Roller Or Ball Patents (Class 248/430)
  • Publication number: 20140231610
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding apparatus includes: a first rail fixed to one of a vehicle floor and a seat and having first vertical wall portions, a first connection wall portion connecting base ends of the first vertical wall portions, and flanges; a second rail fixed to the other one of the vehicle floor and the seat and having second vertical wall portions, a second connection wall portion connecting base ends of the second vertical wall portions, outward extending wall portions, and extending wall portions; balls interposed in a rollable manner between second ball guides provided to the outward extending wall portions in inner portions in the width direction and first ball guides provided to the first connection wall portion; and an attaching portion disposed at a tip end of the first connection wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoaki HOSHIHARA, Akihiro CHIBA
  • Patent number: 8757578
    Abstract: A slide device for vehicle seat in which rollers are arranged at three positions on a lower rail including front and rear portions thereof. Among the rollers, the rollers located at the front and rear portions of the upper rail are pivotally supported by roller shafts and that are prohibited from moving on the upper rail, while the rollers located at the position other than the front and rear portions of the upper rail are pivotally supported by a roller shaft that is allowed to move downward on the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Kitamura, Yutaka Ofuji
  • Publication number: 20140110554
    Abstract: A seat sliding device allows a vehicle seat to be positioned in the vehicle front back direction. The seat sliding device includes a pair of rail units aligned in the lateral direction of the seat. Each of the rail units includes a first rail member, which is attached to a seat mounting surface, and a second rail member, which is attached to the seat. Three rollers are arranged in each rail unit, and the second rail member is supported on the first rail member at three points by the three rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Oya, Toshio Araki, Shinji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140097318
    Abstract: A bearing race arrangement on a composite structure having a first coefficient of thermal expansion includes a recess formed in a surface of the composite structure for receiving a race element, at least one bearing race element disposed in the recess, the bearing race element having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite structure and a retainer securing the bearing race element to composite structure, within the recess and allowing for longitudinal expansion of the race element without creating stress on the composite structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Quality Vision International, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick D. Schwab
  • Patent number: 8646742
    Abstract: A seat rail device provided with an upper rail 1 engaged with and mounted onto a lower rail 2 such that an upper bottom wall section 11 is located above a lower bottom wall section 21 and also such that an upper sloped wall section 16 is located within a lower groove 26 surrounded by a lower wall section 23, a lower top plate section 25, and a lower downwardly extending section 27; a roller 31 provided and rollably supported between the lower bottom wall section 21 and the upper bottom wall section 11; an upper ball-shaped rolling body 33 provided and rollably supported in an upper in-groove space 26a partitioned and defined in the lower groove 26 by the upper sloped wall section 16; and a lower ball-shaped rolling body 35 provided and rollably supported in a lower in-groove space 26b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Hayashi, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Hiroshi Koga
  • Patent number: 8616515
    Abstract: The slide rail device includes a lock release lever which switches a locking mechanism between a slide restriction state and a slide restriction release state by rotating in the vertical direction and includes a rail-incorporated portion positioned between an upper rail and a bottom wall of a lower rail, a rotational contact portion which is formed on an upper surface of the rail-incorporated portion and contacts a roof surface of the upper rail, and a biaser which is installed in the rail-incorporated portion and the upper rail and biases the rotational contact portion toward the roof surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20130341479
    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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Yukifumi YAMADA, Naoki Goto
  • Publication number: 20130292982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a longitudinal seat adjuster for a vehicle seat having easy entry functionality and folding functionality, comprising a rail system for longitudinal seat adjustment having a lower rail and an upper rail and an unlocking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Markus Radermacher, Jeevan Sooda, Harshal Deshmukh, Stuart Woolston
  • Patent number: 8556221
    Abstract: A roller mount for seats is used for mounting a seat in a boat. A track is mounted on a base plate in the boat. The Y-shaped track has flanges, a transverse web, and a central pillar. The flanges have slots with detent bores. An inverted U-shaped carriage rides on the track. The carriage has a transverse web and two flanges with detent holes. The carriage has two upper lateral channels facing downward, two lower lateral channels facing upward, and two medial channels facing inward. A plurality of upper transverse rollers is mounted for rotation on axles in the upper lateral channels. Lower transverse rollers are mounted on axles in the lower lateral channels. Vertical rollers are mounted on axles in the medial channels. A top plate is mounted on the carriage to support the seat. A second track, allowing a wider seat, can be mounted on the base plate spaced apart from the first track. A detent locks the seat in the selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Taco Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M Kohen
