Recliner swing-gate control spacer

A recliner heart spacer ring includes a body portion having a substantially consistent inner diameter. First and second inner cutouts are diametrically opposed from one another. First and second pairs of retention features are diametrically opposed from one another and are adapted to engage a swing gate of a recliner heart. The recliner heart spacer ring guides the swing gate as the swing gate transitions between a range of positions associated with a seat back.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a control spacer for a seat recliner, and more particularly to a recliner swing gate control spacer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle seat assemblies generally include reclining capabilities, such that a user may position a seat back at a variety of angles relative to the seat. A robust recliner heart provides secure engagement of the seat back at a particular position relative to the seat to properly support a user while seated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a recliner heart spacer ring includes a body portion having a substantially consistent inner diameter. First and second inner cutouts are diametrically opposed from one another. First and second pairs of retention features are diametrically opposed from one another and are adapted to engage a swing gate of a recliner heart. The recliner heart spacer ring guides the swing gate as the swing gate transitions between a range of positions associated with a seat back.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a recliner heart includes a recliner heart spacer ring having a body portion including a substantially consistent inner diameter. First and second inner cutouts are diametrically opposed from one another. First and second retention features are diametrically opposed from one another. Third and fourth retention features are diametrically opposed from one another. A swing gate includes retention tabs adapted to engage the first and second pairs of retention features of the recliner heart spacer ring.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a recliner heart for a vehicle seat includes a recliner heart spacer ring having a body portion including a substantially consistent inner diameter. First and second inner cutouts are diametrically opposed from one another. First and second pairs of outer retention features are included. A swing gate includes retention tabs adapted to engage the first and second pairs of retention features of the recliner heart spacer ring. A housing is disposed around the first and second pairs of retention features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral10generally designates a recliner heart spacer ring including a body portion12having inner and outer walls14,15. First and second inner cutouts16,18are diametrically opposed from one another. Outer retention features20,22,24,26are adapted to engage retention tabs28of a swing gate30of a recliner heart32(shown inFIGS. 3-4). The recliner heart spacer ring10guides the swing gate30as the components of the recliner heart32move.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, one embodiment of the recliner heart32is illustrated. The recliner heart32includes a driver40that is rotatably coupled with the recliner heart32. The driver40extends through a disc cap42and a guide43, as well as first and second clock springs44,46. The first and second clock springs44,46are in abutting contact with a cam48that is in abutting contact with a number of pawls50that move radially inward and outward and engage an inner circumferential area52of a gear rim54that has a plurality of teeth56(FIGS. 5 and 6). In the illustrated embodiment, there are four pawls50that are biased outwardly by the first and second clock springs44,46. The pawls50are movably associated with channels58in the swing gate30. The channels58in the swing gate30are defined by inner and outer edges59,61. The swing gate30is disposed between a control disc60and the spacer ring10and allows for rotational movement of the driver40relative to the gear rim54. The spacer ring10is disposed between the swing gate30and the gear rim54. The driver40extends through a rear wall of the gear rim54and into a welding ring62. The welding ring62holds the driver40in place in the gear rim54. A bearing ring64is disposed on a back side of the gear rim54adjacent to a clamping ring66that helps hold the recliner heart together.

Referring now toFIGS. 4-7, the spacer ring10is designed to engage the swing gate30and to ensure proper functionality of the swing gate30as the pawls50(shown inFIG. 3) rotate through various positions in the channels58in the swing gate30. The spacer ring10includes a first side65adjacent the swing gate30and a second side67adjacent the gear rim54, as well as the inner and outer walls14,15. The spacer ring10fits under the profile of the swing gate30and the outer retention features20,22,24,26provide support for the retention tabs28of the swing gate30. The spacer ring10prevents traditional retention tab features70of the swing gate30from skipping or disengaging the gear rim54of the recliner heart32. Rim engagement features72on the spacer ring10engage engagement features74of the gear rim54. The shape of the spacer ring10complements the configuration of the swing gate30, thereby ensuring that the spacer ring10does not interfere with recliner pawls50as the recliner pawls50travel through the channels58of the swing gate30. The spacer ring10can also be modified, such that stop features within the recliner heart32, and under the configuration of the swing gate30, are eliminated. The addition of the spacer ring10prevents the swing gate30from entering a failure mode, wherein the swing gate30is disengaged from the recliner heart32at traditional tab features70of the swing gate30.

Referring now toFIGS. 6-9, during assembly, the swing gate30is configured so that the retention tabs28define catches configured to engage the outer retention features20,22,24,26of the spacer ring10. The retention tabs28can be integral with the swing gate30or be added to the swing gate30via welding, adhesive, etc. The retention tabs28may also be bent at an angle relative to the planar extent of the swing gate30. In one embodiment, the retention tabs28extend at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the planar extent of the swing gate30. The spacer ring10is first installed into the gear rim54, and then the swing gate30is installed into the gear rim54such that one retention tab28is aligned with one of the outer retention features20,22,24,26. The spacer ring10maintains the position of the swing gate30in the gear rim54. Accordingly, the swing gate30does not become disengaged from the gear rim54and can serve to properly guide the pawls50as the pawls50transition through the channels58.

The inner wall14of the spacer ring10defines an inner diameter of the spacer ring10. In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the inner diameter of the spacer ring10is 2 mm larger than an outer diameter defined by the outer edges61of the channels58of the swing gate30. Because the inner diameter of the spacer ring10is larger than the inner diameter of the swing gate30, the spacer ring10does not interfere with the swing gate30as the pawls50transition through the channels58of the swing gate30when the seat back angle is being adjusted.

Referring now toFIGS. 9-12, one embodiment of the spacer ring10is illustrated with the relative dimensions and angles of features of the spacer ring10. It will be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the dimensions and angles illustrated can vary without departing from the essence of the invention. The spacer ring is configured to act as a retention device to prevent the swing gate30from entering a failure mode. In one embodiment, the spacer ring10is roughly 1 mm thick and the outer retention features20,22,24,26are spaced approximately 90 degrees apart about the outer wall15of the spacer ring10. Thus, retention features20and24are diametrically opposed as are retention features22and26. Similarly, the rim engagement features72are shown as being diametrically opposed from each other, as are the corresponding engagement features74of the gear rim54and the traditional retention tab features70of the swing gate30.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. It is contemplated that the spacer ring10may be constructed of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, steel or a polymeric material, such as nylon. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.