Abstract: A long rail assembly for repositioning a vehicle seat in a vehicle includes a fixed long rail and a rail drive assembly configured to be repositionable along the fixed long rail. The rail drive assembly includes an upper channel and a flexible stability roller assembly. The flexible stability roller assembly has first and second stability rollers rotationally coupled to respective first and second wing portions of a flexible wing bracket. The flexible wing bracket has a generally W-shaped cross-section in profile with the first and second wing portions extending at a first angle from adjacent first and second side portions, respectively, and the first and second side portions extending at a second angle from a center portion. The center portion of the flexible wing bracket is fixedly coupled to the upper channel.

Abstract: A long rail assembly for use in an automotive vehicle includes a fixed long rail and a power rail drive assembly having a drive wheel for transposing the power rail drive assembly along the fixed long rail. The power rail drive assembly includes an upper channel, a spring-loaded gearbox assembly fixedly coupled to the upper channel, and the drive wheel fixedly coupled to a drive shaft projecting from the spring-loaded gearbox assembly and rotated by the spring-loaded gearbox assembly for transposing the power rail drive assembly along the fixed long rail. The spring-loaded gearbox assembly includes a mounting bracket fixedly coupled to the upper channel, a gearbox repositionable within the mounting bracket, and a spring biasing the gearbox within the mounting bracket such that the drive wheel is engaged with the fixed long rail.

Abstract: A seat track assembly provides forward and rearward movement of a seat assembly. A latch mechanism allows movement of a movable track between a plurality of positions. A memory mechanism with a memory plate and a memory tab are operable between a home position in which the memory tab is disposed in a recess of the moveable track, and a memory position in which the memory plate is coupled with a plurality of angled teeth to define a selected position. Actuation of the memory mechanism to the memory position unlocks the latch mechanism to allow movement of the movable track in a first direction away from the selected position to an easy-entry position. Movement of the movable track in a second direction from the easy-entry position stops the movable track at the selected position, allowing the latch mechanism to lock and the memory mechanism to return to the home position.

Abstract: A compliant pivot joint is provided for rotationally coupling a link member to a frame member in a vehicle seat. The compliant pivot joint includes a cup-shaped protrusion having a cup opening formed on the link member, a shoulder bolt having a first shaft portion projecting from a bolt head and terminating at a shoulder, a bias member having a bias opening, and a fastener fixedly coupled to the frame member. The shoulder bolt is fixedly coupled to the fastener and extends through the bias opening and through the cup opening. The bias member is spaced between the cup-shaped protrusion and the bolt head and biases the bolt head away from the cup-shaped protrusion. A curved shoulder surface of the fastener is frictionally engaged with the cup-shaped protrusion and the shoulder of the shoulder bolt is frictionally engaged with an end surface of the fastener.

Abstract: A disc recliner mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of pawls and a cam mounted between a guide plate and a tooth plate. Rotation of the cam moves the pawls between an extended position in which the pawls engage the tooth plate to lock the disc recliner mechanism and a retracted position in which the pawls disengage the tooth plate to unlock the disc recliner mechanism and allow rotation between the guide plate and the tooth plate. A notch is disposed on an engagement surface of a cam lobe disposed on the cam for reducing friction when the cam lobe engages a cam follower disposed on the pawls. The tooth plate includes a circumferential outer lip with a concentric channel for retaining lubricant and reducing rotational friction between the tooth plate and the guide plate.

Abstract: A rail drive assembly having a loop latch and a loop latch release system is assembled with a fixed long rail for transposing a vehicle seat along the fixed long rail. The loop latch has spaced apart trigger releases and is repositionable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The loop latch release system includes a dual plunger, a rotatable actuator cam, and a return spring. The dual plunger has spaced apart plungers configured to engage with respective release triggers and is repositionable between a retracted position spaced apart from the loop latch and an extended position wherein the plungers engage with the release triggers and reposition the loop latch to the unlocked position. Rotation of the actuator cam repositions the dual plunger towards the extended position. The return spring biases the dual plunger towards the retracted position and towards an engaged position with the actuator cam.

Abstract: A long rail assembly for use in an automotive vehicle includes a fixed long rail and a power rail drive assembly having a drive wheel for transposing the power rail drive assembly along the fixed long rail. The power rail drive assembly includes an upper channel, a spring-loaded gearbox assembly fixedly coupled to the upper channel, and the drive wheel fixedly coupled to a drive shaft projecting from the spring-loaded gearbox assembly and rotated by the spring-loaded gearbox assembly for transposing the power rail drive assembly along the fixed long rail. The spring-loaded gearbox assembly includes a mounting bracket fixedly coupled to the upper channel, a gearbox repositionable within the mounting bracket, and a spring biasing the gearbox within the mounting bracket such that the drive wheel is engaged with the fixed long rail.

Abstract: A transmission system for providing sliding movement of a vehicle seat within a vehicle includes a dual output motor having a left-hand and right-hand motor output shafts, a left-hand bevel gearbox and a right-hand bevel gearbox operatively coupled to a respective one of the left-hand and right-hand output motor shafts, a left-hand long rail assembly comprising a left-hand power rail drive assembly slidably coupled to a left-hand fixed long rail and operatively coupled to the left-hand bevel gearbox and a right-hand long rail assembly comprising a right-hand power rail drive assembly slidably coupled to a right-hand fixed long rail and operatively coupled to the right-hand bevel gearbox. The dual output motor rotates the left-hand and right-hand motor output shafts resulting in each of the left-hand and right-hand power rail drive assemblies being transposed along the respective left-hand and right-hand fixed long rails.

Abstract: A seat track assembly provides forward and rearward movement of a seat assembly. A latch mechanism allows movement of a movable track between a plurality of positions. A memory mechanism with a memory plate and a memory tab are operable between a home position in which the memory tab is disposed in a recess of the moveable track, and a memory position in which the memory plate is coupled with a plurality of angled teeth to define a selected position. Actuation of the memory mechanism to the memory position unlocks the latch mechanism to allow movement of the movable track in a first direction away from the selected position to an easy-entry position. Movement of the movable track in a second direction from the easy-entry position stops the movable track at the selected position, allowing the latch mechanism to lock and the memory mechanism to return to the home position.

Abstract: A disc recliner mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of pawls and a cam mounted between a guide plate and a tooth plate. Rotation of the cam moves the pawls between an extended position in which the pawls engage the tooth plate to lock the disc recliner mechanism and a retracted position in which the pawls disengage the tooth plate to unlock the disc recliner mechanism and allow rotation between the guide plate and the tooth plate. A notch is disposed on an engagement surface of a cam lobe disposed on the cam for reducing friction when the cam lobe engages a cam follower disposed on the pawls. The tooth plate includes a circumferential outer lip with a concentric channel for retaining lubricant and reducing rotational friction between the tooth plate and the guide plate.