US Patent 7100987 Reclining vehicle seat hinge assembly

A reclining vehicle seat hinge assembly includes a first housing, a second housing having a plurality of teeth, a primary cam member having primary and secondary camming surfaces, a primary spring, and a secondary cam having at least one spring arm and a plurality of windows, with each window having at least one camming edge. Each of a pair of primary pawls is configured to be driven into an engaged position by a primary camming surface of the primary cam and a camming edge, and into a disengaged position by a camming edge of the secondary cam. Each of a pair of secondary pawls is configured to be driven into an engaged position by a secondary camming surface of the primary cam and into a disengaged position by a camming edge of the secondary cam.