Gear Train Patents (Class 297/362)
  • Publication number: 20110254337
    Abstract: A seat recliner comprises an inner toothed plate (2) having an inner ring gear (21), an outer toothed plate (3) having an outer ring gear, an eccentric wheel (4) and a wedge-shaped block (6). A shaft shoulder (22) is provided in the center of the inner toothed plate (2), and an axis central hole (32) is provided in the center of the outer toothed plate (3). The outer ring gear engages with the inner ring gear (21), and a radially eccentric area is formed between the shaft shoulder (22) and the axis central hole (32). The eccentric wheel (4) is disposed in the radially eccentric area, and appears entirely in the shape of an eccentric ring, and a planetary gear transmission mechanism with small difference between the number of teeth is constituted by the eccentric wheel (4), the inner toothed plate (2) and the outer toothed plate (3). The eccentric wheel (4) in the large-diameter segment of the radially eccentric area forms a clearance fit with the shaft shoulder (22) and the axis central hole (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: HUBEI AVIATION PRECISION MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chong Jiang, Xing Huang, Zhengkun Huang, Jian Du
  • Patent number: 8033606
    Abstract: A gear assembly may include first and second gear wheels meshing with each other and having a meshing line. The meshing line is formed as a circular arc that is positioned between first and second curves to determine a meshing range of the meshing line, so as to extend from a point on the first curve positioned radially inside the second curve in a circumferential direction in which the second curve is radially outwardly spaced from the first curve and to reach a point on the second curve. The circular arc is centered on a center point that is offset from a reference straight line passing through a pitch point of first and second pitch circles of the first and second gear wheels and centers of the first and second pitch circles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Publication number: 20110221249
    Abstract: A fitting (10) for a vehicle seat is provided having a seat part and a backrest. The fitting includes a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) in geared connection with the first fitting part (11) for a relative rolling for adjusting the inclination of the backrest between several use positions, a drive motor for driving the relative rolling, a third fitting part (74) for manually free-pivoting of the backrest into a non-use position, the third fitting part (74) being releasable locked with a detent element (75), and a first coupling element (104) and a second coupling element (105) between the third fitting part (74) and the detent element (75). The first coupling element (104) and the second coupling element (105) are inactive in the normal case and become active in the misuse case, when the third fitting part (74) is unlocked and the backrest is in the non-use position and the drive motor is moving the detent element (75) backwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Ralf FLESCH, Christopher Ryan
  • Patent number: 7997655
    Abstract: A seat driving apparatus includes: a gear transmission mechanism, preventing a backlash by means of the wedge member applied with a biasing force of a biasing member and transmitting a torque; an actuator, operating a seatback of a seat; and a control unit, controlling driving of the actuator. The control unit includes a seat operation mode in which the actuator is driven to operate the seatback at a predetermined speed and a creep mode in which the actuator is driven at a slower speed than a speed in the seat operation mode. The actuator is driven in the creep mode until a load for releasing the holding of the gear transmission mechanism is applied to the wedge member and subsequently the actuator is driven in the seat operation mode when the seatback is operated in an opposite direction from the previous operational direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Morio Sakai, Toshiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20110169312
    Abstract: A hinge device comprising: a first cheek plate and a second cheek plate meshing with each other, and one of which is designed to be secured to the seat proper while the other is designed to be secured to the seat back, said first cheek plate being provided with a collar and with a non-slit ring fastened to the collar, the collar having an outside surface extending along a first axis, and said second cheek plate having a cylindrical inside surface extending along a second axis parallel to and distant from said first axis; an eccentric mechanism mounted to move in rotation about one axis from among the first axis and the second axis, and interconnecting the first cheek plate and the second cheek plate, said ring being interposed between the collar and the eccentric mechanism; and a control mechanism for turning the eccentric mechanism and for driving the first cheek plate relative to the second cheek plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Sylvain Desquesne, Sébastien Gautier, Benoît Hanriot
  • Publication number: 20110169313
