Patent ID: 6966605

Claim:
A pair of laterally opposite side, interconnected latching-unlatching mechanisms for accommodating lockable, selective, angular-position adjustment of a seat-back structure, which is mounted, effectively, on a seat-base frame structure for reciprocal rocking relative to such frame structure, throughout a defined angle of adjustment, and about a rock axis, each of said mechanisms comprising a rocker gear anchored for rocking motion as a unit with said seat-back structure about the rock axis, including a row-set arc of teeth radially centered on the rock axis, a latch element mounted on the seat base frame structure adjacent said rocker gear for rocking motion which is relative both to the seat-base frame structure, and to the seat-back structure, about an axis which is spaced from and generally parallel to the rock axis, said latch element including a row-set of teeth disposed in an arc having substantially the same radius of curvature as does the arc of teeth in said rocker gear, said two row-sets of teeth being disengageably meshable, meshing of said teeth locking said rocker gear, and thereby the seat-back structure, against rocking motion, and de-meshing of the teeth enabling such rocking motion, said latch element including, within its perimeter boundary, a cut-out void space which furnishes different dwell, cam-follower, and drive surfaces, a person-manipulable rocker cam mounted on said seat-base frame structure for counter-rotation relative to said seat-base frame structure, rocker gear, and latch element, and about an axis which is spaced from, and generally parallel to, said two, earlier-mentioned axes, captively, floatingly and operatively disposed within said void space, and contactively inter-engaged under all circumstances and in all rotational positions within the void space with at least one of said surfaces, said rocker cam being manipulable to one position enabling disengagement of said two row-sets of teeth, and to another position involving cam driving of said latch element by said rocker cam wherein said row-sets of teeth are engaged, and interconnect structure extending operatively between the two latching-unlatching mechanisms on opposite sides of such a seat-back structure, and uniting the cams in the two mechanisms for rocking as a unit.