Abstract: The mechanical lock includes a rod having one end extending into a housing and another end extending out of the housing. The rod translate through bores through bushings within the housing. Coil springs in the housing and surround the rod. When the springs are in their normal orientation, they grip the rod tightly and prevent the rod from translating. The rod and bushings have complementary structure for preventing the rod from rotating within the bushings and housing. In the exemplary embodiment, the structure are flat surfaces along the rod and the bushing that mate with each other.

Abstract: A rack mounted within the housing of a mechanical lock translates. The rack, which has a rectangular cross-section, has teeth along one surface. A toothed pawl pivots housing between a locked and unlocked position. The teeth on the pawl engage the rack teeth when the pawl is locked. The pawl has a window that receives a cam. The cam has a first surface that engages a surface of the window when the cam is in the locked position. In that position, the cam prevents pawl movement teeth away from the teeth on the rack. A second surface of the cam pushes against a different surface of the window when the cam is in the unlocked position. In that position, the cam disengages the pawl teeth from the rack teeth. The window has a chamfered surface to move the pawl to its locked position.

Abstract: A threaded leadscrew moves axially within the housing of a linear actuator. The leadscrew's movement rotates a threaded gear nut that surrounds the leadscrew. Stopping the gear nut rotation prevents leadscrew translation. The locking mechanism for selectively blocking rotation of the gear nut includes a cam mounted on the housing, which connects remotely to a user actuated handle. A lever, which mounts on the cam, has a tooth movable between adjacent teeth on the gear nut. The cam also has a blocker that engages the lever. When the cam is in the closed position, the blocker prevents the lever from moving to its released position away from the gear nut's teeth. When the cam is moved to the released position, the blocker releases the lever and allows it to move away from the gear nut. The lever has an opening that is somewhat bigger than a pin on the cam that extends into the opening. When the pin reaches one surface of the opening, it pulls the lever out of its engaged position.

Abstract: The system (10) controls reclining and dumping of a seat and the return of the seat back to its upright position depending on the position of the seat. The system (10) has a master unit (6) and a slave unit (8). The master unit (6) has a base plate (12) that attaches to a seat and pivots with respect to the ground. A master lock (90), which attaches to the base plate (12), allows the base plate (12) to pivot only when the lock (90) is unlocked. A master seat plate (70) connected to the seat pivots on the master base plate (12). A memory latch (120) normally secures the base and seat plates together so that pivoting the master plate (12) pivots the seat plate (70) except when the memory latch is not latched. A slave-side mechanical lock (111) connects directly to the seat back, which allows the seat back and the master base plate (12) to pivot only when both the master and slave locks are unlocked. An input/output device (164) unlocks the slave lock when the memory latch unlocks, which allows dumping.

Abstract: The rotary adjustment mechanism adjusts the seat back of a vehicle seat. The mechanism includes a handle mounted for rotation with respect to the seat. The handle has an internal gear, and the internal gear drives a pair of pinion gears positioned within the internal gear. Each gear rotates a flexible shaft, and each shaft connects to a leadscrew. The leadscrew has a threaded end, which mates with a threaded nut connected one seat pivot. Shaft rotation rotates the leadscrew, which causes the threaded nut to move axially, which in turn, pivots the respective seat pivot.

Abstract: The actuator includes a housing (12) and a gear nut (64) within the housing (12). A leadscrew (78) on which the gear nut (64) is threaded traverses the housing (12). As the leadscrew (78) moves axially, the gear nut (64) rotates. To prevent misalignment between the gear nut (64) and leadscrew (78), the gear nut's outer walls (74 and 76) and bearing surfaces (30 and 46) within the housing (12) permit the gear nut's axis of rotation to pivot in any direction along with any pivoting of the leadscrew (78), while allowing the gear nut (64) to rotate about the leadscrew (78). Therefore, if the leadscrew (78) is not aligned with the housing (12), the leadscrew will pivot the gear nut (64) so that the gear nut (64) remains aligned with the leadscrew (78) and movement of the leadscrew (78) can continue.