    Abstract: An adjusting device is disclosed for performing at least one adjusting function, such as in a vehicle seat. The device comprises a drive having a drive means and an output, a braking device that generally prevents torque from the output acting on the drive means. At least one spring is arranged between the drive and the braking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Dirk Schulz, Stefan Haida
  • Publication number: 20110156463
    Abstract: A wobble joint fitting for a vehicle seat has a first joint arm, which carries an internal gear and forms a first bearing surface, which are central to a main axis, and a second joint arm to which an eccentric gear is allocated, which comprises an externally toothed pinion and a second bearing surface. The pinion and the second bearing surface are central to an eccentric axis. An eccentric driving part is disposed in the area between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface. Clamping parts, in a clamping state, displace the eccentric axis relative to the main axis. The eccentric driving part defines the eccentric. The rotary drive of the eccentric driving part causes a rotation of the pinion relative to the internal gear even without the clamping parts being present, wherein only play compensation is not obtained without the presence of the clamping parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Thiel, Reinhard Vogel, Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker
  • Publication number: 20110140494
    Abstract: An adjustment fitting, in particular for a vehicle seat, comprising a first fitting part and a second fitting part that can be rotationally adjusted relative to the first part about an axis of rotation. An external gear, which has internal teeth and into which an internal gear that is associated with the second fitting part and has external teeth is inserted eccentrically to the axis of rotation like an eccentric gear, is associated with the first fitting part. The internal gear forms an eccentric receiving space towards the axis of rotation. The adjustment fitting further comprises an eccentric member that is rotatably inserted into the eccentric receiving space, and a drive shaft for driving the eccentric member. The external gear is designed as a ring gear that has a bottom and an external wall which axially extends beyond the internal teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Frieder Krueger, André Blinzler, Stephanie Hartleb, Juergen Siller, Volker Moeller, Michael Zellmann, Matthias Weiss
  • Publication number: 20110140493
    Abstract: An adjustment fitting, in particular for a vehicle seat, includes a first fitting part and a second fitting part that can be rotationally adjusted relative to the first fitting part about an axis of rotation. An external gear, which has internal teeth and into which an internal gear that is associated with the second fitting part and has external teeth is inserted eccentrically to the axis of rotation like an eccentric gear, is associated with the first fitting part. The internal gear forms an eccentric receiving space towards the axis of rotation. The adjustment fitting further comprises an eccentric member that is rotatably inserted into the eccentric receiving space, and a drive shaft for driving the eccentric member. The external gear is designed as a ring gear that has a bottom and an external wall which axially extends beyond the internal teeth and embraces the external teeth of the internal gear by means of a radially inward-oriented collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Frieder Krueger, André Blinzler, Stephanie Hartleb, Juergen Siller, Matthias Weiss, Michael Zellmann, Volker Moeller
  • Patent number: 7950741
    Abstract: A connecting device may include first and second connecting elements that are axially oppositely coupled to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and a retainer member that is arranged and constructed to clamp the first and second connecting elements. The second connecting element has a plurality of radially projected portions and a plurality of radially depressed portions that are respectively formed in a circumferential end surface thereof. The retainer member has a first retainer portion, a second retainer portion, a plurality of fixing portions and a plurality of supplemental retainer portions. The supplemental retainer portions are arranged and constructed to be axially supported by a support die of a crimping machine when the end peripheries of the fixing portions are crimped while the second retainer portion is axially supported by the support die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 7946652
    Abstract: In the case of a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) in geared connection with the first fitting part (11), and a rotatably mounted eccentric (27) driven by a driver (21) to cause relative rolling between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12), a securing-ring (43) is clipped on a hub (22) of the driver (21) and surrounds a bead (22b) of the hub (22), wherein the bead (22b) has a non-constant radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Stilleke, Dirk Brassat, Bill Thaens, Tony Ferenc
  • Publication number: 20110101752
