For Seat Patents (Class 384/34)
  • Patent number: 11597302
    Abstract: A method of welding a support on a slide profile, which comprises: a) providing a support having a wall with an inner face, and providing a profile having a wall with an outer face, b) positioning the interface support with the inner face of its wall against the outer face of the wall of the profile, c) creating a welding joint between the wall of the support and the wall of the profile by moving a laser beam relative to the wall of the profile, while keeping the laser beam in a position such that it successively passes through, from an emitting source: the wall of the profile, then the wall of the support, while remaining within the material of the wall of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Bertrand Touzet, Gérald Garotte
  • Patent number: 11046218
    Abstract: A seat frame fastening assembly for laterally fastening a seat frame in a vehicle, wherein the seat frame fastening assembly comprises a holding rail arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a lateral element laterally fastened to a seat frame and coupled to the holding rail. The holding rail comprises a first power- and/or data-transfer interface and the lateral holding element comprises a second power- and/or data-transfer interface. The second power- and/or data-transfer interface is furthermore arranged in the lateral holding element such that a position of the second power- and/or data-transfer interface corresponds to a position of the first power- and/or data-transfer interface when the lateral holding element is coupled to the holding rail. Furthermore, a seat frame has such a seat frame fastening assembly, a vehicle portion has a corresponding seat frame and a vehicle has such a vehicle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Metten, Michael Telkamp, Hermann Benthien, Surya Utomo
  • Patent number: 10046672
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a lower rail mounted on a vehicle floor, an upper rail mounted on an underside of a seat part, and a friction reducing member arranged between the lower rail and the upper rail. The friction reducing member includes sliding contact members. Each of the sliding contact members includes a lower column part, an upper column part, and connection parts which connect the upper column part with the lower column part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TF-METAL Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9296313
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism includes an upper rail, and a lower rail provided with a cutout. The cutout is formed so that no corner is formed by a front edge and an upper edge of the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideo Masuda
  • Patent number: 9162588
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes an upper rail retaining a seat above the upper rail, a lower rail retaining the upper rail in a state where the upper rail moves relative to the lower rail, a rolling element arranged between the lower rail and the upper rail and a retaining member configured to retain the rolling element between the lower rail and the upper rail, the retaining member including a protruding portion having a top portion arranged to slidably contact with a rolling surface at which the rolling element rolls. The protruding portion includes a spreading portion extending from the top portion in an elongating direction, the elongating direction conforming to a path of the rolling element formed on the rolling surface, the spreading portion tapering to a sharp end form with an increasing distance from the top portion in the elongating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9056561
    Abstract: A slide rail device for a vehicle is provided, which can increase the rotatable range of a handle that is connected to a lock operational lever, and the operational force that is necessary for carrying out a lock release operation can be reduced, even if the rotatable range of the lock operational lever is limited to a narrow range by an upper rail. The slide rail device includes a biaser 70 which rotatably biases the handle with respect to said lock operational lever in a direction so as to constantly maintain a supported state of a lower supported portion by a lower support portion and a supported state of an upper supported portion by an upper supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9027899
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat part, comprising a back rest part and comprising a linear guide device for translational adjustment of the vehicle seat, in which the linear guide device comprises a guide rail means and a slide rail means which is displaceable with respect thereto, in which a bearing means interacts between the slide rail means and the guide rail means and at least comprises slide rod elements so as to mount the slide rail means with respect to the guide rail means, and in which the slide rod element comprises an elongate undulating base body, the slide rod element having an effective external diameter which is greater, at least when the slide rod element is radially unloaded, than a core external diameter of the elongate undulating base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Erwin Haller, Jens Kolb
  • Publication number: 20120318949
