Fisher Dynamics Corporation

Fisher Corporation

Robert L Bell

Alfred J Fisher, Iii

Tyrone R Secord

Alfred J Fisher Iii

A spring loaded latch mechanism for controlling tilting movement of a seat back relative to a seat frame to which it is pivoted, includes an elongated rod having one toothed face and only one end connected to the seat, a latch frame connected to the seat and supporting the other end of the rod for reciprocation therewithin, a pawl adapted to releasably engage the teeth, a manually-operated handle, and a cam interconnecting the handle and the pawl to drive the pawl into and from engagement. In one embodiment similar latch mechanisms are provided, one on each side of the seat with the mechanism opposite to the handle being a slave having a free-floating cam plate and a lever plate driven by the operator, actuation of the slave cam plate resulting from the lever plate being rotated thereagainst independently of the master latch mechanism on the handle side.

Linear seat recliner

A gear operated seat recliner mechanism is described which is particularly useful in connection with motor vehicle occupant seats. The recliner permits the angle between the seat back and seat bottom to be varied as desired by the seat occupant. In accordance with this invention, the upper recliner structure pivots about the lower recliner structure and a quadrant component, which pivots with the upper recliner structure, includes a curved toothed rack. The rack meshes with a gear mounted to the lower recliner structure. A pawl is adjustable between an engaged position which fixes the seat back angle to a disengaged position permitting the seat back angle to be changed relative to the seat bottom. This design improves over prior art designs in that it employs fewer parts, is less costly to produce, and further, permits very fine adjustments in the seat back angle.

Quick release mechanism for gear operated seat recliner

A gear operated seat recliner mechanism is described which is particularly useful in connection with motor vehicle occupant seats. The recliner permits the angle between the seat back and seat bottom to be varied as desired by the seat occupant. In accordance with this invention, the upper recliner structure pivots about the lower recliner structure and a quadrant component which pivots with the upper recliner structure includes a curved toothed rack which meshes with a gear. A locking pawl is movable between a position of engagement with the gear to fix the seat back angle to a disengaged position, permitting the seat back angle to be adjusted. Further, a restraint pawl is provided which acts upon the curved toothed rack in the event that the locking pawl or recliner gear fails, thereby providing a redundant means for fixing the relative angular position between the upper and lower recliner structures.

Gear operated seat recliner with redundant positioning

A seat recliner mechanism for a motor vehicle of the type which permits forward folding of the seat back and allows the reclined position of the seat back to be adjusted. In one type of recliner mechanism, a quadrant is provided having a curved toothed rack which meshes with a rotatable recliner gear. An adjusting mechanism acts on the recliner gear for either preventing or allowing the recliner gear to rotate, thus providing a means for adjusting the reclined position. These types of mechanisms are subject to severe loadings if the recliner is placed in a rearwardly adjusted position with the seat back folded forward, and the actuation mechanism released. In this condition, the recliner spring which acts on the quadrant or recliner gear rotates these components unopposed by the mass of the upper recliner structure. When these components read their extreme positions, severe loadings are imposed upon them. In accordance with this invention, a pawl is provided which is movable to engage with a fixed arresting rack. When the seat back is folded forwardly, the pawl engages with the arresting rack and if the recliner release mechanism is then actuated, the quadrant motion is arrested by the pawl and rack, thus preventing unrestrained movement of the rack.

Seat recliner mechanism

An improved motor vehicle seat hinge mechanism which includes an inertia sensitive latching device which prevents forward rotation of the seat back in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration. The vehicle seat hinge mechanism according to this invention improves over prior art designs by providing a quadrant component which does not present objectionable rearward protrusions which interfere with rear seat occupants while entering and egressing from the rear seat area and, further, avoids the presentation of sharp projections which could cause tearing and wearing of interior trim fabrics. The seat back hinge mechanism further includes a cam plate which biases the inertia sensitive latching device such that it is in a position to latch when the seat back is in its normal position. Due to the use of the cam plate, the seat hinge according to this invention is less sensitive to malfunctions caused by hinge component misalignment.

Motor vehicle seat hinge

A recliner mechanism particularly adapted for motor vehicle seats is described. In accordance with this invention, the adjusted position of the seat back is controlled by using a recliner mechanism which includes a coil spring clutch which is selectively tightened or loosened around an actuator clutch drum. The upper recliner structure has a toothed quadrant which meshes with a recliner gear which rotates the rotating actuator clutch drum. A lever is employed to cause relative rotation between a pair of actuator cam plates which are connected to extending ends of a coil clutch spring. Movement of the actuator lever selectively causes the coil clutch spring to tighten or loosen around the actuator clutch drum. In accordance with another feature of this invention, a redundant positioning pawl is provided which prevents unrestrained motion of the upper recliner structure in the event of a failure or improper operation of the coil spring clutch actuator. The tendency of the recliner to 'creep' when subjected to shock loading and vibration is eliminated by the use of a spring which biases the cam plates to the engaged position.