    Abstract: An adjuster for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, includes a drive, a gear stage (8) driven by the drive. The gear stage (8) includes a drive wheel (81) rotatable about a first rotational axis (A1) and drive teeth (81a) and a driven wheel (82) rotatable about a second rotational axis (A2) and including driven teeth (82a). Driven wheel (82) meshes with the drive wheel (81) with a fluctuating gear ratio and at least one load bearing gear driven by the gear stage, in particular a geared fitting. The fitting parts thereof performing a relative rotation with a superimposed wobble motion. At least two drive teeth (81a) and/or at least two driven teeth (82a) in the circumferential direction of the associated rotational axis (A1, A2) have different dimensions and/or different spacings from the adjacent teeth, and/or in the axial direction of the associated rotational axis (A1, A2), different dimensions and/or different axial positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Elmar Deegener, Heinz Voss, Rolf Schüler, Bernd Bossmanns
  • Publication number: 20110084531
    Abstract: An object of an aspect according to the present invention is to provide a seat apparatus capable of automating inclination of a seat back by a simple configuration. In a case where a manipulation switch is manipulated when a limit switch detects the fact that the seat back is in an upright position, an ECU controls driving of a motor until a sector gear turned in a second turning direction moves a lock lever in a lock release direction at a second abutting portion thereby to cause a lock member to be in a lock release state. Also, in a case where the manipulation switch is manipulated when the limit switch detects the fact that the seat back is not in the upright position, the ECU controls driving of the motor until the limit switch detects the fact that the seat back is in the upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: IMASEN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiko HIDA, Konomu TOMAIWA
  • Patent number: 7878593
    Abstract: An anti back drive device for releasably securing a seat back with respect to a seat cushion. This device includes an upper gear plate affixed to the seat back and defines gear teeth. A lower gear plate is secured to a seat bottom and defines gear teeth that cooperate with the upper plate gear teeth. The upper gear plate is able to rotate about an axis of rotation that is displaced from an axis associated with the lower gear plate. Wedges are mounted in relation to the upper gear plate. A clutch spring is located within the lower gear plate so that an outside surface of the clutch spring may engage the lower gear plate. A wedge spring engages the wedges that biases them to engage the clutch spring. A driver extends between the lower gear plate, the clutch spring, the wedge spring, and the upper gear plate. Upon rotation of the driver, the clutch spring and the one or more wedges are arcuately displaced and lock the seat back in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Dumitru Dan Nae
  • Patent number: 7878594
    Abstract: The object is to provide a reclining device for a seat such as an automotive seat including a differential transmission mechanism (Taumel mechanism) which makes it possible to eliminate precision machining of the inner surface of an external gear into which a slide bearing is pressed, in which the freedom of design of the reclining device is not restricted by the standards of a bearing bush, and which can be manufactured at a low cost. The reclining device includes a differential transmission mechanism for adjusting the opening angle of a hinge through which the seating portion and the backrest portion of the seat are coupled together. The differential transmission mechanism includes an internal gear and an external gear having a slightly smaller number of teeth than the internal gear and meshing with the internal gear. An arcuate gap is defined between a shaft hole of the external gear and a small-diameter portion of a cam integral with a shaft of the internal gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Fukuzawa, Hiroshi Niwa, Toshiaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20110012413
    Abstract: An eccentric free pivot for a reclining seat assembly may include a seat cushion, a seatback, a gear system, an input mechanism, a rod, and an eccentric pivot. The gear system may pivotally couple the seat cushion to the seatback. A rod extending generally across the seat assembly may be coupled to the gear system on one side and the eccentric pivot on the other side. When the gear system and/or input mechanism rotate the rod and eccentric pivot, this rotation causes the side of the seatback opposite the gear system and/or input mechanism to move up and down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Du, Paul G. Ferraiuolo, Jerry R. Brown, Brian Haidar, Jerry J. Naujokas
  • Patent number: 7850243
    Abstract: A reclining adjuster has a lower bracket fixed to a seat cushion; an upper bracket fixed to a seatback and connected to the lower bracket so as to be rotatable about a shaft; a lock mechanism capable of having a locked state where rotation of the upper bracket relative to the lower bracket is locked and a released state where the lock is released; and an emergency lock mechanism for preventing relative rotation between the lock mechanism and the upper bracket when it occurs. In the emergency lock mechanism, when a cam projection of an outer toothed ring gear is pressed in the circumferential direction by a cam pin of a disk member by the relative rotation therebetween, the outer toothed ring gear meshes with both inner teeth of the lower bracket and inner teeth of the upper bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20100308634
