Patent ID: 6017090
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A seat recliner for use in a seat assembly having a seatback supported for pivotal movement relative to a seat bottom, said seat recliner comprising:a housing adapted to be secured to one of the seat bottom and the seatback;a recliner rod having a first end secured to the other of the seat bottom and the seatback and a second end supported for sliding movement relative to said housing;a cradle supported from said housing for movement between a first position and a second position;a lock pawl supported from said cradle for movement between a locked position and a released position in response to movement of said cradle between its first and second positions, said lock pawl is in latched engagement with said second end of said recliner rod when located in its locked position and is released from latched engagement with said second end of said recliner rod when located in its released position;a recline operator for selectively moving said cradle from its first position to its second position to permit movement of said recliner rod relative to said housing for adjusting the use position of the seatback;a lock pin supported from said housing for movement between a first position whereat said lock pawl is prevented from moving relative to said cradle and a second position whereat said lock pawl is released for movement relative to said cradle; anda dump operator for selectively moving said lock pin from its first position to its second position with said cradle maintained in its first position and said lock pawl maintained in its locked position to permit concurrent movement of said lock pawl and said second end of said recliner rod relative to said housing in response to movement of the seatback from a use position to a forward dumped position.