US Patent 7651165 Seat reclining apparatus for vehicle

A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle includes: a first plate adapted to be mounted on one of a seat cushion and a seat back and having inner teeth; a second plate adapted to be mounted on the other one of the seat cushion and the seat back and supporting the first plate to be rotatable; a pole directly and movably supported by the second plate and having outer teeth engageable and disengageable with the inner teeth of the first plate; a pair of guides formed at the second plate and interposing therebetween the pole from both sides, the guide including a pole sliding surface adjusted to slidably come in contact with a side surface of the pole; and a recess formed at the pole sliding surface of the guide.