Abstract:
A recliner apparatus for a vehicle seat has a pair of discontinuous recliner mechanisms attached to opposite sides of the seat for comfort adjustment in which the angle of the seat back is moved to a desired angular orientation. A master easy entry recliner mechanism is attached to an inner side of one of the side support members of the vehicle seat frame. A locking pawl is operatively connected to the side support member to selectively engage a stop in a locked position. The locking pawl is moved by a control cable between locked and unlocked positions. A slave easy entry connector is connected to the master easy entry recliner mechanism by a slave control cable. The slave easy entry connector releases one of the discontinuous recliner mechanisms when the master easy entry recliner is shifted to the easy entry position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C.§119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2011 004 671.2, filed Feb. 24, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to seat back reclining mechanisms that cooperate with an easy entry seat release mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Seat reclining mechanisms and easy entry seat release mechanisms are known and examples of prior art patents disclosing such devices include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,611,599; 5,755,491; 5,536,217; 4,930,841; 4,668,013; 4,634,181; and 4,629,251. 
     SUMMARY 
     A recliner apparatus is provided for a vehicle seat that includes a seat base and a seat back that may be adjusted to change the angle of inclination of the seat back and that may also be released to permit easy entry to seats or storage areas located behind the vehicle seat. 
     In one embodiment of the recliner apparatus, right and left side discontinuous recliner mechanisms are attached to right and left side outer surfaces of the side support members forming the frame of the seat back. The right and left side recliner mechanisms are both secured to a shaft that is manually pivoted in one rotary direction to selectively release the recliner mechanisms for comfort adjustment in which the angle of the seat back is moved to a desired angular orientation. The shaft is pivoted in the opposite rotary direction to lock the seat back in the desired angular orientation. A master easy entry recliner mechanism is attached to an inner side of one of the side support members. The master easy entry recliner mechanism includes a locking pawl operatively connected to the side support member that engages a stop in a locked position. The locking pawl is moved by a principal control cable between the locked position in which the pawl locks the seat back to hold the seat back in the desired angular orientation and an unlocked position in which the pawl disengages the stop to unlock the seat back. In the unlocked position, the seat back is allowed to rotate to an easy entry position in which the seat back overlies the seat base. A slave easy entry connector is operatively connected to the master easy entry recliner mechanism by a slave control cable. The slave easy entry connector is released when the pawl is in the unlocked position. The slave easy entry connector is locked when the principal control cable is in the locked position. The slave easy entry connector releases one of the discontinuous recliner mechanisms when the master easy entry recliner mechanism is shifted to the easy entry position. 
     According to other aspects of the disclosure, the stop engaged by the locking pawl may be defined by a sector plate that has an arcuate surface that holds the pawl in the unlocked position while the slave control cable continues to hold the one discontinuous recliner mechanism in the released condition. The slave easy entry connector preferably releases the one discontinuous recliner before the pawl disengages the stop to unlock the seat back. The slave easy entry connector may be a lever that is attached to the shaft adjacent to the one discontinuous recliner mechanism. The lever comprising the slave easy entry connector pivots the shaft to release the one recliner mechanism. The lever may be attached to the one recliner mechanism on an outboard side of the recliner mechanism. 
     According to other aspects of the disclosure, a locking cam is provided that normally engages the locking pawl. A spring biases the locking cam to engage the locking pawl to hold the locking pawl in engagement with the stop. The principal control cable is actuated to move the locking cam into engagement with the locking pawl to disengage the stop. 
     According to another feature of the disclosure, a cover plate may be attached to the inner side of the side support member to which the master easy entry mechanism is attached. The locking pawl and locking cam are disposed between the cover plate and the side support member to which the easy entry recliner mechanism is attached. A dual lever having two arms with the first arm attached to the principal control cable and a second arm attached to the slave control cable is provided. The dual lever is connected to the locking cam to rotate the locking cam about a pivot axis. 
