Title of Invention

A RECLINER REGULATING DEVICE

Abstract The present invention discloses a recliner regulating device and relates to the mechanical technology field. The present device comprises a cam, a return spring, a coulisse, a ratchet gear connected with a central shaft. The external hook of the return spring is fixed in a hole of the coulisse. Sliders are fitted in sliding grooves of the coulisse with the bosses of the sliders being attached with the sliding grooves of the cam. Wedges are fitted in the sliding grooves of the coulisse with the bosses of the wedges being attached with the sliding grooves of the coulisse. The sliding grooves for sliders are perpendicular to the sliding grooves for wedges. A two-point locking-up is formed between the self-locking surfaces of the sliders and the self-locking surfaces of the wedges after the position of the cam is fixed through the central shaft under the action of the return spring. The additional advantages of the invention are that the device has compacted structure, small volume, high strength, good unlocking performance on both sides, high regulation precision and the convenience of the angle-regulation and quick-folding of the recliner back, etc..
Full Text FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of mechanical technology, in particular to a recliner
regulating device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At present, functions of angle-regulating and back's quick-folding can be realized in most
of the recliner which then will be locked up after the angle-regulating is completed so as to
fix the angle between the recliner seat and the recliner back.
The prior mode to achieve the above mentioned functions is disclosed for example in
Chinese Utility Model Patent No. 200420017699.4 titled "Plate spring type armchair angle
regulating and back folder nuclear installation". As shown in Figure 1, in this device, two
sliders 103 are supported by two self-locking surfaces 102 of the locking cam 101 under the
action of the return spring. Therefore, the engagement between the slider teeth on two sliders
103 and the ratchet gear teeth is more stable, thereby the angle of the chair can be fixed after
the angle between the chair seat and the chair back is regulated.
In the above armchair angle-regulating device, there is only one bearing point at the
self-locking surface 102 of the self-locking cam 101 between each slider 103 and the locking
camlOl. As a result, after the angle between the chair seat and the chair back was regulated
and fixed when a user leans against and exerts forces on the chair back, the problem caused
by supporting each slider 103 at only one point is that the engagement strength between the
teeth of the slider 103 and the ratchet gear teeth is low, which causes the chair back unstable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In views of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a recliner regulating
device to solve the problem in the prior arts that the engagement strength between the teeth of
the slider and the ratchet gear teeth is low when applying forces to the recliner back under the
one-point support mode.
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a recliner regulating
device comprising a cam, a return spring, a coulisse, a ratchet gear, a central shaft, sliders
having two self-locking surfaces, and wedges having two self-locking surfaces, wherein the
cam, the return spring, the coulisse and the ratchet gear are connected with the central shaft;
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the sliders are connected with the coulisse; the wedges are fitted in sliding grooves of the
coulisse; bosses on the wedges are connected with sliding grooves on the cam, and wherein a
two-point locking-up is formed between the self-locking surfaces of the sliders and the
self-locking surfaces of the wedges.
Preferably, the cam and the return spring are connected with the central shaft such that a
square hole of the cam and an inner square hole of the return spring form a shaft connection
through an outer square part of the central shaft.
Preferably, the slider has slider teeth and the ratchet gear has ratchet gear teeth; the slider
teeth are disengaged with the ratchet gear teeth after the central shaft rotates; and after the
cam is restored through the central shaft under the action of the return spring, the ratchet gear
teeth engage with the slider teeth such that the locking-up between the self-locking surfaces
of the sliders and the self-locking surfaces of the wedges is formed.
Preferably, the ratchet gear further has ratchet gear sliding surfaces which come into
contact with the ratchet gear teeth after the cam is restored through the central shaft under the
action of the return spring.
Preferably, the ratchet gear has bosses connecting with a connecting plate of the recliner
back.
Preferably, the coulisse has bosses connecting with a connecting plate of the recliner seat.
Preferably, the device further includes a jacket connecting the ratchet gear with the
coulisse.
When the angle-regulation of the recliner is completed, the device of the invention
enables the two symmetrical self-locking surfaces of each wedge to correspond with the
self-locking surfaces of the sliders and form a two-point locking-up. When the ratchet gear
teeth engage with the slider teeth, the locking and unlocking of the sliders with the ratchet
gear can be controlled through the rotation of the cam driven by the external force and the
force applied by the spiral return spring so that the angle-regulation of the recliner back is
realized. Since the ratchet gear has two segments of evenly arranged ratchet gear teeth and
two segments of evenly arranged ratchet gear sliding surfaces, the recliner back can be
