Abstract: A recliner mechanism having a first plate, a dust cover, and a brake. The brake may be configured to engage a set of dust cover teeth to inhibit rotation of the second plate with respect to the first plate.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism having a first plate, a dust cover, and a brake. The brake may be configured to engage a set of dust cover teeth to inhibit rotation of the second plate with respect to the first plate.

Abstract: A continuous manual seat recliner mechanism with an integrated lock includes an upper gear plate and lower gear plate in geared connection with the upper gear plate. The upper gear plate is able to rotate eccentrically in relation to the lower gear plate. A coiled locking spring is located within a central bore of a lock cylinder which is fixed to the lower gear plate so that an outside surface of the locking spring may frictionally engage the lock cylinder to prevent the lock cylinder and, thereby, the lower gear, from rotating. The ends of the lock spring engage with a knob hub and a driver hub such that rotation of the knob hub unlocks the recliner to allow adjustment by the operator, while rotation of the driver hub locks the recliner mechanism.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a guide plate and a gear plate. The gear plate has a plurality of internal gear teeth and an inner diameter. A hub is attached to a shaft that connects two recliners on opposite sides of the seat. The guide plate, the gear plate and a cam are retained on the hub by a retainer clip. Two locking elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have a plurality of external gear teeth that selectively engage the internal gear teeth. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam surfaces with one of the engagement surfaces unlocking the external gear teeth from the internal gear teeth. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. The inner diameter of the gear plate is received on the retainer clip that provides a bearing surface for rotation of the gear plate.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a guide plate and a gear plate. The gear plate has a plurality of internal gear teeth and an inner diameter. A hub is attached to a shaft that connects two recliners on opposite sides of the seat. The guide plate, the gear plate and a cam are retained on the hub by a retainer clip. Two locking elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have a plurality of external gear teeth that selectively engage the internal gear teeth. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam surfaces with one of the engagement surfaces unlocking the external gear teeth from the internal gear teeth. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. The inner diameter of the gear plate is received on the retainer clip that provides a bearing surface for rotation of the gear plate.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a guide plate and a gear plate. The gear plate has a plurality of internal gear teeth and a frustonical inner diameter. A hub is attached to a shaft that connects two recliners on opposite sides of the seat. The guide plate, the gear plate and a cam are retained on the hub by a retainer clip that has a frustoconical bearing surface. Two locking elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have a plurality of external gear teeth that selectively engage the internal gear teeth. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam surfaces with one of the engagement surfaces unlocking the external gear teeth from the internal gear teeth. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. The inner diameter of the gear plate is received on the frustoconical bearing surface of the retainer clip.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a guide plate and a gear plate. The gear plate has a plurality of internal gear teeth and a frustonical inner diameter. A hub is attached to a shaft that connects two recliners on opposite sides of the seat. The guide plate, the gear plate and a cam are retained on the hub by a retainer clip that has a frustoconical bearing surface. Two locking elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have a plurality of external gear teeth that selectively engage the internal gear teeth. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam surfaces with one of the engagement surfaces unlocking the external gear teeth from the internal gear teeth. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. The inner diameter of the gear plate is received on the frustoconical bearing surface of the retainer clip.

Abstract: A manual vehicle seat reclining mechanism and seat assembly incorporating the reclining mechanism is disclosed. A guide plate and a pivotal plate are assembled together and disposed between the seat base and seat back. A cam is biased by a spring to hold locking elements in engagement with the pivotal plate. A control plate is manually rotated with the cam to release the locking elements by drawing pins on one side of the locking plates radially inwardly with slots provided in the control plate. Ribs are provided on the pivotal plate that prevent the locking elements from returning to the locked position in certain radial alignments of the pivotal plate relative to the guide plate.

Abstract: A manual vehicle seat reclining mechanism and seat assembly incorporating the reclining mechanism is disclosed. A guide plate and a pivotal plate are assembled together and disposed between the seat base and seat back. A cam is biased by a spring to hold locking elements in engagement with the pivotal plate. A control plate is manually rotated with the cam to release the locking elements by drawing pins on one side of the locking plates radially inwardly with slots provided in the control plate. Ribs are provided on the pivotal plate that prevent the locking elements from returning to the locked position in certain radial alignments of the pivotal plate relative to the guide plate.