  • Patent number: 8556222
    Abstract: A plurality of rolling members, which are retained by retainers between sidewall-portion inside operating surfaces formed on inside surfaces of sidewall portions of a lower rail and sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces formed on outside surfaces of sidewall portions of a first upper rail, roll in contact on the sidewall-portion inside operating surfaces and the sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces. Sidewall portions of a second upper rail are cut and raised at parts of only a predetermined length in a vehicle front-rear direction to be formed as rolling-element rolling portions having sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces. Rolling element circulation units each incorporating a plurality of rolling elements are fitted on the rolling-element rolling portions, so that the plurality of rolling elements roll and circulate in contact with the sidewall-portion inside operating surfaces and the sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces of rolling-element rolling portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Shinya Isobe
  • Publication number: 20130248675
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster in the interior of a motor vehicle, has an upper and a lower rail, between which at least one rolling body is provided. A projection is provided on the upper and/or lower rail, the projection forming a local contact point between the two rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Tobias Ewald, Alfons Steilmann, Thomas Willing, Christoph Beckers, Erhard Hassler, Matthias Von Berg
  • Patent number: 8528974
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes first and second lower rails, first and second upper rails, first and second lock levers, first and second biasing members, first and second support brackets fixed to the first and second upper rails and including first and second support portions, an operation handle including first and second power transmission portions pressing the first and second lock levers so as to release the restriction of the movement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails against a biasing force of the biasing members, and a release lever rotatably connected to the first upper rail and rotating in association with a forward folding of a seat back of the seat to release the restriction of the movement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails by directly pressing the first power transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Genta Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20130200244
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjustment device for a vehicle seat includes at least one rail guide with at least one upper rail and a lower rail, wherein the upper rail and lower rail are mounted movably relative to each other via a bearing. A roller cage is provided as the bearing between the upper rail and lower rail, wherein, in the roller cage, rollers are arranged inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane of the rails or transversely with respect to the running direction of the rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Werner, Bernd Gross, Joshua Hesterberg
  • Publication number: 20130193730
    Abstract: A seat track assembly includes first and second tracks. The second track includes a detent. A roller engages the first and second tracks for facilitating movement of the first track relative to the second track. Movement of the first track relative to the second track at a predetermined position causes the roller to engage with the detent such that the detent resists rotation of the roller, thereby temporarily retaining the first track relative to the second track at the predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lear Corporation
  • Patent number: 8496219
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus provided with a pair of lower rails fixed to the vehicle floor and a pair of upper rails fixed to a vehicle seat. The seat sliding apparatus causes screw shafts supported at the upper rail to rotate relative to nut members fixed to the lower rails and the upper rails to move relative to the lower rails in the seat forward-rearward direction. A speed reducer-equipped motor comprises a motor, a gear mechanism, and a gear housing. The gear housing is designed so that the axis of the output shaft of the gear mechanism extends in the seat width direction. A manipulation switch comprises a manipulating portion fixed to the gear housing such that the operation switch is exposed at a forward end of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Okada, Soichiro Hozumi, Koichi Hirota, Toshiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20130168524
    Abstract: The present invention achieves a slide rail device for a vehicle in which it is possible to smoothly eject out objects that have fallen into the lower rail by using the upper rail, even if slide-restriction lugs, for restricting the slide position of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail, are formed by being cut and raised, and in which it is possible to reduce deterioration in rigidity of the lower rail. The solution is a slide rail device including slide-restriction lugs formed on a lower edge of each downward-extending portion of the lower rail by being cut and raised, the slide-restriction lugs superposing the stopper lug of the upper rail in a forward/rearward direction when viewed from the front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: SHIROKI CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8469327
