# US 2006/0169091 A1 · Dual key hole actuator apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0169091 A1 - Document ID: US20060169091A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/036,452 - Filed: 2005-01-14 - Published: 2006-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-14 - Assignees: Schukra of North America, Ltd. - Inventors: Jintao Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060169091A1 ## CPC - B60N 2/6671: {with cable actuators} - B60N 2/929: {linear} - F16C 1/12: Arrangements for transmitting movement to or from the flexible member - F16H 25/20: Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 74/2042: and hand operator - Y10T 74/20462: Specific cable connector or guide - Y10T 74/20504: Screw and nut - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An actuator for a lumbar support device possessing a symmetrical housing in that key holes are present on both sides of such housing. The present invention's housing, with key hole slots diametrically opposed on one end, allows the actuator to be installed more easily in any orientation, in either driver or passenger side seats. With the dual key hole housing, the extra time and effort associated with ensuring that the correct side of the housing is being used is eliminated as the dual key holes allow the tension cable wire and tension cable wire end to be inserted into either side of the housing during assembly of the lumbar support system. The elimination of this concern will save valuable time and money in the actuator assembly process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tension cable actuator comprising: a housing having a first key hole and a second key hole; a tension cable sleeve stopper; a lead screw, said lead screw being threaded and said lead screw having a tension cable wire end receiver; and a nut located within said housing wherein said nut contains screw threads which communicate with said threads of said lead screw; whereby rotation of said nut within said housing causes said lead screw to move within said nut causing said tension cable wire end receiver to be separated from said tension cable sleeve stopper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein said first key hole and said second key hole are diametrically opposed on one end of said housing. ### Claim 3 A wire tension actuator comprising: a housing wherein said housing contains a first key hole and a second key hole; an upper lead screw having a first end and a second end, said first end being threaded in a first direction and said second end having a tension cable wire end receiver; a lower lead screw having a first end threaded in a second direction and a second end having a tension cable sleeve stopper; and a nut located within said housing, said nut having a first end threaded in a first direction and a second end threaded in a second direction, said nut threads being in operative communication with said threads of said upper lead screw and said lower lead screw; whereby rotation of said nut within said housing mediates axial travel of said upper and lower lead screws relative to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein said first key hole and said second key hole are diametrically opposed on one end of said housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The actuator of claim 4, wherein one of said upper or lower lead screws contain a first key hole and a second key hole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The actuator of claim 5, wherein said first key hole and said second key hole of said lower lead screw are diametrically opposed on one end of said lower lead screw. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The actuator of claim 5, wherein said receiver, one of said key holes of said lower lead screw, and one of said key holes of said housing may align so that a tension cable wire end and a tension cable wire may be placed through said key holes and attached to said receiver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein said housing, said nut, said upper lead screw, and said lower lead screw are made of plastic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein said housing, said nut, said upper lead screw, and said lower lead screw are made of polyurethane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein said housing, said nut, said upper lead screw, and said lower lead screw are made of metal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein the actuator is adapted to actuate a tension cable that is a Bowden cable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein said upper lead screw has a shaft that inserts into said lower lead screw. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein said lower lead screw is hollow. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The actuator of claim 12, wherein said receiver is located at the end of said shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The actuator of claim 3, wherein said nut is composed of two detachable pieces. ### Claim 16 A wire tension actuator comprising: means for moving a cable end apart from a sleeve; means for receiving said cable end; means for stopping said sleeve; and a housing enclosing at least one of said moving means, said receiving means, and said stopping means, wherein said housing contains a first key hole and a second key hole. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The actuator of claim 16, wherein said moving means comprises at least one of a nut and a first screw and a second screw; said stopping means comprises an end of at least one of said first screw and said second screw; and said receiving means comprises an aperture. ### Claim 18 A lumbar support device for a seat comprising: a support surface that translates between a first, non-supporting position and a second supporting position; a guide that mediates the travel of said support surface between said first non-supporting position and said second supporting position; a tension cable comprising a wire disposed to slide axially through a sleeve, said wire having a first end and a second end and said sleeve having a first end and a second end and said first end of said wire and said first end of said sleeve being operatively engaged with said pressure surface and said guide; an actuator housing adapted to mount on a seat frame, said housing having a first key hole and a second key hole; an upper lead screw having a first end and a second end, said first end being threaded in a first direction and said second end having a tension cable wire end receiver; a lower lead screw having a first end threaded in a second direction and a second end having a tension cable sleeve stopper; and a nut located within said housing, said nut having a first end threaded in a first direction and a second end threaded in a second direction, said nut threads being in operative communication with said threads of said upper lead screw and said lower lead screw; whereby rotation of said nut within said housing mediates axial travel of said upper and lower lead screws relative to each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The actuator of claim 18, wherein said first hole and said second key hole are diametrically opposed on one end of said housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The actuator of claim 18, wherein said lower lead screw contains a first key hole and a second key hole that are diametrically opposed on one end of said lower lead screw. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The actuator of claim 18, wherein said housing, said nut, said upper lead screw, and said lower lead screw are made of plastic. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The actuator of claim 18, wherein said housing, said nut, said upper lead screw, and said lower lead screw are made of polyurethane. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The actuator of claim 18, wherein the tension cable is a Bowden cable. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The actuator of claim 18, wherein said upper lead screw has a shaft that inserts into said lower lead screw. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The actuator of claim 18, wherein said lower lead screw is hollow. ### Claim 26 A method of producing a tension cable actuator comprising: fabricating an upper lead screw being threaded in a first direction and adapted to receive a tension cable wire end; fabricating a lower lead screw being threaded in a second direction and adapted to receive a tension cable wire covering; engaging each of said lead screws in a nut, said nut having a first end threaded to engage said lower lead screw and having a second end threaded to engage said upper lead screw; fabricating a housing having a first key hole and a second key hole for insertion of a tension cable wire and tension cable wire end; and housing said nut such that turning said nut mediates travel of said lower lead screw and said upper lead screw. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, comprising the further step of: aligning said receiver of said upper lead screw with one of said first key hole or said second key hole of said housing; and inserting said tension cable wire and said tension cable wire end into said receiver of said upper lead screw through said aligned key hole of said housing. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, comprising the further step of: fabricating said lower lead screw such that said lower lead screw also has a first key hole and a second key hole for insertion of a tension cable wire and tension cable wire end. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, comprising the further step of: aligning said receiver of said upper lead screw with one of said first key hole or said second key hole of said lower lead screw and with one of said first key hole or said second key hole of said housing; and inserting said tension cable wire and said tension cable wire end through said aligned key hole of said housing and said aligned key hole of said lower lead screw and into said receiver of said upper lead screw. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, comprising the further step of: fabricating said housing whereby said first key hole and said second key hole are diametrically opposed on one end of said housing.