Lost motion dual disc seat recliner assembly

Abstract

A dual recliner assembly for a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle for providing selective locking and pivotal adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat cushion between a plurality of reclined positions. The dual recliner assembly includes spaced apart outboard and inboard recliners each movable between a locked position to hold the seat back in one of the plurality of reclined positions and an unlocked position to allow pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between the plurality of reclined positions. Both the outboard and inboard recliners include respective outboard and inboard shafts for moving the outboard and inboard recliners between the locked and unlocked positions. A rod extends between an outboard end fixedly secured to the outboard shaft and an opposite inboard end coupled with the inboard shaft for moving the inboard recliner between the locked and unlocked positions in response to movement of the outboard recliner between the locked and unlocked position. The inboard end of the rod is axially slidably engaged with the inboard rod to accommodate variances in the relative positions between the outboard and inboard recliners due to build tolerances in the seat assembly and the vehicle.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a reclining assembly of a car seat, and more particularly to a lost motion hinge operatively connected between two reclining assemblies to relieve internal stress and ensure independent locking of each reclining assembly. Background technique [0002] Automobiles include seat assemblies for supporting passengers. A seat assembly generally includes a seat cushion and a seat back. A recliner assembly is typically operably connected between the seat cushion and the seat back for selective pivotal adjustment of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between a plurality of reclining positions. [0003] It is known to provide a disc-type reclining mechanism having an inner disc secured to the seat cushion and an outer disc secured to the seat back. The outer disc is rotatably connected with the inner disc. A toothed annular rim is formed on the outer disc. At least one pawl lockingly engageable with the toothed rim is...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, conventional recliner assemblies utilizing said rods are susceptible to differences in seat assembly and vehicle body dimensions, which can result in internal stresses between moving parts within each recliner assembly, increasing the effort required for the reclining operation quantity

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