    Abstract: The slide rail device includes lock release levers rotatably supported in a vertical direction between a lock position where locking mechanisms restrict sliding of upper rails and an unlock position where front of the lock release levers move further upward to release the restriction on the sliding of the upper rails, a handle having rear-end connecting portions respectively inserted into the connecting portions of the lock release levers, rotation limit portions to prevent the rear-end connecting portions from rotating upward relative to the lock release levers, rotation allowance spaces to allow the connecting portions to relatively rotate downward from a position where the rear-end connecting portions contact the rotation limit portions, and biasers to bias and rotate the rear-end connecting portions in a direction to bring the rear-end connecting portions into contact with the rotation limit portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8469328
    Abstract: A seat track slide device includes a pair of seat tracks. Each seat track has a lower rail, an upper rail, a lock lever, and a handle and is capable of switching the associated upper rail to locking and unlocking states by selectively engaging and disengaging the lever with respect to the lower rail. Each lever is inserted into the corresponding upper rail and pivotally supported in the upper rail. An interlock support portion of the lever projects into an outer zone with respect to the front end of the upper rail. The interlock support portion of the lock lever supports an interlock support portion of the handle pivotally relative to each other. With the lever maintained in the locking state, the handle is allowed to pivot relative to the lever in the outer zone with respect to the front end of the upper rail against elastic force produced by a torsion coil spring arranged in the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Gifu Auto Body Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohisa Nakamura, Takayuki Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8459605
    Abstract: A rail system for a vehicle seat comprises at least one profiled fitting part and at least one cross member. The cross member is arranged perpendicular to a main direction of travel. The at least one fitting part completely surrounds the cross member. The cross member is able to be moved in relation to the fitting part perpendicular to the main direction of travel. Rolling bodies guide the cross member in the interior of the fitting part, and are arranged between the cross member and the fitting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Uwe Schmale, Paul Frank, Allen Sorgenfrei
  • Publication number: 20130134281
    Abstract: A slide rail device includes forward/rearward-movement restricting grooves formed on an upper rail; lock portions which are movable in the forward and/or rearward direction relative to the upper rail, wherein the lock portions are lock-engaged with the lock grooves and the forward/rearward-movement restricting grooves when the lock release lever is positioned at the locked position, and the lock portions are released from the lock grooves when the lock release lever is positioned at the unlocked position; and restricting lugs formed on an upper rail, wherein the restricting lugs restrict the lock portions from moving forward or rearward from the forward/rearward-movement restricting grooves, to which the lock portions correspond, by the lock portions coming in contact with the restricting lugs when the lock release lever is positioned at the unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: SHIROKI CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130075571
    Abstract: A longitudinal guide for vehicle seats, including two elongate rails, each including a lower rail, an upper rail supported on the lower rail and displaceable in a longitudinal direction, and two bearing areas for guiding means, the bearing areas lying diagonally opposite to and biased against each other, each upper rail and lower rail having an L-shaped region, if viewed in profile, formed by a base leg and an L-leg protruding from the base leg substantially perpendicularly, and two end regions adjoining the L-shaped region, each end region of the upper or lower rail together with the end region of the associated lower or upper rail forming an embracing area by mutually hooking, the end regions of the upper rail forming the bearing areas with opposite portions of the associated lower rail, and a plurality of balls being supported in a first bearing area on the end region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG, COBURG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Suck, Nick Röhnert, Karsten Hartleb, Andreas Prause, Bernd Griebel
  • Patent number: 8398045
    Abstract: A slide rail device which includes a lower rail, an upper rail which is freely slidably engaged with the lower rail, and balls which are installed between the lower and upper rails. The lower rail includes a lower-rail bottom wall, a pair of lower-rail side walls, a pair of lower-rail upper walls, a pair of lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portions, and a pair of lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portions. The upper rail includes an upper-rail top wall, a pair of upper-rail side walls, and a pair of upper-rail ball-bearing walls. Each upper-rail ball-bearing wall includes an upper-rail lower-ball contact portion and an upper-rail upper-ball contact portion. A radius of curvature of the lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the lower ball, and a radius of curvature of the lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the upper ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 8382057
    Abstract: A seat track system for a seat of a vehicle includes at least one seat track having a lower track member adapted to be fixed to a vehicle structure and an upper track member adapted to be connected to a seat and moveable relative to the lower track member. The seat track system also includes a manual positive engagement locking system cooperating with the at least one seat track to allow longitudinal adjustment of the upper track member relative to the lower track member and to positively engage the at least one seat track such that a locking element does extend through the locking plate but does not extend below the lower track member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: CRH North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mircea Napau, Ioan Napau, Dean Lenane, Robert James Bachula, Tobias Keller, Patrick Frank Timmerman
