Release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9834117-B2
Application number	US-201514876017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2015
Priority date	Oct 6, 2015
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly includes an activation mechanism, for example a lever or handle, and a transmission. The transmission is coupled to the activation mechanism via a wire for releasing a seat back of the vehicle seat assembly. The transmission includes a plurality of meshed gears for transmitting a torque created by movement of the activation mechanism from a gear of the plurality of gears attached to the wire to a shaft associated with the seat back. Rotation of the shaft releases the seat back for rotation. A shield partially covers a side of the base and seat back, and covers the transmission and wire. The activation mechanism is uncovered allowing the passenger to activate the release mechanism and is positioned in a readily accessible zone relative a passenger hip point. The position avoids interference with the seat belt and occupies minimal space between the side shield and vehicle side.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly having a seat base, a seat back, a side shield and a seat back recliner shaft about which said seat back rotates, comprising:
an activation mechanism; and
a transmission coupled to said activation mechanism via a wire for rotating the seat back recliner shaft and releasing the seat back;
wherein the transmission comprises a first gear having internal teeth configured to engage a back recliner shaft, a second gear having a first arm connected to the wire and a second arm with a plurality of teeth disposed on a concave edge of the second arm, and one or more intermediate gears interconnecting the plurality of teeth on the second arm with the internal teeth of the first gear.

2. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein said wire and said transmission are positioned within said seat assembly.

3. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein said transmission includes a housing, supported by said seat base, through which said seat back recliner shaft extends, and a plurality of gears, including said first gear, said second gear, and said one or more intermediate gears.

4. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of said seat back recliner shaft includes a plurality of teeth, and said plurality of gears includes a first gear having a central aperture and internal teeth for receiving said seat back recliner shaft and meshing with said plurality of teeth.

5. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein said plurality of gears further includes said second gear attached to said wire such that movement of said activation mechanism moves said wire thereby rotating said second gear about a pin extending from said housing and supporting said second gear.

6. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein said second gear includes said first and second arms extending from a hub, wherein said first arm is attached to said wire adjacent a distal end of said first arm, and said second arm includes a distal end forming an arc having said plurality of teeth on an inner side of said arc.

7. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein said one or more intermediate gears comprises third and fourth gears for transmitting torque created by movement of said activation mechanism from said second gear to said first gear and said seat back recliner shaft.

8. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein said third and fourth gears each have a plurality of teeth, and said plurality of teeth of said third gear mesh with said plurality of teeth of said second gear and said plurality of teeth of said fourth gear, and said plurality of teeth of said fourth gear further mesh with a plurality of external teeth on said first gear.

9. A vehicle incorporating the release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 .

10. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat of claim 3 , wherein said wire and said transmission are positioned within said seat assembly.

11. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 , wherein said activation mechanism is a lever and said plurality of gears are meshed for transmitting torque created by movement of said lever from the second gear of said plurality of meshed gears attached to said wire to said seat back recliner shaft.

12. The release mechanism for a reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 11 , wherein said second gear of said plurality of meshed gears includes said first and second arms extending from a hub, said first arm moved by said wire and said second arm forming an arc having said plurality of teeth on an inner side of said arc for meshing with another one of said plurality of meshed gears.

13. The reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of said seat back recliner shaft includes a plurality of teeth, and said plurality of gears includes said first gear having said internal teeth for meshing with said plurality of teeth of said seat back recliner shaft, and said second gear attached to said wire such that movement of said lever moves said wire thereby rotating said second gear about a pin extending from said housing and supporting said second gear.

14. The reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein said second gear includes said first and second arms extending from a hub, said first arm attached to said wire and said second arm forming an arc having said plurality of teeth on an inner side of said arc.

15. The reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein said one or more intermediate gears comprises third and fourth gears for transmitting torque created by movement of said lever from said second gear to said first gear and said seat back recliner shaft.

16. The reclining vehicle seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein said third and fourth gears each have a plurality of teeth, and said plurality of teeth of said third gear mesh with said plurality of teeth of said second gear and said plurality of teeth of said fourth gear, and said plurality of teeth of said fourth gear further mesh with a plurality of external teeth on said first gear.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Santillán Gutierrez Diego
• Paisano Rodriguez Fernando

Classifications

• B60N2/22

  the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/235 Primary

  by gear-pawl type mechanisms · CPC title

• B60N2/224 Primary

  Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets · CPC title

• B60N2/2213 Primary

  Gear wheel driven mechanism (B60N2/2231, B60N2/225 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/20

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title