US4563039A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinge joint for use in the seats of motor vehicles and the like
Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH and Co
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Filing: 1984-06-20
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Granted: 1986-01-07
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Expires: 2004-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A hinge joint which connects the back to the remainder of the seat in a motor vehicle has first and second leaves respectively provided with punched internal and spur gears. The internal gear receives the spur gear and at least one of its internal teeth meshes with two neighboring external teeth of the spur gear or vice versa. The rear sides of the internal and external teeth are formed with punched indentations to compensate for shrinkage of the top lands of such teeth as a result of punching. Each indentation resembles the frustum of a pyramid and is designed to effect the flow of material toward the top land of the respective tooth. The two leaves are coupled to each other by a shaft which defines therefor two parallel pivot axes.
Inventors
- 👤 Horst Jorg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/225; B60N2/2252; F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/24; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49462; Y10T29/49467; Y10T29/49472
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A hinge joint, particularly for changing the mutual positions of two parts of a seat in a motor vehicle or the like, comprising substantially plate-like first and second components each of which constitutes a stamping, said components having first sides facing each other and second sides facing away from each other, said first component having a depressed inner section and an outer section surrounding said inner section, said inner section extending beyond the first side of the outer section and constituting a spur gear having an annulus of active teeth at the first side and an annulus of passive teeth disposed at the second side of said inner section and alternating with said active teeth, said active teeth having rear sides at the second side of said inner section, said second component including a depressed inner portion and an outer portion surrounding said inner portion and said inner portion extending beyond the second side of said outer portion and constituting an internal gear having an annulus of active internal teeth at the first side of said inner portion and an annulus of passive teeth disposed at the second side of said inner portion and alternating with said internal teeth, said internal teeth having rear sides at the second side of said inner portion, said spur gear extending into said internal gear and at least one internal tooth being in mesh with the neighboring active teeth of said spur gear, at least one of said components having punched indentations disposed between the passive teeth thereof and provided in the rear sides of the respective active teeth; and means for coupling said components for angular movement relative to each other, said coupling means defining two pivot axes, one for each of said components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
A hinge joint, particularly for changing the mutual positions of two parts of a seat in a motor vehicle or the like, comprising substantially plate-like first and second components each of which constitutes a stamping, said components having first sides facing each other and second sides facing away from each other, said first component having a depressed inner section and an outer section surrounding said inner section, said inner section extending beyond the first side of the outer section and constituting a spur gear having an annulus of active teeth at the first side and an annulus of passive teeth disposed at the second side of said inner section and alternating with said active teeth, said active teeth having rear sides at the second side of said inner section, said second component including a depressed inner portion and an outer portion surrounding said inner portion and said inner portion extending beyond the second side of said outer portion and constituting an internal gear having an annulus of active internal teeth at the first side of said inner portion and an annulus of passive teeth disposed at the second side of said inner portion and alternating with said internal teeth, said internal teeth having rear sides at the second side of said inner portion, said spur gear extending into said internal gear and at least one internal tooth being in mesh with the neighboring active teeth of said spur gear, at least one of said components having punched indentations disposed between the passive teeth thereof and provided in the rear sides of the respective active teeth; and means for coupling said components for angular movement relative to each other, said coupling means defining two pivot axes, one for each of said components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein at least some of said indentations constitute frusta of pyramids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein each of said teeth has a top land and a root portion and the depth of each of said indentations increases at least substantially gradually in a direction from the top lands of the neighboring passive teeth toward the top lands of the respective active teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hinge joint of claim 3, wherein said indentations terminate at the general level of the root portions of the neighboring passive teeth, as considered radially of the respective gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein the outlines of said indentations at least approximate the outlines of said rear sides of the respective active teeth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein said inner section comprises a circumferential web which is provided with the respective active and passive teeth and connects said inner section to said outer section, said inner portion having a circumferential web which connects said inner portion to said outer portion and is provided with the respective active and passive teeth, said indentations being provided in the respective web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein the rear side of each of said active teeth has a punched indentation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, further comprising means for turning one of said components relative to the other of said components about the respective axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein the thickness of each of said components is at least substantially constant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein the number of active teeth of one of said gears equals m+n, m being the number of active teeth on the other of said gears and n being a whole number including one.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The hinge joint of claim 10, wherein said coupling means comprises at least one first portion which defines one of said axes and at least one second portion which is eccentric to said first portion and defines the other of said axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein all of said indentations are at least substantially identical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hinge joint of claim 1, wherein said indentations at least substantially compensate for shrinkage of the respective active teeth as a result of punching of the respective component for the purpose of forming the corresponding active and passive teeth.
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) | 1989-01-06 | 1989-07-08 | 1990-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-07-08 | 1994-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-06 | 1997-07-08 | 1998-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |