Abstract:
An adjustable pivot rotatably supports and adjusts a position of a pivoting member within a housing. The adjustable pivot includes a central cylinder defining a first axis and rotatably supporting the pivoting member. A second cylinder extends from the central cylinder and defines a second axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. The second cylinder is supported by the housing and operable for rotation about the second axis to an adjustment position. Rotation of the second cylinder to the adjustment position causes the first axis to orbit about the second axis to an adjusted position. In this manner, the pivoting member is adjustably positioned within the housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to relates generally to recliner mechanisms and, more particularly, to a device and method for assembling a recliner mechanism. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Rotary recliner mechanisms generally include of a first rotary member having a plurality of teeth and a second rotary member including one or more pawls adapted to lockingly engage the teeth to couple the rotary members to one another. Typically, one rotary member is mounted to a quadrant for attachment to a seat back and the second rotary member is mounted to a base plate for attachment to a seat base. The rotary recliner mechanisms are operable to lock the rotary member connected to the seat back to restrict its rotation, or to release the rotary member connected to the seat back to allow it to rotate and to enable the seat back to recline. 
   The rotary recliner mechanism is selectively locked or released by manipulating the one or more pawls, which are mounted for rotation between an engaged position where the teeth of the pawl and the teeth of the rotary member connected to the seat base mesh, and a disengaged position where the pawl retracts and no longer meshes with the teeth of the rotary member connected to the seat base. Locking rotary recliner mechanisms also may include a device, such as a spring, for releasably urging the pawl from the disengaged to the engaged position so that the default position for the mechanism is a locked condition. Further, the rotary recliner typically includes an activating mechanism that moves the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position. 
   In reclining seats, the seat back functions as an extremely long lever arm against which various forces are applied. The locking rotary recliner mechanism in a vehicle seat is relatively small compared to the length of the reclining seat back, and vehicle vibration or movement of an occupant may impose various forces upon that lever during use. These forces impose a large moment about the rotary member connected to the seat back when applied along such a lengthy lever arm. Any imperfection in the components of the pivot mechanisms, such as play or backlash between the engaging teeth or tolerances between the mechanism components, may allow the rotary member connected to the seat back to move a minuscule amount even when the mechanism is locked. These small movements are magnified by the length of the lever arm and become noticeable at the upper end of the seat. This magnified play in locking pivot mechanisms has been termed “chucking” and refers to any imperfections or play in the mechanism components that allow movement of the rotary member and attached seat back while the mechanism is in a locked condition. 
   One technique employed to reduce chucking is to form the components of the pivot mechanism with exceedingly close tolerances. Manufacturing to such close tolerance is difficult and expensive because precision machining is required. Further, close tolerances may bind the components of the system and prevent smooth operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an adjustable pivot to rotatably support and adjust a position of a pivoting member within a housing. The adjustable pivot includes a central cylinder defining a first axis and rotatably supporting the pivoting member. A second cylinder extends from the central cylinder and defines a second axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. The second cylinder is supported by the housing and operable for rotation about the second axis to an adjustment position. Rotation of the second cylinder to the adjustment position causes the first axis to orbit about the second axis to an adjusted position. In this manner, the pivoting member is adjustably positioned within the housing. 
   In one feature, the adjustable pivot further includes a third cylinder extending from the central cylinder. The third cylinder defines a third axis aligned with the second axis. The third cylinder is supported by the housing. 
   In another feature, rotation of the third cylinder about the third axis induces orbiting of the first axis about the third axis to adjust a position of the pivotal member within the housing. 
   In still another feature, the adjustable pivot further includes a relief formed in a face of the second cylinder. The relief is engageable by a tool to induce rotation of the second cylinder. 
