Simplified linear recliner having a fixed pawl

Abstract

A linear recliner assembly is provided having a recliner rod slidably supported within a housing. The recliner rod is selectively engageable with a pawl which is fixed within the housing. The recliner rod is in contact with a cam which is operable to force the recliner rod into engagement with the pawl or enable the recliner rod to fall out of engagement with he pawl. The cam is biased in a first position by a biasing mechanism, such that the recliner rod is engaged with the pawl. The linear recliner assembly is implemented into a seat assembly for enabling an operator to select a plurality of recline positions of a seat back relative to a seat.

1 . A reclining seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat bottom;    a seat back in pivotal relationship to said seat bottom; and    a linear recliner assembly including: 
 a housing;  
 a pawl fixed to said housing;  
 a recliner rod slidably supported by said housing and selectively engaging said pawl;  
 a cam rotatably supported by a pivot relative to said housing and movable between a first position forcing said recliner rod into engagement with said pawl and a second position enabling said recliner rod to fall from engagement with said pawl; and  
 a coil spring biasing said cam into said first position, said coil spring having a coiled body positioned concentric with said pivot of said cam.  
   
   
   
       2 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first plurality of teeth formed in a lower surface of said pawl; and    a second plurality of teeth formed in an upper surface of said recliner rod, said first and second pluralities of teeth selectively engaged to prohibit relative movement between said recliner rod and said pawl.    
   
   
       3 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein said coil spring includes a first leg engaging said housing and a second leg engaging said pivot, said first and second legs cooperating with said coiled body and said pivot to bias said cam into said first position.  
   
   
       4 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a handle fixed for rotation with said cam to rotate said cam between said first and second positions.  
   
   
       5 . A reclining seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat bottom;    a seat back in pivotal relationship to said seat bottom; and    a linear recliner assembly including: 
 a housing;  
 a pawl fixed to said housing;  
 a recliner rod slidably supported by said housing and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;  
 a cam rotatably supported by a pivot relative to said housing and movable between a first position forcing said recliner rod into said engaged position and a second position allowing said recliner rod to fall into said disengaged position, said cam locking said recliner rod in said engaged position and supporting said recliner rod in said disengaged position; and  
 a coil spring biasing said cam into said first position, said coil spring having a coiled body positioned concentric with said pivot of said cam.  
   
   
   
       6 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a first plurality of teeth formed in a lower surface of said pawl; and    a second plurality of teeth formed in an upper surface of said recliner rod, said first and second pluralities of teeth selectively engaged to prohibit relative movement between said recliner rod and said pawl.    
   
   
       7 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 5  wherein said coil spring includes a first leg engaging said housing and a second leg engaging said pivot, said first and second legs cooperating with said coiled body and said pivot to bias said cam into said first position.  
   
   
       8 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a handle fixed for rotation with said cam to rotate said cam between said first and second positions.  
   
   
       9 . A reclining seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat bottom;    a seat back in pivotal relationship to said seat bottom; and    a linear recliner assembly including: 
 a housing;  
 a pawl fixed to said housing;  
 a recliner rod slidably supported by said housing and selectively engaging said pawl; and  
 a cam rotatably supported by said housing and movable between a first position forcing said recliner rod into engagement with said pawl and a second position enabling said recliner rod to fall from engagement with said pawl, said cam biased into said first position by a coil spring.  
   
   
   
       10 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a first plurality of teeth formed in a lower surface of said pawl; and    a second plurality of teeth formed in an upper surface of said recliner rod, said first and second pluralities of teeth selectively engaged to prohibit relative movement between said recliner rod and said pawl.    
   
   
       11 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 9  wherein said coil spring includes a coiled body positioned concentric with a pivot axis of said cam.  
   
   
       12 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 11  wherein said coil spring includes a first leg extending from said coiled body and a second leg extending from said coiled body, said first and second legs cooperating with said coiled body to bias said cam into said first position.  
   
   
       13 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a handle fixed for rotation with said cam to rotate said cam between said first and second positions.  
   
   
       14 . A reclining seat assembly comprising: 
 a seat bottom;    a seat back in pivotal relationship to said seat bottom; and    a linear recliner assembly including: 
 a housing;  
 a pawl fixed to said housing;  
 a recliner rod slidably supported by said housing and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and  
 a cam rotatably supported by said housing and movable between a first position forcing said recliner rod into said engaged position and a second position allowing said recliner rod to fall into said disengaged position, said cam locking said recliner rod in said engaged position and supporting said recliner rod in said disengaged position, said cam biased into said first position by a coil spring.  
   
   
   
       15 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a first plurality of teeth formed in a lower surface of said pawl; and    a second plurality of teeth formed in an upper surface of said recliner rod, said first and second pluralities of teeth selectively engaged to prohibit relative movement between said recliner rod and said pawl.    
   
   
       16 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 14  wherein said coil spring includes a coiled body positioned concentric with a pivot axis of said cam.  
   
   
       17 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 16  wherein said coil spring includes a first leg extending from said coiled body and a second leg extending from said coiled body, said first and second legs cooperating with said coiled body to bias said cam into said first position.  
   
   
       18 . The reclining seat assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a handle fixed for rotation with said cam to rotate said cam between said first and second positions.