Abstract: A vehicle seat including a thigh support, a leg rest, a foot rest and a control system which is adapted to monitor the respective positions of the leg rest and the foot rest. The control system will either move the foot rest to a position where it will not strike the floor during movement of the leg rest or prevent the foot rest from moving in such a manner that it will strike the floor. A control system which is adapted to adjust the back support and leg rest such that the seat is in either the sleep orientation or the upright orientation in response to the user's actuation of a single switch may also be used.

Abstract: A linear mechanical lock comprises an elongated housing. A rod having a first end inserted into the housing and a second end extending out of the housing. A first lock comprising a locking spring having an end fixed in the housing and extending around a portion of the rod. The normal inside diameter of the locking spring is less than the rod's outside diameter so that the spring grips the rod. A moveable handle engages the locking spring, and movement of the handle uncoils the locking spring to release the rod. A second lock comprises a collet having at least one jaw around the rod within the housing. The jaw normally is out of the engagement with the rod. The collet has a first region having an inside diameter around the normal position of the jaw to provide sufficient room for the jaw to be out of engagement with the rod.

Abstract: A system for controlling the recline and dumping of a seat has a master unit and a slave unit. The master unit has two base plates that attaches to a seat and pivots with respect to ground. A master lock, which attaches to the base plate, allows the base plates to pivot only when the lock is unlocked. A master seat plate, which connects to the seat and pivots on the master base plate. A latch normally secures the base and seat plates together so that pivoting the master plate pivots the seat plate except when the latches is not latched. The slave unit has a mechanical lock connected with the seat back directly, which allows the seat back and the master base plates to pivot only when both the master lock and the slave lock are unlocked. An input/output device unlocks the slave lock when the latch is unlocked. That allows the seat to dump. The input/output device also unlocks the slave lock when the latch on the master lock is unlocked. That allows the seat back to dump.

Abstract: The mechanical lock has an elongated housing. A pair of end bushings mounts in the housing, and a rod translates through the end bushings and at least partially through the housing. A pair of coiled locking springs within the housing are around the rod and between the end bushings. One end of each locking spring is fixed within the housing, and the other end of each locking spring is free. The normal inside diameter of each locking spring is less than the outside diameter of the rod so that the locking springs secure the rod. A handle can uncoil the free end of each locking spring to increase their inside diameter and release the rod. A wedge bushing mounts in the housing between the locking springs. The face on each end bushing against its respective locking spring is at an angle, and the wedge bushing also has an angled face on the other side of each spring.

Abstract: A mechanical lock of the type having a lock housing, a rotatable nut axially captive in the housing, a threaded rod axially displaceable through the housing in threading engagement with the nut, and a detent normally locking the nut against rotation in the housing to prevent axial translation of the rod through the housing. Camming surfaces on the nut urge the detent out of locking engagment with the nut when the nut is torqued by axial force on the threaded rod. A detent control element normally keeps the detent in locking engagement with the nut until the detent control element is displaced by an actuator to an unlocked position. The detent control element has a camming surface which urges the detent into locking engagement with the nut when the detent control element is returned to a locking position. The preferred detent is a ball bearing and two variants of the mechanism are disclosed, one having a linearly reciprocating shuttle as the control element, the other using a rotating shaft for this purpose.

Abstract: The lockout mechanism selectively prevents passengers from reclining an airplane seat even though they activate the seat's recline input button. Instead of a single cable extending from the recline button to the recline actuator, the invention has separate input and output cables. The input cable attaches to a cylindrical input fitting, and the output cable attaches to a cylindrical output fitting. The input fitting telescopes within the output fitting. A ball, which is adjacent the output fitting, moves between a lockout and a normal position. In the normal position, the ball secures the input and output fittings together so that the input and output cables move together. Therefore, pushing the recline button activates the recline actuator. When the ball is in the lockout position, the fittings telescope relative to each other. Therefore, pushing the seat recline button does not activate the recline actuator. A remotely activated piston cam moves the ball between the normal and lockout positions.

