Dual key hole actuator apparatus and method
AssigneeSchukra of North America, Ltd.
InventorJintao Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims30
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.
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.
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.
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 and a sleeve, said wire being disposed to slide axially through said 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 support 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.
A method of producing a tension cable actuator comprising:
- fabricating an upper lead screw being threaded in a first direction, said upper lead screw having a tension cable wire end receiver for receiving 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.