Actuator
AssigneeDare Auto Inc.
InventorsJohn Andrew Bleecker, III, Andrew James Kalina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator may include a shaft with a first end and a second end. The shaft may include a disengagement portion near the first end and an engagement portion near the second end. The actuator may also include a motor coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. A housing may be coupled to the shaft and may be configured to move toward the disengagement portion during rotation of the shaft in a first direction. The housing may have a coupled position, in which the housing is engaged with the engagement portion of the shaft, and an uncoupled position, in which the housing is disengaged from the engagement portion of the shaft and is located adjacent to the disengagement portion of the shaft.
Claims21
An actuator, comprising:
- a shaft including a first end and a second end and including a disengagement portion near the first end and an engagement portion near the second end;
- a motor coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft about a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
- and
- a housing coupled to the shaft and configured to move toward the disengagement portion during rotation of the shaft in a first direction,
- wherein the housing has a coupled position, in which the housing is engaged with the engagement portion of the shaft, and an uncoupled position, in which the housing is disengaged from the engagement portion of the shaft and is located adjacent to the disengagement portion of the shaft,
- wherein movement of the housing toward the motor is limited in the uncoupled position such that, during rotation of the shaft in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, the housing is configured to engage with the engagement portion of the shaft.
An actuator, comprising:
- a shaft including a first end and a second end and including a disengagement portion near the first end and an engagement portion near the second end;
- a motor coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft about a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
- a housing coupled to the shaft and configured to move toward the disengagement portion during rotation of the shaft in a first direction, the housing having a coupled position, in which the housing is engaged with the engagement portion of the shaft, and an uncoupled position, in which the housing is disengaged from the engagement portion of the shaft and is located adjacent to the disengagement portion of the shaft;
- and
- a biasing portion slidably engaged with the shaft and positioned between the housing and the motor,
- wherein the biasing portion is configured to limit movement of the housing toward the motor with the housing in the uncoupled position during rotation of the shaft in the first direction.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a seat;
- and
- a head support, comprising:
- a base removably coupled to the seat;
- a headrest movably coupled to the base;
- and
- an actuator configured to move the headrest relative to the base,
- wherein the actuator has an end stop that limits motion of the headrest relative to the base when the headrest reaches an end stop position, and the actuator is configured to limit binding of the headrest to allow the headrest to move from the end stop position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.