quick-folded when the ratchet gear sliding surfaces face to the slider teeth. The above
components are fixedly attached by the jacket into a relatively independent device which
cannot be disassembled and free of maintenance. The device is versatile as it can be used with
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different connecting plates and applied to various vehicles depending on the user's
requirements. The additional advantages of the invention are that the device has compacted
structure, small volume, high strength, good unlocking performance on both sides, high
regulation precision and the convenience of the angle-regulation and quick-folding of the
recliner back, etc..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a sketch map of the one-point locking in the prior arts.
Figure 2 is a front view of a cam locking-up part according to an embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the cam locking-up part according to the embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 4 is a sketch map of formation of locking-up in the embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a recliner regulating device according to an embodiment
of the invention.
Figure 6 is a further perspective view of the recliner regulating device according to the
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 7 is a front view of the assembled recliner regulating device according to the
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 8 is a left view of the assembled recliner regulating device according to the
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 9 is a rear view of the assembled recliner regulating device according to the
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The description will be made by way of an embodiment of the invention with reference to
the attached drawings.
Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, in the embodiment, the locking-up part of the cam 4 is
described firstly so as to better understand the kernel technology of the locking-up in the
invention. The cam 4 has two symmetrical sliding grooves 19 and two symmetrical sliding
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grooves 5. Two sliders 25 are connected by means of the bosses 8 thereon with the sliding
grooves 5, two wedges 9 are connected by means of the bosses 18 thereon with the sliding
grooves 19. A new recliner regulating device is formed when the locking-up part of the cam 4
is used for the angle-regulation of the recliner.
After the cam 4 rotates, the two symmetrical self-locking surfaces 29 on the sliders 25
and the two symmetrical self-locking surfaces 30 on the wedges 9 form a two-point
locking-up.
The recliner regulating device having the locking part of the cam 4 will be described with
reference to the perspective view of the embodiment.
As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, the two symmetrical sliders 25 are fitted in two
sliding grooves 13 of the coulisse 10. A clearance fit is formed between the side surfaces 7 of
the sliders and the side surfaces 14 of the sliding grooves on the coulisse 10. The sliders 25
have on their distal ends a segment of slider teeth 6 and have on their middle a boss 8,
respectively.
The two symmetrical wedges 9 are fitted in the sliding grooves 11 of the coulisse 10. A
clearance fit is formed between the side surfaces 22 of the wedges 9 and the sliding grooves
11. The wedges 9 have on their middle a boss 18.
The cam 4 has two symmetrical cam grooves 5 for driving the sliders 25 and two
symmetrical cam grooves 19 for driving the wedges 9. A square hole 20 in the center of the
cam 4 is fitted with the central shaft 17. Two segments of symmetrical ratchet gear teeth 28
and two segments of symmetrical ratchet gear sliding surfaces 26 are arranged on the ratchet
gear 2. A round hole 21 in the center of the ratchet gear 2 and the filleted end portion 33 on
the central shaft 17 are fitted with clearance. The outer circumference 3 of the ratchet gear 2
is fitted with the inner circumference 15 of the coulisse 10. A round hole 12 in the center of
the coulisse 10 is fitted with the filleted end portion 31 of the central shaft 17. The inner
square hole 24 in the center of return spring 27 located in the circular groove 16 of the
coulisse 10 is fixed on the outer square part 32 of the central shaft 17. The external hook 23
of the return spring 27 is fixed in the hole 40 in the coulisse 10. The position of the hole 40 is
shown in Figure 9. Finally, all the components are connected together through the clamping
of the jacket 1.
The operation of the device will be described below in detail. Six semi-punched bosses on
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the ratchet gear 2 are connected with the connecting plate of the recliner back thus connected
with the recliner back. Four semi-punched bosses on the coulisse 10 are connected with the
connecting plate of the recliner seat thus connected with the recliner seat.
When the external torque is transferred by the central shaft 17 to the cam 4 through the
square hole 20 in the center of the cam 4, the bosses 18 on the two wedges 9 are moved by
the cam grooves 19 on the cam 4 away from the central shaft 17 and the bosses 8 on the
sliders 25 are brought by the two cam grooves 5 on the cam 4 to make translation toward the
center until the slider teeth 6 are disengaged with the ratchet gear teeth 28 completely. At this
time, the outer circumference 3 of the ratchet gear 2 and the inner circumference 15 of the
coulisse 10 can rotate freely relative to each other so that angle-regulation of the recliner back
is realized.
When the angle of the recliner back is regulated to a desired angle, the external torque is
released. Urged by the return spring 27, the wedges 9 are brought by the cam grooves 19 of
