and a seat back associated support arm in an adjust-able seat back recliner mechanism comprising the steps of:
pivoting the pawl member to bring its associated pawl teeth into engagement with mating teeth of the seat back support arm after full assembly of the recliner mechanism to the seat;
thereafter adjusting the pivotal axis of said pawl until an optimum axis location is attained for an optimum mesh condition between said pawl teeth and said support arm teeth.
pivoting the pawl member to bring its associated pawl teeth into engagement with mating teeth of the seat back support arm after full assembly of the recliner mechanism to the seat;
thereafter adjusting the pivotal axis of said pawl until an optimum axis location is attained for an optimum mesh condition between said pawl teeth and said support arm teeth.
11. The method as in claim 10 including the further step of:
fixing the optimum axis location permanently after said step of adjusting in order to thereafter maintain said optimum mesh condition on subsequent operation of said adjustable recliner mechanism.
fixing the optimum axis location permanently after said step of adjusting in order to thereafter maintain said optimum mesh condition on subsequent operation of said adjustable recliner mechanism.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US30256081A | 1981-09-16 | 1981-09-16 | |
| US302,560 | 1994-09-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1185512A true CA1185512A (en) | 1985-04-16 |
Family
ID=23168268
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000394924A Expired CA1185512A (en) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-01-26 | Recliner adjustment method and apparatus |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5846911A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1185512A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3234305C2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5600876A (en) * | 1992-07-31 | 1997-02-11 | Bertrand Faure Ltd. | Method of assembly for vehicle seat latch incorporating backlash reduction mechanism |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3418413A1 (en) * | 1984-05-17 | 1986-01-09 | Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH, 8012 Ottobrunn | Locking mechanism for a solar-cell generator which can be unfolded |
| JPH0437472Y2 (en) * | 1985-04-19 | 1992-09-03 | ||
| JPS63222709A (en) * | 1987-03-12 | 1988-09-16 | 池田物産株式会社 | Reclining apparatus |
| DE3923966C2 (en) * | 1989-07-20 | 1999-08-12 | Keiper Gmbh & Co | Tilt adjustment fitting with free pivoting device for backrests of seats, in particular motor vehicle seats |
| US5150632A (en) * | 1991-06-27 | 1992-09-29 | Hoover Universal, Inc. | Self adjusting eccentric pivot mechanism |
| FR2714339B1 (en) * | 1993-12-23 | 1996-03-15 | Cesa | Backlash-free joint for seat with tilting backrest and its application to a seat with a backrest that also reclines. |
| US6827403B2 (en) * | 2003-04-29 | 2004-12-07 | Mjd Innovations, L.L.C. | Gear-lock adjustable seat structure |
| US7246845B2 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2007-07-24 | Asc Incorporated | Structural seat system for an automotive vehicle |
| CN103770669A (en) * | 2014-01-27 | 2014-05-07 | 朱亚富 | Novel multifunctional seat angle regulator |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1514334A (en) * | 1967-01-09 | 1968-02-23 | Peugeot | Seat and seat tilting backrest articulation mechanism featuring application |
| US3999247A (en) * | 1974-12-31 | 1976-12-28 | Cremer Heinz P | Vehicle seat fitting |
| US3973288A (en) * | 1975-02-26 | 1976-08-10 | Ferro Manufacturing Corporation | Seat recliner |
| JPS6037911B2 (en) * | 1978-06-23 | 1985-08-29 | シチズン時計株式会社 | Electronic clock correction input device |
-
1982
- 1982-01-26 CA CA000394924A patent/CA1185512A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-02-22 JP JP2727082A patent/JPS5846911A/en active Pending
- 1982-09-16 DE DE19823234305 patent/DE3234305C2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5600876A (en) * | 1992-07-31 | 1997-02-11 | Bertrand Faure Ltd. | Method of assembly for vehicle seat latch incorporating backlash reduction mechanism |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE3234305C2 (en) | 1997-01-23 |
| JPS5846911A (en) | 1983-03-18 |
| DE3234305A1 (en) | 1983-03-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |