US 8,714,645 B2 · Pivoting mechanism with gross and fine resistance adjustment

Abstract

A pivoting mechanism with gross and fine adjustment with a housing, an elongate shaft pivotally retained by the housing, resiliently deformable members retained by the housing, cam members coupled to the shaft wherein the cam members are disposed to deform the resiliently deformable members when the cam members are pivoted, and a locking slide bar for selectively causing the cam members to pivot with the shaft to produce gross adjustments in pivoting resistance. First and second ends of the shaft can act as an output interface for outputting the pivoting resistance exhibited by the shaft to a seat back structure, a seat bottom structure, or some other structure. A threaded rod rotated by a handle can adjust an initial deformation of the first resiliently deformable member for fine pivoting resistance adjustment.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A pivoting mechanism with gross and fine adjustment mechanisms comprising:

a housing with first and second sides;
an elongate shaft pivotally retained by the housing wherein the shaft has first and second ends;
a first resiliently deformable member retained by the housing wherein the first resiliently deformable member has a first end and a second end;
a first cam member coupled to the shaft wherein the first cam member is disposed to deform the first resiliently deformable member when the first cam member is pivoted;
means for selectively causing the first cam member to pivot with the shaft whereby the shaft exhibits pivoting resistance when the first cam member is caused to pivot with the shaft.

2 more elements

A pivoting mechanism with gross and fine adjustment mechanisms comprising:

a housing with first and second sides;
an elongate shaft pivotally retained by the housing wherein the shaft has first and second ends;
a first resiliently deformable member retained by the housing wherein the first resiliently deformable member has a first end and a second end;
a first cam member coupled to the shaft wherein the first cam member is disposed to deform the first resiliently deformable member when the first cam member is pivoted;
means for selectively causing the first cam member to pivot with the shaft whereby the shaft exhibits pivoting resistance when the first cam member is caused to pivot with the shaft;
a second cam member coupled to the shaft wherein the second cam member is disposed to deform the first resiliently compressible member when the second cam member is pivoted;
means for selectively causing the second cam member to pivot with the shaft whereby the shaft exhibits pivoting resistance when the second cam member is caused to pivot with the shaft;
means for selectively adjusting an initial deformation of the first resiliently deformable member;
and
an output interface for outputting the pivoting resistance exhibited by the shaft.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pivoting mechanism with gross and fine resistance adjustment

Life of this patent

Pivoting mechanism with gross and fine resistance adjustment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35