Mechanism for adjusting inclination angle of seat

Claim 1

A mechanism for adjustably connecting a seat and a back rest, especially for motor vehicles, comprising: a seat plate adapted to be fixedly connected to the seat; a tiltable plate adapted to be fixedly connected to the back rest; pivot means pivotally connecting said seat plate and said tiltable plate together; spring means for normally urging said tiltable plate toward forward turning upon positioning of a passenger on the seat a latch gear segment fixed to said tiltable plate; first pawl means having a number of teeth formed on the periphery thereof for selective meshing engagement with said latch gear segment and being pivoted to said seat plate; lever means pivoted to said plate and operatively connected to said first pawl means through first cam means; second pawl means having a number of teeth formed on the periphery thereof selective meshing with said latch gear segment; a pivot pin member connected with said second pawl means and operatively connected to said lever means through second cam means; guide slot means slidably engaged by said pivot means of said second pawl means, wherein said second pawl means further comprises a separate non-toothed portion on the periphery thereof of a height such that said teeth and said non-toothed portion co-engage said latch gear segment for locking said latch gear segment in postion, the relation between said first cam means and said second cam means being such as to assure alternate engagement with and simultaneous disengagement from said latch gear segment depending upon whether said pivot pin member of said second pawl means engages a first part of a second part of said second cam means, respectively; control means for changing the throw of said lever means to thereby change a position of said pivot pin member between said first and second parts of said second cam means; a manual handle extending from said lever means within convenient reach of the operator; and a manual knob member connecting said control means and neighboring said manual handle for providing a common grip by a palm of the operator; wherein said first cam means further comprises a slot cam cut in said first pawl means and a pin member projecting from said lever means for sliding fit in said slot cam and wherein said second cam means further comprises an arcuate slot cam cut in said lever means and said pivot pin member projects from said second pawl means for slidingly fitting in said arcuate slot cam, said arcuate slot being shaped in curvature such that a smaller throw of said lever means causes said pivot pin member of said second pawl means in said first part and a larger throw of said lever means causes said pivot pin member in said second part of said arcuate slot cam; and further a sub-plate fixedly connected to said seat plate for reenforcing said seat plate and which is in parallel with said seat plate so that a thin compartment is formed between said seat plate and said sub-plate such that latch gear segment, said first and second pawl means and a part of said lever means are mounted within said compartment; and wherein said control means for changing the throw of said lever means further comprises a window cut in said sub-plate and a rod having a finger portion disposed in said window, and wherein said window further comprises first and second stopper portions radially circumferentially spaced apart from each other, said rod being slidably supported by said lever means so as to shift said finger portion between first and second positions in said window engageable with said first and second stopper portions, respectively.