The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1998
John F Whalen, Macomb, MI (US);
David L Robinson, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Fisher Dynamics Corporation, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
Abstract
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.