the cam 4 to make translation toward the center, such that the self-locking surfaces 30 of the
wedges 9 contact with the self-locking surfaces 29 of the sliders 25 and the sliders 25 are
pushed along the sliding grooves 13 of the coulisse 10 to make translation outwardly until the
slider teeth 6 engage with the ratchet gear teeth 28 completely.
In this point, the angle of the recliner back can be locked at this angle due to the
self-locking between the self-locking surfaces 30 of the wedges 9 and the self-locking
surfaces 29 of the sliders. In addition, owing to the two segments of symmetrical ratchet gear
teeth 28 and two segments of ratchet gear sliding surfaces 26 on the ratchet gear 2, when the
slider teeth 6 face to the ratchet gear sliding surfaces 26, the slider teeth 6 can slide freely on
the ratchet gear sliding surfaces 26. At this time, the device can be folded.
The shape of the above components after assembled is shown in Figure 7 which is a front
view of the embodiment. Six semi-punched bosses arranged circumferentially on the ratchet
gear 2 are configured to connect with the connecting plate of the recliner back thus connect
with the recliner back. Figure 8 is a left view of the embodiment and Figure 9 is a rear view
of the embodiment. Four semi-punched bosses arranged circumferentially on the coulisse 10
are configured to connect with the connecting plate of the recliner seat thus connect with the
recliner seat.
It is only given a design of two sliders and two wedges in the above embodiment, but the
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design is not limited to two sliders and two wedges. Three sliders and three wedges or more
sliders and wedges can be used to carry out the device of the invention.
When the angle-regulation of the recliner is completed, the device of the invention
enables the two symmetrical self-locking surfaces 30 of each wedge 9 to correspond with the
self-locking surfaces 29 of the sliders 25 and form a two-point locking-up. When the ratchet
gear teeth 28 engage with the slider teeth 6, the locking and unlocking of the sliders 25 with
the ratchet gear 2 can be controlled through the rotation of the cam 4 driven by the external
force and the force applied by the spiral return spring 27 so that the angle-regulation of the
recliner back is realized. Since the ratchet gear 2 has two segments of evenly arranged ratchet
gear teeth 28 and two segments of evenly arranged ratchet gear sliding surfaces 26, the
recliner back can be quick-folded when the ratchet gear sliding surfaces 26 face to the slider
teeth 6. The above components are fixedly attached by the jacket 1 into a relatively
independent device which cannot be disassembled and free of maintenance. The device is
versatile as it can be used with different connecting plates and applied to various vehicles
depending on the user's requirements. The additional advantages of the invention are that the
device has compacted structure, small volume, high strength, good unlocking performance on
both sides, high regulation precision and the convenience of the angle-regulation and
quick-folding of the recliner back, etc..
While the invention has been described above by way of embodiments, the invention is
not limited to such embodiments. Various modifications, equivalent substitutions or
improvements may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
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WE CLAIM:
1. A recliner regulating device comprising a cam (4), a return spring (27), a coulisse (10),
a ratchet gear (2), a central shaft (17), sliders (25) having two self-locking surfaces
(29), and wedges (9) having two self-locking surfaces (9),
wherein the cam (4), the return spring (27), the coulisse (10) and the ratchet gear (2)
are connected with the central shaft (17); the sliders (25) are connected with the
coulisse (10); the wedges (9) are fitted in sliding grooves (11) of the coulisse (10);
bosses (18) on the wedges (9) are connected with sliding grooves (19) on the cam (4),
and wherein a two-point locking-up is formed between the self-locking surfaces (29)
of the sliders (25) and the self-locking surfaces (30) of the wedges (9).
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cam (4) and the return spring (27) are
connected with the central shaft (17) such that a square hole (20) of the cam (4) and
an inner square hole (24) of the return spring (27) form a shaft connection through an
outer square part (32) of the central shaft (17).
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the slider (25) has slider teeth (6) and the
ratchet gear (2) has ratchet gear teeth (28); the slider teeth (6) are disengaged with the
ratchet gear teeth (28) after the central shaft (17) rotates; and after the cam (4) is
restored through the central shaft (17) under the action of the return spring (27), the
ratchet gear teeth (28) engage with the slider teeth (6) such that the locking-up
between the self-locking surfaces (29) of the sliders (25) and the self-locking surfaces
(30) of the wedges (9) is formed.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the ratchet gear (2) further has ratchet gear
sliding surfaces (26) which come into contact with the ratchet gear teeth (6) after the
cam (4) is restored through the central shaft (17) under the action of the return spring
(27).
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ratchet gear (2) has bosses connecting
with a connecting plate of the recliner back.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coulisse (10) has bosses connecting with
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a connecting plate of the recliner seat.
9
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further includes a jacket (1)
connecting the ratchet gear (2) with the coulisse (10).

