Abstract: A disc recliner for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate secured to a seat cushion and a rotatable plate secured to a seat back. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate. A wave generator causes a portion of the teeth on the flex spline to meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates. Rotation of the wave generator causes the teeth on the flex spline which meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates to change, thereby causing the rotatable plate to rotate relative to the fixed plate, which in turn causes the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A disc recliner for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate secured to a seat cushion and a rotatable plate secured to a seat back. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate. A wave generator causes a portion of the teeth on the flex spline to meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates. Rotation of the wave generator causes the teeth on the flex spline which meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates to change, thereby causing the rotatable plate to rotate relative to the fixed plate, which in turn causes the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A disc recliner for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate secured to a seat cushion and a rotatable plate secured to a seat back. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate. A wave generator causes a portion of the teeth on the flex spline to meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates. Rotation of the wave generator causes the teeth on the flex spline which meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates to change, thereby causing the rotatable plate to rotate relative to the fixed plate, which in turn causes the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A disc recliner for a seat assembly includes a fixed plate secured to a seat cushion and a rotatable plate secured to a seat back. Each of the fixed and rotatable plates has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth not being equal. A flex spline has a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth being equal to the number of teeth on the fixed plate. A wave generator causes a portion of the teeth on the flex spline to meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates. Rotation of the wave generator causes the teeth on the flex spline which meshingly engage with the teeth on the fixed and rotatable plates to change, thereby causing the rotatable plate to rotate relative to the fixed plate, which in turn causes the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A disc recliner mechanism includes travel stops to limit angular movement of a seat back through a defined range. At least one pawl on a guide plate of the disc recliner mechanism includes a guide boss with a pair of opposite stop surfaces that contact a respective travel stop formed on a tooth plate of the disc recliner mechanism to limit the range of rotational movement of the tooth plate. The guide boss includes a guide surface which engages a guideway on the tooth plate to provide a free movement range wherein the tooth plate can be rotated through the free movement range without requiring the operation of a release mechanism. The guideways on the tooth plate and the guide bosses on the pawls are designed such that the tooth plate and pawls can be formed with simple stamping operations.

Abstract: A disc recliner mechanism includes a guide plate having a pair of guides and a tooth plate having an inner radial edge with a plurality of teeth. A pawl mounted between the guide and tooth plates includes a radially inner cam surface and a toothed outer edge. The pawl is guided by the guides between a retracted position disengaged with the tooth plate to allow rotational movement of the tooth plate and an extended position engaged with the tooth plate to prevent rotational movement of the tooth plate. A cam rotatably mounted between the guide and tooth plates includes a radially outer cam profile selectively engaging and cooperating with the cam surface. Rotating the cam in a first direction moves the pawl radially outward with respect to the guide plate to the extended position and applies a rotational moment to the pawl thereby wedging the pawl between the guides.

Abstract: A disc recliner for pivoting a seat back relative to a seat cushion includes a fixed plate mounted to the seat cushion and a movable plate mounted to the seat back. The disc recliner includes a locking mechanism operable between a locked condition coupling the fixed and movable plates and an unlocked condition uncoupling the fixed and movable plates to allow rotation of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate. The disc recliner includes a memory plate that is disengaged with the movable plate to allow pivotal adjustment of the seat back between a plurality of seating positions by actuating the locking mechanism to the unlocked condition. The memory plate engages the movable plate to identify a previously selected seating position and to maintain the locking mechanism in the unlocked condition thereby allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between the previously selected seating position and a folded position.

Abstract: A disc recliner mechanism includes a guide plate having a pair of guides and a tooth plate having an inner radial edge with a plurality of teeth. A pawl mounted between the guide and tooth plates includes a radially inner cam surface and a toothed outer edge. The pawl is guided by the guides between a retracted position disengaged with the tooth plate to allow rotational movement of the tooth plate and an extended position engaged with the tooth plate to prevent rotational movement of the tooth plate. A cam rotatably mounted between the guide and tooth plates includes a radially outer cam profile selectively engaging and cooperating with the cam surface. Rotating the cam in a first direction moves the pawl radially outward with respect to the guide plate to the extended position and applies a rotational moment to the pawl thereby wedging the pawl between the guides.

Abstract: A disc recliner mechanism includes travel stops to limit angular movement of a seat back through a defined range. At least one pawl on a guide plate of the disc recliner mechanism includes a guide boss with a pair of opposite stop surfaces that contact a respective travel stop formed on a tooth plate of the disc recliner mechanism to limit the range of rotational movement of the tooth plate. The guide boss includes a guide surface which engages a guideway on the tooth plate to provide a free movement range wherein the tooth plate can be rotated through the free movement range without requiring the operation of a release mechanism. The guideways on the tooth plate and the guide bosses on the pawls are designed such that the tooth plate and pawls can be formed with simple stamping operations.

Abstract: A disc recliner for pivoting a seat back relative to a seat cushion includes a fixed plate mounted to the seat cushion and a movable plate mounted to the seat back. The disc recliner includes a locking mechanism operable between a locked condition coupling the fixed and movable plates and an unlocked condition uncoupling the fixed and movable plates to allow rotation of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate. The disc recliner includes a memory plate that is disengaged with the movable plate to allow pivotal adjustment of the seat back between a plurality of seating positions by actuating the locking mechanism to the unlocked condition. The memory plate engages the movable plate to identify a previously selected seating position and to maintain the locking mechanism in the unlocked condition thereby allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between the previously selected seating position and a folded position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat back and a seat cushion and a pair of recliners hingedly mounting the seat back to the seat cushion providing pivotal movement of a seat back relative to a seat cushion. Each of the recliners has a memory plate that holds the recliners in an unlocked condition during a predetermined amount of travel enabling return movement of the seat back from a forwardly folded position to a memory position. The memory position being within a range of recline seatback positions.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat back and a seat cushion and a pair of recliners hingedly mounting the seat back to the seat cushion providing pivotal movement of a seat back relative to a seat cushion. Each of the recliners has a memory plate that holds the recliners in an unlocked condition during a predetermined amount of travel enabling return movement of the seat back from a forwardly folded position to a memory position. The memory position being within a range of recline seatback positions.

Abstract: A dual recliner assembly for a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle for providing selective locking and pivotal adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat cushion between a plurality of reclined positions. The dual recliner assembly includes spaced apart outboard and inboard recliners each movable between a locked position to hold the seat back in one of the plurality of reclined positions and an unlocked position to allow pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between the plurality of reclined positions. Both the outboard and inboard recliners include respective outboard and inboard shafts for moving the outboard and inboard recliners between the locked and unlocked positions. A rod extends between an outboard end fixedly secured to the outboard shaft and an opposite inboard end coupled with the inboard shaft for moving the inboard recliner between the locked and unlocked positions in response to movement of the outboard recliner between the locked and unlocked position.

Abstract: A dual recliner assembly for a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle for providing selective locking and pivotal adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat cushion between a plurality of reclined positions. The dual recliner assembly includes spaced apart outboard and inboard recliners each movable between a locked position to hold the seat back in one of the plurality of reclined positions and an unlocked position to allow pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between the plurality of reclined positions. Both the outboard and inboard recliners include respective outboard and inboard shafts for moving the outboard and inboard recliners between the locked and unlocked positions. A rod extends between an outboard end fixedly secured to the outboard shaft and an opposite inboard end coupled with the inboard shaft for moving the inboard recliner between the locked and unlocked positions in response to movement of the outboard recliner between the locked and unlocked position.