Abstract: A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly includes a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. The second gear includes an external flange with at least two guide holes. First and second support pins that are rigidly fixed in place relative to the axle shaft extend through the two guide holes in the external flange of the second gear. Forces acting at the interfaces between the first and second support pins and the two guide holes and between the eccentric and the second gear prevent the first gear from back-driving rotation of the second gear.

Abstract: A seat recliner assembly for a vehicle may include first and second recliner hearts, a hand lever, and a cross member. The first recliner heart may be mounted to a bracket. The second recliner heart may be mounted to another bracket. The hand lever may be mounted to the first recliner heart and may be rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between a locked state and an unlocked state. The cross member may be connected to the first and second recliner hearts and may transmit torque from the hand lever to the second recliner mechanism to move the second recliner heart with the first recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states. The cross member may include an aperture extending through an entire longitudinal length of the cross member.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided and may include a first plate, a second plate, a cam rotatably supported between the first plate and the second plate, and a plurality of pawls rotatably supported between the first plate and the second plate. The plurality of pawls are movable from an unlocked state to a locked state by the cam. The plurality of pawls each include a plurality of discrete locking members extending toward and received by respective notches formed in one of the first plate and the second plate.

Abstract: A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly including a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. A locking plate including first, second, and third slot cutouts is disposed within the gear housing. A support pin extends from the gear housing through the first slot cutout and a second bearing surface of the eccentric extends through the second slot cutout to support the locking plate and limit its movement along a lateral axis. The second gear includes a first pin that extends through the third slot cutout to prevent the first gear from back-driving the second gear.

Abstract: A seat adjustment mechanism may include a recliner mechanism, a recliner handle, a hub and an unlock lever. The recliner mechanism is operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seatback and a seat bottom and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The recliner handle is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions to move the recliner mechanism between the locked and unlocked states. The hub may transmit motion of the recliner handle to the recliner mechanism as the recliner handle moves between the unlocked and locked positions. The unlock lever may move the recliner mechanism between the locked and unlocked states. Rotation of the recliner handle may cause corresponding rotation of the hub and the unlock lever. However, the unlock lever may move the recliner mechanism into the unlocked state without causing corresponding rotation of the hub and the recliner handle.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided and may include a base assembly, a first arm, a seat bottom assembly, a second arm, and an adjustment arm. The base assembly may be mounted to a vehicle. The first arm may be rotatably coupled to the base assembly and may be operable to rotate relative to the base assembly about a first axis of rotation. The seat bottom assembly may be rotatably coupled to the first arm and may be operable to rotate relative to the first arm about a second axis of rotation. The second arm may be rotatably coupled to the seat bottom assembly and may be operable to rotate relative to the seat bottom assembly about a third axis of rotation. The adjustment arm may include an adjustment mechanism, and may be rotatably coupled to the second arm and rotatably coupled to the base assembly. The adjustment mechanism may be operable to rotate the adjustment arm relative to the base assembly about a fourth axis of rotation.

Abstract: A gear assembly for a seat adjuster includes a gear housing, a worm gear, a helical gear meshed with the worm gear, a wobble gear carried on an eccentric lobe of the helical gear, a pinion disc, a first ring gear disposed in the gear housing, a second ring gear disposed in the pinion disc, and a pinion member carrying the helical gear and the pinion disc. The wobble gear includes first and second sets of wobble gear teeth that mesh with the first and second ring gears, respectively. A housing side gear ring disposed in the gear housing defines part of the first ring gear and the gear housing defines another part of the first ring gear. A pinion disc gear ring disposed in the pinion disc defines part of the second ring gear and the pinion disc defines another part of the second ring gear.

Abstract: A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly including a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. A locking plate including first, second, and third slot cutouts is disposed within the gear housing. A support pin extends from the gear housing through the first slot cutout and a second bearing surface of the eccentric extends through the second slot cutout to support the locking plate and limit its movement along a lateral axis. The second gear includes a first pin that extends through the third slot cutout to prevent the first gear from back-driving the second gear.

Abstract: A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly includes a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. The second gear includes an external flange with at least two guide holes. First and second support pins that are rigidly fixed in place relative to the axle shaft extend through the two guide holes in the external flange of the second gear. Forces acting at the interfaces between the first and second support pins and the two guide holes and between the eccentric and the second gear prevent the first gear from back-driving rotation of the second gear.

Abstract: A seat adjustment mechanism may include a recliner mechanism, a recliner handle, a hub and an unlock lever. The recliner mechanism is operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seatback and a seat bottom and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The recliner handle is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions to move the recliner mechanism between the locked and unlocked states. The hub may transmit motion of the recliner handle to the recliner mechanism as the recliner handle moves between the unlocked and locked positions. The unlock lever may move the recliner mechanism between the locked and unlocked states. Rotation of the recliner handle may cause corresponding rotation of the hub and the unlock lever. However, the unlock lever may move the recliner mechanism into the unlocked state without causing corresponding rotation of the hub and the recliner handle.