    Abstract: A seat position adjustment assembly including an anchor plate from which a plurality of slide bearings extend slidably received in guide slots formed in a slide plate enabling seat position adjustment and which can also function as a seat mount. Each bearing includes a slide bearing having a slide plate receiving channel and a retainer engagement channel receiving a keeper disposed between the anchor and slide plates anchoring the slide bearing to the anchor plate. Each keeper releasably engages the slide bearing, can straddle the bearing, can function as a spacer spacing the slide plate from the anchor plate, and can function as an upholstery retainer clip that holds part of an outer cover against the anchor plate. A seat latch arrangement can be disposed between the anchor and slide plates releasably retaining a seat removably coupled by the slide bearings to the slide plate in a desired seat position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth Braun
  • Patent number: 8267584
    Abstract: The rail of a longitudinal guide of a longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat includes one rail profile, at least one bearing block including a bearing hole, a bearing shaft extending through the bearing hole and a flap, which is pivotal about the bearing shaft. The bearing block is made from the material of the rail profile by cutting out a border of the bearing block and by bending the thus obtained blank for the bearing block about a bending line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilfried Beneker, Antal Teer
  • Publication number: 20120224796
    Abstract: A friction controlled mechanism configured to operate in conjunction with an assembly having a moveable structure and a stationary structure. The mechanism includes a frame member having a length and a friction based flexible member slidably wrapped around a perimeter of the frame member such that the flexible member travels in opposite directions around the perimeter of the frame member during movement of the moveable structure toward and away from the stationary structure. The flexible member imparts a friction to side rails of the stationary structure and to side rails of the moveable structure to provide a controlled stable movement of the moveable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: CVG MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark R. Carey, JR., Gregory L. Williams, Matthew Allen McCarthy, Keith A. Overton
  • Patent number: 8079759
    Abstract: A slider for a motor vehicle seat including a stationary profile section extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a substantially planar base plate and at least one side shoulder, said base plate having a substantially constant width and including an attachment area for receiving a head of a fastening screw, wherein the stationary profile section has a local deformation increasing the width of the base plate and narrowing the shoulder to the extent that the raceway of the stationary profile section is blocked; a movable profile section; roller elements rolling along a raceway extending longitudinally on the shoulder of the stationary profile section and retained in position relative to each other by cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: René Rohee, Jean-Marie Fretel
  • Patent number: 7993060
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail adapted to be securely mounted on one of a vehicle floor and a seat, a second rail adapted to be securely mounted on the other of the vehicle floor and the seat and movably assembled relative to the first rail, a first bent portion formed at the first rail, a pair of second bent portions respectively formed at the second rail at longitudinal sides of the first bent portion of the first rail so as to contact the first bent portion to restrict further relative movement of the first and second rail, and a relief portion provided at one of the first and second rails so as to face one of the second and first bent portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 7775718
    Abstract: A roller guide for adjustable vehicle seats. The roller guide includes at least one guide rail which is at least partially open at the side and at least two rollers which roll in the guide rail and are connected to the vehicle seat via at least one axle. At least one of the rollers is shaped like a cone or a truncated cone. The cone surface can roll as the bearing surface of the roller moves along an inner wall of the guide rail. The inner wall being arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Josef Kohl, Markus Haner
  • Publication number: 20100098357
    Abstract: The rail of a longitudinal guide of a longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat includes one rail profile, at least one bearing block including a bearing hole, a bearing shaft extending through the bearing hole and a flap, which is pivotal about the bearing shaft. The bearing block is made from the material of the rail profile by cutting out a border of the bearing block and by bending the thus obtained blank for the bearing block about a bending line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Wilfried Beneker, Antal Teer
  • Patent number: 7594755
    Abstract: An adjustable bearing system, one ideally suited for use in vehicle seat suspension for aft positioning assemblies and isolator assemblies, and having an adjustment mechanism that is readily accessible and easy to use. The adjustable bearing system includes a first structure, a second structure, and a bearing adjustably disposed between said first and second structures for facilitating movement of one structure relative to the other. A bearing driver is positioned to engage a non bearing surface of the bearing and to adjust the position of the bearing relative to said first and second structures, and an actuator cooperates with the bearing driver to permit adjustment of the bearing's position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Dale Ropp
  • Publication number: 20090212190
    Abstract: A seat mount with integrated adjustment that includes a seat base with integrally molded slide bearing receiving pockets that each receives an integrally formed slide bearing of one piece and unitary construction that engages apertures formed in a seat mount that preferably is a seat slide plate or seat mounting plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce Dahlbacka, Kenneth Braun
  • Publication number: 20090114793
    Abstract: A track assembly for a vehicle seat includes a first track (22) having a first portion and a second track (24) coupled to the first track (22). The track assembly also includes a first set (104,106) and a second set (108, 110) of friction reducing members provided at first and second locations between the first track and the second track to facilitate sliding movement of the second track (24) relative to the first track (22). A device for preventing the sliding movement of the second track is provided that includes a pin configured to lock the second track in place relative to the first track by engaging a first portion (38) of the first track (22), a first portion (68) of the second track (24), and a second portion (70) of the second track (24). The pin extends between the first set (104) of friction reducing members and the second set (106) of friction reducing members when the second track is prevented from sliding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William S. Brewer, Ganesh T. Ramaseshadri, Michael Leighton, Simon Moore, Stephen P. Telesco
  • Publication number: 20090080814
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail adapted to be securely mounted on one of a vehicle floor and a seat, a second rail adapted to be securely mounted on the other of the vehicle floor and the seat and movably assembled relative to the first rail, a first bent portion formed at the first rail, a pair of second bent portions respectively formed at the second rail at longitudinal sides of the first bent portion of the first rail so as to contact the first bent portion to restrict further relative movement of the first and second rail, and a relief portion provided at one of the first and second rails so as to face one of the second and first bent portions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20090060401
    Abstract: Slider for a motor vehicle seat including a stationary profile section extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a substantially planar base plate and at least one side shoulder, said base plate having a substantially constant width and including an attachment area for receiving a head of a fastening screw, wherein the stationary profile section has a local deformation increasing the width of the base plate and narrowing the shoulder to the extent that the raceway of the stationary profile section is blocked; a movable profile section; roller elements rolling along a raceway extending longitudinally on the shoulder of the stationary profile section and retained in position relative to each other by cage
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Faurecia Sieges d' Automobile
    Inventors: Rene Rohee, Jean-Marie Fretel
  • Publication number: 20080193062
    Abstract: An adjustable bearing system, one ideally suited for use in vehicle seat suspension for aft positioning assemblies and isolator assemblies, and having an adjustment mechanism that is readily accessible and easy to use. The adjustable bearing system includes a first structure, a second structure, and a bearing adjustably disposed between said first and second structures for facilitating movement of one structure relative to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Dale Ropp
  • Patent number: 6926443
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail assembled to a vehicle seat, an upper rail slidably engaging with the corresponding upper rail for supporting the vehicle seat, a loop-shaped release handle supported by the upper rail on its end portion for releasing the engagement between the upper rail and the lower rail, and a bracket fixed to the upper rail for detachably supporting the release handle, an opening portion formed on the bracket allowing the end portion of the release handle to pass there through, and a flexible tongue formed on the bracket and adapted to be flexibly movable in vertical direction for engaging with a stopper piece provided at the end portion of the release handle. The current invention uses a technical device for detaching the end portion of the release handle from the bracket fixed to the upper rail for supporting the end portion of the release handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Niimi, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Shin Shiraki
  • Publication number: 20020102034