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle includes a first arm arranged at a seat cushion, a second arm arranged at a seat back, an internal gear formed at the first arm, an external gear formed at the second arm and engaging with the internal gear, a first circumferential portion formed coaxially with the internal gear, a second circumferential portion formed coaxially with the external gear, first and second wedge members accommodated in an accommodating space formed between the first and second circumferential portions, a spring arranged between the first and second wedge members and biasing the first and second wedge members, a drive shaft rotating around a rotation axis of either one of the first and second arms, and a retention groove retaining a lubricant, formed on the circumferential contact surface of each of the first and second wedge members, and extending along a direction of the rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Narita, Takashi Kitano
  • Patent number: 7837268
    Abstract: The hinged mounting for a seat back hinge of a motor vehicle seat has a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm; it further has a circular blank that is interposed between said hinge arms. The circular blank has a first circular blank plate that is connected to the first hinge arm, a second circular blank plate that is associated with the second hinge arm, a retaining means for keeping the two circular blank plates together in the axial direction and a releasable stopper device. The second circular blank plate comprises at least one retaining side. The retaining means is rigidly connected to the second circular blank plate. Between the annular region and the second circular blank plate there is formed a circumferential groove in which the first circular blank plate is retained for rotation. The retaining means stiffens the second circular blank plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker
  • Patent number: 7837266
    Abstract: In the case of a transmission device (5) for a vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, with at least one hub (7, 27, 27?, 27?) and a shaft (10) which interact in a form-fitting manner in order to transmit a torque, wherein the shaft (10) has a profile with m teeth (12) and the hub (7, 27, 27?, 27?) has a profile with a central opening with n receptacles (15, 15?), and wherein each receptacle (15, 15?) is designed for interaction with a tooth (12), the hub (7, 27, 27?, 27?) has n=2m receptacles (15, 15?) or n=2m?1 receptacles (15, 15?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20100259086
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a seat recliner for a vehicle, in which gear teeth can be engaged tightly without any moving space at the time of adjusting the rotation angle of the seatback installed in a vehicle. Disclosed herein is a seat recliner for a vehicle, in which gear teeth can be engaged tightly without any moving space at the time of adjusting the rotation angle of the seatback installed in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: KM & I CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang-Beom Heo
  • Publication number: 20100244530
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a support frame tiltable about a support axis relative to a first frame, an angle adjustment unit causing a second frame to tiltably move forward or rearward relative to the support frame by a driving force of an actuator, the second frame being displaced in a direction to approach and separate from the support axis, a lock mechanism selectively operated to an unlocked state and a locked state, and a front stopper provided at the first frame to specify a forward tilt limit of the seat back by making contact with a forward tilt contact portion provided at the second frame in a state where the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, the front stopper including a linearly-shaped contact surface that makes contact with the forward tilt contact portion and that matches or approximates a virtual straight line passing through the support axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kitano, Mitsutoshi Watariguchi, Hiroki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7798574
    Abstract: A vehicle seat reclining apparatus is provided in which the strength of a connecting portion positioned directly or nearly directly below a receiving wall face of a guide portion of a fixed-side housing is higher than in a conventional reclining apparatus. A protruding guide portion is provided in a fixed-side housing used to configure a reclining apparatus. A receiving wall face that makes contact with a locking gear used to configure the reclining apparatus and which thus guides movement of the locking gear, and a top face that is continuous with that receiving wall face, are formed in the guide portion. A tapered chamfer portion is present at an edge of the receiving wall face where the receiving wall face and the top face of the guide portion intersect. A thick portion with a tapered face that corresponds to the chamfer portion is provided directly or nearly directly below a base end portion of the receiving wall face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ishihara, Kazuyoshi Hara
  • Patent number: 7789464