     These and other aspects of Applicants&#39; disclosure will be better understood in view of the attached drawings and the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle seat frame having a master easy entry recliner mechanism with two comfort recliners connected by a shaft; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary side elevation view of the master easy entry recliner mechanism; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the master easy entry recliner with its cover removed in the locked position; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing the easy entry mechanism as it is initially unlocked; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing the master easy entry recliner in its unlocked position with the seat back partially rotated in the forward direction; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the master easy entry recliner shown connected to a discontinuous comfort recliner; 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary side elevation view of a slave connector connected to one of the discontinuous comfort recliner mechanisms; 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary side elevation view of a discontinuous recliner locking cam and pawl in the locked position; and 
         FIG. 9  is a fragmentary side elevation view of a discontinuous recliner locking cam and pawl in the unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle seat  10  is shown with the cushions and cover removed to reveal a seat base frame  12  and a seat back frame  14 . A right discontinuous recliner  16  and a left discontinuous recliner  18  are connected by a shaft  20  to provide a pivot connection between the seat back frame  14  and the seat base frame  12 . On an inside surface  22  of the seat back frame  14 , a master easy entry recliner  24  is secured. The master easy entry recliner  24  is secured to the inside surface  22  to avoid interference with seat back mounted air bag structures (not shown) that may be attached to the seat back frame  14 . A left side support member  26  and a right side support member  28  are the main vertical support portions of the seat back frame  14 . 
     A principal control cable  30  extends from an actuator (not shown), such as a handle, located at the upper portion of the seat back frame  14  that is manipulated by a vehicle occupant to release the easy entry recliner  24 . The principal control cable  30  extends to a dual lever  32  that is used to release the master easy entry recliner  24 . The dual lever  32  also is connected to a slave control cable  34 . The slave control cable  34  is routed from the master easy entry recliner  24  to a slave connector  36 . The slave connector  36  is connected to the right discontinuous recliner  16  to release the right discontinuous recliner  16  when the master easy entry recliner  24  is released. 
     The right discontinuous recliner  16  is preferably released by the slave connector  36  before the master easy entry recliner  24  is released. This may be accomplished by reducing the extent of cable movement necessary to release the slave connector  36  so that it is less than the range of motion required to release the master easy entry recliner  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a portion of a seat back frame  14  is shown to include the inside surface  22  of the left side support member  26 . The principal control cable  30  is connected to the dual lever  32 . The principal control cable is connected to a first leg  40  of the dual lever  32 . The slave control cable  34  is connected to a second leg  42  of the dual lever  32 . When the principal control cable  30  is actuated, the cable pulls the first leg  40  upwardly, as shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the dual lever  32  rotates in a clockwise direction. This movement causes the second leg  42  to pull the slave control cable  34 . 
     A cover  46  encloses the master easy entry recliner  24  to isolate it from the foam cushion and other portions of the vehicle seat (not shown). A sector plate  48  is also shown in  FIG. 2  that forms part of the master easy entry recliner  24  as will be more particularly described with reference to  FIGS. 3-5  below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the master easy entry recliner  24  is shown in greater detail. The master easy entry recliner  24  may be assembled to a plate  50  so that it can be attached as a subassembly to the inside surface  22  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the left side support member  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). A locking pawl  52  is pivotally connected to the plate  50 . The locking pawl  52  includes a locking lever  56  that is adapted to engage a stop  58  that forms part of the sector plate  48 . 
