Patent ID: 9227533
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: B60N

Claim Text:
1. A recliner that couples a seat back with a base on a floor such that a backrest angle of the seat back can be adjusted, comprising: a ratchet and a guide which are assembled together so as to be rotatable relative to each other; and a pawl supported by the guide in a circumferential direction, the pawl being adapted to mesh with the ratchet when pushed radially outwards so as to inhibit rotational movement of the ratchet relative to the guide, wherein the pawl is sandwiched between and supported by guide walls provided in the guide, the guide walls being located at circumferentially opposite sides of the pawl, and each of the guide walls has a weak portion provided at a location spaced in the circumferential direction apart from a contact face of the guide wall which is in contact with the pawl, the weak portion being adapted to undergo local stress concentration and plastic deformation due to pressing force received from the pawl when a large load that causes the pawl to undergo forced deformation in the circumferential direction is applied.