    Abstract: A furniture article, such as a telescopingly adjustable column for chair height adjustment or an adjustable table leg, includes a tubular first member and a tubular second member telescopingly and rotatably supported by the first member. A sleeve-like bearing is positioned between the first and second members. The bearing has an original pre-cured shape that fits loosely into the clearance space between the members during assembly, and further has lubricious bearing material to facilitate smooth extension of the members, but further is made at least in part of a material that when cured expands to a size and shape that takes up an increased percentage of the clearance space. By this arrangement, the bearing can be easily positioned in the clearance space, but after thermal curing the bearing expands to reduce wobbling and looseness between the first and second members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Russell T. Holdredge
  • Publication number: 20010006209
    Abstract: A vehicle seat slide device includes an elongated lower guide rail adapted to be secured to a floor panel of the vehicle body in its longitudinal direction, and an upper slide rail slidably fitted into the lower guide rail. The lower guide rail has a rail body, side walls, slider rest portions and upper guide walls inwardly extending from upper ends of the side walls to define an elongated guide groove. First hook segments are formed on inner edges of the upper guide walls along the elongated guide groove, and second hook segments are formed on the side walls of the lower guide rail, respectively. The upper slide rail includes a slide body, vertical wall, upper slide walls, and lower side walls. In the upper slide rail, slider rest shoulders, first engaging segments, and second engaging segments are also formed. Either one of the slider rest portions may include a rectilinear portion by which one of the sliders is held in point of contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Tomonori Yoshida, Ryo Fujimoto, Moriyuki Eguchi
  • Patent number: 5988884
    Abstract: A guide rail arrangement for connecting two relatively displaceable components comprising a lower rail (1) and an upper rail (2) supported thereon by rolling elements (3), said lower and upper rails being configured as rectilinear sheet metal profiles, one of the lower and upper rails partially surrounding the other of the lower and upper rails, whereby hollow spaces are formed for receiving the rolling elements (3) and further slide elements (4) arranged between the rails is characterized in that, in a central region of the arrangement, the two rails (1, 2) define a receiving space (5) for a spring and/or damping element, which receiving space (5) is adjoined by regions comprising the rolling elements and the slide elements (4) and extending in end regions of the rails (1, 2) which results in the creation of an arrangement with uniform load distribution on its components so that a deformation of the components and a pressing-in of the rolling elements is reliably prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Frank Scheib, Klaus Baalmann, Jorg Gwosdek, Ralf Moseberg, Thomas Winkler, Barbara Fess, Thomas Kurz, Rainer Kleber, Joecbim Ritter, Rolf Fleischhauer
  • Patent number: 5575564
    Abstract: A seat track apparatus of a vehicle for retaining a slide member between a lower seat track and an upper seat track of the seat track apparatus. The seat track apparatus provides a channel in the lower seat track having at least one longitudinally extending contact surface. The slide member has a shape complementary to the channel and is disposed within the channel with at least one contact surface in contact with the contact surface of the channel. The slide member provides a plurality of cylindrical pins projecting outward from the side wall of the slide member and extending through apertures in the side wall of the lower seat track. The engagement of the pins by the lower seat track aligns and restricts movement of the slide member in the plane in which the cylindrical pins extend therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the slide member provides outwardly projections on the bottom wall of the slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: ITT Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Harmon, Joseph C. Montano, Brian D. Pawlowicz
  • Patent number: 5522665
    Abstract: The slide comprises an inner profile member and an outer profile member. The inner profile member has a U-shaped cross-section extended by arcuate parts. The outer profile member comprises an upper plane portion edged in a symmetrical manner with respect to a median vertical axis X-X1 by first guiding paths extended by connecting parts linking together the first guiding paths with second guiding paths. Sliding or rolling members are inserted both between the first guiding paths and the arcuate paths and between the arcuate parts and the second guiding paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure France
    Inventors: Francois Baloche, Yann Reubeuze
  • Patent number: 5473958
    Abstract: A spindle drive for a vehicle seat connected with an upper rail. According to this invention, an upper rail slides on the surface of a drive nut preferably made of plastic whose internal thread is engaged by the spindle. Advantageous further developments deal with improving the longitudinal guidance of the upper rail on the drive nut as well as with preventing the upper rail from radially moving away from the drive nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves, GmbH & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Horst Jeck, Hans G. Menne
  • Patent number: 5360272
