Quick release mechanism for gear operated seat recliner

Claim 2

A seat recliner mechanism supporting a seat back and seat bottom which permits the angle therebetween to be controllably varied comprising: a lower recliner structure, an upper recliner structure, first pivot means rotatably attaching said lower recliner structure to said upper recliner structure, a toothed rack operatively connected to one of said upper or lower recliner structures, second pivot means carried by the other of said upper or lower recliner structures, gear means mounted to said second pivot means for rotation thereabout, said toothed rack meshing with said gear means, pawl means for engaging said gear means to control rotation of said gear means, third pivot means connected to said other of said upper or lower recliner structures, a recliner actuator rotatable about said third pivot means between a normal position and a released position, quick release cam means rotatable about said third pivot means, said quick release cam means coupled to said recliner actuator, lost motion means coupling said recliner actuator to said quick release cam means such that said quick release cam means is caused to rotate once the rotation of said recliner actuator from said normal position toward said released position exceeds a predetermined angular displacement, said quick release cam means having an engagement portion which cooperates with said pawl means such that when said recliner actuator is in said normal position, said engagement portion engages said pawl means and to maintain said pawl means in a position to engage said gear means and when said recliner actuator is moved toward said released position, said quick release cam means is rotated such that said engagement portion disengages said pawl, said quick release cam means permitting said pawl means to move from an engaged to a disengaged position quickly, and a camplate rotatable with said recliner actuator, said camplate having a cam surface which cooperates with said pawl means to urge said pawl means into engagement with said gear means when said recliner actuator is rotated from said released position to said normal position.

Claim 3

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said toothed rack is operatively connected to said upper recliner structure and said second pivot means is connected to said lower recliner structure.

Claim 4

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 2 further comprising stop means for limiting the maximum extent of angular travel between said seat bottom and seat back.

Claim 5

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said toothed rack is curved along a circular path having a radius about said first pivot means.

Claim 6

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said gear forms first and second toothed diameter sections, said first diameter section meshing with said toothed rack, said second diameter section engageable with said pawl means.

Claim 7

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 5 wherein the diameter of said first diameter section is less than the diameter of said second diameter section.

Claim 8

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said pawl means pivots about a fourth pivot means.

Claim 9

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said quick release cam means further includes biasing means biasing said quick release cam means toward an angular position wherein said engagement portion engages said pawl means.

Claim 10

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 8 wherein said biasing means comprises a resilient arm operatively associated with said quick release cam means, said resilient arm further contacting said pawl means.

Claim 11

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising biasing means biasing said pawl means toward a position wherein said pawl means is disengaged from said gear.

Claim 12

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said quick release cam engagement portion forms a notch which contacts a tab formed by said pawl means.

Claim 13

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said camplate cam surface cooperates with a pin projecting from said pawl means.

Claim 14

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said camplate cam surface is formed by a notch which acts to pull said pawl means from engagement with said gear when said recliner actuator is moved to said second position in the event of mechanical failure of said quick release cam.

Claim 15

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said recliner actuator is biased toward said first position.

Claim 16

A seat recliner mechanism supporting a seat back and seat bottom which permits the angle therebetween to be controllably varied comprising: a lower recliner structure, an upper recliner structure, first pivot means rotatably attaching said lower recliner structure to said upper recliner structure, a quadrant operatively connected to said upper recliner structure, said quadrant pivotable about said first pivot means, said quadrant having a curved toothed rack, second pivot means carried by said lower recliner structure, gear means mounted to said second pivot means for rotation thereabout, said toothed rack meshing with said gear means, pawl means having one or more teeth for engagement with said gear means to control rotation of said gear means, third pivot means connected to said lower recliner structure, a recliner actuator rotatable about said third pivot means between a normal position and a released position, quick release cam means rotatable about said third pivot means, said quick release cam means coupled to said recliner actuator, lost motion means coupling said recliner actuator to said quick release cam means such that said quick release cam means is caused to rotate once the rotation of said recliner actuator from said normal position to said released position exceeds a predetermined angular displacement, said quick release cam means having an engagement portion which cooperates with said pawl means such that when said recliner actuator is in said normal position, said engagement portion engages said pawl means to cause said pawl means to engage said gear means and when said recliner actuator is moved toward said released position, said quick release cam means is rotated such that said engagement portion disengages said pawl means, said quick release cam means permitting said pawl means to move from an engaged to a disengaged position quickly, and a camplate rotatable with said recliner actuator, said camplate having a cam surface which cooperates with said pawl means to urge said pawl means into engagement with said gear means when said recliner actuator is rotated from said released position to said normal position.

Claim 17

A seat recliner mechanism supporting a seat back and seat bottom which permits the angle therebetween to be controllably varied comprising: a lower recliner structure, an upper recliner structure, first pivot means rotatably attaching said lower recliner structure to said upper recliner structure, a quadrant operatively connected to said upper recliner structure, said quadrant pivotable about said first pivot means, said quadrant having a curved toothed rack, second pivot means carried by said lower recliner structure, gear means mounted to said second pivot means for rotation thereabout, said toothed rack meshing with said gear means, pawl means having one or more teeth for engagement with said gear means to control rotation of said gear means, third pivot means connected to said lower recliner structure, a recliner actuator rotatable about said third pivot means between a normal position and a released position, quick release cam means rotatable about said third pivot means, said quick release cam means coupled to said recliner actuator, lost motion means coupling said recliner actuator to said quick release cam means such that said quick release cam means is caused to rotate once the rotation of said recliner actuator from said normal position to said released position exceeds a predetermined angular displacement, said quick release cam means having an engagement portion which cooperates with said pawl means such that when said recliner actuator is in said normal position, said engagement portion engages said pawl means to cause said pawl means to engage said gear means and when said recliner actuator is moved toward said released position, said quick release cam means is rotated such that said engagement portion disengages said pawl means, said quick release cam means permitting said pawl means to move from an engaged to a disengaged position quickly, and a camplate rotatable with said recliner actuator, said camplate having a cam surface which cooperates with said pawl means to urge said pawl means into engagement with said gear means when said recliner actuator is rotated from said released position to said normal position.

Claim 18

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 further comprising stop means for limiting the maximum extent of angular travel between said seat bottom and seat back.

Claim 19

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said gear forms first and second toothed diameter sections, said first diameter section meshing with said toothed rack, said second diameter section engageable with said pawl teeth.

Claim 20

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 17 wherein the diameter of said first diameter section is less than the diameter of said second diameter section.

Claim 21

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said pawl pivots about a fourth pivot means.

Claim 22

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said quick release cam further includes biasing means biasing said quick release cam toward an angular position wherein said notched engaging portion engages said pawl.

Claim 23

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said biasing means comprises a resilient arm operatively associated with said quick release cam, said resilient arm further contacting said pawl.

Claim 24

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 further comprising biasing means biasing said pawl toward a position wherein said pawl is disengaged from said gear.

Claim 25

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said quick release cam engaging portion forms a notch which contacts a tab formed by said pawl.

Claim 26

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said camplate cam surface cooperates with a pin projecting from said pawl.

Claim 27

A seat recliner mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said camplate cam surface is formed by a notch which acts to pull said pawl from engagement with said gear when said recliner actuator is moved to said second position in the event of mechanical failure of said quick release cam.