Patent ID: 6739668
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B60N,Y10T

Abstract:
An improved vehicle seat hinge mechanism for use in a vehicle seat assembly, said improved vehicle seat hinge mechanism being of a type having:a seat cushion mounting plate securely attachable to a vehicle seat cushion; a rotary recliner having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion defining a lower pivot axis and being rigidly attached to said seat cushion mounting plate and said second portion being mounted to said first portion for selective pivotal movement relative thereto about said lower pivot axis under control of a recliner actuation handle; a sector plate operatively mounted on said second portion for selective pivotal movement therewith about the lower pivot axis under the control of said recliner actuation handle as aforesaid, thereby defining a first modality of pivotal movement of said sector plate about said lower pivot axis; and a seat back mounting plate operatively mounted on said sector plate and securely attachable to a vehicle seat back, so as to provide, when installed in said vehicle seat assembly and through agency of said sector plate moving in said first modality, for said seat back to be pivotally movable with respect to said seat cushion about said lower pivot axis within a range of angular positions including a preferred seating position, a fully-inclined position and a fully-reclined position,wherein the improvement comprises:having the sector plate mounted on said second portion of the rotary recliner as aforesaid by means of an idler plate, with the idler plate being in fixed relation to said second portion for selective simultaneous pivotal movement of the sector plate, the idler plate and the second portion about said lower pivot axis under control of the recliner actuation handle in said first modality; and having a bearing surface to which the sector plate is journalled to provide for pivotal movement of said sector plate relative to said idler plate about the lower pivot axis between a first position and a second position, thereby to define a second modality of pivotal movement of the sector plate about said lower pivot axis and to provide, when said improved vehicle seat hinge mechanism is installed in said vehicle seat assembly and through agency of said sector plate moving in said second modality, for said seat back to be pivotally movable with respect to said seat cushion about said lower pivot axis between a primary position, whereat the sector plate is at its first position, and a secondary position, tilted forwardly relative to the primary position, whereat the sector plate is at its second position; a quick-release actuation member; a first lock means for selectively releasably locking the sector plate at its first position relative to the idler plate to prevent movement of the sector plate in said second modality, such release being under control of said quick-release actuation member; and first bias means for causing said locking of the first lock means, thereby, when the improved vehicle seat hinge mechanism is installed in said vehicle seat assembly,to permit, under control of the recliner actuation handle, pivotal movement of the seat back to said preferred seating position within said range of angular positions, by agency of said sector plate moving in said first modality; to permit, under control of the quick-release actuation member, the seat back to be tilted forwardly from said preferred seating position towards a forwardly dumped position, whereat the seat back overhangs the seat cushion, by agency of said sector plate moving in said second modality; and to provide seat back memory by means of activation of said first lock means upon return of the seat back in said second modality to said preferred seating position.