  • Patent number: 8376460
    Abstract: The problem to be solved is to provide a seat track assembly which is simple, easy to operate seat track assembly where locking is simplex and intact and which renders a smooth sliding of seat and the problem is solved by providing a seat track assembly with a lower channel, upper channel, latch bracket, latch pin, lever and sliding assemblies wherein sliding assemblies provide a streamlined sliding to the upper channel and at the desirable position latch pin engages with the lower channel to lock the seat track mechanism from moving further forward or rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hema Engineering Industries Limited
    Inventors: Prasad Nadgouda, Prasad Ghalsasi, Ashok Ramteke
  • Patent number: 8360383
    Abstract: A seat sliding device for preventing accidental operation of the operation member. The seat sliding device includes a biasing member 60 which biases a lock member 50 in response to the operation of an operation lever 70 in an unlocking pivoting direction and which is tiltable around a shaft 62 as the tilting center together with the operation lever 70 in response to the operation of the operation lever 70. A balancer 64 of the biasing member 60 has a shape and mass, etc. adapted so as to bring a position of the center of gravity of the tilting body including the operation lever 70 and the biasing member 60 close to the shaft center of the shaft 62.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Gakuji Kimura, Yuusuke Satou, Kensuke Miyoshi, Nobuyuki Murai
  • Patent number: 8328155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rail adjustment system for a motor vehicle seat, wherein the rail adjustment system includes an electromotive spindle drive and a threaded spindle that can be coupled to a flexible drive shaft for the longitudinal adjustment of a rail pair. The rails of said rail pair are connected to one another by means of a retaining element, which includes an integrated guide duct for holding the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: Sergej Kostin
  • Publication number: 20120305734
    Abstract: A seat track system for use in a vehicle seat assembly having a seat base frame. The seat track system includes a lower track assembly having a first lower track and a second lower track and an upper track assembly having a first upper track slidably disposed within the first lower track and a second upper track slidably disposed within the second lower track. The first upper track has a portion extending upwards that forms a first side member of the seat base frame and the second upper track has a portion extending upwards that forms a second side member of the seat base frame. The first upper track and the first side member are formed integrally to form a one-piece unitary member and the second upper track and the second side member are formed integrally to form a one-piece unitary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Alexander I. Balin, Kyle Doxey, Alexander Saveski, Kurt A. Seibold, Ornela Zekavica
  • Patent number: 8322677
    Abstract: There is provided a slide structure of a vehicle seat comprises a stationary outer rail, a movable inner rail, and means for locking said movable inner rail which locks said movable inner rail against said stationary outer rail in the longitudinal direction, said movable inner rail fits with said stationary outer rail in such a way that opening portions formed by the respective C-shaped cross-sections face each other, a retainer extending in the longitudinal direction is provided between said stationary outer rail and said movable inner rail, said retainer includes a retaining portion for retaining a ball rolling between said two rails, said movable side surface, said stationary side surface and said retainer side surface portion are all disposed along the vertical direction of the vehicle, whereby each of said stationary outer rail and said movable inner rail is arranged to form a vertically elongated cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Nonomiya
  • Patent number: 8297583
    Abstract: A seat track mechanism for a vehicle, includes a lower rail mounted to a vehicle floor; an upper rail supported by the lower rail and slidable relative to the lower rail; and spherical rotators held between the lower and upper rails, the spherical rotators rolling via a sliding movement of the upper rail. One of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one horizontal flat portion parallel to a widthwise direction of the seat track mechanism and parallel to a direction of the sliding movement of the upper rail, and the other of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one rotator supporting recess having a circularly arcuate shape in cross section which is uniform in a lengthwise direction of the seat track mechanism, the spherical rotators being held between the rotator supporting recess and the horizontal flat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Kimura, Hidehiko Fujioka, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Kanji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8289697
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an equipment chassis configured to house electronic circuitry and to be inserted in an equipment rack between an opposed pair of rails. The equipment chassis includes a bottom face configured to rest on shelf members of the rails. The apparatus further includes a retaining bracket disposed at a side face of the equipment chassis facing one of the rails and oriented substantially perpendicular to the bottom face of the equipment chassis. The retaining bracket is configured to engage a horizontal groove in the one of the rails when the equipment chassis is inserted horizontally into the equipment rack between the rails. The retaining bracket may be configured to engage the one of the rails to limit vertical movement of the equipment chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Long Larry Le, Bright Huang
