Patent ID: 9428085
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: B60N,F16H

Claim Text:
1. A disc recliner operatively coupling a seat back to a seat cushion to allow selective pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion about a pivot axis extending in an axial direction, said disc recliner comprising: a first plate adapted to be fixedly secured to the seat cushion, said first plate including a first plurality of teeth disposed therearound; a second plate adapted to be fixedly secured to the seat back and rotatably coupled to said first plate, said second plate including a second plurality of teeth disposed therearound, wherein a tooth count of said first plurality of teeth does not equal a tooth count of said second plurality of teeth; a flex spline including a flexible wall defining an inner surface and having a third plurality of teeth disposed radially therearound, wherein a tooth count of said third plurality of teeth equals said tooth count of said first plurality of teeth; a wave generator having a first side facing said first plate and a second side facing said second plate and an outer profile causing a portion of said third plurality of teeth to meshingly engage with said first plurality of teeth and said second plurality of teeth, said outer profile of said wave generator includes a plurality of lobes generally equally spaced apart in a circumferential direction, said plurality of lobes causing said third plurality of teeth to meshingly engage with said first plurality of teeth and said second plurality of teeth in a plurality of distinct regions corresponding with said plurality of lobes and said plurality of distinct regions at which said third plurality of teeth meshingly engage with said first plurality of teeth and said second plurality of teeth change in response to rotation of said wave generator; said wave generator includes a first cage part and a second cage part, each one of said plurality of lobes including at least one roller rotatably supported between said first and second cage parts, and said at least one roller directly contacting said inner surface of said flex spline; and wherein said second plate rotates relative to said first plate in response to rotation of said wave generator, thereby causing pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.