Patent ID: 9387781
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: B60N

Claim Text:
1. A disc recliner operatively coupling a seat back to a seat cushion to allow pivotal movement of the seat back between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a folded position, said disc recliner comprising: a fixed plate adapted to be mounted to the seat cushion; a movable plate adapted to be mounted to the seat back and rotatably coupled to said fixed plate, said movable plate including a plurality of inward-facing teeth; a gear plate disposed between said fixed and movable plates, said gear plate including a plurality of outward-facing teeth; at least one pawl operatively coupled to said fixed plate, wherein said at least one pawl is movable between a first position engaged with said gear plate, thereby coupling said gear plate and said fixed plate together to prevent rotational movement of said gear plate relative to said fixed plate, and a second position disengaged from said gear plate, thereby uncoupling said gear plate and said fixed plate to allow rotational movement of said gear plate and said movable plate relative to said fixed plate; a cam biased in a first direction for maintaining said at least one pawl in said first position; a release shaft defining a first axis of rotation, said release shaft operatively coupled to said cam for rotating said cam about said first axis in a second direction opposite said first direction; a pawl release plate coupled to said cam for rotation therewith, wherein said pawl release plate moves said at least one pawl from said first position to said second position in response to rotation of said release shaft in said second direction to allow pivotal movement of the seat back to the folded position; and a cam-driver defining a second axis of rotation offset from said first axis of rotation and a pair of wedges acting together and operatively coupled between said movable plate and said gear plate to cause said inward-facing teeth on said movable plate to meshingly engage with said outward-facing teeth on said gear plate at an engagement point, and wherein rotation of said cam-driver about said second axis in said first and second directions when said at least one pawl is in said first position engaged with said gear plate urges said pair of wedges in said first and second directions, respectively, thereby shifting said engagement point to cause wobbling rotational movement of said movable plate relative to said gear plate and said fixed plate to thereby pivotally adjust the seat back between the plurality of reclined seating positions; wherein said fixed plate includes a fixed central bore, an inner side facing said gear plate, and an opposite outer side; said gear plate includes a second central bore aligned coaxially with said first central bore of said fixed plate, a first side facing said fixed plate, and an opposite second side, and a plurality of circumferential inwardly facing teeth opposite said outwardly facing teeth such that the inwardly facing teeth are positioned radially closer to the second central bore than the outwardly facing teeth, and wherein each of said pawls include a plurality of teeth for engagement with said inwardly facing teeth on said gear plate in said first position to lockingly couple said gear plate and said fixed plate together for rotation relative to said moveable plate.