Seat recliner mechanism with spring coil actuator and creep eliminator

A recliner mechanism particularly adapted for motor vehicle seats is described. In accordance with this invention, the adjusted position of the seat back is controlled by using a recliner mechanism which includes a coil spring clutch which is selectively tightened or loosened around an actuator clutch drum surface to fix the reclined position or to permit it to be varied. The upper recliner structure has a toothed quadrant surface which meshes with a recliner gear which communicates preferably through an intermediate gear to the rotating actuator clutch drum. A lever is employed to cause relative rotation between a pair of actuator cam plates which are connected to extending ends of a coil clutch spring. Movement of the actuator lever selectively causes the coil clutch spring to tighten or loosen around the actuator clutch drum. In accordance with another feature of this invention, a redundant positioning pawl is provided which prevents unrestrained motion of the upper recliner structure in the event of a failure or improper operation of the coil spring clutch actuator.

Seat recliner mechanism with spring coil actuator and redundant

A gear operated seat recliner mechanism is described which is particularly useful in connection with motor vehicle occupant seats. The recliner permits the angle between the seat back and seat bottom to be varied as desired by the seat occupant. In accordance with this invention, the upper recliner structure pivots about the lower recliner structure and a quadrant component, which pivots with the upper recliner structure, includes a curved toothed rack. The rack meshes with a gear mounted to the lower recliner structure. A pawl is adjustable between an engaged position which fixes the seat back angle to a disengaged postion permitting the seat back angle to be changed relative to the seat bottom. This design improves over prior art designs in that it employs fewer parts, is less costly to produce, and further, permits very fine adjustments in the seat back angle.

An improved motor vehicle seat back hinge mechanism which includes an inertial sensitive latching device which prevents forward rotation of the seat back in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration. The vehicle seat hinge mechanism according to this invention improves over prior art designs by providing a quadrant component which does not present objectionable rearward protrusions which interfere with rear seat occupants while entering and egressing from the rear seat area and, further, avoids the presentation of sharp projections which could cause tearing and wearing of interior trim fabrics. Further, the pendulum type inertial sensing mechanism of the design according to this invention avoids the use of loose parts which may give rise to noise and rattle problems associated with rolling weight type inertial sensing mechanisms.

The disclosure relates generally to latch mechanisms for controlling reclining movement of a vehicle seat back and more particularly to a seat back latch that precludes audible 'ratcheting' of the latch thereof. A spring loaded pawl is engageable with an articulated slidable arm to latch the seat at a desired reclining position. The pawl is pivoted so as to bias the arm away from the teeth thereon due to an angular relationship between the pawl and arm when the arm is released for movement.

Silent seat back recliner mechanism

The disclosure relates to a mechanism for controlling reclining movement of a vehicle seat back. A pair of pawls are engageable with an articulated slidable ratchet arm to latch the seat at a desired reclining position. The pawls are manually movable to an unlatched condition relative to the ratchet arm under the control of a pair of pawl control plates that both float the arm and positively orientate the pawls relative thereto.

Reclining seat latch

The disclosure relates to a latch mechanism for controlling reclining movement of a vehicle seat back. A pair of latches are engageable with an articulated slidable link to latch the seat at a desired reclining position. The latches are manually movable to an unlatched condition relative to the link at which time the link is movable therebetween.

Linear control for reclining seat

The disclosure relates to a latch mechanism for controlling reclining movement of a vehicle seat back. A pair of spring loaded latches are engageable with an articulated slidable link to latch the seat at a desired reclining position. The latches are manually movable to an unlatched condition relative to the link at which time the link 'floats' therebetween.

The disclosure relates to a latch structure for controlling movement of a pivoted vehicle seat back rearwardly to a reclining position and forwardly to facilitate entry to the rear seat of the vehicle. A spring loaded latch latches the seat at any desired reclining position. A normally locked inertia lock is provided to maintain the seat back in the locked condition relative to the seat cushion during normal vehicle operation and upon sudden deceleration of the vehicle yet automatically opens to provide for forward movement of the seat back when the vehicle is in the static condition.

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Oxford, MI, United States of America

Robert L Bell