Low chuck compliant pivot joint

A compliant pivot link assembly for a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a pivot link having first and second cup-shaped protrusions, each of said first and second cup-shaped protrusions having opposing upper and lower surfaces with a cup opening extending between said opposing upper and lower surfaces;
• first and second fasteners, each of said first and second fasteners having opposing top and bottom surfaces and a curved shoulder surface extending from said top surface;
• first and second shoulder bolts, each of said first and second shoulder bolts having a bolt head, an upper shaft portion projecting axially from said bolt head and terminating at a shoulder, and a lower shaft portion projecting axially from said shoulder;
• and
• first and second bias members, each of said first and second bias members having a bias opening extending axially therethrough;
• wherein each of said first and second shoulder bolts extends through said bias opening in a respective one of said first and second bias members, extends through said cup opening in a respective one of said first and second cup-shaped protrusions, and is fixedly coupled to a respective one of said first and second fasteners with said shoulder frictionally engaged with said top surface of said respective one of said first and second fasteners;
• wherein each of said first and second bias members are spaced between said upper surface of said respective one of said first and second cup-shaped protrusions and said bolt head of said respective one of said first and second shoulder bolts;
• and
• wherein said curved shoulder surface of each of said first and second fasteners is frictionally engaged with said lower surface of said respective one of said first and second cup-shaped protrusions.

A compliant pivot joint for a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a link member;
• a frame member;
• a cup opening passing between opposing upper and lower surfaces of a cup-shaped protrusion formed on one of said link member and said frame member;
• a hole formed in the other one of said link member and said frame member;
• a fastener having an outer surface extending between opposing upper and lower end surfaces and a threaded passageway extending between said opposing upper and lower end surfaces;
• a bias member having a bias opening extending axially therethrough;
• and
• a shoulder bolt having a shaft projecting axially from a bolt head and terminating at a shaft end, said shaft including a first shaft portion, a second shaft portion, and a third shaft portion, said first shaft portion having a first outer wall projecting from said bolt head and terminating at a first end wall and having a curved shoulder surface extending between said first outer wall and said first end wall, said second shaft portion projecting axially from said first end wall and terminating at a second end wall, said second end wall defining a second shoulder, and said third shaft portion projecting axially from said second end wall, at least a portion of said third shaft portion including an external screw thread configured to meshingly engage with said threaded passageway of said fastener, wherein said bolt head is configured such that said bolt head has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of said hole, said first shaft portion has an outer diameter smaller than said inner diameter of said hole and larger than an inner diameter of said cup opening, said second and third shaft portions have outer diameters smaller than said inner diameters of said hole, said cup opening, and said bias opening;
• wherein said shaft of said shoulder bolt extends through said hole, said cup opening, and said bias opening with said curved shoulder surface frictionally engaged with said lower surface of said cup-shaped protrusion;
• wherein said threaded passageway of said fastener is meshingly engaged with said external screw thread of said third shaft portion with said lower end surface of said fastener frictionally engaged with said second shoulder of said shoulder bolt;
• and
• wherein said bias member is spaced between said lower end surface of said fastener and said upper surface of said cup-shaped protrusion and biases said fastener away from said cup-shaped protrusion.