Torque tube for seat track assembly

An assembly for mounting a seat within a vehicle comprising, in combination:

• a first track mounted to a vehicle structure and defining a longitudinal axis;
• a second track supported for movement relative to said first track along said longitudinal axis, said second track having a first bearing surface;
• a first torque tube for receiving input from an actuator, said first torque tube presenting a second bearing surface for rotatably supporting said first bearing surface;
• and
• a drive assembly supported on said first torque tube for providing vertical seat adjustment when said first torque tube rotates due to input from said actuator;
• wherein the first torque tube has an end which extends into an interior space between the first and second tracks.

A vehicle seat assembly comprising, in combination:

• a seat bottom;
• a seat back supported relative to said seat bottom;
• a first track defining a longitudinal axis;
• a second track supported for movement relative to said first track and including a first bearing surface, said seat bottom being supported on said second track for movement with said second track along said longitudinal axis;
• an actuator for selectively controlling the movement of said second track with respect to said first track;
• and
• at least one torque tube for providing vertical seat adjustment, said torque tube presenting a second bearing surface for rotatably supporting said first bearing surface;
• wherein the at least one torque tube has an end which extends into an interior space between the first and second tracks.