Hinge joint for use in the seats of motor vehicles and the like

Claim 1

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.