Patent ID: 6890035
Filing Date: 2005-05-10
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A recliner mechanism for allowing selective locking and pivotal adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat cushion, said recliner mechanism comprising: a fixed flange fixedly secured to the seat cushion; a mobile flange fixedly secured to the seat back and pivotally coupled to said fixed flange for allowing pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between a plurality of reclined seating positions and a stowed position; an input shaft operatively coupled between said fixed and mobile flanges and movable between unreleased and released positions for selectively actuating said recliner mechanism between a locked state for locking said seat back in any one of said plurality of reclined seating positions and said stowed position and an unlocked state for allowing pivotal movement of said seat back between said plurality of reclined seating positions and said stowed position a first trigger movably coupled with said recliner mechanism and engagable with said input shaft in said released position for maintaining said recliner mechanism in said unlocked state during movement of said seat back between said plurality of reclined seating positions and said stowed position; a lever arm engagable with said first trigger and pivotally assembled to said input shaft for movement between a retracted position against said input shaft and disengaged from said first trigger and an extended position projecting outwardly from said input shaft and presented for engaging said first trigger to maintain said input shaft in said released position during movement of said seat back between said plurality of reclined seating positions and said stowed position wherein said first trigger is pivotally coupled to said recliner mechanism for movement between a first position presented for engaging said lever arm in said extended position for maintaining said input shaft in said released position during movement of said seat back between said plurality of reclined seating positions and said stowed position and a second position disengaged from said lever arm to allow movement of said input shaft between said unreleased and released positions; and wherein said first trigger includes a tab engagable with said seat back for moving said first trigger between said first and second positions in response to disengagement and engagement of the seat back with said tab.