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8251335
    Abstract: A lower rail 3 has a first cut-and-raised piece 22, and an upper rail 4 has a second cut-and-raised piece 23. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 each have a facing surface 22a, 23a that faces and is contactable with the facing surface of the other cut-and-raised piece along the moving direction of the upper rail 4. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 are engaged with each other so as to limit the movement range of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3. On the facing surface 22a and the facing surface 23a, inclination angles ? and ? are provided that generate a force causing the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 to be more deeply engaged with each other, respectively. This prevents the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 from being easily disengaged from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 8251336
    Abstract: A seat track mechanism for a vehicle, includes a lower rail mounted to a vehicle floor; an upper rail supported by the lower rail and slidable relative to the lower rail; and spherical rotators held between the lower and upper rails, the spherical rotators rolling via a sliding movement of the upper rail. One of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one horizontal flat portion parallel to a widthwise direction of the seat track mechanism and parallel to a direction of the sliding movement of the upper rail, and the other of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one rotator supporting recess having a circularly arcuate shape in cross section which is uniform in a lengthwise direction of the seat track mechanism, the spherical rotators being held between the rotator supporting recess and the horizontal flat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Kimura, Hidehiko Fujioka, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Kanji Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120199719
    Abstract: A plurality of rolling members, which are retained by retainers between sidewall-portion inside operating surfaces formed on inside surfaces of sidewall portions of a lower rail and sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces formed on outside surfaces of sidewall portions of a first upper rail, roll in contact on the sidewall-portion inside operating surfaces and the sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces. Sidewall portions of a second upper rail are cut and raised at parts of only a predetermined length in a vehicle front-rear direction to be formed as rolling-element rolling portions having sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces. Rolling element circulation units each incorporating a plurality of rolling elements are fitted on the rolling-element rolling portions, so that the plurality of rolling elements roll and circulate in contact with the sidewall-portion inside operating surfaces and the sidewall-portion outside operating surfaces of rolling-element rolling portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Shinya Isobe
  • Patent number: 8215711
    Abstract: A vehicular seat can include a pair of right and left slide devices, right and left lock mechanisms, and a synchronous releasing mechanism releasing the right and left lock mechanisms in synchronism with each other. The synchronous releasing mechanism can include a rod whose both end portions are rotatably mounted between upper portions of right and left side frames of a seat cushion, right and left levers mounted to portions of the rod near both end portions thereof so as to be incapable of rotating with respect to the rod, and right and left connection members connecting the right and left levers and the right and left lock mechanisms to each other. Clearance portions can be included between the right and left levers and the right and left connection members, to prevent the connection members from moving so as to release the lock mechanisms in synch with the levers when the side frames are downwardly crushed, and the rod and the levers move downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomokazu Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20120168596
    Abstract: A vehicle seat configured in such a manner that vibration occurring in the seat body can be suppressed without adding a special device such as a dynamic damper. A vehicle seat is configured in such a manner that an upper rail (26) connected to the seat body is slidably supported by a lower rail (28), which is affixed to the vehicle body side, through a pair of slide guides (42, 44) disposed next to each other in the front-rear direction of the seat. The distance (L) between the slide guides (42, 44) is set to be less than the half of the maximum slide amount (S) of the upper rail (26) relative to the lower rail (28). As a result of the configuration, the rigidity of support of the seat body by the vehicle body is reduced to reduce the resonance frequency of the seat body in the front-rear direction. This enables the resonance frequency of the seat body in the front-rear direction to be shifted from the resonance frequency of the vehicle body when the engine of the vehicle is idling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Manabu Ishimoto, Keisuke Ishizaki
  • Publication number: 20120160981
