Abstract: A parallel acting vehicle seat lift uses a single jack screw unit at the front and a passive linkage at the rear. The linkage is located such its inherent play or looseness is continually taken up by the constant weight force of the occupant acting downwardly at the rear of the seat cushion. The jack screw unit, which is inherently tight, is attached at the bottom to the vehicle floor and at the top to the seat cushion frame by close fitting pivots, so there is no perceptible looseness. The passively acting linkage uses two bell cranks, each centrally pivoted to the floor, the first of which is attached at one arm the seat cushion frame by a close fitting pivot. The second bell crank is attached to the rear of the seat cushion frame by a lost motion connection, and the two facing arms of the bell cranks are connected together by a second lost motion connection.

Abstract: A quick release clutch interposed between the handle and rod of a manual seat adjuster uses a piezoelectric element to create a rapid disconnect on the selective application of an electrical signal. A resilient bearing on one side of a shoulder interface maintains frictional contact between two clutch members, while an expandable piezoelectric stack on the other side pushes the shoulders apart.

Abstract: A six-way powered seat adjuster slide unit which in a preferred embodiment includes a top rail with first and second ends for mounting a vehicle seat; a bottom rail with first and second ends for supporting the top rail; a floor rail for slidably mounting the bottom rail in a fore and aft position; a first forward powered jack screw unit pivotally connected to the bottom rail and having a rotative shaft, the first jack screw unit having an upper pivotal axis in a position axially fixed with respect to the first end of the top rail; an elevator arm pivotally connected adjacent to the second ends of the top and bottom rails; a second rearward powered jack screw unit with a rotative shaft having a pivotal axis with the bottom rail and the elevator arm; and a motor fixed with the bottom rail allowing a gear to mesh with a portion of the bottom rail for providing selective fore and aft adjustment of the adjuster slide unit.