Abstract: A vehicle seat actuator includes an electric motor and a gear set that connects the drive motor to the seat and transmits the output of the motor to the vehicle seat. The drive motor and gear set are each disposed in an individual, dedicated housing component. The individual housing components are then assembled together to provide the actuator. The housing components are maintained in the assembled configuration using snap fit mechanical fasteners. Each snap-fit fastener includes a receiving portion provided on one housing component and an insertion portion provided on the other housing component. The receiving portion may be a slot formed in the gear housing that is partially obstructed by an elastic member, while insertion portion is an ear that protrudes from an outer surface of the drive motor housing and forms both a snap-fit engagement with the elastic member and a press-fit engagement with the slot.

Abstract: An actuator provides linear motion between two points, and includes a motor, a spindle assembly and a gear assembly that connects the motor to a spindle of the spindle assembly and drives the spindle to rotate about a spindle axis. The gear assembly includes a gear housing that encloses gears and a portion of the spindle. The gear assembly including the gear housing is modular in that it includes features that allow it to be easily adapted by a rearrangement of components, and/or by substitution of certain components, to accommodate the requirements of multiple different applications.

Abstract: A vehicle seat actuator includes an electric motor and a gear set that connects the drive motor to the seat and transmits the output of the motor to the vehicle seat. The drive motor and gear set are each disposed in an individual, dedicated housing component. The individual housing components are then assembled together to provide the actuator. The housing components are maintained in the assembled configuration using snap fit mechanical fasteners. Each snap-fit fastener includes a receiving portion provided on one housing component and a retaining portion provided on the other housing component. The receiving portion may be a through hole formed in the drive motor housing, while the retaining component protrudes from an outer surface of the gear housing and forms a snap-fit engagement with the receiving portion.

Abstract: An actuator housing is configured to receive an electric motor and a gear set that modifies the output of the motor. The actuator housing includes a gear housing that supports the gear set for rotation. The gear set includes a worm gear that is driven by the motor and has an opening that is concentric with a rotational axis of the gear. The gear housing includes a container and a cover that closes an open end of the container. The container houses the gear and defines a hollow gear shaft that extends through the gear opening. The cover is secured to the open end of the gear housing via a snap-fit mechanical connection between the cover and the gear shaft.

Abstract: A housing a housing container, a housing cover configured to close an open end of the housing container and a snap-fit fastener that secures a rim of the housing cover to a sidewall of the housing container. The housing container includes a base and a sidewall that protrudes from the base. The fastener includes an elastic clip that is disposed on an outer surface of the sidewall and a rigid lug that protrudes from the cover and engages the clip. The clip has a U-shaped plate portion that extends in parallel to the sidewall and defines clip opening. The lug includes a ridge that protrudes into the clip opening and engages the plate portion. The plate portion is dimensioned so that an outer edge of the plate portion is disposed no further from the container base than the sidewall free edge.