Abstract: A recliner heart includes a first locking plate, a second locking plate, a hub, a pair of wedges, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The first locking plate includes first teeth. The second locking plate is rotatable relative to the first locking plate and includes second teeth. The first biasing member is configured to apply a first biasing force to the wedges. The second biasing member is configured to apply a second biasing force to the wedges. The hub is rotatable between a first position in which the first and second biasing forces are applied to the wedges to restrict rotation of the second locking plate relative to the first locking plate, and a second position in which the first biasing force applied to one wedge of the wedges is reduced to allow rotation of the second locking plate relative to the first locking plate.

Abstract: A recliner heart may include a first locking plate, a second locking plate, a cam and a lubricant member. The first locking plate includes an outer diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon. The second locking plate is rotatable relative to the first locking plate and includes an inner diametrical surface having second teeth formed thereon. Some of the second teeth are meshingly engaged with some of the first teeth. The cam is connected to the second locking plate and includes a groove formed therein. The lubricant member is disposed in the groove of the cam.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism includes a housing plate and a recliner heart. The housing plate includes a plate body. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seat back and a seat bottom, and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The housing plate includes a fore end proximate a front of the seat bottom and an aft end opposing the fore end and proximate a rear end of the seat bottom. The plate body includes a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom at or near the aft end.

Abstract: A method of laser welding a recliner assembly includes positioning a first component of a vehicle seat recliner mechanism with respect to a second component of the vehicle seat recliner mechanism. The method further includes retaining a position of the first component and the second component. Retaining includes forming a plurality of tack welds between the first component and the second component. The method further includes fixing the first component to the second component. Fixing includes forming a finishing weld between the first component and the second component by laser welding the first component to the second component.

Abstract: A recliner assembly for a vehicle seat may include a pair of recliner hearts and a cross rod. Each of the recliner hearts includes a first plate and a second plate that is selectively rotatable relative to the first plate to recline a seatback relative to a seat bottom of the vehicle seat. The cross rod extends between the recliner hearts and is received in hubs of the recliner hearts. The cross rod transmits torque between the hubs. The cross rod includes ridges that are angularly spaced apart from each other. Each of the ridges includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an end wall extending between the first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls are defined by first and second axes that extend radially outward. The first and second axes are angled such that they do not converge with each other as they extend radially outward.

Abstract: A recliner heart includes a first locking plate, a second locking plate, a hub, a pair of wedges, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The first locking plate includes first teeth. The second locking plate is rotatable relative to the first locking plate and includes second teeth. The first biasing member is configured to apply a first biasing force to the wedges. The second biasing member is configured to apply a second biasing force to the wedges. The hub is rotatable between a first position in which the first and second biasing forces are applied to the wedges to restrict rotation of the second locking plate relative to the first locking plate, and a second position in which the first biasing force applied to one wedge of the wedges is reduced to allow rotation of the second locking plate relative to the first locking plate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recliner mechanism may include movably attaching a first plate of a recliner heart to a second plate of the recliner heart, positioning a gap ring onto the first plate of the recliner heart, positioning an encapsulation ring around the first and second plates such that the gap ring is disposed axially between the first plate and the encapsulation ring, and removing at least a portion of the gap ring from between the first plate and the encapsulation ring to form a clearance gap between the first plate and the encapsulation ring.

Abstract: A vehicle-seat-recliner assembly may include first and second recliner hearts, a release handle, a cross-member, a handle pin, a handle-travel-limiter, and a reinforcement member. The release handle is connected with the first recliner heart and is rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between locked and unlocked states. The cross-member is connected to the recliner hearts and transmits torque from the release handle to the second recliner heart to move the recliner hearts between the locked and unlocked states. The handle pin engages the release handle. The handle-travel-limiter may include a flange portion and a shaft portion. The shaft portion may include an aperture configured to receive the cross-member. The flange portion extends radially outward from the shaft portion. The handle pin engages the handle-travel-limiter. The reinforcement member may be fixed to the handle-travel-limiter and the handle pin.

