Patent ID: 6102480
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A reclining mechanism for a vehicle seat comprising:a first arm member for attachment to a frame structure of a seat cushion or a back rest of the vehicle seat;a second arm member for attachment to a frame structure of the other of the back rest or the seat cushion, the second arm member being connected with the fist arm member by means of a hinge pin for relative rotation about the binge pin and having a circular ratchet portion concentric with the hinge pin;a slide pawl slidably coupled with the first arm member in a radial direction with respect to the hinge pin to be moved toward and away from the ratchet portion of the second arm member;a cam plate mounted on the hinge pin for rotation therewith and being engaged with the slide pawl for engaging the slide pawl with the ratchet portion of the second arm member when the hinge pin is retained in position under load of a torsion spring assembled thereon and for disengaging the slide pawl from the ratchet portion of the second arm member when the hinge pin is rotated against the load of the torsion spring;a support plate threadedly engaged with the hinge pin to be moved by rotation of the hinge pin in an axial direction for receiving the slide pawl thereon when the slide pawl is maintained in engagement with the ratchet portion of the second arm member and for releasing the slide pawl therefrom when the slide pawl is disengaged from the ratchet portion of the second arm member.