Rotary-cam type reclining device

Abstract

A rotary-cam type reclining device includes a base adapted to be fixed to a seat cushion, and an arm adapted to be fixed to a seat back and rotatably connected to the base. The arm includes an inner toothed portion. First, second and third pawl arms are pivotally connected to the base. Each pawl arm has an outer toothed portion along an outer edge thereof engageable with the inner toothed portion, and includes a cam contour surface along an inner edge thereof. A rotary cam has first, second and third cam arms engageable with the first, second and third pawl arms, respectively. Each cam arm has a cam profile surface that is in cam connection with the contour surface of the respective pawl arm for producing inward and outward radial motions of the respective pawl arm to mesh and unmesh the inner and outer toothed portions by a rotary motion of the rotary cam. An operating lever is mechanically linked to the rotary cam for producing the rotary motion of the rotary cam. A single spring biases the rotary cam with respect to the base whereby each of the first, second and third pawl arms are forced into meshing engagement with the inner toothed portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.