US3926474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle seats
Assignee: HR Turner Willenhall Ltd
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Filing: 1974-08-16
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1994-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A motor vehicle seat having a seat base and a backrest hingedly connected to the seat base, also incorporates a selectivelyoperable reclining mechanism whereby the angular position of the backrest may be adjusted relative to the seat base according to the occupants'' requirements. To aid control over the backrest during adjustment, a scroll spring encircling the hinge axis has its ends in abutment with projections provided on the seat base and backrest respectively and is arranged to disengage from one of the projections when the backrest is pivoted forwardly beyond certain seating positions, to disable the spring action during movement of the backrest beyond such positions.
Inventors
- 👤 John Paul Johndrow
- 👤 Joseph Pallant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:47
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/235; B60N2/2356; B60N2/236; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32541
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A reclining seat comprising a seat base part, a back rest part, a pivot member which is fixed to one of said parts and is rotatable relative to the other part, aNd which connects the two parts together, a mechanism operable to releasably retain the back rest part in selected angular position with respect to the base part, and a coil spring encircling the pivot member for biasing the back rest part forwardly relative to the seat base part, said spring having an inner end which is secured to the pivot member that is fixed to one of said parts, and an outer end which bears against an abutment carried by the other part, whereby the spring is increasingly stressed as the back rest part is pivoted rearwardly from an upright position relative to the seat base part, characterized in that a further abutment is provided on the part to which the pivot member is fixed, and is located at a distance from the pivot member corresponding to the spacing between the pivot member and said outer end of the spring, in a position to engage said outer end of the spring during pivoting of the back rest part forward from said upright position, to displace said outer end of the spring out of engagement with the first-mentioned abutment, thereby disabling the biasing action of the spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A reclining seat comprising a seat base part, a back rest part, a pivot member which is fixed to one of said parts and is rotatable relative to the other part, aNd which connects the two parts together, a mechanism operable to releasably retain the back rest part in selected angular position with respect to the base part, and a coil spring encircling the pivot member for biasing the back rest part forwardly relative to the seat base part, said spring having an inner end which is secured to the pivot member that is fixed to one of said parts, and an outer end which bears against an abutment carried by the other part, whereby the spring is increasingly stressed as the back rest part is pivoted rearwardly from an upright position relative to the seat base part, characterized in that a further abutment is provided on the part to which the pivot member is fixed, and is located at a distance from the pivot member corresponding to the spacing between the pivot member and said outer end of the spring, in a position to engage said outer end of the spring during pivoting of the back rest part forward from said upright position, to displace said outer end of the spring out of engagement with the first-mentioned abutment, thereby disabling the biasing action of the spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A reclining seat according to claim 1 wherein the pivot member comprises a torque tube, extending from side to side of the seat, one end of which has diametrically opposite axial slots in the wall thereof through which the inner end of the coil spring passes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A reclining seat according to claim 1 wherein the outer end of the coil spring extends radially relative to the pivot member, and said further abutment is radially closer to the pivot member than the first-mentioned abutment, both abutments lying within the radial extremities of said outer end of the coil spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A reclining seat according to claim 1 wherein the pivot member is fixed to the back rest part.
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) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |