Rotary recliner

• US 20070004550A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
• Inventors: Krambeck, Dagoberto, Durand, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/162
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2252 in which the central axis of the gearing lies inside the periphery of an orbital gear, e.g. one gear without sun gear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/20 Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash

Abstract

A rotary recliner includes an outer rotary member having a first series of gear teeth on an inner circumferential surface thereof and an inner rotary member having a second series of gear teeth on an outer surface thereof. An eccentric is mounted to the inner rotary member and biases the second gear teeth into meshed engagement with the first gear teeth at a first position along the inner circumferential surface such that a clearance is created between the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth at a position on the inner rotary member opposite from the first position. A wedge carrier includes a pair of wedges extending from a body. The wedges are joined by a bridge portion with each wedge including a ramped surface that engages and applies a radial force on the eccentric to prevent relative movement between the inner and outer rotary members.

Claims

1. A rotary recliner comprising:

an outer rotary member having a first series of gear teeth on an inner circumferential surface thereof;

an inner rotary member having a second series of gear teeth on an outer surface thereof;

an eccentric mounted to said inner rotary member and operable to bias said second gear teeth into meshed engagement with said first gear teeth at a first position along said inner circumferential surface such that a clearance is created between said first gear teeth and said second gear teeth at a position on said inner rotary member opposite from said first position; and

a wedge carrier having a body and a pair of wedges extending from said body, said wedges joined by a bridge portion with each wedge including a ramped surface operable to engage and apply a radial force on said eccentric to prevent relative movement between said outer rotary member and said inner rotary member.

2. The rotary recliner of claim 1, wherein said eccentric includes a C-shape.

3. The rotary recliner of claim 1, wherein said bridge portion extends from said body substantially the same distance as said wedges.

4. The rotary recliner of claim 1, wherein said eccentric includes an opening formed in a side wall of said eccentric and in communication with said aperture.