Patent ID: 6206164
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A seat back adjustment for a seat assembly including a seat and a seat back coupled with the seat and tiltable between folded and erected positions relative to the seat, said seat back adjustment comprising;fixed and movable frames adapted to be rigidly secured to the seat and seat back, respectively;a clutch including an inner race and an outer race, one of said inner and outer races being fixedly connected to the fixed frame and the other of said inner and outer races being fixedly connected to the movable frame, said inner and outer races being rotatable relative to each other in any one of first and second directions opposite to each other; andsaid clutch also including a lock means for locking the relative rotation of the inner and outer races in any one of the first and second directions by means of a frictional contact, a lock release means for releasing the lock means to allow the inner and outer races to be rotatable in any one of the first and second directions relative to each other when a predetermined external force is applied thereto, and an operating member for applying the external force.