Patent US3833965A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3833965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable seat inclination fitting
Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1972-11-06
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1992-11-06
Abstract
Abstract The back rest and seat fitting members of an automotive seat are pivotally interconnected by means of a cross shaft for adjusting the inclination of the back rest; one of the fitting members is provided with a toothed segment concentric with respect to the pivotal shaft and the other of the fitting members is provided with a rotatably mounted gear wheel in meshing engagement with the toothed segment for driving a larger gear wheel that may be selectively locked against rotation by means of a detent positively cammed into locking engagement by movement of an actuating lever into a first position, with movement of the actuating lever pivotally about the pivotal axis to a second position causing withdrawal of the detent by means of a pin and slot connection between the lever and detent. The detent is guided for radial reciprocation, with respect to the pivotal axis, on the fitting member carrying the gear wheels, and the detent member further has a slot elongated in the direction of reciprocation and surrounding the pivotal shaft. Springs may be provided to bias the actuating lever into its locking position and further for biasing the back rest pivotally to its upright position. One of the gear wheels, preferably the smaller gear wheel in tooth engagement with the gear''s toothed segment is integrally formed in one piece with a stub shaft splined entirely to its outer terminal end with a single spline root diameter, a first intermediate outer spline diameter portion receiving an internally splined annular bearing member, and an outermost shaft portion having an outer spline diameter less than said intermediate shaft portion outer spline diameter for receiving with a force fit the larger of the two toothed wheels that selectively meshes with the detent.
Inventors
- 👤 P Hess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/2213; F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A fitting for adjusting the pivotal relationship of an automotive seat back rest with respect to the seat member and for firmly locking the back rest into any desired angular position relative to the seat member within a predetermined range of settings, comprising: a first member rigidly connected to one of said back rest and seat member; a second member rigidly connected to the other of said back rest and seat member and further being pivotally connected with a common pivotal axis with said first member; a gear toothed segment fixed with respect to said first member and extending concentrically with respect to said pivotal axis; a first toothed gear wheel secured to a rotatable shaft rotatably mounted on said second member and being in toothed meshing engagement with said gear toothed segment; a second toothed gear wheel larger in diameter than said first toothed gear wheel and being rigidly secured to an axial extension of said rotatable shaft; and gear toothed detent means for selectively engaging and releasing the teeth on the periphery of said second toothed gear wheEl to prevent rotation of said first and second toothed gear wheels as a unit relative to said first and second members with said detent in engagement with said second toothed gear wheel; and operator control means for controlling selective engagement with release of said detent means to thereby allow adjustment of the back rest relative to the seat member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A fitting for adjusting the pivotal relationship of an automotive seat back rest with respect to the seat member and for firmly locking the back rest into any desired angular position relative to the seat member within a predetermined range of settings, comprising: a first member rigidly connected to one of said back rest and seat member; a second member rigidly connected to the other of said back rest and seat member and further being pivotally connected with a common pivotal axis with said first member; a gear toothed segment fixed with respect to said first member and extending concentrically with respect to said pivotal axis; a first toothed gear wheel secured to a rotatable shaft rotatably mounted on said second member and being in toothed meshing engagement with said gear toothed segment; a second toothed gear wheel larger in diameter than said first toothed gear wheel and being rigidly secured to an axial extension of said rotatable shaft; and gear toothed detent means for selectively engaging and releasing the teeth on the periphery of said second toothed gear wheEl to prevent rotation of said first and second toothed gear wheels as a unit relative to said first and second members with said detent in engagement with said second toothed gear wheel; and operator control means for controlling selective engagement with release of said detent means to thereby allow adjustment of the back rest relative to the seat member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fitting of claim 1, wherein said detent means is mounted for linear reciprocating movement toward and away from said second toothed gear wheel for respective engagement and release with the direction of reciprocation being radial with respect to said pivotal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The fitting of claim 1, wherein said detent means is a plate having a gear tooth edge for reciprocal movement into meshing engagement with the second toothed gear wheel and a slot elongated in the direction of reciprocation; and a shaft pivotally interconnecting said first and second members about said pivotal axis and passing through said elongated slot in said detent plate to provide with said slot guides for the movement of said detent plate between its engaged and released positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The fitting according to claim 3, wherein said operator control means comprises an actuating lever mounted for pivotal movement about said pivotal axis between a first locking position and a second releasing position; said actuating lever further having a cam surface at one end for engaging a cam follower surface on said detent plate to positively retain said detent plate in locking engagement with said second toothed wheel in the first pivotal position of said actuating lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A fitting according to claim 1, wherein said operator control means comprises an actuating lever mounted for pivotal movement about said pivotal axis between a first locking position and a second releasing position; said actuating lever further having a cam surface at one end for engaging a cam follower surface on said detent means to positively retain said detent means in locking engagement with said second toothed gear wheel in the first pivotal position of said actuating lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The fitting according to claim 4, including a pin and slot connection between said actuating lever and said detent plate for positively driving said detent plate away from said second toothed gear wheel upon movement of said actuating lever from its first pivotal position to its second pivotal position, and first spring means normally biasing said actuating lever into the first pivotal position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A fitting according to claim 6, including a pin and slot connection between said actuating lever and said detent means for positively driving said detent means away from said second toothed gear wheel in the movement of said actuating level from its first pivotal position to its second pivotal position, and first spring means normally biasing said actuating lever into the first pivotal position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
The fitting according to claim 6, wherein said first and second members, said first and second toothed gear wheels, said actuating lever, and said detent plate with said coacting arcuate toothed segment are all mounted on one side of the back rest and seat member; a second set of first and second members correspondingly mounted rigidly on said back rest and seat member at the other side of said back rest and seat members and further including a corresponding toothed segment, first and second toothed gear wheels, pivotal axis and pivotal shaft for said second set of first and second members; and second spring means acting between said first and second members for normally biasing the back rest into an upright position relative to the seat member with the detent plate released, said second spring means being designed to be overcome by the weight of an occupant with the detent plate released whereby the back rest can be adjusted to a desired angle of inclination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
The fitting according to claim 8, wherein one of said toothed gear wheels is integrally formed in one piece with a stub shaft having splines; an annular bearing member rigidly mounted on said splines and being in bearing engagement at its outer peripheral surface with said second member; the outermost portion of said spline shaft on the opposite side of said bearing from said one toothed gear wheel having a smaller outer spline diameter than the portion of the spline shaft in engagement with said bearing, and being splined with substantially the same root diameter as the remainder of said shaft; and the other of said toothed gear wheels being pressed onto said reduced diameter outermost spline portion of said shaft stub shaft to form a unitary rigid structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
The fitting according to claim 1, wherein one of said toothed gear wheels is integrally formed in one piece with a stub shaft having splines; an annular bearing member rigidly mounted on said splines and being in bearing engagement at its outer peripheral surface with said second member; the outermost portion of said spline shaft on the opposite side of said bearing from said one toothed gear wheel having a smaller outer spline diameter than the portion of the spline shaft in engagement with said bearing, and being splined with substantially the same root diameter as the remainder of said shaft, and the other of said toothed gear wheels being pressed onto said reduced diameter outermost spline portion of said shaft stub shaft to form a unitary rigid structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |