Patent ID: 7871127
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback, said mechanism comprising: a fixed and substantially planar upwardly extending support; a seatback affixed sector pivotally secured to an uppermost location of said support, said seatback sector exhibiting an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined a first plurality of teeth; a pawl pivotally secured to said support and including an upper surface upon which are formed a second plurality of teeth inter-engaging said first plurality of teeth when the seatback is in an upright position; a release cam secured to said support proximate a recessed underside location of said pawl, said release cam maintaining said pawl in locking engagement with said seatback sector in a first position, said release cam rotating to cause said pawl to pivot out of engagement with said seatback sector, allowing the seatback to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position; a detent cam pivotally secured to said support and, in response to actuation of said release cam and pivoting of the seatback to the dump position, said detent cam pivoting a shoulder defined location into engagement with a stepped location formed upon said seatback sector; and a floor latch release lever pivotally secured to said support and, upon being contacted by said rotating release cam, in turn pivots so that an end feature of said release lever displaces to prevent said locking pawl from pivoting in a reverse direction against said seatback sector, said release lever reverse pivoting in response to the seat bottom reengaging the floor striker, causing said pawl to reverse pivot said pluralities of teeth into reengagement, and upon the seatback rotating back to the upright position.