Power reclining device of seat

• US 4,880,274 A
• Filed: 06/02/1988
• Issued: 11/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): ASCHENBRENNER, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/202,010
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 297/362, 74/421 A, 74/425, 74/606 R
• US Class Current: 297/362
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2213 Gear wheel driven mechanism B60N2/2231, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19684 Motor and gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19828 Worm

Abstract

A power reclining device for a seat is disclosed which comprises a base plate secured to a seat cushion; a pivoting arm secured to a seatback, the pivoting arm being pivotally connected to the base plate; a reduction gear mechanism arranged between the base plate and the pivoting arm, the reduction gear mechanism pivoting the pivoting arm at a reduced speed when actuated; an electric motor unit for actuating the reduction gear mechanism when electrically energized; connecting means for detachably connecting the electric motor unit to a given portion of the base plate; and positioning means for positioning the electric motor unit with respect to the given portion of the base plate before connecting the electric motor unit to the base plate.

Claims

1. In a seat having a seat cushion and a seatback which is pivotal relative to said seat cushion,

a power reclining device comprising:

a base plate secured to said seat cushion;

a pivoting arm secured to said seatback, said pivoting arm being pivotally connected to said base plate;

a reduction gear mechanism arranged between said base plate and said pivoting arm, said reduction gear mechanism pivoting said pivoting arm at a reduced speed when actuated;

an electric motor unit for actuating said reduction gear mechanism when electrically energized;

connecting means for detachably connecting said electric motor unit to a given portion of said base plate; and

positioning means for positioning said electric motor unit with respect to said given portion of said base plate before connecting said electric motor unit to said base plate,

wherein said positioning means comprises a mounting plate which is formed with two threaded openings and a positioning pin, and three separate portions formed on said electric motor unit and having respective openings which are mated with said two threaded openings and said positioning pin respectively upon proper mounting of said electric motor unit to said base plate.

2. In a seat having a seat cushion and a seatback which is pivotal relative to said seat cushion,

a power reclining device comprising:

a base plate secured to said seat cushion;

a pivoting arm secured to said seatback, said pivoting arm being pivotally connected to said base plate;

a reduction gear mechanism arranged between said base plate and said pivoting arm, said reduction gear mechanism having an input gear for pivoting said pivoting arm about a pivot axis at a reduced speed when actuated;

an electric motor unit having a geared drive shaft engageable with said input gear for actuating said reduction gear mechanism when electrically energized;

connecting means for detachably connecting said electric motor unit to a given portion of said base plate; and

positioning means spaced from said pivot axis for positioning said electric motor unit with respect to said given portion of said base plate and said geared drive shaft with the periphery of said input gear before connecting said electric motor unit to said base plate,

wherein said positioning means comprises a mounting plate which is formed with two threaded openings and a positioning pin, and three separate portions formed on said electric motor unit and having respective openings which are mated with said two threaded openings and said positioning pin respectively upon proper mounting of said electric motor unit to said base plate.

3. A power reclining device as claimed in claim 2, in which said electric motor unit comprises:

a monolithic housing having first and second receptacle parts which are integrally connected through an intermediate portion disposed therebetween;

an electric motor installed in said first receptacle part;

a transmission mechanism installed in said second receptacle part, said transmission mechanism having said geared drive shaft projected outwardly from said second receptacle part.

4. A power reclining device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two threaded openings and the positioning pin on said mounting plate are in a non-linear orientation to thereby define apices of a triangle.

5. A power reclining device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said positioning pin is sized to snugly fit into one of the openings on said electric motor unit.