Patent ID: 6860560

Claim:
A vehicle seat back recliner, comprising: a stationary bracket for mounting on a seat cushion of a vehicle seat with which the recliner is to be used; a pivotal bracket that is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis on the stationary bracket and that is adapted to mount a seat back of the vehicle seat; a lock mechanism having a locking pawl mounted on the stationary bracket for movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the pivotal bracket, the locking pawl engaging the pivotal bracket in the locked position to lock the pivotal bracket against pivotal movement on the stationary bracket with the seat back supported by the pivotal bracket extending in a generally upright position, and the locking pawl being disengaged from the pivotal bracket in the unlocked position to permit pivoting thereof on the stationary bracket such that the seat back is pivotable with respect to the seat cushion; a control cam mounted on the stationary bracket for movement between blocking and released positions with respect to the locking pawl, the control cam engaging the locking pawl in its blocking position to hold the locking pawl in its locked position, and the control cam being movable to the released position to move the locking pawl to its unlocked position; and a catch mounted on the stationary bracket for movement between latched and released positions with respect to the locking pawl, the catch engaging the locking pawl upon movement thereof to the unlocked position by the control cam to hold the locking pawl against movement to the locked position, and the pivotal bracket upon pivoting on the stationary bracket as the seat back pivots rearwardly to its upright position engaging and moving the catch to its released position out of engagement with the locking pawl so the locking pawl can move to its locked position in engagement with the pivotal bracket to prevent further pivotal movement so the seat back is then held in its upright position.