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, more particularly for a motor vehicle seat, comprising a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) that is in geared connection with the first fitting part (11), an eccentric (27a, 27b; 127; 327) that is rotatably mounted on the fitting parts (11, 12), for driving a rolling movement of the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12), a driver (21) for driving the eccentric (27a, 27b; 127; 327) and a brake for locking the fitting (10) against torque introduced at the output side in the rest state, with at least one wrap-spring brake (44) being provided as the brake, and the brake being acted upon by the driver (21) and the eccentric (27a, 27b; 127; 327).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Stemmer, Rainer Messerschmidt, Tobias Ewald, Grit Scholz, Andreas Norbisrath, Artur Komainda, Holger Finner, Ulrich Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20100219669
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat reclining device, within a predetermined angle range, the movement of every pawl in a direction towards engagement with an internal toothed portion is surely restricted to avoid any undesired contact between the pawls and the internal toothed portion. A transmitting structure for transmitting and converting the rotational action of the cam to the movement actions of the main pawl and the sub pawl as provided. Further provided are first and second restricting structures holding the main pawl under disengagement state between the external toothed portion and the internal toothed portion within the predetermined angle range. Within a predetermined frontward tilting angle range, the sub pawl is retained to be in disengagement state between the external toothed portion of the sub pawl and the internal toothed portion by the transmitting structure and the second restricting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Kazuhide Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7775598
    Abstract: In the case of a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) in geared connection with the first fitting part (11), and a rotatably mounted eccentric (26, 27) driven by a driver (21, 26) to cause relative rolling between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12), a third fitting part (54) can be both pivoted freely relative to the first fitting part (11) in an unlocked state and locked with respect to the first fitting part (11) in a locked state, wherein a disengagement mechanism (80) is provided for maintaining the unlocked state of the third fitting (11) part during pivoting freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralph Schmitz, Michael Eblenkamp
  • Patent number: 7775594
    Abstract: A power seat assembly with motor actuated release and rewind of a seatback sector. First and second support plates sandwich a forwardly biased seatback sector and a cam engaged with the seatback sector in an upright position. A first pin extends from said cam offset its pivotal connection and passes through a slot defined in the second support plate to define a range of pivotal motion of the cam. A toothed gear sector rotatably mounted to an exterior of the second support plates and exhibits a polygonal shaped portion as well as an end shoulder offset and inwardly recessed from exteriorly defined teeth and the polygonal shaped portion. An electric motor includes an output gear in toothed engagement with the gear sector and for rotating the gear sector in a first direction so that the polygonal shaped portion contacts and deflects the pin and cam out of contact with the seatback, causing it to rotate to a forward dump position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Bruck, Tavis Lutzka
  • Publication number: 20100201174
    Abstract: A vehicle seat reclining device comprises an internal gear formed on a gear plate secured to a lower arm, an external gear formed on an upper arm to be meshed with the internal gear and being fewer by at least one tooth than the internal gear, wedge members frictionally engageable with, and disengageable therefrom, the gear plate or the upper arm, a spring arranged between the wedge members and urging the wedge members in a direction for friction engagement with either the gear plate or the upper arm, a drive shaft for pushing and rotating either one of the wedge members in a direction to release the friction engagement, and a ring member arranged between either one of the gear plate and the upper arm and the wedge members for rotating together with the wedge members relative to the other of the gear plate and the upper arm during rotation of the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sadao Ito
  • Publication number: 20100201175
