Patent ID: 6328382
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A locking structure for a reclining seat having a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally mounted on the seat cushion, said locking structure comprising:a first bracket to be fixed to the seat cushion and having a center hole;a second bracket to be fixed to the seat back and having a center hole;first and second projections formed on one of said first and second brackets and each having first and second flat surfaces opposite to each other, the first and second flat surfaces of said first projection confronting the second and first flat surfaces of said second projection, respectively, and extending parallel thereto;the other of said first and second brackets having a recess defined therein and an internally-toothed gear formed around said recess, said first and second projections being received in said recess so that said second bracket can be rotated relative to said first bracket;first and second lock gears each having a pawl engageable with said internally-toothed gear, said first lock gear being slidably interposed between the first flat surface of said first projection and the second flat surface of said second projection, said second lock gear being slidably interposed between the second flat surface of said first projection and the first flat surface of said second projection;a cam for moving said first and second lock gears selectively away from and towards each other; anda cam shaft connected to said cam for rotation together therewith, said cam shaft having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said center hole of said first bracket and smaller than a diameter of said center hole of said second bracket such that said cam shaft is sufficiently loosely inserted in said center hole of said first bracket and said center hole of said second bracket so as to allow smooth rotation of said cam shaft relative to said first and second brackets even upon misalignment of a longitudinal axis of said cam shaft relative to longitudinal axes of said center holes of said first and second brackets, to thereby prevent a biased action in which only one of said first and second lock gears is held in mesh with said internally-toothed gear.