    Abstract: Running rails for securing a motor vehicle seat to a motor vehicle and permitting fore and aft movement of the seat in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, including cooperating upper and lower rails each consisting only one profiled member, the lower rail having a generally U-shaped cross section with upwardly extending limbs having upper ends which are bent over forming inwardly extending arcuate parts which define first portions of first and second ball bearing raceways, the upper rail having a wedge shaped portion defining second portions of the first and second ball bearing raceways, and bottom web portions of the upper and lower rails being spaced apart defining a track for roller bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Naue/Johnson Controls Engineering GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gerhard Schmale, Norbert Sommer
  • Patent number: 5224781
    Abstract: A damping element is provided between bulges of the vertically upwardly extending end sections of the side portions of an upside down U-shaped upper profiled member and the side portions and legs of the upper and lower profiled members. The damping element is made of a deformable semi-flexible material and firmly maintains the upper and lower profiles with respect to one another both in a vertical direction and in a transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Automobile "BFA"
    Inventor: Rene Rohee
  • Patent number: 5154393
    Abstract: A seat suspension including a downstop slide element having an overall width that automatically adjusts to compensate for dimensional variations between relatively stationary and movable frame parts of the seat suspension due to manufacturing tolerances and wear. The downstop has first and second leaf members having spaced apart first and second top and bottom walls, front and rear walls, and inner and outer walls, respectively. A connecting member interconnects the leaf members to place the first and second inner walls in opposed confronting relation for movement toward and away from each other to form a longitudinally extending slide gap therebetween of variable width. A first biasing member is provided to normally urge the pair of leaf members apart. A first tapered portion is provided on the inner wall of at least one of the leaf members. A cam surface is provided on the front wall of at least one of the leaf members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James R. Lorbiecki
  • Patent number: 5076530
    Abstract: A track assembly of a vehicle seat adjuster includes an upper track secured to the seat and adjustable back and forth along a lower track which is anchored to the vehicle floor pan. Friction between the tracks is reduced by load-bearing rollers located between the tracks at the center thereof and by spherical balls located between the tracks along the sides thereof. The rollers travel independently of the balls to prevent possible binding of the rollers, the balls along each side of the track being held in fixed longitudinally spaced relation by a strip-like retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Atwood Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen D. Dove, Roger L. Brock, Billy L. Larson
  • Patent number: 4950088
    Abstract: The lower profile element is substantially of a U-shaped section and includes wings having each a median zone with a semi-cylindrical channel prolongated by a bent-over portion provided for covering V-bent vertical ends of side branches of the upper profile element. A wing of the lower profile element is cut out in order to form a row of teeth having each a trapezoidal shape prolongated by a rectangular shape in order to cooperate with an L-section latch-comb formed with rectangular openings and freely mounted on a pin which is displacable by a control of the slide. A spring applies to the latch-comb a pressure permitting a passage of teeth of the latch-comb through openings formed in the upper profile element so as to cause a penetration of the latch-comb into the openings between the row of teeth of the lower profile element for latching the upper profile element on the lower profile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: A & M Cousin Establissements Cousin Freres
    Inventors: Yves Pipon, Georges Droulon
  • Patent number: 4901421
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of assembling a seat slide device which comprises a lower rail, an upper rail slidably disposed on the lower rail and rotating members disposed between the lower and upper rails. The method comprises by steps: (a) temporarily assembling the lower and upper rails; (b) disposing the rotating members between a space defined between the temporarily assembled lower and upper rails; (c) pressing the temporarily assembled lower and upper rails against each other with a given pressing force; (d) making a relative longitudinal movement between the temporarily assembled lower and upper rails with the pressing force kept applied thereto; and (e) removing the pressing force when the relative longitudinal movement counts a given number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Takarabe, Yutaka Miyame
  • Patent number: 4892282
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for vehicles includes a upper rail fixedly connected to a lower portion of a seat, a lower rail connected to the upper rail, and a reinforcing member provided along an inside portion of a sectional surface on the end portion of the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki,Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Saburo Suzuki, Takami Terada, Masayuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 4881827
