Ratchet seat recliner with remote release

Claim 2

Ratchet recliner seat hinge assembly having a pair of sandwich seat bracket plates pivotally connected to a toothed sector of a seat back bracket retained in adjusted position by a toothed pawl pivotally mounted between said plates and locked in retaining position by a cam pivotally mounted between said plates, said cam having flat bellcrank extension means, said seat bracket plates having integral remote release lever mounting extension means, intermediate flat release lever means pivotally mounted between the ends of said lever mounting extension means, said pivotal mounting including lever drive connection and external stem, manually actuated lever means having drive connection to said external stem, and linkage connecting means between said bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means for transmitting release actuation from said manual lever means to said cam bellcrank extension means, said linkage connecting means being characterized by a flat unitary link formed from substantially flat stock having substantial thickness capable of transmitting push-pull actuating forces extending between said sandwich bracket extension means in a common plane with said cam bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means, said flat link having flat arcuate pivot knob extensions engaging circular arcuate, pivot seats in said respective bellcrank extension and said intermediate release lever means, thereby providing a composite flat single layer linkage connecting means between said bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means all fitting in co-planar relation between said bracket plates with integral extension means.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said pivot seats in said respective bellcrank extension and release lever means exceeds 180° of pivot bearing surface with an opening for lateral assembly with said link pivot knob extensions, and providing limited pivotal clearance sufficient to accommodate release actuation of said cam means.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 wherein said pivot knob means extend respectively at substantially right angles to the major linear extension of said link.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 3 wherein the width of said link is relieved near said pivot knobs to accommodate adjacent extremities of said bellcrank extension and release lever means.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 4 including torque spring means mounted on said external stem to impart a normal compressive load on said link to actuate said cam in an engaging direction.

Claim 7

Ratchet recliner seat hinge assembly having a pair of sandwich seat bracket plates pivotally connected to a toothed sector of a seat back bracket retained in adjusted position of a toothed pawl pivotally mounted between said plates and locked in retaining position by a cam pivotally mounted between said plates, said cam having flat bellcrank extension means, said seat bracket plates having integral remote release lever mounting extension means, intermediate flat release lever means pivotally mounted between the ends of said lever mounting extension means, said lever means having a handle extension projecting beyond said seat bracket plates extension means, linkage connection means between said bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means for transmitting release actuation from said release lever means to said bellcrank extension means, and resilient means urging said cam toward said pawl retaining position, said linkage connecting means being characterized by a flat unitary link formed from substantially flat stock having substantial thickness capable of transmitting push-pull actuating forces extending between said sandwich bracket extension means in a common plane with said cam bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means, said flat link having flat acruate pivot knob extensions engaging circular arcuate pivot seats in said respective bellcrank extension and said intermediate release lever means, thereby providing a composite flat single lever linkage connecting means between said bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means all fitting in co-planar relation between said bracket plates with integral extension means.

Claim 8

Ratchet recliner seat hinge assembly having a pair of sandwich seat bracket plates pivotally connected to a toothed sector of a seat back bracket retained in adjusted position of a toothed pawl pivotally mounted between said plates and locked in retaining position by a cam pivotally mounted between said plates, said cam having flat bellcrank extension means, said seat bracket plates having integral remote release lever mounting extension means, intermediate flat release lever means pivotally mounted between the ends of said lever mounting extension means, said lever means having a handle extension projecting beyond said seat bracket plates extension means, linkage connection means between said bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means for transmitting release actuation from said release lever means to said bellcrank extension means, and resilient means urging said cam toward said pawl retaining position, said linkage connecting means being characterized by a flat unitary link formed from substantially flat stock having substantial thickness capable of transmitting push-pull actuating forces extending between said sandwich bracket extension means in a common plane with said cam bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means, said flat link having flat acruate pivot knob extensions engaging circular arcuate pivot seats in said respective bellcrank extension and said intermediate release lever means, thereby providing a composite flat single lever linkage connecting means between said bellcrank extension means and intermediate release lever means all fitting in co-planar relation between said bracket plates with integral extension means.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lever means has a spring engageable projection within said seat bracket plates extension means, and spring means comprising said resilient means mounted internally between said seat bracket plates extension means engaging said spring engageable projection.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 7 wherein said spring means comprises a single coil mounted on a transverse pin extending between said seat bracket plates extension means, and having one end extension engaging said spring engageable projection and the other end reacting on one of said seat bracket plate extension means.

Claim 11

The assembly of claim 8 wherein said coil is installed with a contracting preload in the order of 38°.

Claim 12

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said coil has a further contracting working range in the order of 34°.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 8 wherein said one seat bracket plate extension means includes an aperture for anchoring the reaction end of said spring and an access aperture adjacent thereto.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 11 wherein the other of said seat bracket plate extension means is provided with an access recess opposite said respective apertures.

Claim 15

The assembly of claim 6 wherein each of said pivot seats in said respective bellcrank extension and release lever means extends 180° of pivot bearing surface with an opening for lateral assembly with said link pivot knob extensions, and providing limited pivotal clearance sufficient to accommodate release actuation of said cam means.

Claim 16

The assembly of claim 13 wherein said pivot knob means extend respectively at substantially right angles to the major linear extension of said link.

Claim 17

The assembly of claim 14 wherein the width of said link is relieved near said pivot knobs to accommodate adjacent extremities of said bellcrank extension and release lever means.

Claim 18

The assembly of claim 15 wherein said spring means is adapted to inpart a normal compressive load on said link to actuate said cam in an engaging direction.