     A locking cam  60  cooperates with the locking lever  56  as will be shown in the series of views comprising  FIGS. 3-5 . The locking cam  60  initially holds the locking lever  56  in engagement with the stop  58 . A spring  62  biases the locking cam  60  into the position shown in  FIG. 3 . The locking cam  60  is mounted on a pivot pin  64  that pivots about an axis. An arcuate surface  66  is provided on the sector plate and holds the locking lever  56  in a disengaged position as will be more particularly described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the locking lever  56  is shown just after disengaging the stop  58  formed on the sector plate  48 . The locking lever is permitted to move when the locking cam  60  is rotated by the dual lever  32  as a result of actuation of the principal control cable  30 . The locking cam  60  rotates the locking lever  56  by engaging the inner surface  68  of the locking lever  56 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the locking lever  56  is clear of the stop  58  and beginning to engage the arcuate surface  66  of the sector plate  48 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , forward folding of the master easy entry recliner  24  is shown. The locking lever  56  is shown riding upon the arcuate surface  66 . At this point, the seat back is permitted to rotate from its angularly adjusted comfort position to its full forward, or easy entry position. The sector plate  48  is secured to the right discontinuous recliner  16  and the seat back (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is permitted to fold forward free of the left discontinuous recliner  18  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the lower part of the master easy entry recliner  24  is shown in conjunction with a portion of the seat back frame  14 . The master easy entry recliner  24  includes a collar  70  that is fixedly secured to an inner gear plate  72  of the left discontinuous recliner  18 . The inner gear plate  72  cooperates with a guide plate  74  to provide comfort adjustment for the angular orientation of the seat back  14 . The collar  70  supports the sector plate  48  and is not connected to the shaft  20  so that the seat back may be positioned in the easy entry position without requiring the disengagement of the left discontinuous recliner  18 . The master easy entry recliner  24  is attached to the inside surface  22  of the left side support member  26 , as previously described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the right discontinuous recliner  16  is generally shown connected to a portion of the shaft  20 . The slave control cable  34  is connected to a slave connector  36  comprising a lever arm that is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in  FIG. 7 , to release the right discontinuous recliner  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the structure of the discontinuous recliners  16  and  18  is shown in a fragmentary view. The discontinuous recliners each include an inner gear plate  72  that cooperates with the guide plate  74  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). A pair of locking elements  76  engage the inner gear plate  72  to hold the seat back (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in a selected, or desired, angular orientation relative to the seat base  12  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). A cam  78 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , holds the locking element  76  into engagement with the inner gear plate  72 . The cam  78  is biased by a spring  80  into its locked position. A hub  82  is also shown in  FIG. 8  that connects the cam  78  to the shaft  20  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the discontinuous recliner  18  is shown in its released position in which the seat back  14  may be moved to a desired angular orientation while the locking element  76  is withdrawn by the cam  78  as it is rotated by the hub  82 . In this position, the biasing force exerted by the spring  80  is overcome by either rotation of the shaft  20  through the left discontinuous recliner  18  by a handle (not shown). Alternatively, the slave connector  36  may be shifted by the slave control cable  34  to release the right discontinuous recliner (shown in  FIG. 1 ) when the master easy entry recliner  24  is released by the principal control cable  30 . 
     In operation, the angular position of the seat back frame  14  is adjusted by disengaging the right and left discontinuous recliners  16 ,  18  by actuating a handle on one side of the vehicle seat. As used herein, the right and left directions are used in the context of a left side drive vehicle driver seat. As is well known in the art, a passenger side seat would have the right and left sides reversed due to the need to provide a handle on the opposite side of the seat. 
     The easy entry function is provided by the cooperation of the master easy entry recliner  24  that operates the slave connector  36 . The master easy entry recliner  24  is actuated when the principal control cable  30  is pulled to rotate the dual lever  32 . At the same time, the slave control cable  34  is shifted to rotate the slave connector  36 . The master easy entry recliner  24  acts on the left side support member of a driver&#39;s seat in a left-hand side drive vehicle. The slave connector acts upon the right discontinuous recliner  16  of such a seat. The master easy entry recliner  24  is released when the locking pawl  52  and its associated locking lever  56  disengage the stop  58  formed on the sector plate  48 . The seat back is then free to pivot to a forwardly shifted position in which the seat back frame  14  overlies the seat base frame  12 . The locking lever  56  is prevented from locking as it rides over the arcuate surface  66  of the sector plate  48 . 
     When the seat is returned to its upright position, the sector plate  48  rotates relative to locking lever  56  until the locking lever  56  again engages the stop  58 . Since there has been no change in the angular orientation of the left discontinuous recliner  18 , the seat back is returned to its original comfort position which may be referred to as an easy entry with memory recliner. 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.