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of utilization thereof of an anti-ratchet vehicle seat adjuster slide. A preferred embodiment provides an adjuster slide having an upper channel connected with the seat slidably mounted on a lower channel connected with the vehicle. The adjuster slide also has a latch pivotally connected with the upper channel having a range of pivotal movement independent of a lift bar which is also pivotally connected with the upper channel. To allow adjustment of the seat the lift bar is controlled by the operator and pulled upwards causing the latch to pivot upwards also and release from the lower channel. The latch also is provided with a tab having a curvilinear surface of engagement with the notches of the lower channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Michael G. Orlowsky, Neil G. Goodbred, Mladen Humer, Steven J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4811925
    Abstract: A slide rail is shown for adjusting the longitudinal position of a seat used in connection with a vehicle, such as an automobile. The slide rail comprises a moveable rail having a U-shaped lower section, and adapted for connection to the seat; upper and lower sliders, respectively disposed on the top and bottom surfaces of a flange forming part of the lower portion of the moveable rail; and a square fixed rail adapted for connection to the floor of the vehicle. The upper slider, which is formed from a desirably elastic material, has a number of vertically alternating projections on its top and bottom surfaces; lateral projections on its side surfaces; and slits disposed inwardly of the lateral projections. The flange is positioned in the fixed rail, together with the upper and lower sliders, so that the moveable rail can be slideably moved back and forth, providing the adjustment described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Fujita, Takaichi Nishino
  • Patent number: 4775126
    Abstract: A seat slide device for use in an automotive seat which is mounted on the right and left sides of a seat frame to adjust the position of the automotive seat forwardly and backwardly. The seat slide device comprises a first slide rail and a second slide rail to which an anchor of a seat belt is to be attached. A second upper rail included in the second slide rail has in its lower portion a first slide portion identical with that of a first upper rail in the first slide rail as well as a second slide portion fixed on the opposite side of the first slide portion. That is, the second slide rail is constructed such that its upper rail is engageable with its lower rail at the two positions thereof, with the result that the second upper rail of the second slide rail is able to share a removing load by the seat belt anchor at the first and second slide portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoh Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 4756503
    Abstract: A slide device for use in an automotive seat which is capable of adjusting the positions of the seat forwardly and backwardly. In the slide device, an upper rail provided on the side of the seat is slidably mounted via a slider to a lower rail provided on the side of floor of the automobile. The slider comprises a plate spring which is provided with a plurality of projected portions in the portions thereof where the slider is brought into contact with the upper rail. That is, the projected portions of the plate spring prevents the generation of play of the upper rail in the vertical direction as well as in the right and left direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 4725032
    Abstract: A vehicular seat slide adjuster has a lower rail fixed to a vehicle body and an upper rail to which a seat cushion frame is attached, the upper and lower rails being engaged with each other in sliding relation. The lower rail includes a vertical wall portion, upper and lower horizontal wall portions projecting from respective edges of the vertical wall portion, and flange portions extending downwardly from respective ones of the horizontal wall portions. The upper rail includes a vertical wall portion opposing the vertical wall portion of the lower rail in spaced relation, horizontal wall portions opposing the horizontal wall portions of the lower rail in spaced relation, and flange portions opposing the flange portions of the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kazaoka, Hiroshi Okazaki, Fumio Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 4711589
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seat adjuster slide mechanism and method of utilization of the same which is infinitely horizontally adjustable. The seat adjuster slide uses a vertically actuated cam. In its preferred embodiment two opposite surfaces of the cam are utilized and the cam "floats" to equalize the cam angle. Therefore relative movement between the sliding members of the seat adjuster increase the locking force. The present invention also provides a seat adjuster master/slave slide assembly which utilizes one conventional non-infinitely variable type slider mechanism for the master slider in combination with the vertically actuated cam type slave slider adjuster. Use of the vertically actuated cam slider for the slave slider eliminates the prior alignment problem experienced when using a slave adjuster which is non-infinitely variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Neil G. Goodbred