US 5,344,114 A · Vehicle seat adjuster

Abstract

A vehicle seat adjuster includes a pair of spaced upper tracks, each slidably mounted in one of a pair of lower tracks. A seat support arm connected to each upper tracks slidably extends through a slot formed in each lower track. A rod extends between each pair of track assemblies and releasably engages a notch formed in each support arm and one of a plurality of notches formed in the lower track to releasably lock the upper track in a stationary position relative to the lower track. A bearing conforming to the shape of the upper track is interposed between each upper and lower track. Support members are connected to each lower track to anchor each lower track to a vehicle floor. Cooperating resisting elements are formed in each upper and lower track pair and inter-engage under deforming load of the tracks and bearing to resist separation of the upper track from the lower track.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A seat adjuster for supporting a vehicle seat on a floor of a vehicle comprising:

first and second space track assemblies, each of the first and second track assemblies including:
a lower track having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a longitudinally extending slot formed in the lower track and opening to the bore;
an upper track slidably mounted in the bore in the lower track;
a seat support arm connected to the upper track and slidably extending outward through the slot in the lower track;
means for anchoring a seat belt to said seat support arm;
bearing means disposed in the bore in the lower track between the upper track and the lower track for slidingly engaging the upper track to the lower track;
support means, connected to the lower track, for mounting the lower track to a floor of a vehicle;
and
cooperating resisting means, formed in the upper and lower tracks, for resisting separation of the upper track from the lower track;
and
lock means for releasably locking the upper track against movement relative to the lower track.

8 more elements

A seat adjuster for supporting a vehicle seat on a floor of a vehicle comprising:

first and second space track assemblies, each of the first and second track assemblies including:
a lower track having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a longitudinally extending slot formed in the lower track and opening to the bore;
an upper track slidably mounted in the bore in the lower track;
a seat support arm connected to the upper track and slidably extending outward through the slot in the lower track;
bearing means disposed in the bore in the lower track between the upper track and the lower track for slidingly engaging the upper track to the lower track;
first and second support members, each including a vehicle floor mounting portion and a lower track connecting portion;
means for fixedly connecting the lower track connecting portion of each of the first and second support members to opposite ends of the lower track;
an aperture formed in the lower track connecting portion of each of the first and second support members and sized to permit the upper track to slidingly pass through and to prevent the bearing means from sliding therepast;
and
cooperating resisting means, formed in the upper and lower tracks, for resisting separation of the upper track from the lower track;
and
lock means for releasably locking the upper track against movement relative to the lower track.

9 more elements

A seat adjuster for supporting a vehicle seat on a floor of a vehicle comprising:

first and second space track assemblies, each of the first and second track assemblies including:
a lower track formed of an extruded lightweight metallic material and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a longitudinally extending slot formed in the lower track and opening to the bore;
an upper track formed of an extruded lightweight metallic material and slidably mounted in the bore in the lower track;
a seat support arm connected to the upper track and slidably extending outward through the slot in the lower track, the upper track and the seat support arm being integrally formed of extruded aluminum;
means for anchoring a seat belt to said support arm;
bearing means disposed in the bore in the lower track between the upper track and the lower track for slidingly engaging the upper track to the lower track, the bearing means including a plurality of rolling elements formed of a plastic material having high compression resistance;
support means, connected to the lower track, for mounting the lower track to a floor of a vehicle;
cooperating resisting means, formed in the upper and lower tracks, for resisting separation of the upper track from the lower track;
and
lock means for releasably locking the upper track against movement relative to the lower track.

7 more elements

A seat adjuster for supporting a vehicle seat on a floor of a vehicle comprising:

first and second space track assemblies, each of the first and second track assemblies including:
a lower track formed of an extruded lightweight metallic material and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a longitudinally extending slot formed in the lower track and opening to the bore;
an upper track formed of an extruded lightweight metallic material and slidably mounted in the bore in the lower track, the upper track having a plurality of angularly disposed exterior faces;
a seat support arm connected to the upper track and slidably extending outward through the slot in the lower track, the upper track and the seat support arm being integrally formed of extruded aluminum;
bearing means disposed in the bore in the lower track between the upper track and the lower track for slidingly engaging the upper track to the lower track, the bearing means including:
a cage having a plurality of spaced rows of apertures formed therein, the cage being disposed between the upper and lower tracks and conformed to the shape of the inner track with each aperture disposed adjacent to an exterior face of the inner track;
a roller rollably mounted in each aperture in the cage and engaging the upper and lower tracks, each roller formed of a plastic material having high compression resistance;
support means, connected to the lower track, for mounting the lower track to a floor of a vehicle;
cooperating resisting means, formed in the upper and lower tracks, for resisting separation of the upper track from the lower track in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bore in the lower track, the cooperating resisting means including:
a pair of notches spacedly formed on and extending longitudinally along the lower track and opening to the bore in the lower track;
and
a pair of spaced flanges formed on and extending longitudinally along the upper track, the flanges extending outward into the notches in the lower track to engage the one of the upper and lower tracks under deformation forces tending to move one end of the upper track through the slot in the lower track;
and
lock means for releasably locking the upper track against movement relative to the lower track.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle seat adjuster

Life of this patent

Vehicle seat adjuster

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44