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US 5,794,479 AGranted
Adjusting mechanism
OwnerJorg Schwarzbichinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable member such as a seat back of a vehicle is connected to an adjustment mechanism which transfers an external mechanical or manual force to the seat back. The adjustment mechanism includes an actuating element which rotates the seat back in either direction in response to the application of the external force. An elastic return element stores energy during such movement to subsequently return the actuating element to a rest position. During such return, the actuating element is automatically disconnected from the seat back.
Claims14
An adjusting mechanism for adjusting an adjustably movable member, comprising:
- an adjusting element adapted to be connected to the adjustably movable member for producing an adjustment thereof;
- and
- a coupling operably connected to the adjusting element for moving the adjusting element, the coupling including:
- an actuating element arranged for movement in first and second opposite directions in response to the application thereto of an actuating force external to the coupling;
- a release element operably connected to the actuating element for movement therewith in the first and second directions;
- an elastic return element operably connected to the release element for storing energy in response to the release element being driven in either of the first and second directions by the actuating element when acted upon by an actuating force, and for applying the stored energy as a restoring force to the release element for causing the release element to be driven and drive the actuating element in a return direction;
- and
- a connecting mechanism operably connecting the coupling to the adjusting element for driving the adjusting element when the actuating element and release element are driven by the actuating force, and for releasing the coupling from the adjusting element when the actuating element and release element are driven in a return direction by the restoring force.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.