Inertial lock mechanism for vehicle seat reclining apparatus

Claim 2

A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back comprising: hinge means interconnecting said seat bottom and said seat back for tilting said seat back relative to said seat bottom; tilt lock means for selectively locking said hinge means in a desired position, said tilt lock means further comprising a shaft and frictional gripping member engaging said shaft; release means operatively connected to said tilt lock means for selectively disengaging said tilt lock means in a re-positioning mode to permit repositioning said seat back and for reengaging said tilt lock means in a locked mode; and inertia lock means operatively connected to said tilt lock means for locking said hinge means with said tilt lock means when an inertial load above a pre-determined threshold is applied to said inertia lock means wherein said frictional gripping member is locked onto the shaft to lock the hinge against tilting even when said release means is in said re-positioning mode.

Claim 3

The recliner mechanism of claim 1 wherein said inertia lock means comprises a pivotally mounted member partially rotatable about a transverse axis, said member being partially rotated when said inertial load is applied to said inertia lock means, said member having means for engaging said tilt lock means to lock said tilt lock means.

Claim 4

The recliner mechanism of claim 2 wherein said means for engaging said tilt lock means is a longitudinal extension from said member.

Claim 5

The recliner mechanism of claim 2 wherein said means for engaging said tilt lock means is a forwardly extending lug and a rearwardly extending lug, wherein upon application of said inertial load from a forward direction said forwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means and upon application of said inertial load from a rearward direction said rearwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means.

Claim 6

The recliner mechanism of claim 2 wherein said member has a weight imbalance vertically above and below said means for engaging said tilt lock means is a forwardly extending lug and a rearwardly extending lug, wherein upon application of said inertial load from a forward direction said forwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means and upon application of said inertial load from a rearward direction said rearwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means.

Claim 7

The recliner mechanism of claim 2 wherein said member has a weight imbalance vertically above and below said transverse axis whereby application of an inertial load results in a pivoting moment about said transverse axis.

Claim 8

The recliner mechanism of claim 1 wherein said tilt lock means is a spring drum clutch disposed on a stub shaft, said stub shaft rotating when said seat back is tilted, said spring drum clutch frictionally gripping said stub shaft to lock said hinge means.

Claim 9

The recliner mechanism of claim 7 wherein said spring drum clutch has first and second extensions from a helical wound portion said first extension being connected to said release means, and said second extension being connected to said inertia lock means, whereby said release means disengages the grip of said spring drum clutch on said stub shaft and said inertia lock means increases the frictional grip of said spring drum clutch on said stub shaft.

Claim 10

The recliner mechanism of claim 7 wherein said stub shaft is part of a spur gear, said spur gear operatively engaging a series of reduction spur gears.

Claim 11

The recliner mechanism of claim 9 wherein said hinge means has a sector plate portion, said sector plate portion being mounted on said seat back in a fixed orientation and being repositionable relative to said seat bottom, said series of reduction spur gears interconnecting said spur gear including said stub shaft to said sector plate.

Claim 12

The recliner mechanism of claim 1 wherein said inertia lock means is a torsion pendulum which engages said tilt lock means to lock said tilt lock means when said inertia load is applied to said torsion pendulum.

Claim 13

The recliner mechanism of claim 11 wherein said inertia lock includes a spring means connecting the torsion pendulum to said hinge for establishing the threshold level and for holding said torsion pendulum in its locked position after the threshold level is exceeded.

Claim 14

The recliner mechanism of claim 12 wherein said inertia lock further includes a reset means for returning said torsion pendulum to a position in which the inertia lock is not locked.

Claim 15

A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back comprising: hinge means interconnecting said seat bottom and said seat back for tilting said seat back relative to said seat bottom, said hinge means having a sector plate portion, said sector plate portion being mounted on said seat back in a fixed orientation and being repositionable relative to said seat bottom; tilt lock means for selectively locking said hinge means in a desired position, said tilt lock means comprising a spring drum clutch disposed on a stub shaft which rotates when said seat back is tilted, said spring drum clutch frictionally gripping said stub shaft to lock said hinge means, said spring drum clutch having first and second extensions from a helical portion; release means operatively connected to said tilt lock means for selectively disengaging said tilt lock means in a first mode to permit repositioning said seat back, said tilt lock means being engaged to inhibit repositioning in a second mode; and inertia lock means operatively connected to said spring drum clutch for locking said hinge means when an inertial load above a pre-determined threshold is applied to said inertia lock means, said release means being connected to first extension of said spring drum clutch said inertia lock means being connected to said second extension of said spring drum clutch whereby said release means disengages the grip of said spring drum clutch on said stub shaft and said inertia lock means increases the frictional grip of said spring drum clutch on said stub shaft, said inertia lock means having a pivotally mounted member partially rotatable about a transverse axis, said member being partially rotated when said inertial load is applied to said vehicle seat, said member having a forwardly extending lug and a rearwardly extending lug, wherein upon application of said inertial load in a forward direction said forwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means and upon application of said inertial load in a rearward direction said rearwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means, said member having a weight imbalance vertically above and below said transverse axis whereby application of said inertial load results in a pivoting moment about said transverse axis.

Claim 16

A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back comprising: hinge means interconnecting said seat bottom and said seat back for tilting said seat back relative to said seat bottom, said hinge means having a sector plate portion, said sector plate portion being mounted on said seat back in a fixed orientation and being repositionable relative to said seat bottom; tilt lock means for selectively locking said hinge means in a desired position, said tilt lock means comprising a spring drum clutch disposed on a stub shaft which rotates when said seat back is tilted, said spring drum clutch frictionally gripping said stub shaft to lock said hinge means, said spring drum clutch having first and second extensions from a helical portion; release means operatively connected to said tilt lock means for selectively disengaging said tilt lock means in a first mode to permit repositioning said seat back, said tilt lock means being engaged to inhibit repositioning in a second mode; and inertia lock means operatively connected to said spring drum clutch for locking said hinge means when an inertial load above a pre-determined threshold is applied to said inertia lock means, said release means being connected to first extension of said spring drum clutch said inertia lock means being connected to said second extension of said spring drum clutch whereby said release means disengages the grip of said spring drum clutch on said stub shaft and said inertia lock means increases the frictional grip of said spring drum clutch on said stub shaft, said inertia lock means having a pivotally mounted member partially rotatable about a transverse axis, said member being partially rotated when said inertial load is applied to said vehicle seat, said member having a forwardly extending lug and a rearwardly extending lug, wherein upon application of said inertial load in a forward direction said forwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means and upon application of said inertial load in a rearward direction said rearwardly extending lug engages said tilt lock means, said member having a weight imbalance vertically above and below said transverse axis whereby application of said inertial load results in a pivoting moment about said transverse axis.

Claim 17

The recliner mechanism of claim 14 wherein said sector plate portion is interconnected through a series of reduction spur gears to said stub shaft.

Claim 18

The recliner mechanism of claim 14 wherein said inertia lock means is a torsion pendulum which engages said tilt lock means to lock said tilt lock means under all circumstances when said inertia load is applied to said torsion pendulum.

Claim 19

The recliner mechanism of claim 16 wherein said inertia lock includes a spring means connecting the torsion pendulum to said hinge for holding said torsion pendulum in its locked position after the threshold level is exceeded.

Claim 20

The recliner mechanism of claim 14 wherein said inertia lock further includes a reset means for returning said pivotally mounted member to a position in which the inertia lock is not locked.