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 mechanism for a vehicle seat may include a guide plate, a locking plate, a pawl, an actuator hub, and a coil spring. The guide plate includes a recess and a projection. The locking plate includes a surface having teeth formed thereon. The pawl is movable in the recess between a secure position in which the pawl is engaged with the teeth of the locking plate to restrict relative rotation between the guide plate and the locking plate and a release position in which the pawl is disengaged from the teeth of the locking plate to allow relative rotation between the guide plate and the locking plate. Rotation of the actuator hub causes corresponding movement of the pawl between the secure position and the release position. The coil spring includes a first end engaging the actuator hub and a second end that hooks the projection of the guide 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 adjuster assembly for a vehicle seat assembly may include a housing, a worm, a spindle screw, a motor, and either a helical gear or a single-enveloping worm gear. The worm may be disposed within the housing for rotation about a first axis and having a thread. The helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear may be disposed within the housing for rotation about a second axis and meshingly-engaged with a pitch surface of the thread of the worm. The spindle screw may extend along the second axis and through the housing and the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear. The spindle screw may be meshingly-engaged with the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear. The motor may drive the worm to cause linear movement of the housing, worm, motor, and the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear along the second axis.

Abstract: A swivel assembly is provided for moving a vehicle seat in an angular direction. The swivel assembly may include a lower plate, a rotating plate, a gear ring, a motor, and a locking pin assembly. The lower plate may be attached to a vehicle floor. The rotating plate may be attached to the vehicle seat. The gear ring may be fixedly attached to the rotating plate. The motor may be coupled to the gear ring and drive the gear ring to move in the angular direction to cause corresponding movement of the rotating plate and the vehicle seat. The locking pin assembly may include a locking pin that is movable relative to the lower plate between an unlocked position and a locked position. The locking pin may move into and out of engagement with the rotating plate to selectively restrict and allow movement of the rotating plate.

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 power seat track assembly may include an elongated first rail, a second rail, a motor assembly, and a power-transfer assembly. The second rail may engage the first rail and may be movable along a length of the first rail. The motor assembly may be mounted to the second rail and may be operable to drive the second rail along the length of the first rail. The power-transfer assembly may include a first component mounted to the first rail and a second component mounted to the second rail. The first component may wirelessly transmit power to the second component. The second component may be electrically connected to the motor assembly to provide electrical current to the motor assembly.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat may include a guide plate, a locking plate, a pawl, an actuator hub, and a coil spring. The guide plate includes a recess and a projection. The locking plate includes a surface having teeth formed thereon. The pawl is movable in the recess between a secure position in which the pawl is engaged with the teeth of the locking plate to restrict relative rotation between the guide plate and the locking plate and a release position in which the pawl is disengaged from the teeth of the locking plate to allow relative rotation between the guide plate and the locking plate. Rotation of the actuator hub causes corresponding movement of the pawl between the secure position and the release position. The coil spring includes a first end engaging the actuator hub and a second end that hooks the projection of the guide plate.

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 method of manufacturing a gear drive for a seat adjuster assembly may include applying a cutting process to a worm gear blank to cut gear teeth into the worm gear blank and form a single-enveloping worm gear; forming a worm with a helical thread that includes a pitch surface that is configured to mesh with the gear teeth of the single-enveloping worm gear. A longitudinal crown is created on the pitch surface of the helical thread of the worm such that the pitch surface has an arcuate profile moving from a proximal end of the worm to a distal end of the worm. In addition, a crowned tooth profile is created on the helical thread of the worm that extends in an angular direction between a top land and a bottom land of the helical thread. The crowned tooth profile bows outwardly along a convex curve.

Abstract: A seat adjuster assembly for a vehicle seat assembly may include a housing, a worm, a spindle screw, a motor, and either a helical gear or a single-enveloping worm gear. The worm may be disposed within the housing for rotation about a first axis and having a thread. The helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear may be disposed within the housing for rotation about a second axis and meshingly-engaged with a pitch surface of the thread of the worm. The spindle screw may extend along the second axis and through the housing and the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear. The spindle screw may be meshingly-engaged with the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear. The motor may drive the worm to cause linear movement of the housing, worm, motor, and the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear along the second axis.

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: A method of manufacturing a gear drive for a seat adjuster assembly may include applying a cutting process to a worm gear blank to cut gear teeth into the worm gear blank and form a single-enveloping worm gear; forming a worm with a helical thread that includes a pitch surface that is configured to mesh with the gear teeth of the single-enveloping worm gear. A longitudinal crown is created on the pitch surface of the helical thread of the worm such that the pitch surface has an arcuate profile moving from a proximal end of the worm to a distal end of the worm. In addition, a crowned tooth profile is created on the helical thread of the worm that extends in an angular direction between a top land and a bottom land of the helical thread. The crowned tooth profile bows outwardly along a convex curve.

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.