Abstract: A latch mechanism that selectively receives a striker is provided. The latch mechanism includes a housing having a channel and a locking mechanism having a claw rotatably supported by the housing and movable between a first locked state and a second locked state. The claw locks the striker at a first location along a length of the channel in the first locked state and locks the striker at a second location along a length of the channel different than the first location in the second locked state.

Abstract: A seat assembly can include a base, a linkage assembly, a seat, and an energy-management assembly. The linkage assembly can be supported by the base and include a return plate supported by the base for rotation about a first axis of rotation. The seat can be supported by the linkage assembly for movement relative to the base along a generally arcuate path. The return plate can be operable to rotate relative to the seat about a second axis of rotation. The energy-management assembly can be supported by the base for rotation about a third axis of rotation and supported by the return plate for rotation about a fourth axis of rotation. The energy-management assembly can include a biasing member configured to resist the movement of the seat relative to the base along the generally arcuate path.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism includes a first plate, a second plate having first teeth, and a locking mechanism including a pawl having a post and second teeth. The pawl is movable between a locked position, an unlocked position, and an intermediate position between the locked position and the unlocked position. The second teeth are in engagement with the first teeth when the pawl is in the locked position and are disengaged from the first teeth in the unlocked position and in the intermediate position. A cam is rotatably supported between the plates and moves the pawl between the locked position, the unlocked position, and the intermediate position. A control ring has an inner surface that slidably receives the post when the pawl is in the unlocked position and a recess that receives the post when the pawl is in the locked position or the intermediate position.

Abstract: A seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The locking pawls may each include locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that the locking elements restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.

Abstract: A seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having at least two locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The at least two locking pawls may each include at least two locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that each of the locking elements simultaneously restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.

Abstract: A seat assembly can include a base, a linkage assembly, a seat, and an energy-management assembly. The linkage assembly can be supported by the base and include a return plate supported by the base for rotation about a first axis of rotation. The seat can be supported by the linkage assembly for movement relative to the base along a generally arcuate path. The return plate can be operable to rotate relative to the seat about a second axis of rotation. The energy-management assembly can be supported by the base for rotation about a third axis of rotation and supported by the return plate for rotation about a fourth axis of rotation. The energy-management assembly can include a biasing member configured to resist the movement of the seat relative to the base along the generally arcuate path.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism is provided and may include an upper housing plate and a lower housing plate. The adjustment mechanism may also include a recliner mechanism movable between an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between the upper housing plate and the lower housing plate and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the upper housing plate and the lower housing plate. A locking mechanism may selectively permit rotation of one of the upper housing plate and lower housing plate relative to the other of the upper housing plate and the lower housing plate when the recliner mechanism is in the locked state by permitting the recliner mechanism to rotate with the one of the upper housing plate and lower housing plate when in the locked state.

Abstract: A track assembly is provided and may include a track, at least one slide mechanism, and a lock mechanism. The at least one slide mechanism may be slidably attached to the track. The lock mechanism may be associated with the at least one slide mechanism and may operate between a locked state restricting movement of the at least one slide mechanism relative to the track and an unlocked state permitting movement of the at least one slide mechanism relative to the track. The lock mechanism may include a plurality of lock plates independently movable relative to one another between a first position engaging the track and a second position disengaged from the track.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism includes a first plate, a second plate having first teeth, and a locking mechanism including a pawl having a post and second teeth. The pawl is movable between a locked position, an unlocked position, and an intermediate position between the locked position and the unlocked position. The second teeth are in engagement with the first teeth when the pawl is in the locked position and are disengaged from the first teeth in the unlocked position and in the intermediate position. A cam is rotatably supported between the plates and moves the pawl between the locked position, the unlocked position, and the intermediate position. A control ring has an inner surface that slidably receives the post when the pawl is in the unlocked position and a recess that receives the post when the pawl is in the locked position or the intermediate position.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism may include a guide plate and a ratchet plate selectively rotatable relative to the guide plate. At least two pawls may be disposed between the guide plate and the ratchet plate and may be movable between a first position removed from engagement with the ratchet plate to permit relative rotation between the guide plate and the ratchet plate and a second position in contact with the ratchet plate to prevent relative rotation between the guide plate and the ratchet plate. A cam may be disposed between the guide plate and the ratchet plate and may move the at least two pawls between the first position and the second position. A control ring may be fixed to the ratchet plate and may be in selective engagement with the at least two pawls to prevent the pawls from moving from the first position to the second position.