Power linear seat recliner

• US 5,199,764 A
• Filed: 10/25/1991
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
• Inventors: Robinson, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US07/782,782
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 297/361, 297/362, 297/330, 74/89.14, 74/89.15
• US Class Current: 297/362.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02253 characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/233 by linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18576 including screw and nut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18792 including worm

Abstract

A power linear seat recliner apparatus for controllably adjusting the angular position of a seat back relative to a seat cushion. The apparatus comprising a master recliner mechanism having an integrally mounted motor, a slave recliner mechanism and an actuator cable connecting the slave and master recliner mechanisms for transmitting torque from the motor to the slave recliner mechanism. The motor simultaneously drives each of the recliner mechanisms. The master and slave recliner mechanisms having a threaded rod assembly interconnected to a transmission assembly for providing desired speed reduction and linear reciprocable movement of the rod.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat member;

a seat back coupled to said seat member;

pivot means for permitting pivotal movement of said seat back;

a rod assembly including an elongated threaded rod having one end connectable to said pivot means, and a rotatable gear nut having an internally threaded surface such that said threaded elongated rod is intermeshed with said internally threaded surface of said gear nut for producing linear non-rotational motion of said elongated rod upon rotation of said gear nut; and

a recliner mechanism secured to said seat member and adapted to support said gear nut such that said elongated rod moves relative to said recliner mechanism and said gear nut, said recliner mechanism including an integrally mounted motor and a transmission assembly provided for coupling said gear nut to an output member of said motor, said transmission assembly including a housing having a first recess configured to securably confine a portion of said motor within said recliner mechanism, a second recess configured to receive first and second intermeshed gears such that said first gear is coupled for rotation to said motor output member, and a third recess configured to receive a worm gear coupled for rotation to said second gear, said housing further adapted to support a transversely extending non-rotatably shaft having a splined gear set mounted for free rotation thereon, said splined gear set being intermeshed with said worm gear so as to be rotatably driven thereby, said transmission assembly operable for controllably reducing the speed of said linear non-rotational motion of said elongated rod with respect to the rotational motion of said motor output member such that selective actuation of said motor acts to rotate said gear nut for generating said linear non-rotational movement of said elongated rod relative to said recliner mechanism for controllably adjusting the angular position of said seat back relative to said seat member.

2. The seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein rotation of said motor output member in one direction linearly moves said elongated rod for lowering said seat back while rotation of said motor output member in an opposite direction linearly moves said elongated rod for raising said seat back.

3. The seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein said splined gear set includes a third gear intermeshed with said worm gear and a fourth gear splined to said third gear for rotation therewith, and wherein external threads of said gear nut are engageably intermeshed with said fourth gear of said transmission assembly.

4. A power linear recliner assembly for a vehicle seat having a seat frame and including a seat bottom member defining opposite sides joining forward and rearward ends thereof, a seat back member and pivot means adjacent the rearward end of said seat bottom member for permitting pivotal movement of said seat back member relative to said seat bottom member, comprising:

a motor having an output shaft defining a motor axis;

a threaded rod connectable at one end to said pivot means and having associated therewith an axis;

a transmission assembly including a transmission housing and gear reduction means coupled between said motor output shaft and said threaded rod for converting the rotational motion of said motor output shaft to linear motion of said threaded rod;

said transmission housing comprising first and second housing halves defining a first forwardly facing opening for receiving said motor, a second rearwardly facing opening for receiving said threaded rod, and internal recesses for supporting and locating said gear reduction means, said first and second housing halves being configured to capture said motor and said gear reduction means when joined to permanently connect said motor to said transmission assembly so as to form a unitary assembly with the axes of said motor and said threaded rod being oriented substantially parallel with the side of said bottom member; and

mounting means for mounting said unitary assembly to said seat frame adjacent to the side of said seat bottom member.

5. In an automotive seat assembly having a seat back and a seat bottom defining sides joining forward and rearward ends thereof, a power linear seat recliner apparatus for controllably adjusting the angular position of the seat back relative to the seat bottom in response to remote actuation by the operator, comprising a recliner mechanism secured adjacent to the side of said seat bottom and including a motor having an output shaft defining a motor axis, a threaded rod defining an axis and connected at one end to said seat back and coupled at its other end to a transmission assembly including a transmission housing and gear reduction means coupled between the output shaft of the motor and said threaded rod and including a rotatable gear nut having internal threads in meshed engagement with external threads on said threaded rod for converting the rotational motion of said motor output shaft to linear fore and aft motion of said threaded rod, said transmission housing having a first forward facing opening and a first recess configured to receive and securably confine at least one end of the motor, a second recess configured to receive said gear reduction means coupled for rotation with the output shaft of the motor and including a worm gear for rotatably driving said gear nut, and a second rearward facing opening for receiving the other end of said threaded rod, such that the output shaft of the motor is permanently coupled to said gear reduction means and the axes of said motor and said threaded rod are substantially coplanar and aligned with the side of said seat bottom.

6. The automotive seat assembly of claim 5 wherein said gear reduction means further includes first gear means coupled between the output shaft of the motor and said worm gear and second gear means coupled between said worm gear and said gear nut.

7. The automotive seat assembly of claim 6 wherein said second gear means includes a third gear intermeshed with said worm gear and a fourth gear splined to said third gear for rotation therewith, and wherein external threads on said gear nut are engageably intermeshed with said fourth gear.

8. The power recliner mechanism of claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises first and second plate halves for capturing said unitary assembly when joined, said plate halves being adapted for fastening directly to said seat frame.