Patent ID: 8622475

Claim:
A linear recliner assembly in use with a seat having a seatback pivotally engaged relative to a seat bottom, said assembly comprising: an elongate and three dimensional housing having a communicating interior between a first end and a second end of said housing; a drive rod supported in linearly displaceable fashion within said housing, said drive rod extending from said first end and being secured to the seat bottom; said second end of said housing pivotally engaged to the seatback at a location spaced from its pivot point relative to the seat bottom; a rotatable gear located at a fixed lineal position within said housing and through which said drive rod is threadably inter-engaged; a trigger mechanism pivotally secured to an exterior of said housing and exhibiting a downwardly biased and elongated detent communicating through an elongated opening in said housing to seat between succeeding teeth of said gear, said trigger mechanism further having a first bracket portion fixedly secured atop said housing, a second pivotal bracket portion secured to said first bracket portion and to which said detent is secured; said elongated detent mounting to said second pivotal bracket portion and exhibiting a “U” shape which descends through said elongated opening in said housing for engaging between said succeeding teeth of said gear; a cable having an outer fixed sheath secured to said first bracket portion and from which extends an inner and linearly translatable cable connected to said second pivotal bracket portion; and a spring supported within said housing interior in contact with said drive rod, upon said cable pivoting said second bracket portion to release of said detent from said gear, an external reclining force applied to the seatback resulting in displacement of said housing against said drive rod to bias said spring, said spring influencing the drive rod in a reverse direction such that, upon release of said detent from said gear when the seatback is in the reclined position, said spring influencing the seatback to reverse pivot to a returned upright position.