Motor-vehicle seat hinge

In a motor-vehicle seat having a back part and a seat part and adapted to move normally in a predetermined direction of travel, a hinge comprising:

• a first hinge element mounted on one of said parts;
• a second hinge element mounted on the other of said parts and pivotal on said first hinge element about a pivot axis extending transverse to said direction of travel for forward pivoting of said back part in said direction of travel and backward pivoting of said back part against said direction of travel, said second hinge element being provided with an annular array of inwardly directed hinge teeth centered on said pivot axis;
• a plurality of pawls spaced angularly about said pivot axis and each having an end provided with a generally axially extending pin defining a respective pawl axis and journalled in said first hinge element, each pawl being formed with outwardly directed pawl teeth meshable with said hinge teeth and with a front face directed angularly forwardly relative to said pivot axis;
• cam means connected to said pawls for pivoting same about the respective pawl axes and thereby bringing said pawl teeth into and out of engagement with said hinge teeth for fixing and freeing said hinge elements relative to each other pivotally about said pivot axis;
• and
• a formation adjacent each of said front faces and angularly fixed on said first hinge element, each of said formations having a rear surface closely angularly juxtaposed with the respective front face to such a side thereof that forward pivoting of said seat back with said teeth meshed urges each front face and the respective rear surface toward each other.