Abstract: A reclining mechanism for a vehicle seat is disclosed with a guide plate pivotally connected to a pivotal plate, which has two internal gear segments. A cam pivotally connects to the pivotal plate, and has a pair of pawls. Two lock elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have an external gear segment to cooperate with the internal gear segments. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam pawls with one of the engagement elements unlocking the external gear segments from the internal gear segments. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. A bushing cooperates with the cam and receives a shaft for connecting the reclining mechanism to another reclining mechanism. The cam engages each lock element at two contact points to drive the external gear segments into the internal gear segments when the reclining mechanism is in a locked position.

Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat that is used to adjust the angular orientation of a seat back relative to a seat base. The tilt adjustment mechanism has a driver that has two protrusions that are rotated with the driver by a drive shaft. Initially the driver rotates independently of a cam assembly until a driving protrusion of the cam assembly is engaged. The movement of the driver continues to release a locking wedge that releases the seat back for adjustment.

Abstract: A reclining mechanism for a vehicle seat is disclosed with a guide plate pivotally connected to a pivotal plate, which has two internal gear segments. A cam pivotally connects to the pivotal plate, and has a pair of pawls. Two lock elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have an external gear segment to cooperate with the internal gear segments. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam pawls with one of the engagement elements unlocking the external gear segments from the internal gear segments. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. A bushing cooperates with the cam and receives a shaft for connecting the reclining mechanism to another reclining mechanism. The cam engages each lock element at two contact points to drive the external gear segments into the internal gear segments when the reclining mechanism is in a locked position.

Abstract: A reclining mechanism for a vehicle seat is disclosed with a guide plate pivotally connected to a pivotal plate, which has two internal gear segments. A cam is pivotally connected to the pivotal plate, and has a pair of pawls. Two lock elements are translatable relative to the guide plate, and have a gear segment to cooperate with the pivotal plate gear segments. Rotation of the cam engages each of the cam pawls with one of the engagement elements to unlock the gear segments from each of the pivotal plate gear segments. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. A bushing cooperates with the cam and receives a shaft for connecting the reclining mechanism to another reclining mechanism. A clip supports the bushing, but does not extend beyond an outer profile of one of the pivotal plate or guide plate.

Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat that is used to adjust the angular orientation of a seat back relative to a seat base. The tilt adjustment mechanism has a driver that has two protrusions that are rotated with the driver by a drive shaft. Initially the driver rotates independently of a cam assembly until a driving protrusion of the cam assembly is engaged. The movement of the driver continues to release a locking wedge that releases the seat back for adjustment.

Abstract: A fastening device for engaging a structure is disclosed. The device has a collar having a passageway for receiving a fastener therethrough, and a flange connected to the collar and having first and second portions, wherein the flange is engageable with the structure. The device has an uninstalled position, wherein the first and second portions of the flange are substantially non-coplanar with respect to each other, and an installed position, wherein the first and second portions of the flange are substantially coplanar with respect to each other. The present invention further comprises the first and second portions of the flange having serrated or toothed edges engageable with the structure. The collar may be substantially tubular. The present invention may further provide threads in the passageway of the collar for receiving a threaded fastener therethrough.

Abstract: The invention is a suspension system for a vehicle seat with structural features allowing the suspension to be contained within the confined space available in recreational vehicles and light trucks. The invention includes a generally horizontal moveable platform pivotally attached at one end to a side of a seat frame. An air spring and shock absorber are mounted between the frame and the bottom of the seat to resiliently bias and damp the platform and therefore the occupant's vertical movement. The pivotal attachment is as far as possible from the center of the seat to permit maximum movement of the platform in an arc which closely approximates a straight, substantially vertical line. Means for automatically adjusting the suspension for occupants of different weights is included.