   In yet another feature, the second cylinder is staked in the adjusted position to the housing to prohibit rotation of the second cylinder about the second axis. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary compact recliner assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the exemplary compact recliner assembly; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of locking components of the exemplary compact recliner assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the exemplary compact recliner assembly in a locked position; 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed view of an adjustable pivot of the compact recliner assembly; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the exemplary compact recliner assembly in an unlocked position; and 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a seat incorporating the exemplary compact recliner assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , an exemplary compact recliner assembly  10  includes an outer housing  12  having a support plate  14  fixed thereto, and an inner housing  16  supported within the outer housing  12  and covered by a cover plate  18 . The inner housing  16  supports a locking pawl  20  and a pair of locking cams  22 . The locking pawl  20  is slidable between a locked position, engaging an inner circumferential surface  24  of the outer housing  12 , and an unlocked position, disengaging the inner circumferential surface  24 . The locking cams  22  are movable between locked and unlocked positions (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 , respectively) to correspondingly lock the locking pawl  20  in its locked position. 
   The outer housing  12  is fixed to the support plate  14  by fasteners (not shown) that are received through apertures  26  of the outer housing  12  and apertures  28  of the support plate  14 . A lower flat  30  of the outer housing  12  seats within a bracket  32  extending from the support plate  14 . The outer housing  12  includes an oversized aperture  34  that forms the inner circumferential surface  24 . A series of teeth  36  are formed in a section of the inner circumferential surface  24 . Teeth  37  of the locking pawl  20  selectively engage the teeth  36 . 
   The inner housing  16  seats within the aperture  34  of the outer housing  12  and includes an outer circumferential surface  38 . The outer circumferential surface  38  slidably engages the inner circumferential surface  24  of the outer housing. In this manner, the outer housing  12  is rotatably supported about the inner housing  16 . The inner housing  16  also includes a cylindrical extension  40  that defines an outer circumferential surface  42 . The cylindrical extension  40  is received into an aperture  44  of the support plate  14  that defines an inner circumferential surface  46 . The outer circumferential surface  42  and the inner circumferential surface  46  are slidably engaged to support the support plate  14  about the inner housing  16 . The inner housing  16  includes a pawl slot  48  and cam recesses  50  formed therein. 
   The inner housing  16  is anchored in a fixed position by anchors  49 . The anchors  49  are received through apertures  51  and are secured to a fixed structure (not shown) by bolts (not shown). In this manner, the inner housing  16  is fixed relative to the support structure and the outer housing  12  is rotatable about the fixed inner housing  16 . 
   A cam plate  52  is rotatably supported within the inner housing  16  and engages the locking pawl  20  and the locking cams  22  for moving each between the locked and unlocked positions. The cam plate  52  is supported about a pivot  54  that extends through a central aperture  56  of the inner housing  16  and a central aperture  58  of the cover plate  18 . The pivot  54  includes a central cylindrical section  60  having a step with keyed surfaces  62 . A tapered cylindrical section  64  extends through and is supported within the central aperture  56  of the inner housing  16 . The central cylindrical section  60  seats within a recess  66  of the central aperture  56 . A cylindrical section  68  extends through and is supported within the central aperture  58  of the cover plate  18 . A keyed section  70  extends from an end of the cylindrical section  68 . 
   The cam plate  52  includes a cam slot  72  and a central aperture  74  having keyed flats  76  formed therein. A post  78  of the locking pawl  20  is received into the cam slot  72  and is slidable therein. The pivot  54  is received through the central aperture  74 , whereby the keyed surfaces  62  engage the keyed flats  76  of the central aperture  74 . In this manner, the cam plate  52  is fixed for rotation with the pivot  54 . The cam plate  52  further includes engagement edges  80  that slidably engage the locking cams  22 . 
   The locking cams  22  include a central aperture  82 , an upper jamming edge  84 , a lower jamming edge  86 , and a raised surface  88 . The locking cams  22  are pivotally supported within the cam recesses  50  about adjustable pivots  90 . The pivots  90  each include a central cylindrical section  92  defining an axis A and extending cylindrical sections  94  defining an axis B. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the central cylindrical section  92  is concentrically offset from the extending cylindrical sections  94 . In other words, axis A is offset from axis B. A groove  95  is formed at an end of the extending cylindrical sections  94 . The central cylindrical section  92  is received through the aperture  82  of the locking cam  22  and includes a bearing surface  96  about which the locking cam  22  is rotatably supported. The extending cylindrical sections  94  are received through apertures  98 ,  100  of the inner housing  16  and cover plate  18 , respectively, to support the pivot  90  therebetween. 
