Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a reclining apparatus in which when a pawl is in an unlocked position, orientation of the pawl is stable, and when the pawl moves to a locked position, meshing between outer teeth of the pawl and inner teeth of a first member is stable. The reclining apparatus has at least one second cam that is provided between a cam and a second pawl, and is pressed by the cam to press the second pawl. The reclining apparatus is provided with a spring or pressing the second pawl against a pawl guide protrusion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a reclining apparatus in which when a pawl is in an unlocked position, orientation of the pawl is stable, and when the pawl moves to a locked position, meshing between outer teeth of the pawl and inner teeth of a first member is stable. The reclining apparatus has at least one second cam that is provided between a cam and a second pawl, and is pressed by the cam to press the second pawl. The reclining apparatus is provided with a spring or pressing the second pawl against a pawl guide protrusion.

Abstract: A clutch unit that is used for a vehicle seat includes: a housing, which accommodates at least one of a input-side clutch and a output-side clutch, a first engaging portion, which is rotatable integrally with an output shaft member, and a lock member, which is able to be shifted between a locked state, in which the rotation of the output shaft member relative to the housing is suppressed by the lock member being locked to the first engaging portion, and an unlocked state, in which the rotation of the output shaft member relative to the housing is allowed by releasing the engaging with the first engaging portion, wherein when the lock member is shifted from the locked state to the unlocked state, the lock member is elastically deformed to release the engagement of the lock member and the first engaging portion.

Abstract: A reclining device cylindrical first member including an internal tooth and an opening surface on one side; a main pawl including an external tooth engageable with the internal tooth; a sub-pawl including an external tooth engageable with the internal tooth; a second member stacked on an opening surface side of the first member and rotatable relative to the first member. The second member includes a pawl guide to guide the main pawl/sub-pawl between a lock position and an unlock position. A cam between the first and second members is configured to push the main pawl and sub-pawl in a lock direction; and a second cam between the cam and the main pawl is pushed by the cam at the lock position to contact the main pawl and the pawl guide.

Abstract: A clutch unit that is used for a vehicle seat includes: a housing, which accommodates at least one of a input-side clutch and a output-side clutch, a first engaging portion, which is rotatable integrally with an output shaft member, and a lock member, which is able to be shifted between a locked state, in which the rotation of the output shaft member relative to the housing is suppressed by the lock member being locked to the first engaging portion, and an unlocked state, in which the rotation of the output shaft member relative to the housing is allowed by releasing the engaging with the first engaging portion, wherein when the lock member is shifted from the locked state to the unlocked state, the lock member is elastically deformed to release the engagement of the lock member and the first engaging portion.

Abstract: A method of producing a seat reclining apparatus includes connecting one of a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion of a biasing member to associated one of a base member and a lock drive member, with a lock member and the lock drive member supported on the base member, thereby bringing the biasing member to a temporarily held state; mounting the ratchet to the base member so as to cover the biasing member in the temporarily held state; and fixing the other of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion to the other of the base member and the lock drive member through an opening which is formed in one of the base member and the ratchet, thereby bringing the biasing member to the biasing state from the temporarily held state.

Abstract: A reclining device cylindrical first member including an internal tooth and an opening surface on one side; a main pawl including an external tooth engageable with the internal tooth; a sub-pawl including an external tooth engageable with the internal tooth; a second member stacked on an opening surface side of the first member and rotatable relative to the first member. The second member includes a pawl guide to guide the main pawl/sub-pawl between a lock position and an unlock position. A cam between the first and second members is configured to push the main pawl and sub-pawl in a lock direction; and a second cam between the cam and the main pawl is pushed by the cam at the lock position to contact the main pawl and the pawl guide.

Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a stopper which is movable between a forward-tilt restriction position to stop the seatback at an intermediate stop position in an unlock range, which is set in front of a lockable range in which a reclining mechanism of the seat reclining apparatus allows the angle of the seatback to be adjusted, and a restriction release position to allow the seatback to tilt forward beyond the intermediate stop position, and is situated at the forward-tilt restriction position when the seatback tilts toward the intermediate stop position from the lockable range. The seat reclining apparatus further includes a holding mechanism which keeps holding the stopper in the restriction release position until the seatback returns to the lockable range from a state where the seatback tilts forward beyond the intermediate stop position following a movement of the stopper from the forward-tilt restriction position to the restriction release position.

Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes: first and second reclining lock mechanisms that operate in a locked state and an unlocked state, where the locked state prevents a seat back from tilting and the unlocked state allows the tilting; a first rotation member that rotates toward an unlocking direction integrally with the shaft body to change the first reclining lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state; and a second rotation member that is operated to rotate by an operation member toward the unlocking direction to change the second reclining lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state via a cable. When the operation member is operated, the second rotation member rotates from the locking position toward the unlocking direction by a predetermined amount, subsequently transmits a rotation force to the first rotation member toward the unlocking direction via an interlocking portion.

Abstract: The seat reclining apparatus includes first and second pawls supported by a base member to be movable in radial directions and to be engageable with an internal gear of a ratchet. In the unlocked range, a first pawl-restriction portion of the ratchet and a first limit portion of the first pawl, which are positioned on the radially outer side, radially face, and each pawl is prevented from engaging with the internal gear. In a specific range of the unlocked range, a second pawl-restriction portion of the ratchet and a second limit portion of the second pawl, which are positioned on the radially inner side, radially face. The second pawl-restriction portion or/and the second limit portion includes a pressing portion which moves the second pawl to a disengaged position when the second-pawl restriction portion and the second limit portion mutually contact in the rotational direction of the ratchet.

Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes: first and second reclining lock mechanisms that operate in a locked state and an unlocked state, where the locked state prevents a seat back from tilting and the unlocked state allows the tilting; a first rotation member that rotates toward an unlocking direction integrally with the shaft body to change the first reclining lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state; and a second rotation member that is operated to rotate by an operation member toward the unlocking direction to change the second reclining lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state via a cable. When the operation member is operated, the second rotation member rotates from the locking position toward the unlocking direction by a predetermined amount, subsequently transmits a rotation force to the first rotation member toward the unlocking direction via an interlocking portion.

Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a base member and a ratchet on a seat cushion and a seatback, respectively or vice versa; a lock member which engages with and disengages from a meshing portion of the ratchet; a lock driver which moves the lock member between the engaged position and the disengaged position; and a meshed-state retainer including an engaging portion provided on the base member, and an engaged portion provided on the lock member. When the lock member in the engaged position moves in a direction different from a direction in which the lock member is guided by the guide portion of the base member, the meshed-state retainer moves the lock member toward the engaged position via engagement of the engaged portion with the engaging portion to retain a meshed state between the lock member and the meshing portion of the ratchet.

Abstract: A reclining device includes: a first member; a pawl having external teeth; a second member; a cam; and a spring, which biases the cam to move the pawl in the direction where the external teeth engage with the internal teeth, the pawl guide includes a first pawl guide and a second pawl guide, a wedge-shaped space is formed between the pawl and the first pawl guide, and a width of the wedge-shaped space is gradually reduced in a direction where the pawl is guided, an end of the spring is inserted into the wedge-shaped space, and the end of the spring is directly wedged into the wedge-shaped space, thereby pressing the pawl against the second pawl guide.

Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a stopper which is movable between a forward-tilt restriction position to stop the seatback at an intermediate stop position in an unlock range, which is set in front of a lockable range in which a reclining mechanism of the seat reclining apparatus allows the angle of the seatback to be adjusted, and a restriction release position to allow the seatback to tilt forward beyond the intermediate stop position, and is situated at the forward-tilt restriction position when the seatback tilts toward the intermediate stop position from the lockable range. The seat reclining apparatus further includes a holding mechanism which keeps holding the stopper in the restriction release position until the seatback returns to the lockable range from a state where the seatback tilts forward beyond the intermediate stop position following a movement of the stopper from the forward-tilt restriction position to the restriction release position.