The present invention discloses a recliner regulating device and relates to the mechanical
technology field. The present device comprises a cam, a return spring, a coulisse, a ratchet
gear connected with a central shaft. The external hook of the return spring is fixed in a hole of
the coulisse. Sliders are fitted in sliding grooves of the coulisse with the bosses of the sliders
being attached with the sliding grooves of the cam. Wedges are fitted in the sliding grooves of
the coulisse with the bosses of the wedges being attached with the sliding grooves of the
coulisse. The sliding grooves for sliders are perpendicular to the sliding grooves for wedges. A
two-point locking-up is formed between the self-locking surfaces of the sliders and the
self-locking surfaces of the wedges after the position of the cam is fixed through the central
shaft under the action of the return spring. The additional advantages of the invention are that
the device has compacted structure, small volume, high strength, good unlocking performance
on both sides, high regulation precision and the convenience of the angle-regulation and
quick-folding of the recliner back, etc..

Documents:

00913-kol-2007-abstract.pdf

00913-kol-2007-claims.pdf

00913-kol-2007-correspondence others 1.1.pdf

00913-kol-2007-correspondence others 1.2.pdf

00913-kol-2007-correspondence others 1.3.pdf

00913-kol-2007-correspondence others.pdf

00913-kol-2007-description complete.pdf

00913-kol-2007-drawings.pdf

00913-kol-2007-form 1.pdf

00913-kol-2007-form 18.pdf

00913-kol-2007-form 2.pdf

00913-kol-2007-form 3.pdf

00913-kol-2007-form 5.pdf

00913-kol-2007-gpa.pdf

00913-kol-2007-others.pdf

00913-kol-2007-priority document.pdf

0913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.5.pdf

913-KOL-2007-(27-09-2011)-ABSTRACT.pdf

913-KOL-2007-(27-09-2011)-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

913-KOL-2007-(27-09-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

913-KOL-2007-(27-09-2011)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

913-KOL-2007-(27-09-2011)-FORM 1.pdf

913-KOL-2007-(27-09-2011)-FORM 2.pdf

913-KOL-2007-(27-09-2011)-OTHERS.pdf

913-KOL-2007-ABSTRACT.pdf

913-KOL-2007-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.10.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.11.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.4.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.5.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.8.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.9.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.6.pdf

913-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE-1.7.pdf

913-KOL-2007-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

913-KOL-2007-DRAWINGS.pdf

913-KOL-2007-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

913-KOL-2007-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

913-KOL-2007-FORM 1.pdf

913-KOL-2007-FORM 18.pdf

913-KOL-2007-FORM 2.pdf

913-KOL-2007-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

913-KOL-2007-FORM 3.pdf

913-KOL-2007-FORM 5.pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-LETTER PATENT.pdf

913-KOL-2007-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

913-KOL-2007-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

913-KOL-2007-OTHERS 1.3.pdf

913-KOL-2007-OTHERS 1.4.pdf

913-KOL-2007-OTHERS-1.2.pdf

913-KOL-2007-PA.pdf

913-KOL-2007-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-00913-kol-2007.jpg


Patent Number 251498
Indian Patent Application Number 913/KOL/2007
PG Journal Number 12/2012
Publication Date 23-Mar-2012
Grant Date 20-Mar-2012
Date of Filing 26-Jun-2007
Name of Patentee HUBEI AVIATION PRECISION MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Applicant Address NO. 8 ZHUIRI ROAD, HIGH-TECH ZONE, XIANGFAN, HUBEI PROVINCE
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 LUO, XIANHU NO. 8 ZHUIRI ROAD, HIGH-TECH ZONE, XIANGFAN, HUBEI PROVINCE 441003
2 HUANG, ZHENGKUN NO. 8 ZHUIRI ROAD, HIGH-TECH ZONE, XIANGFAN, HUBEI PROVINCE 441003
PCT International Classification Number B60N2/22; B60N2/235
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 200710079390.6 2007-02-16 China