Patent ID: 7695068

Claim:
A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: first, second, and third gear mechanisms, each gear mechanism including: a first frame mounted at one of a seat cushion and a seatback and having an internal gear; and a second frame mounted at the other one of the seat cushion and the seatback and having an external gear engaging with the internal gear, the number of teeth of the external gear being fewer than the internal gear, wherein the first gear mechanism is provided at one side of a vehicle seat relative to a seat width direction, and the second and third gear mechanisms are provided at the other side of the vehicle seat relative to the seat width direction; a shaft operatively connecting the first gear mechanism provided at the one side with the second and third gear mechanisms provided at the other side; and an electric motor rotating the shaft to shift an engagement position between the internal gear and the external gear for tilting the seatback relative to the seat cushion, wherein the electric motor is disposed at one of the first frame and the second frame of the first gear mechanism provided at the one side relative to the seat width direction.