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:
Dec. 08, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 12, 2009
Bruce A. Hiemstra, Ann Arbor, MN (US);
Michael R. Bittner, Canton, MN (US);
Ingo Kienke, Wermelskirchen, DE;
Michael J. Kapusky, Milan, MN (US);
Kirubaharan Albert, Burscheid, DE;
Bruce A. Hiemstra, Ann Arbor, MN (US);
Michael R. Bittner, Canton, MN (US);
Ingo Kienke, Wermelskirchen, DE;
Michael J. Kapusky, Milan, MN (US);
Kirubaharan Albert, Burscheid, DE;
Johnson Controls Technology Company, Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
A recliner assembly for a vehicular seat of the type including a backrest hingedly connected to a seat base and capable of being reclined. The recliner assembly includes an outer gear and includes an internal teeth arranged circumferentially about an axis A. The assembly also includes an inner gear including at least one tooth engaging member selectively moveable into and out of engagement with the internal teeth of the outer gear. A retainer is attached to the outer gear in order to retain the inner gear from lateral movement along axis A. The retainer is configured for mounting to the outer gear and the inner gear is configured for mounting to at least one of a top plate and a base plate. The retainer, outer gear, and inner gears can be formed from a fine-blanked steel material and simply welded together to improve recliner strength while reducing assembly costs.