Fisher Dynamics Corporation

John F Whalen

David L Robinson

Cecil A Collins

Jeffery T Bonk

Timothy J Schmidt, Jr

A linear seat recliner for use in a motor vehicle having a seat with a seat back pivotally connected to a seat bottom. The seat is operable in a plurality of use positions ranging from an upright position to a fully reclined position. The linear seat recliner includes a housing adapted to be coupled to one of the seat back and the seat bottom, a latching mechanism coupled to the housing, and a recliner rod. The recliner rod includes a body having a first end and a second end. The body has a substantially planar top flat diametrically opposed and parallel to a substantially planar bottom flat. The top flat includes a plurality of teeth positioned at the first end of the body. The first end of the recliner rod is selectively engageable by the latching mechanism and the second end of the recliner rod is adapted to be coupled to the other of the seat back and the seat bottom.

Linear seat recliner for structural seat

An inertia-sensitive hinge mechanism for a seat assembly allows rotation of a first hinge member relative to a second hinge member about a pivot during normal use and prevents rotation about the pivot when a predetermined deceleration force is present. The inertia-sensitive lockout assembly includes a guide assembly coupled to the first and second hinge members and having a tab fixed for movement with one of the first and second hinge members. The guide assembly also includes a follower movable between a detent position and a cam position. The inertia-sensitive lockout assembly also includes an inertial actuator having a center of gravity spaced from its center of rotation wherein, when the first hinge member is in its first position and the predetermined deceleration force is present, the inertial actuator rotates to operatively engage the follower and prevent the follower from moving from its detent position to its cam position.

Vehicle sensitive inertia lockout

A pivot assembly for a structured vehicle seat assembly accommodates loads applied to the seatback through a safety belt restraint system carried by the seat assembly. The pivot assembly includes a connector member including an upper portion extending into a hollow channel defined by the seatback frame. The connector member is fixedly attached thereto. The pivot assembly further includes a housing attached to a lower seat structure for movement therewith between fore and aft positions. The connector member is pivotally mounted to the housing to thereby permit the seatback to rotate relative to the lower seat structure between a generally upright position and a reclined position. The pivot assembly further preferably includes a drive arrangement for rotating the connector member about a pivot axis. The pivot assembly functions to efficiently and effectively transfer loads from the seatback to the lower seat structure, and in turn, to the vehicle structure. Advantageously, the safety belt restraint system is adapted to move with the seat assembly.

Pivot assembly for a structured vehicle seat

A linear seat recliner adapted to interconnect a seatback to a seat bottom and which is equipped with a recliner rod assembly having a recliner rod and a ball joint mounted in an aperture formed through one end of the recliner rod. The ball joint includes a ball swivel having an arcuate outer surface which is retained within a socket defined by a pair of retainer rings mounted in the rod aperture. The retainer rings rotatably support the ball swivel within the rod aperture to permit relative angular movement therebetween. The ball swivel further includes a throughbore adapted to receive a hinge pin for securing the ball joint end of the recliner rod assembly to corresponding structure of the seatback or seat bottom. Crush ribs are formed in the throughbore of the ball swivel for engaging the hinge pin and establishing an interference fit therebetween.

Linear seat recliner

A pivot arm assembly for a structured vehicle seat assembly accommodates loads applied to the seatback through a safety belt restraint system carried by the seat assembly. The pivot arm assembly includes a pair of C-shaped plates interconnected to define a clam-shell assembly. An arm segment of the pivot arm assembly extends into a hollow channel defined by the seatback frame and is fixedly attached thereto. The pivot arm assembly is pivotally mounted to a portion of the lower seat structure to permit the seatback to rotate relative thereto about a pivot axis. A drive arrangement is provided for rotating the pivot arm assembly about the pivot axis. The pivot arm assembly functions to efficiently and effectively transfer loads from the seatback to the lower seat structure, and in turn, to the vehicle structure.

Clam-shell pivot assembly for a structured vehicle seat

An inertia sensitive hinge mechanism allows rotation of a first hinge member relative to a second hinge member about a pivot during normal use and prevents rotation about the pivot when predetermined deceleration forces are present. The inertia sensing latching assembly includes an inertial actuator operatively connected to and rotatable with respect to the second hinge member. The inertial actuator includes first and second cam surfaces and a wedging surface located therebetween. The inertial actuator has a center of gravity spaced from a center of rotation. A first positioning device connected to the first hinge member positions the inertial actuator by sliding engagement with the first cam surface as the first hinge member rotates in an opposite direction when the predetermined forces are not present. A second positioning device connected to the first hinge member positions the inertial actuator by sliding engagement with the second cam surface as the first hinge member further rotates in the opposite direction when the predetermined deceleration forces are not present. When the deceleration forces are present, the first hinge member initially rotates in the opposite direction, and the inertial actuator is positioned by the predetermined deceleration forces such that the wedging surface engages the second positioning device preventing further rotation of the first hinge member in the opposite direction.

Inertia hinge for seatback and armrest

An inertia-sensitive seat hinge mechanism allows rotation of a seatback relative to a seat bottom under normal use conditions and yet prevents such rotation in response to deceleration forces exceeding a predetermined threshold level. The seat hinge mechanism includes a lower hinge member connected to the seat bottom and an upper hinge member connected to the seatback and an inertia-sensitive latch assembly. The inertia-sensitive latch assembly includes a component carried by the upper member which defines first and second stop surfaces. The first stop surface limits rotation of the upper hinge member in one direction. An inertial actuator is rotatable with respect to the upper hinge member and includes an engaging finger for engaging the second stop surface when the upper hinge member attempts to rotate in an opposite direction due to exertion of the predetermined deceleration forces thereon. The inertial actuator also includes a projection located adjacent a center of rotation. Moreover, the inertial actuator has a center of gravity spaced from the center of rotation. A release lever engages the projection to rotate the inertial actuator into a normal position against the component when the upper hinge member is fully rotated against the first stop surface. A biasing device, located on the component, biases the release lever to release the projection when the upper hinge member is rotated in the opposite direction and allows the inertial actuator to rotate by gravity if the predetermined deceleration forces are not present.

Growing community of inventors

Macomb, MI, United States of America

John F Whalen