US 6,578,921 B2 · Seat reclining device

Abstract

A seat reclining device has an external gear member and an internal gear member positioned in opposing relation, and a stopper member between the opposing gear members for regulating the reclining movement of the backrest relative to the seat cushion. The stopper member includes a first convex portion on the external gear (or internal gear) member and a stopper provided on the outer peripheral surface of the internal gear (or external gear) member. A second convex portion is also provided on the external gear (or internal gear) member. By engaging the second convex portion with a bore on a ring member that surrounds the periphery of the internal and external gear members, a part of the contact force between the stopper and the first convex portion is transmitted to the ring member.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A reclining device comprising:

a first gear member secured to a lower arm;
a second gear member secured to an upper arm;
a first gear including gear teeth provided on the first gear member;
a second gear including gear teeth provided on the second gear member, the number of gear teeth of the first gear and the number of gear teeth of the second gear being different, and the first gear and the second gear being positioned eccentrically;
a stopper member provided between the first gear member and the second gear member for restricting relative rotation between the first gear member and the second gear member;
and
a ring member provided on an outer periphery of the first gear member and the second gear member, one of the gear members being engageable with the ring member so that at least a part of a contact force on the stopper member is transmitted to the ring member via the one of the gear members.

4 more elements

A reclining device for a vehicle seat to change an angle of inclination of a seatback relative to a seat cushion, comprising:

a first gear member secured to a first arm that is adapted to be fixed to one of the seatback and the seat cushion;
a second gear member secured to a second arm adapted to be fixed to the other of the seatback and the seat cushion;
a plurality of first gear teeth provided on the first gear member;
a plurality of second gear teeth provided on the second gear member, the plurality of first gear teeth being different in number than the plurality of second gear teeth, and the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth being positioned eccentrically;
a plurality of spaced apart stoppers on one of the first and second gear members and a plurality of spaced apart projections on the other of the first and second gear members which are adapted to effect contact with one another to restrict relative rotation between the first gear member and the second gear member;
an engaging element provided on the first gear member;
and
a ring member encircling outer peripheral portions of the first gear member and the second gear member, the ring member being provided with a hole in which is positioned the engaging element on the first gear member so that at least a part of a contact force between the stoppers and the projections is transmitted to the ring member via the first gear member and the engaging element.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Seat reclining device

Life of this patent

Seat reclining device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19