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat reclining device, all projections are surely engaged in corresponding cam grooves and strength of every projection is assured. The seat reclining device includes a first cam groove formed at a first opposing surface of a pawl, a pawl control member provided in an inner space and rotatably disposed between the first arm and the first opposing surface, the pawl control member including at least a first projection to be inserted into the first cam groove and controlling movement of the pawl in response to the rotation thereof by engagement between the first cam groove and the first projection, a second projection formed at a second opposing surface of the pawl and a second cam groove formed at the second arm side, into which the second projection is inserted and including a restricting portion restricting the movement of the pawl towards the engagement state with an internal toothed portion by engagement with the second projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada, Kazuhide Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20100194164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reclining device of a seat for a vehicle, and according the reclining device of the invention, it is possible to prevent unexpected pivot of a seatback and improve the passenger's safety by maintaining the engagement of a sector tooth 20 and a pawl tooth 70 even if the pawl tooth 70 is separated from a rotational center protrusion 11 by a relatively large external force applied to the seatback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Jaewon Cha, Sangjun Lee
  • Publication number: 20100194163
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reclining device of a seat for a vehicle, which makes it possible to prevent backlash between an external gear 12 and an internal gear 22 in stop, resulting in preventing a vibration noise due to movement of the seatback. Further, it is possible to obtain sufficient power from even a small-output motor in operation, by minimizing the gear press angle to increase the operational efficiency. In addition, it is possible to design a compact reclining device by simplifying the shape and reduce the size of assemblies of wedge blocks 70, 120 and cams 80, 110, resulting in reducing the weight and the manufacturing cost and making it possible to freely designing the reclining device, depending on a disposing space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Jaewon Cha, Junsik Hwang
  • Publication number: 20100181816
    Abstract: A component for a vehicle seat includes a plurality of plate-like elements generally parallel to one another, with pairs of the elements being connected, such as by welding. At least one element of each pair has a bend that creates a gap spacing with respect to the other element of the pair. Each element is connected to a next element to form a further pair in the region of the spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Ingo Kienke, Jurgen Otto, Mario Budweg, Kirubaharan Rreginold Albert
  • Publication number: 20100176640
    Abstract: A bearing bush, disposed in a shaft hole of an external gear of a seat reclining device, which slidingly contacts wedge-shaped pieces. The seat reclining device has a differential transmission mechanism for adjusting an open angle of a hinge connecting a seating surface of a seat and a backrest thereof to each other. The differential transmission mechanism has an internal gear; an external gear, having a smaller number of teeth than the internal gear, which engages the internal gear; a pair of the wedge-shaped pieces disposed in a circular arc-shaped gap formed between the shaft hole of the external gear and a shaft of the internal gear with tapered ends of the wedge-shaped pieces opposed to each other; and a compression coil spring for imparting an elastic force to the wedge-shaped pieces in a direction in which the wedge-shaped pieces depart from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Hayashi, Satoru Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 7753450
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fitting (8) for a vehicle seat, especially for an automotive seat. The fitting comprises two individual fittings (10, 50) that are arranged axially juxtaposed and in parallel in relation to the flow of force, and that each have two fitting parts (11, 12, 51, 52) that can be rotated in relation to each other and that are mechanically interlinked by way of an eccentric epicyclic gear defining backlash. The present invention is characterized in that the first individual fitting (10) has an eccentric that is not able to eliminate the backlash and the second individual fitting (50) has an eccentric adapted for eliminating the backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dietmar Eppert, Holger Finner, Ulrich Lehmann, Grit Scholz, Andreas Vedder, Gregor Vossmann, Heinrich Busch
  • Publication number: 20100171352
    Abstract: An adjustment device for a vehicle component, in particular for the back rest of a vehicle seat, is proposed having a first fitting and a second fitting, wherein the relative position of the two fittings to one another can be changed by means of eccentric means, wherein a rotation of the eccentric means by means of a drive element is provided, wherein the adjustment device has a central element which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to the first fitting, wherein the drive element is provided mounted in an overlapping region by means of the central element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Kienke, Juergen Otto, Mario Budweg, Albert Reginold Kirubaharan
  • Publication number: 20100148557
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motor vehicle seat comprising a first mounting part and a second mounting part. The first mounting part can be swiveled relative to the second mounting part about a swivel pin. The vehicle seat further comprises a gear unit which allows the first mounting part to be angularly adjusted relative to the second mounting part. The first mounting part is connected to a backrest of the vehicle seat while the second mounting part is connected to a seat part of the vehicle seat. The backrest of the vehicle seat extends vertically and substantially perpendicular to the seat part in a first position while being swiveled relative to the first position about the swivel pin in a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Andreas Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7735927
