GB2051220A - Seat Reclining Mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A reclining mechanism, e.g. for a motor vehicle seat, has an adjustable mechanism (1,2) to which separate mounting arms (4 and 5) can be attached, permitting mounting of the mechanism on any of a variety of different seats. The arms may be attached by rivets (6) or by welding. The rivets may each have a flange head (6d) overlying one of the casing members of the mechanism (1,2) and serving to hold the two casing members together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seat Reclining Mechanism This invention relates to a seat reclining mechanism, particularly of the kind used in motor vehicles to pivot the back squab of a seat at varying angles relative to the seat cushion.

Such seat reclining mechanisms consist of a portion fastened to the seat cushion frame and a portion fastened to the back squab frame, a pivot between the two portions and means, often gearing, between the two portions which enable the angular adjustment of the seat cushion relative to the back squab to be obtained over the desired range.

One form of seat reclining mechanism is described in the specification of U.K. Patent No.

1,528,357. It will be appreciated that while the mechanism for such seats may be the same, the manner of fastening the mechanism to the seat will vary according to the requirements of different seats. Thus, a manufacturer of a seat reclining mechanism has to provide an assembly which has the required parts for attaching the mechanism to the seat cushion and to the back squab for many different seats.

The present invention provides a seat reclining mechanism comprising two relatively rotatable members and means for adjusting the members to a desired relative inclination, and two mounting arms securable to the two members, the arms being adapted to be fixable respectively to a back squab and to a seat cushion of a reclining seat.

Thus, according to the present invention, the mechanism may be manufactured and assembled, and the mounting arms for securing the mechanism to the seat proper may be assembled on to the mechanism when it is known which particular type seat the mechanism is to be fitted to. The mounting arms may be secured to the mechanism by any suitable means, preferably by rivets or by welding.

It will be appreciated that in accordance with the invention a standard reclining mechanism can be provided for use with many different types of seat, it only being necessary to provide a range of different mounting arms. Such arms do not require to be manufactured to the same precision as arms which include gearing associated with the reclining mechanism, and are of much simpler form. Thus, they can be manufactured simply and cheaply by pressing and stamping processes.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment; and Figure 3 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 2.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a reclining mechanism has casings 1 and 2 each provided with a pair of holes 3, and containing between them drive gearing permitting their relative angular adjustment. In order to secure the mechanism to the seat, an upper mounting arm 4 is provided for securing to the back squab and a lower arm 5 for securing to the seat cushion. In order to secure the upper and lower arms to the casing members 1 and 2 respectively, rivets 6 are employed. These comprise a rivet portion 6a, a knurled portion 6b engaging in the hole 3, a head portion 6c and a flange portion 6d on the head portion. The rivet 6 is inserted in a hole 3 of the casing 1 and a hole 7 in the upper mounting arm 4 and tapped in so that the knurled portion 6b is held in the casing 1.The rivet portion 6a is then expanded to form a secure connection of the upper arm 4 to the casing 1. The lower arm 5 is secured to the opposite side casing 2 in a similar manner. The flange portion 6d of each rivet 6 overties the rim 1 a or 2a of the casing 1 or 2 in which it is not secured. This serves to hold the two casings together.

In an alternative construction, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the upper arm 40 and lower arm 50 are secured to the casing members 1 and 2 respectively by conventional rivets 9 holding in place a flange plate 11, which overties the rivets 1 a or 2a of the casing 1 or 2 to which it is not fixed, again serving to hold the two casings together.

In a second alternative construction the assembly is held together by means which extend through the central aperture 10 of the casing members. Such means may also be the means by which the reclining mechanism is actuated to cause relative movement of the casing members, e.g. a sun and planet gear arrangement within the casing, and of which the casings form part.

Claims

1. A seat reclining mechanism, comprising two relatively rotatable members and means for adjusting the members to a desired relative inclination, and two mounting arms securable to the two members, the arms being adapted to be fixable respectively to a back squab and to a seat cushion of a reclining seat.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each arm is secured to its respective member by means of rivets.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein each rivet passes through one of the members and carries a flange at least part of which overlies a part of the other member, whereby the two members are prevented from separating.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein each rivet has an integrally-formed flange on the head thereof.

5. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the flange is a separately-formed flange plate, 6. A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein two rivets secure each are to its respective member and pass through a single common flange plate.

7. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each arm is secured to its respective member by welding.

8. A seat reclining mechanism, substantially as

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seat Reclining Mechanism This invention relates to a seat reclining mechanism, particularly of the kind used in motor vehicles to pivot the back squab of a seat at varying angles relative to the seat cushion. Such seat reclining mechanisms consist of a portion fastened to the seat cushion frame and a portion fastened to the back squab frame, a pivot between the two portions and means, often gearing, between the two portions which enable the angular adjustment of the seat cushion relative to the back squab to be obtained over the desired range. One form of seat reclining mechanism is described in the specification of U.K. Patent No. 1,528,357. It will be appreciated that while the mechanism for such seats may be the same, the manner of fastening the mechanism to the seat will vary according to the requirements of different seats. Thus, a manufacturer of a seat reclining mechanism has to provide an assembly which has the required parts for attaching the mechanism to the seat cushion and to the back squab for many different seats. The present invention provides a seat reclining mechanism comprising two relatively rotatable members and means for adjusting the members to a desired relative inclination, and two mounting arms securable to the two members, the arms being adapted to be fixable respectively to a back squab and to a seat cushion of a reclining seat. Thus, according to the present invention, the mechanism may be manufactured and assembled, and the mounting arms for securing the mechanism to the seat proper may be assembled on to the mechanism when it is known which particular type seat the mechanism is to be fitted to. The mounting arms may be secured to the mechanism by any suitable means, preferably by rivets or by welding. It will be appreciated that in accordance with the invention a standard reclining mechanism can be provided for use with many different types of seat, it only being necessary to provide a range of different mounting arms. Such arms do not require to be manufactured to the same precision as arms which include gearing associated with the reclining mechanism, and are of much simpler form. Thus, they can be manufactured simply and cheaply by pressing and stamping processes. Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment; and Figure 3 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 2. Referring firstly to Figure 1, a reclining mechanism has casings 1 and 2 each provided with a pair of holes 3, and containing between them drive gearing permitting their relative angular adjustment. In order to secure the mechanism to the seat, an upper mounting arm 4 is provided for securing to the back squab and a lower arm 5 for securing to the seat cushion. In order to secure the upper and lower arms to the casing members 1 and 2 respectively, rivets 6 are employed. These comprise a rivet portion 6a, a knurled portion 6b engaging in the hole 3, a head portion 6c and a flange portion 6d on the head portion. The rivet 6 is inserted in a hole 3 of the casing 1 and a hole 7 in the upper mounting arm 4 and tapped in so that the knurled portion 6b is held in the casing 1.The rivet portion 6a is then expanded to form a secure connection of the upper arm 4 to the casing 1. The lower arm 5 is secured to the opposite side casing 2 in a similar manner. The flange portion 6d of each rivet 6 overties the rim 1 a or 2a of the casing 1 or 2 in which it is not secured. This serves to hold the two casings together. In an alternative construction, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the upper arm 40 and lower arm 50 are secured to the casing members 1 and 2 respectively by conventional rivets 9 holding in place a flange plate 11, which overties the rivets 1 a or 2a of the casing 1 or 2 to which it is not fixed, again serving to hold the two casings together. In a second alternative construction the assembly is held together by means which extend through the central aperture 10 of the casing members. Such means may also be the means by which the reclining mechanism is actuated to cause relative movement of the casing members, e.g. a sun and planet gear arrangement within the casing, and of which the casings form part. Claims

1. A seat reclining mechanism, comprising two relatively rotatable members and means for adjusting the members to a desired relative inclination, and two mounting arms securable to the two members, the arms being adapted to be fixable respectively to a back squab and to a seat cushion of a reclining seat.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each arm is secured to its respective member by means of rivets.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein each rivet passes through one of the members and carries a flange at least part of which overlies a part of the other member, whereby the two members are prevented from separating.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein each rivet has an integrally-formed flange on the head thereof.

5. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the flange is a separately-formed flange plate,

6. A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein two rivets secure each are to its respective member and pass through a single common flange plate.

7. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each arm is secured to its respective member by welding.

8. A seat reclining mechanism, substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

9. A reclining seat for a motor vehicle, having a reclining mechanism according to any preceding claim.