Abstract: A vehicle seat recliner assembly includes a first recliner heart, a second recliner heart, hand lever and a cross member. The first recliner heart is mounted to a bracket. The second recliner heart is mounted to another bracket. The hand lever is mounted to the first recliner heart and rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between a locked state and an unlocked state. The cross member is connected to the first and second recliner hearts and transmitting torque from the hand lever to the second recliner heart to move the second recliner heart with the first recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states. The cross member has a central part and a plurality of projections extending radially around and from the central part such that the plurality of projections are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recliner heart may include supporting a guide plate of the recliner heart with a first support member, positioning a first block onto the guide plate opposite the first support member, positioning a second block in a recess of the guide plate, and applying a force to the first block. The second block may be disposed in the recess such that a gap is formed between the guide plate and the second block. A force may be applied to the first block such that material of the guide plate moves into the gap formed between the guide plate and the second block.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism includes a housing plate and a recliner heart. The housing plate includes a plate body. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seat back and a seat bottom, and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The housing plate includes a fore end proximate a front of the seat bottom and an aft end opposing the fore end and proximate a rear end of the seat bottom. The plate body includes a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom at or near the aft end.

Abstract: A vehicle-seat-recliner assembly may include first and second recliner hearts, a release handle, a cross-member, a handle pin, a handle-travel-limiter, and a reinforcement member. The release handle is connected with the first recliner heart and is rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between locked and unlocked states. The cross-member is connected to the recliner hearts and transmits torque from the release handle to the second recliner heart to move the recliner hearts between the locked and unlocked states. The handle pin engages the release handle. The handle-travel-limiter may include a flange portion and a shaft portion. The shaft portion may include an aperture configured to receive the cross-member. The flange portion extends radially outward from the shaft portion. The handle pin engages the handle-travel-limiter. The reinforcement member may be fixed to the handle-travel-limiter and the handle pin.

Abstract: The recliner mechanism includes a housing plate, a recliner heart and an encapsulating ring. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and 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 encapsulating ring is attached to the housing plate.

Abstract: A recliner heart may include a first locking plate, a second locking plate, a cam and a lubricant member. The first locking plate includes an outer diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon. The second locking plate is rotatable relative to the first locking plate and includes an inner diametrical surface having second teeth formed thereon. Some of the second teeth are meshingly engaged with some of the first teeth. The cam is connected to the second locking plate and includes a groove formed therein. The lubricant member is disposed in the groove of the cam.

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 recliner heart for a vehicle seat recliner assembly may include a first plate, a second plate and one or more pawls. The first plate may define a recess. The second plate may include a first inner diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon. The pawl may be slidably disposed in the recess between a secure position in which the pawl is engaged with a portion of the teeth of the second plate to restrict relative rotation between the first and second plates and a release position in which the pawl is disengaged from the portion of the teeth of the second plate to allow relative rotation between the first and second plates. One or both lateral sides of the pawl may include one or more slots.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recliner mechanism may include movably attaching a first plate of a recliner heart to a second plate of the recliner heart, positioning a gap ring onto the first plate of the recliner heart, positioning an encapsulation ring around the first and second plates such that the gap ring is disposed axially between the first plate and the encapsulation ring, and removing at least a portion of the gap ring from between the first plate and the encapsulation ring to form a clearance gap between the first plate and the encapsulation ring.

Abstract: A vehicle seat recliner assembly includes a first recliner heart, a second recliner heart, hand lever and a cross member. The first recliner heart is mounted to a bracket. The second recliner heart is mounted to another bracket. The hand lever is mounted to the first recliner heart and rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between a locked state and an unlocked state. The cross member is connected to the first and second recliner hearts and transmitting torque from the hand lever to the second recliner heart to move the second recliner heart with the first recliner heart between the locked and unlocked states. The cross member has a central part and a plurality of projections extending radially around and from the central part such that the plurality of projections are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recliner heart may include supporting a guide plate of the recliner heart with a first support member, positioning a first block onto the guide plate opposite the first support member, positioning a second block in a recess of the guide plate, and applying a force to the first block. The second block may be disposed in the recess such that a gap is formed between the guide plate and the second block. A force may be applied to the first block such that material of the guide plate moves into the gap formed between the guide plate and the second block.

Abstract: The recliner mechanism includes a housing plate, a recliner heart and an encapsulating ring. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and 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 encapsulating ring is attached to the housing plate.