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes an anti-backlash mechanism in the seat adjustment gearing to reduce or eliminate gaps that cause looseness in the gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7731289
    Abstract: An automotive seat reclining device includes a first rotation member connected to one of a seat back and a seat cushion and having an internal gear and a bearing sleeve coaxial with the internal gear, a second rotation member connected to the other of the seat back and the seat cushion and having an external gear and a bearing bore coaxial with the external gear, a pair of wedge members disposed in a circular eccentric space between the bearing sleeve and the bearing bore and a drive member inserted in the eccentric space to move the mesh of the internal and external gears by pushing the wedge members and rotate the second rotation member relative to the first rotation member. Each of the wedge members has an inner circumferential surface formed with a recessed section and two contact sections for contact with an outer circumferential surface of the bearing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Matsumoto, Kunihisa Oishi
  • Patent number: 7726742
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back that is pivotally connected to a seat bottom, a lock mechanism that is configured to inhibit the seat back from pivoting when locked and to permit the seat back to pivot when unlocked, and a release and drive mechanism. The release and drive mechanism includes a mounting member, a drive gear that is rotatable with respect to the mounting member and that is connected to the lock mechanism, and a motor that is connected to the drive gear. The drive gear is rotationally limited to a defined angular range. The motor rotates the drive gear through the defined angular range which moves the lock mechanism to an unlocked state and thereafter causes the seat back to pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Keyser, H. Winston Maue, John F. Nathan, Karl Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7726743
    Abstract: A fitting (10) for a vehicle seat comprises a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which may rotate relative to each other in a circumferential direction, and which form a disc-shaped unit; a clamping ring (13) that holds the disc-shaped unit together by engaging radially outwardly over the first fitting part (11) and by being fixed to the second fitting part (12); and a group of internal stopper elements (51, 53) which limit the relative rotation between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12). Each of the first fitting part (11) and the clamping ring (13) has at least one internal stopper element of the group of internal stopper elements (51, 53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Don Smith, Gunter Feickert, Joseph Gallatin, Keith B. Cooper, Ralph Schmitz, Ralf Flesch, Dirk Brassat, Martin Stilleke
  • Publication number: 20100096896
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a seat back frame structure for a vehicle and a seat for a vehicle with such a seat back frame structure which are capable of securing a necessary strength or rigidity, while at the same time attaining the decrease of its weight and its cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Masaaki Nonomiya
  • Patent number: 7690728
    Abstract: A vehicle seat apparatus includes a lower arm, an upper arm being rotatable relative to the lower arm in a front-rear direction of a vehicle seat, a pressing member fixed at the upper arm, a base member fixed at the lower arm, a first link supported by the base member so as to be rotatable and having a stopper pin positioned on a rotation path of the pressing member when a walk-in operation is performed and positioned out of the rotation path of the pressing member when a tilt-down operation is performed; and a second link rotatably supported by the first link and maintaining the stopper pin so as to be one of on and out of the rotation path of the pressing member, the second link being provided in a manner where a rotational axis thereof is coaxial to a central axis of the stopper pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukie Miyauchi, Naoki Niimi, Kenji Maeda
  • Publication number: 20100072802
    Abstract: A fitting (10) for a vehicle seat comprises a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which may rotate relative to each other in a circumferential direction, and which form a disc-shaped unit; a clamping ring (13) that holds the disc-shaped unit together by engaging radially outwardly over the first fitting part (11) and by being fixed to the second fitting part (12); and a group of internal stopper elements (51, 53) which limit the relative rotation between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12). Each of the first fitting part (11) and the clamping ring (13) has at least one internal stopper element of the group of internal stopper elements (51, 53).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Don Smith, Gunter Feickert, Joseph Gallatin, Keith B. Cooper, Ralph Schmitz, Ralf Flesch, Dirk Brassat, Martin Stilleke