Abstract: A vehicle seat including a thigh support, a leg rest, a foot rest and a control system which is adapted to monitor the respective positions of the leg rest and the foot rest. The control system will either move the foot rest to a position where it will not strike the floor during movement of the leg rest or prevent the foot rest from moving in such a manner that it will strike the floor. A control system which is adapted to adjust the back support and leg rest such the seat is in either the sleep orientation or the upright orientation in response to the user's actuation of a single switch may also be used.

Abstract: A push-button actuator for attachment to a Bowden type remote control cable has a frame, a lever pivoted to the frame and connected to the control wire, a plunger reciprocable through an actuating stroke transverse to the control wire for turning the lever and thereby pulling the control wire from the cable sleeve, an exposed portion of the control wire extending from the cable sleeve to the lever transversely to the plunger stroke. The lower end of the plunger in its normal condition is positioned above the wire and moves to a depressed position below the exposed portion of the wire during the actuation stroke, such that the plunger is unimpeded by the wire in its stroke, allowing the cable sleeve to be attached on the frame at a location vertically intermediate the normal and depressed positions of the lower end of the plunger and thereby achieve a more compact push-button actuator assembly.

Abstract: The actuator includes a housing and a gear nut within the housing. A leadscrew on which the gear nut is threaded traverses the housing. As the leadscrew moves axially, the gear nut rotates. The actuator allows a manually controlled ball in a groove to project into castellations on the outside of the gear nut to prevent the nut from rotating. This locks the leadscrew. Disengaging the ball from the gear nut releases the gear nut and leadscrew. To prevent misalignment between the gear nut and leadscrew, the gear nut's outer walls and the housing's inner walls are spherical against each other. A bearing may be in between. This permits the gear nut's axis of rotation to pivot in any direction along with any pivoting of the leadscrew while the gear nut still can rotate about the leadscrew. Therefore, if the leadscrew is not aligned with the housing, the leadscrew will pivot the gear nut so that the gear nut remains aligned with the leadscrew and movement of the leadscrew still occurs.

Abstract: A vehicle seat including a thigh support, a leg rest, a foot rest and a control system which is adapted to monitor the respective positions of the leg rest and the foot rest. The control system will either move the foot rest to a position where it will not strike the floor during movement of the leg rest or prevent the foot rest from moving in such a manner that it will strike the floor. A control system which is adapted to adjust the back support and leg rest such the seat is in either the sleep orientation or the upright orientation in response to the user's actuation of a single switch may also be used.

Abstract: A mechanical lock of the type where a rod is normally locked for axial movement through a lock housing by a spring tightly wound about the rod and axially fixed to the housing, the rod being released by partially unwinding the spring. The lock is assembled without welding of the components to permit use of dissimilar materials in the lock housing selected for strength and weight characteristics and use of plated or painted components. The lock housing is configured to reduce the number of parts in the lock and adjustment can be made to eliminate axial free play of the locking spring following assembly of the lock housing.

Abstract: A mechanical lock of the type where a rod is normally locked for axial movement through a lock housing by a spring tightly wound about the rod and axially fixed to the housing, the rod being released by partially unwinding the spring. The lock housing is configured to reduce the number of parts in the lock and is easily adjustable during assembly to eliminate axial free play of the locking spring. The lock is assembled without welding of the components to permit use of dissimilar materials in the lock housing selected for strength and weight characteristics and plated or painted components.

Abstract: A hydraulic positioner of the type having a piston movable in a hydraulic cylinder and a valve actuatable for releasing the piston for movement in the chamber is provided with a continuously adjustable mechanism for limiting the stroke of the piston. The cylinder and the stroke limiter share a common tubular housing which is partitioned to define the hydraulic chamber, thereby simplifying the device.

Abstract: A seatback recliner mechanism made up of a fixed frame attachable to a seat bottom and a plate pivoted to the fixed frame and attachable to a seat back. An inertia operated lock mechanism for locking together the pivoted plate and the fixed frame under simultaneous deceleration of both elements. The inertia operated lock mechanism consists of a pawl pivoted on the upper plate and a pendulum pivotably suspended by the upper plate such that the pendulum swings forward under deceleration of the mechanism to abut the pivoted pawl and lock the pawl to the lower fixed frame and thereby lock the seat back and seat bottom.