Chairs and seats – Movable back – Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-12
2003-06-17
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Movable back
Tiltable
C475S162000, C475S176000, C475S177000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06578921
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 2000-313443 filed on Oct. 13, 2000, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a seat reclining device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a vehicle seat reclining device provided with a stopper member defining the maximum reclining range of the seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A seat reclining device for adjusting the reclining movement of a backrest relative to a seat cushion of a vehicle seat for positioning the occupant to an optimal or desired seating position is widely known. A known seat reclining device includes an external gear (or internal gear) member secured to a lower arm on the seat cushion side, an internal gear member (the number of gear tooth of the internal gear and the external gear are different) having an internal gear (or external gear) which is secured to an upper arm on the backrest side and is engaged with the external gear, and an actuating member for eccentrically rotating the internal gear member relative to the external gear member.
In the aforementioned known seat reclining device, the actuating member generally actuated by an electric motor rotates the internal gear (or the external gear) relative to the external gear (or internal gear) for changing the reclining angle of the upper arm relative to the lower arm. In this way, the seatback can be moved relative to the seat cushion to vary the relative degree of recline of the seatback.
The aforementioned seat reclining device includes stopping mechanism for defining the reclining range between the maximum reclining in the forward direction and the maximum reclining in the backward direction of the backrest. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,017 discloses a stopper member provided on a seat reclining device. The stopper member includes switches provided on the lower arm and electrical circuitry for controlling the actuator.
However, this electrical stopper member is not able to achieve accurate stop positions because the actuating mechanism has a relatively significant amount of rotational inertia. As an alternative stopping mechanism, a mechanical stopping mechanism could be provided between the lower arm and the upper arm combined with a protection circuit for excessive electric current. Such a mechanical stopping mechanism may include a stopper pin provided on the lower arm and a pair of receiving members provided on the upper arm for receiving the pin. Even in this case, however, the maximum and/or minimum reclining position is not accurate enough because the stopper member is located away from the reclining device and the stop position is affected by the possible dimensional variation of both the upper arm and the lower arm.
A need thus exists for a reclining device which is able to more accurately regulate the range of reclining movement of the backrest.
A need also exists for a stopper mechanism accommodated in the reclining device that is more simple in construction while also possessing a relatively high degree of strength.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
To achieve the aforementioned objects, the following technical means is provided with 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 provided in the first gear member, a second gear provided in the second gear member, wherein numbers of gear teeth between the first gear and the second gear are different and the first gear and the second gear are provided 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 the outer periphery of the first gear member and the second gear member, wherein at least a part of a contact force on the stopper member is transmitted to the ring member via one of the gear members.
According to another aspect of the invention, a reclining device for a vehicle seat to change an angle of inclination of a seatback relative to a seat cushion includes 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, and a plurality of second gear teeth provided on the second gear member. The plurality of first gear teeth are different in number than the plurality of second gear teeth, and the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth are positioned eccentrically. A stopper member is 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 an engaging element is provided on the first gear member. A ring member encircles outer peripheral portions of the first gear member and the second gear member, and the engaging element on the first gear member engages a portion of 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 first gear member and the engaging element.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a reclining device for a vehicle seat to change an angle of inclination of a seatback relative to a seat cushion includes 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, and a plurality of second gear teeth provided on the second gear member. The number of first gear teeth is different from the number of second gear teeth, and the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth are positioned eccentrically. A plurality of spaced apart stoppers on the outer periphery of the first gear member and a plurality of spaced apart projections on the second gear member 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 is provided on the first gear member. A ring member encircles outer peripheral portions of the first gear member and the second gear member, and is 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.
With the reclining device of the present invention, a part of the contact force of the ring member towards the stopper member is dispersed and so smooth gear engagement can be maintained. In addition, the reclining angle can be accurately determined.
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Kimura Toshihiro
Koga Yoshitaka
Uryu Naoyuki
Yamada Yukifumi
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Cuomo Peter M.
D'Adamo Stephen
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