  • Patent number: 7677665
    Abstract: A compound fitting (18) for a vehicle seat, especially for an automotive seat, comprises two individual fittings (10, 50) that are arranged axially juxtaposed and in parallel in relation to the flow of force, and that each have at least two fitting parts (11, 12, 40, 51, 52) that can be rotated in relation to one another, the inner fitting parts being interlinkable and the outer fitting parts being interlinkable. One of the individual fittings is a adjusting fitting (10) for adjusting the compound fitting (8), and the other individual fitting is a locking fitting (50) for locking the compound fitting (8). Two fitting parts (11, 12) of the adjusting fitting (10) can be interlinked by way of a non-self-locking eccentric epicyclic gear. At least to a large extent, the locked locking fitting (50) bridges the adjusting fitting (10) in terms of the flow of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dietmar Eppert, Jürgen Stemmer, Ulrich Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20100038948
    Abstract: A reclining actuator for moving a seat back relative to a seat bottom includes a mounting plate and a crank supported on the mounting plate for movement relative thereto. A rod is provided having a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the crank and the second end is adapted to engage a seat back. A driver is provided for moving the crank relative to the mounting plate. A seat assembly includes a seat having a seat back and a seat bottom. The seat back is moveable relative to the seat bottom. A crank is connected to a driver for movement. A rod is connected between the crank and the seat back such that movement of the rod causes movement of the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Philippe Pigeon
  • Publication number: 20100013287
    Abstract: A gear assembly may include first and second gear wheels meshing with each other and having a meshing line. The meshing line is formed as a circular arc that is positioned between first and second curves to determine a meshing range of the meshing line, so as to extend from a point on the first curve positioned radially inside the second curve in a circumferential direction in which the second curve is radially outwardly spaced from the first curve and to reach a point on the second curve. The circular arc is centered on a center point that is offset from a reference straight line passing through a pitch point of first and second pitch circles of the first and second gear wheels and centers of the first and second pitch circles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsutaka MITSUHASHI
  • Publication number: 20100013288
    Abstract: A gear assembly may include first and second gear wheels meshing with each other and having a meshing line. The meshing line is formed as a combined line that is positioned between first and second curves to determine a meshing range of the meshing line, so as to extend from a point on the first curve positioned radially inside the second curve in a circumferential direction in which the second curve is radially outwardly spaced from the first curve and to reach a point on the second curve. The combined line is composed of a combination of a plurality of line portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsutaka MITSUHASHI
  • Publication number: 20100013286
    Abstract: An adjusting device for a vehicle seat includes a brake housing that is centered about an actuating rotational axis. the brake housing is formed in a radial direction of the actuating rotational axis and inlcudes a housing element that is generally circular and has a outer side wall, and upper wall and an inner side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Haida, Andreas Dannheisig, Bernd Engels
  • Patent number: 7648203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fitting (10) for the seat of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprising a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) which is mechanically linked to the first fitting part (11), a locking eccentric, and a running eccentric (131), wherein the running eccentric (131) is mounted in relation to the first fitting part (11) and second fitting part (12) by way of a rolling bearing or sliding bearing bushing (28,33), wherein friction between the running eccentric (131) and the sliding bearing bushings (28,33) or between at least one sliding bearing bushing (28, 33) and the associated fitting part (11, 12) is lower than the friction between the locking eccentric and at least one of the fitting parts (11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz Voss, Tobias Ewald, Ulrich Lehmann, Artur Komainda, Rainer Messerschmidt, Grit Scholz, Andreas Norbisrath, Jürgen Stemmer, Heinrich Busch, Holger Finner, Dirk Angermann, Markus Vesper, Gregor Vossmann
  • Patent number: 7644989
    Abstract: Pivot mechanism incorporating first and second rigid plates interconnected by a hypocycloid gear train, the first plate being formed in one piece with a circular toothing belonging to the hypocycloid gear train. A seat frame is fixed to the first plate by a weld located at the position of the toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventor: François Baloche Faurecia