COMPACT RECLINER ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE SEAT

摘要

A recliner assembly for selectively locking a seat back in one of a plurality of reclined positions relative to a seat cushion on a vehicle seat. The recliner includes a cylindrical shaft extending axially and longitudinally betwwen first and second ends and having a plurality of teeth extending radially outwardly therefrom between the first and second ends. The recliner also includes a seat back disc rotatably coupled to the shaft between the teeth and the firat end and fixedly secured to the seat back and having a rack of teeth extending axially therefrom. The recliner includes a seat cushion disc fixedly secured to the shaft between the seat back and the first end and also fixedly secured to the seat cushion. A locking disc having a center bore defined by a plurality of locking teeth is axially coupled to the shaft by mating engagement of the locking teeth with the teeth on the shaft. A cam ring is slidably coupled to the shaft and fixedly secured to the locking disc. The cam ring has a plurality of ramped cam surfaces extending axially toward the second end of the shaft. A cam disc is rotatably coupled to the shaft between the cam ring and the second end and has a plurality of cam blocks extending axially toward the cam ring for engagement therewith. Upon rotation of the cam disc about the shaft, the cam blocks engage with the cam surfaces and force the cam ring and the locking disc to move axially along the shaft to lockingly engage the locking teeth with the teeth on the seat back disc for selectively locking said seat back in one of the reclined positions.