Patent ID: 8449034

Claim:
A disc recliner for providing pivotal movement of a seat back relative to a seat cushion of an automotive vehicle seat, said disc recliner comprising: a fixed plate adapted to be mounted to one of the seat cushion and the seat back; a movable plate adapted to be mounted to the other of the seat cushion and the seat back, the movable plate rotatably coupled to said fixed plate; a locking mechanism disposed between said fixed and movable plates, said locking mechanism operable between a locked condition coupling said fixed and movable plates together and an unlocked condition uncoupling said fixed and movable plates to allow rotational movement of said movable plate relative to said fixed plate, wherein said movable plate includes a plurality of teeth and said locking mechanism includes a plurality of pawls mounted between said movable plate and said fixed plate, each of said plurality of pawls having a toothed surface for engagement with said plurality of teeth on said movable plate, and wherein said toothed surface on each of said plurality of pawls is engaged with said plurality of teeth on said movable plate when said locking mechanism is in said locked condition and said toothed surface on each of said plurality of pawls is disengaged with said plurality of teeth on said movable plate when said locking mechanism is in said unlocked condition; and a memory mechanism including a memory plate disposed between said fixed and movable plates, said memory plate movable between a first position disengaged with said movable plate thereby allowing adjustment of the seat back between a plurality of reclined seating positions by actuating said locking mechanism to said unlocked condition and a second position engaged with said movable plate to identify a previously selected one of said plurality of reclined seating positions and maintaining said locking mechanism in said unlocked condition thereby allowing movement of the seat back between said previously selected one of said plurality of reclined seating positions and a folded position.