Linear drive, longitudinal adjustment unit of a seat, and motor vehicle

A linear drive (1), comprising:

• at least one rail (10) which is oriented along a longitudinal axis (L) and has at least one slotted link (20) forming a tooth profile (21) which comprises two profile surfaces (25, 26) facing one another;
• at least one slider (30) which is movable transversely to the longitudinal axis (L) and engages the at least one slotted link (20), the slider (30) comprising at least one pin having a cuboid, diamond, or cylindrical-shaped cross section;
• and
• a drive shaft (50),
• wherein the at least one slider (30) is drivingly coupled to the drive shaft (50) in such a way that the slider (30) performs at least one cyclical movement in the course of one revolution of the drive shaft (50) and can thereby alternately push itself off the profile surfaces (25, 26) facing one another in the at least one slotted link (20) to generate propulsion in a direction of the longitudinal axis (L).