US 7,731,285 B2Granted

Arrangement for retaining crank element in automotive seat

AssigneeTachi-S Co., Ltd.

InventorAtsushi Koike

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Abstract

A crank element is arranged rotatably between two support elements so as to prevent removal therefrom. The crank element is formed with a pair of generally inverted-L-shaped end portions each having a horizontal first end region and a vertical second end region bent from that first end region. Each of those two end portions is rotatably secured via retainer bush in each of two through-holes formed in the respective two support elements. The two through-holes each has an elongated hole region and a circular hole region. The retainer bush is resiliently deformable and has: a through-bore in which the first end region of crank element is rotatably support; and a groove portion in which the circular hole region of the through-hole is closely engaged.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An arrangement for retaining a crank element rotatably between a first support element and a second support element in an automotive seat, in which said crank element has a first end and a second end, comprising:

a first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion defined integrally in said first end of said crank element, said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion being defined by bending said first end of said crank element in a generally inverted-L-shaped configuration so as to have, defined therein, a first end region extending horizontally from said first end of said crank element and a second end region extending at substantially a right angle from said first end region;
a second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion defined integrally in said second end of said crank element, said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion being defined by bending said second end of said crank element in a generally inverted-L-shaped configuration so as to have, defined therein, a first end region extending horizontally from said second end of said crank element and a second end region extending at substantially a right angle from said first end region;
a first through-hole having an elongated hole region and a circular hole region communicating with said elongated hole region, wherein said elongated hole region has a width, whereas said circular hole region has a diameter larger than said width of said elongated hole region,
wherein an entire length of said first through-hole, which corresponds to an entire length of said elongated and circular hole regions of said particular first through-hole, is larger than an entire length of said first and second end regions of said first inverted-L-shaped end portion, thereby allowing said particular first and second end regions to pass through said first through-hole,
said first through-hole being formed in said first support element, such that said elongated hole region extends from said circular hole region in a first direction;
a second through-hole having an elongated hole region and a circular hole region communicating with said elongated hole region, wherein said elongated hole region has a width, whereas said circular hole region has a diameter larger than said width of said elongated hole region,
wherein an entire length of said second through-hole, which corresponds to an entire length of said elongated and circular hole regions of said particular second through-hole, is larger than an entire length of said first and second end regions of said second inverted-L-shaped end portion, thereby allowing said particular first and second end regions to pass through said second through-hole,
said second through-hole being formed in said second support element, such that said elongated hole region extends upwardly from said circular hole region in a first direction;
a first retainer bush element of a resilient property, said first retainer bush element having:
a through-bore for allowing said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be inserted and passed therethrough;
and a groove portion for allowing said circular hole region of said first through-hole to be closely engaged therein;
said first retainer bush element being disposed between said first end region of said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion and said circular hole region of said first through-hole, in such a manner that said groove portion thereof is closely engaged with said circular hole region of said first through-hole, while allowing said first end region of said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be rotatable in the through-bore thereof, with said second end region of said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion extending from said circular hole region of said first through-hole in a second direction opposite to said first direction associated with said elongated hole region of said first through-hole;
a second retainer bush element of a resilient property, said second retainer bush element having:
a through-bore for allowing said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be inserted and passed therethrough;
and a groove portion for allowing said circular hole region of said second through-hole to be resiliently and closely engaged therein;
and
said second retainer bush element being disposed between said first end region of said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion and said circular hole region of said second through-hole, in such a manner that said groove portion thereof is closely engaged with said circular hole region of said second through-hole, while allowing said first end region of said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be rotatable in the through-bore thereof, with said second end region of said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion extending from said circular hole region of said second through-hole in a second direction opposite to said first direction associated with said elongated hole region of said second through-hole.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion defined integrally in said first end of said crank element, said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion being defined by bending said first end of said crank element in a generally inverted-L-shaped configuration so as to have, defined therein, a first end region extending horizontally from said first end of said crank element and a second end region extending at substantially a right angle from said first end region;
a second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion defined integrally in said second end of said crank element, said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion being defined by bending said second end of said crank element in a generally inverted-L-shaped configuration so as to have, defined therein, a first end region extending horizontally from said second end of said crank element and a second end region extending at substantially a right angle from said first end region;
a first through-hole having an elongated hole region and a circular hole region communicating with said elongated hole region, wherein said elongated hole region has a width, whereas said circular hole region has a diameter larger than said width of said elongated hole region,
wherein an entire length of said first through-hole, which corresponds to an entire length of said elongated and circular hole regions of said particular first through-hole, is larger than an entire length of said first and second end regions of said first inverted-L-shaped end portion, thereby allowing said particular first and second end regions to pass through said first through-hole,
said first through-hole being formed in said first support element, such that said elongated hole region extends from said circular hole region in a first direction;
a second through-hole having an elongated hole region and a circular hole region communicating with said elongated hole region, wherein said elongated hole region has a width, whereas said circular hole region has a diameter larger than said width of said elongated hole region,
wherein an entire length of said second through-hole, which corresponds to an entire length of said elongated and circular hole regions of said particular second through-hole, is larger than an entire length of said first and second end regions of said second inverted-L-shaped end portion, thereby allowing said particular first and second end regions to pass through said second through-hole,
said second through-hole being formed in said second support element, such that said elongated hole region extends upwardly from said circular hole region in a first direction;
a first retainer bush element of a resilient property, said first retainer bush element having:
a through-bore for allowing said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be inserted and passed therethrough;
and a groove portion for allowing said circular hole region of said first through-hole to be closely engaged therein;
said first retainer bush element being disposed between said first end region of said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion and said circular hole region of said first through-hole, in such a manner that said groove portion thereof is closely engaged with said circular hole region of said first through-hole, while allowing said first end region of said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be rotatable in the through-bore thereof, with said second end region of said first generally inverted-L-shaped end portion extending from said circular hole region of said first through-hole in a second direction opposite to said first direction associated with said elongated hole region of said first through-hole;
a second retainer bush element of a resilient property, said second retainer bush element having:
a through-bore for allowing said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be inserted and passed therethrough;
and a groove portion for allowing said circular hole region of said second through-hole to be resiliently and closely engaged therein;
and
said second retainer bush element being disposed between said first end region of said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion and said circular hole region of said second through-hole, in such a manner that said groove portion thereof is closely engaged with said circular hole region of said second through-hole, while allowing said first end region of said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion to be rotatable in the through-bore thereof, with said second end region of said second generally inverted-L-shaped end portion extending from said circular hole region of said second through-hole in a second direction opposite to said first direction associated with said elongated hole region of said second through-hole.

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