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Metal Working

Double-enveloping-worm-and-gear-seat-recliner

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Double enveloping worm and gear seat recliner

Details

Inventors: Rees, Richard W. A.;
Assignee: ITT Corporation (New York, NY)
Primary Examiner: Brittain; James R.
Assistant Examiner: Nelson, Jr.; Milton
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seitter; Robert P., Lewis; J. Gordon

A device for adjusting the relative inclination of two elements, and in particular, the relative inclination of a back member of an automotive seat pivotally connected about a rotational axis to a base member of the seat for movement through a predefined arc is disclosed. The device can include at least an enveloping gear sector for pivotal connection to the base member about an axis generally coaxial with the rotational axis between the back and base members. The gear sector preferably includes plastic concave teeth formed thereon. An enveloping worm is provided for rotatable connection to the base member. The worm preferably is formed of at least one plastic concave worm having at least a single thread. The worm is disposed in double enveloping engagement with the gear sector. A rotatable cam is pivotally connecting the sector gear to the base member. The rotatable cam is pivotal along a predefined arc about an axis of rotation generally coaxial with the rotational axis of the back member. A spring biases the rotatable cam in a rotational direction such that the gear is urged into positive engagement with the worm at any angular position of movement. A drive mechanism is provided for rotating the worm in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. A releasable lock member is also provided for preventing unintentional movement of the worm in either rotational direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides an improved reclining seat back drive mechanism addressing the perceived disadvantages of the previously-known gear train mechanisms.
The present invention provides a seat recliner mechanism for use with a seat back support pivotally mounted to a base frame associated with a seat bottom.
Controlled reclining of the seat back is provided by a device for adjusting the relative inclination between a first member and a second member that are pivotally connected to one another.
A double enveloping gear and worm mechanism is provided for adjustably driving the first member through a predetermined range of inclination relative to the second member.
The double enveloping worm and gear mechanism can include at least a gear sector, and possibly up to an entire gear, pivotally connected to the second member and a worm rotatably connected to the second member for driving the gear sector.
The device may also include a motion transfer mechanism for moving the first member in response to movement of the gear sector.
The motion transfer mechanism may include a projection and a complimentary aperture formed in the first member and the gear sector for engaged movement in either rotational direction about the rotational axis.
Preferably, the motion transfer mechanism is disposed spaced radially from the rotational axis of the pivot connecting the first and second members.
The device of the present invention can also include a biasing mechanism for urging the gear sector into engagement with the worm.
The biasing means may include a cam pivotally connected between the gear sector and the second member for pivoting the gear sector into engagement with the worm about an offset axis and a spring for biasing the cam in a rotational direction such that the gear sector is driven into positive engagement with the worm.
The cam may have an axis of rotation generally coaxial with a rotational axis of the pivot means connecting the first and second members.
Manual or powered drive means for rotating the worm in clockwise and counterclockwise directions can be provided

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