Patent ID: 6120098
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A recliner assembly for hingedly connecting a seat back and a seat cushion, said recliner assembly comprising:a base plate mounted to the seat cushion, said base plate having a circular cavity with an inner circumference lined with teeth;an arm mounted to the seat back and pivotally engaging the base plate for sliding relative movement thereto for forward and rearward pivotal movement of the seat back, said arm having a circular cavity with an inner circumference lined with teeth and coaxially mounted in a face to face manner with the circular cavity of the base plate;a locking mechanism for locking the seat back in one of a range of seat back positions and selectively releasing the seat back for adjustment of the seat back relative to the seat cushion and dumping the seat forwardly providing access rearward of the seat cushion, said locking mechanism comprising:a plurality of pawls pivotally connected to said base plate and movable between an engaged position where the pawls lockably engage the teeth of both the base plate and the arm and a disengaged position where the pawls are disengaged therefrom,a camming member rotatably mounted between the base plate and the arm, said camming member rotatable in a first sense engaging the plurality of pawls urging the pawls to the disengaged position and rotatable in an opposite sense engaging the plurality of pawls urging the pawls to the engaged position, andan actuator operatively engaging the camming member for effecting the rotatable movement of the camming member to selectively lock and release the recliner assembly.