A reclining device for a vehicle seat of the kind comprising a first plate carrying an internal gear and a second plate carrying an external gear cooperating with the internal gear is provided. The reclining device includes first and second wedge elements for preventing undesired rotation of the external and internal gears relative to each other. The reclining device further includes a lock spring comprising one or more locking teeth intended to engage a ring gear which is integral with one of the first and second plates for inhibiting relative rotation of the plates, and one or more spring arms, which elastically urge the locking teeth toward the ring gear. The spring arms outwardly extend from the outer perimeter of the body of the lock spring.

A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.

A hinge mechanism having first and second hinge flanges, a control device controlling the relative rotation of the first and second hinge flanges, a closure ring integrally secured to the second hinge flange and retaining the first flange against the second flange, and an external frame integrally secured to the second flange. The second hinge flange is integrally secured to both the external frame and the retaining ring by the same weld.

A pivoting system comprising a first hinge mechanism comprising a first frame and a second frame connected together by a first hypocycloidal gear, the first gear comprising a first eccentric cam, a first set of teeth, and a second set of teeth, the first eccentric cam having a first eccentricity, a second hinge mechanism comprising a first frame and a second frame connected together by a second hypocycloidal gear, the second gear comprising a second eccentric cam, a first set of teeth, and a second set of teeth, the second eccentric cam having a second eccentricity equal to the first eccentricity, a control shaft configured to drive the first eccentric cam and the second eccentric cam in rotation.

Disclosed is a seat recliner for a vehicle that includes: a gear plate having outer teeth around an outer surface; a cam part making the gear plate be eccentric by pressing an inner surface of the gear plate; an input part transmitting torque to the cam part; and a flange part having an inner side extending along a side of the input part and supporting the input part, an outer side having inner teeth engaged with the outer teeth of the gear plate, and a bridge connecting lower ends of the inner side and the outer side, in which the bridge extends such that a thickness gradually decreases toward the lower end of the outer side from the lower end of the inner side.

A reclining apparatus includes an inner tooth member, an outer tooth member, a pair of wedges, an urging member that urges the pair of wedges, and a striker that moves the pair of wedges. Each of the pair of wedges includes a wedge body, a first end portion, a second end portion, and a protrusion. The striker includes a pair of pressing portions that presses the protrusion. Each of the pressing portions includes a pressing site having a pressing surface that presses the protrusion, and a movement restraining site that is provided on an opposite side of the pressing surface in the pressing site and restrains the wedge from moving.

A vehicle seat assembly and a method of controlling a vehicle seat assembly are provided. The vehicle seat assembly has a seat back frame rotatably connected to a support frame, and a seat back frame positioning assembly connected to the support frame and the seat back frame. The seat back frame positioning assembly has an electric motor, and a worm connected to the motor shaft for rotation. The seat back frame positioning assembly has a reduction gearset with a first gear in meshed engagement with the worm and driving a second gear. The second gear is connected to the support frame. A controller controls the motor such that the motor shaft rotates at a first speed and at a second speed greater than the first speed, with the seat back frame is rotated relative to the support frame in response to rotation of the motor shaft.

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.

A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.

A vehicle seat (1), transferable from a usage position for transporting persons to a non-usage position, includes a seat cushion (3) having a seat cushion support (3a), a backrest (5), a vehicle connectable base (9) and a rocker (13), which is pivotably connected by a first joint (I) to the base or to a component (11) fixed to the base and is pivotably connected by a second joint (II) to the seat cushion support. A rear foot (21) is pivotably connected by a third joint (III) to the base or to a component fixed to the base. Pivoting motion of the rear foot about the third joint is lockable. The rear foot is pivotably connected by a fourth joint (IV) to the backrest. A fifth joint (V) connects the backrest to the seat cushion support. At least one of the joints (I, II, III, IV, V) is a fitting (25).