   In the locked position the locking cams  22  act as columns biasing the locking pawl  20  into engagement with the inner circumferential surface  24 . The upper jamming edges  84  of the locking cams  22  engage the locking pawl  20  and the lower jamming edges  86  engage a surface  102  of the inner housing  16 . In this manner, the locking cams  22  prohibit inward radial sliding of the locking pawl  20 . In the unlocked position the locking cams  22  are dislocated from engagement with the locking pawls  20  and surface  102  to enable the inward radial sliding of the locking pawl  20 . 
   During assembly, tolerances between the locking cams  22  are minimized to ensure the locking cams  22  properly contact the locking pawl  20  and the surface  102  when in the locked position. The locking pawl  20  and locking cams  22  are set in the locked position. This position is deemed neutral and it is relative to this position that the locking cams  22  are moved to an adjusted position to minimize tolerances. To minimize tolerances, the relative positions of the locking cams  22  between the locking pawl  20  and the surface  102  are adjusted by rotating the pivots  90  within the apertures  98 , 100 . Rotation of the pivots  90  is induced inserting a flat-head tool (e.g., screwdriver) into the grooves  95 . Rotation of the pivots  90  within the apertures  98 , 100  induces the axis A to orbit axis B in directions X 1  or Y 1 . The central cylindrical sections  92  rotate within apertures  82  of the locking cams  22 . Movement of axis B about axis A induces planar movement of the locking cams  22  within the inner housing  16  to an adjusted position. The locking cams  22  move in directions X 2  and Y 2  to adjust the locking cams  22  between the locking pawl  20  and the surface  102 . Once the adjusted position of the locking cams  22  is achieved, the pivots  90  are staked to the inner housing  16  and the cover plate  18 . In this manner, the pivots  94  are fixed from rotating after assembly, thereby fixing the position of the locking cams  22  between the locking pawl  20  and the surface  102 . 
   The locking cams  22  are biased into the locked position by a compression spring  104 . The compression spring  104  seats within a spring recess  106  partially defined by the surface  102 . The compression spring  104  seats between flats  108  of the locking cams  22  to exert a biasing force on the locking cams  22 . The engagement edges  80  of the cam plate  52  slidably engage corresponding edges  110  of the raised surfaces  88 . As the cam plate  52  is induced to rotate, the engagement edges  80  bias the locking cams  22  to rotate about the pivots  90  to the unlocked position. As the locking cams  22  rotate, the flats  108  compress the compression spring  104 . Upon release of the cam plate  52 , the compression spring  104  biases the locking cams  22  into the locked position. As the locking cams  22  rotate back to the locked position the cam plate  52  is induced to rotate, urging the locking pawl  20  back into engagement with the teeth  36  of the inner circumferential surface  24 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the compact recliner assembly  10  is integrated into a seat assembly  120 . The seat assembly  120  includes a seat  122  and a seat back  124 . The inner housing  16  is fixed to the seat  122  by the anchors  49 . The seat back  124  is fixed to the support plate  14 . Rotation of the outer housing  12  about the inner housing  16  facilitates corresponding pivoting of the seat back  124  relative to the seat  122 . A handle  126  is fixed to the keyed section  70  of the pivot  54 . The handle  126  is actuated by an operator to induce rotation of the pivot  54 , thereby facilitating operation of the compact recliner assembly  10  as described above. 
   It is appreciated that the compact recliner assembly  10  is merely exemplary in nature and is only one example of many types of recliner assemblies known in the art. It is anticipated that the adjustable pivots  90  can be implemented in any type of recliner assembly. Implementation of an adjustable pivot reduces chucking by compensating for tolerances between recliner assembly components. 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.