Hinge Employing a Ratchet for An Upholstery Seat

摘要

A hinge and bracket system for a cushion seat back is provided. A bracket is attached to the side of a cushion seat back which is laying flat. The bracket is connected to a rotatable shaft, which in turn is connected to a toothed gear and a pawl. When the cushion seat back is raised upward, the toothed gear and an element of the pawl allow the cushion seat back to ratchet upwards, with the capability to lock the cushion seat back at any tooth. When the cushion seat back is raised above about 90 degrees, the pawl is forced to disengage from the toothed gear and the cushion seat back is unlocked and can be placed back in the original flat position. This hinge and bracket system may be employed in marine operations, especially for water skiing.

主权项

1. A hinge assembly comprising:
a main gear having main gear teeth distributed about a circumference thereof, said main gear having a first activation pin and a second activation pin disposed thereon and radially spaced apart from one another; a pawl having a tongue and pawl teeth, said pawl being disposed to rotate and disposed in a position in relationship with said main gear allowing said pawl teeth to engage with said main gear teeth, said pawl having a region adjacent said pawl teeth having clearance to said main gear teeth; a spring disposed in contact with said pawl for holding said pawl teeth in ratcheting engagement with said main gear teeth, said spring being disposed for holding said pawl in a free-wheeling position where said pawl teeth are disengaged from said main gear teeth and said second region is rotated to a position opposite said main gear teeth.