US 2022/0024355 A1 · Open Architecture Power Length Adjuster Assembly For A Vehicle Seat And Method Of manufacturing The Same

Abstract

A seat adjuster assembly for a vehicle seat assembly may include a housing, a worm, a spindle screw, a motor, and either a helical gear or a single-enveloping worm gear. The worm may be disposed within the housing for rotation about a first axis and having a thread. The helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear may be disposed within the housing for rotation about a second axis and meshingly-engaged with a pitch surface of the thread of the worm. The spindle screw may extend along the second axis and through the housing and the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear. The spindle screw may be meshingly-engaged with the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear. The motor may drive the worm to cause linear movement of the housing, worm, motor, and the helical gear or single-enveloping worm gear along the second axis.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A seat adjuster assembly comprising:

a housing;
a worm disposed within the housing for rotation about a first axis and having a thread;
a helical gear disposed within the housing for rotation about a second axis and meshingly-engaged with a pitch surface of the thread of the worm;
a spindle screw extending through the housing and the helical gear along the second axis, the spindle screw being meshingly-engaged with the helical gear;
and
a motor driving the worm,
wherein a gear ratio of the worm to the helical gear is selected from the group consisting of:
3.333, 3.25, 3.2, 2.833, 2.8, 2.75, 2.6, 2.4, and 2.2,
wherein the motor has a maximum rotational velocity of 5,500 revolutions per minute or less.

6 more elements

A kit of components comprising:

a housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein each of the first and second housing portions includes a longitudinal recess and an upper recess;
a first set of gears including a first worm and a first helical gear, wherein the first worm is configured to be selectively received within the upper recesses of the first and second housing portions, wherein the first helical gear is configured to be selectively received within the longitudinal recesses of the first and second housing portions, and wherein a gear ratio of the first worm to the first helical gear is selected from the group consisting of:
3.333, 3.25, and 3.2;
a second set of gears including a second worm and a second helical gear, wherein the second worm is configured to be selectively received within the upper recesses of the first and second housing portions, wherein the second helical gear is configured to be selectively received within the longitudinal recesses of the first and second housing portions, and wherein a gear ratio of the second worm to the second helical gear is selected from the group consisting of:
2.833, 2.8, 2.75, 2.6, 2.4, and 2.2;
a spindle screw configured to extend through the housing and a selected one of the first and second helical gears;
and
a motor configured to drive a selected one of the first and second worms.

5 more elements

A kit of components comprising:

a housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein each of the first and second housing portions includes a longitudinal recess and an upper recess;
a first set of gears including a first worm and a first single-enveloping worm gear, wherein the first worm is configured to be selectively received within the upper recesses of the first and second housing portions, wherein the first single-enveloping worm gear is configured to be selectively received within the longitudinal recesses of the first and second housing portions, and wherein a gear ratio of the first worm to the first single-enveloping worm gear is selected from the group consisting of:
8.5, 7.5, and 6.5;
a second set of gears including a second worm and a second single-enveloping worm gear, wherein the second worm is configured to be selectively received within the upper recesses of the first and second housing portions, wherein the second single-enveloping worm gear is configured to be selectively received within the longitudinal recesses of the first and second housing portions, and wherein a gear ratio of the second worm to the second single-enveloping worm gear is selected from the group consisting of:
5.667, 5.333, 4.667, 4.333, 3.667, and 3.333;
a spindle screw configured to extend through the housing and a selected one of the first and second single-enveloping worm gears;
and
a motor configured to drive a selected one of the first and second worms.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/493,287Filed 4 Oct 2021

Priority

8 Sep 2016

Published

27 Jan 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60N 2/02246
Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation: electric motors therefor
B60N 2/067
Slidable: by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
B60N 2/06
The whole seat being movable: slidable
B60N 2/02253
Electric motors therefor: characterised by the transmission between the electric motor and the seat or seat parts

Family

Application62/385,000Us provisional application · filed 8 Sep 2016

Application15/680,363Continuation in part · filed 18 Aug 2017

Application62/641,780Us provisional application · filed 12 Mar 2018

Application16/299,384Continuation in part · filed 12 Mar 2019

Application17/062,931Continuation in part · filed 5 Oct 2020

Application17/493,287Continuation in part

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