Abstract: The seat reclining apparatus includes first and second pawls supported by a base member to be movable in radial directions and to be engageable with an internal gear of a ratchet. In the unlocked range, a first pawl-restriction portion of the ratchet and a first limit portion of the first pawl, which are positioned on the radially outer side, radially face, and each pawl is prevented from engaging with the internal gear. In a specific range of the unlocked range, a second pawl-restriction portion of the ratchet and a second limit portion of the second pawl, which are positioned on the radially inner side, radially face. The second pawl-restriction portion or/and the second limit portion includes a pressing portion which moves the second pawl to a disengaged position when the second-pawl restriction portion and the second limit portion mutually contact in the rotational direction of the ratchet.

Abstract: A method of producing a seat reclining apparatus includes connecting one of a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion of a biasing member to associated one of a base member and a lock drive member, with a lock member and the lock drive member supported on the base member, thereby bringing the biasing member to a temporarily held state; mounting the ratchet to the base member so as to cover the biasing member in the temporarily held state; and fixing the other of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion to the other of the base member and the lock drive member through an opening which is formed in one of the base member and the ratchet, thereby bringing the biasing member to the biasing state from the temporarily held state.

Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a base member and a ratchet on a seat cushion and a seatback, respectively or vice versa; a lock member which engages with and disengages from a meshing portion of the ratchet; a lock driver which moves the lock member between the engaged position and the disengaged position; and a meshed-state retainer including an engaging portion provided on the base member, and an engaged portion provided on the lock member. When the lock member in the engaged position moves in a direction different from a direction in which the lock member is guided by the guide portion of the base member, the meshed-state retainer moves the lock member toward the engaged position via engagement of the engaged portion with the engaging portion to retain a meshed state between the lock member and the meshing portion of the ratchet.

Abstract: A reclining device includes: a first member; a pawl having external teeth; a second member; a cam; and a spring, which biases the cam to move the pawl in the direction where the external teeth engage with the internal teeth, the pawl guide includes a first pawl guide and a second pawl guide, a wedge-shaped space is formed between the pawl and the first pawl guide, and a width of the wedge-shaped space is gradually reduced in a direction where the pawl is guided, an end of the spring is inserted into the wedge-shaped space, and the end of the spring is directly wedged into the wedge-shaped space, thereby pressing the pawl against the second pawl guide.

Abstract: A reclining apparatus achieves enhanced ease of coming off of a pole from a ratchet plate and hence a better operational feeling. Of a plurality of external teeth of a pole, at least one external tooth from an end is formed in such a manner that a tooth thickness is lessened more toward a tooth tip in comparison with a tooth thickness of other external teeth. The external tooth having a lessened tooth thickness is cut in one of two tooth planes located on a side of the end. The cut tooth plane has an inclined surface parallel to a flat surface containing all tangential lines to a pitch circle of one of two tooth planes of an external tooth having a large tooth thickness and situated adjacent to the external tooth having a lessened tooth thickness located on a side of the external tooth having a lessened tooth thickness.

Abstract: A stepped lowering device includes a lifting/lowering link having a pivot on a base and on an ascending/descending body; a toothed link pivoted on the base or the ascending/descending body, includes a link ratchet and swings in association with the lifting/lowering link; an input member, supported by the ascending/descending body or the base; a first lowering prevention latch mechanism engaged with the link ratchet to prevent the toothed link swinging downward when the input member is in a neutral position and allows the toothed link to swing downward when the input member is swung in a lowering direction; and a second lowering prevention latch mechanism which allows the toothed link to swing downward by one tooth of the link ratchet and which is engaged with the link ratchet to prevent the toothed link further swinging downward.