    Abstract: A slide rail device which includes a lower rail, an upper rail which is freely slidably engaged with the lower rail, and balls which are installed between the lower and upper rails. The lower rail includes a lower-rail bottom wall, a pair of lower-rail side walls, a pair of lower-rail upper walls, a pair of lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portions, and a pair of lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portions. The upper rail includes an upper-rail top wall, a pair of upper-rail side walls, and a pair of upper-rail ball-bearing walls. Each upper-rail ball-bearing wall includes an upper-rail lower-ball contact portion and an upper-rail upper-ball contact portion. A radius of curvature of the lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the lower ball, and a radius of curvature of the lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the upper ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20120160982
    Abstract: A slide rail device which includes a lower rail, an upper rail which is freely slidably engaged with the lower rail, and balls which are installed between the lower and upper rails. The lower rail includes a lower-rail bottom wall, a pair of lower-rail side walls, a pair of lower-rail upper walls, a pair of lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portions, and a pair of lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portions. The upper rail includes an upper-rail top wall, a pair of upper-rail side walls, and a pair of upper-rail ball-bearing walls. Each upper-rail ball-bearing wall includes an upper-rail lower-ball contact portion and an upper-rail upper-ball contact portion. A radius of curvature of the lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the lower ball, and a radius of curvature of the lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the upper ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro KIMURA
  • Patent number: 8201798
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail slidably movable relative to the first rail, a lock member restricting a movement of the second rail relative to the first rail, a memory member movably supported within an inner void between the first rail and the second rail and prevented from moving, a holding member fixed to the second rail, holding the memory member so that the memory member is movable along with the second rail, and holding the memory member so as to maintain the engagement between the memory member and the first rail, a first stopper member positioned at one side of the memory member, and a second stopper member positioned at the other side of the memory member and preventing the second rail from moving in a condition where the memory member is sandwiched between the first and second stopper members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Genta Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20120145869
    Abstract: A slide rail device which includes a lower rail, an upper rail which is freely slidably engaged with the lower rail, and balls which are installed between the lower and upper rails. The lower rail includes a lower-rail bottom wall, a pair of lower-rail side walls, a pair of lower-rail upper walls, a pair of lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portions, and a pair of lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portions. The upper rail includes an upper-rail top wall, a pair of upper-rail side walls, and a pair of upper-rail ball-bearing walls. Each upper-rail ball-bearing wall includes an upper-rail lower-ball contact portion and an upper-rail upper-ball contact portion. A radius of curvature of the lower-rail lower-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the lower ball, and a radius of curvature of the lower-rail upper-ball contact R-portion of the lower rail is greater than that of the upper ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20120112032
    Abstract: A roller mount for seats is used for mounting a seat in a boat. A track is mounted on a base plate in the boat. The Y-shaped track has flanges, a transverse web, and a central pillar. The flanges have slots with detent bores. An inverted U-shaped carriage rides on the track. The carriage has a transverse web and two flanges with detent holes. The carriage has two upper lateral channels facing downward, two lower lateral channels facing upward, and two medial channels facing inward. A plurality of upper transverse rollers is mounted for rotation on axles in the upper lateral channels. Lower transverse rollers are mounted on axles in the lower lateral channels. Vertical rollers are mounted on axles in the medial channels. A top plate is mounted on the carriage to support the seat. A second track, allowing a wider seat, can be mounted on the base plate spaced apart from the first track. A detent locks the seat in the selected position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Robert M Kohen
  • Patent number: 8172192
    Abstract: A longitudinal displacement device is provided that has an upper rail that is displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and a stationary lower rail. A linear guide that has a bearing element for longitudinal guidance and support of the upper rail is located in the longitudinal direction between the upper rail and the lower rail. Provided on the upper rail is a carrier that engages in a recess bounded by two stops and located in the center region of the bearing cage as viewed in the longitudinal direction, in order to carry the bearing cage along. A recess bounded by two stops is located in the center region of the bearing element. Provided on the upper rail is a carrier that engages in the recess. During a displacement of the upper rail, the bearing element is carried along by the carrier, so that the upper rail is always supported on the lower rail over its entire length. The motor vehicle seat can thus be displaced in a smooth-running manner with the application of a small force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen Hofmann, Marco Gleissberg
  • Patent number: 8146878
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus of the type wherein rotating an operating lever causes a lock lever to allow an upper rail to slide along a lower rail, the operating member is supported by a supporting bracket fixed to the upper rail to rotate about a fulcrum which is in the form of a plate of the bracket. The operating lever is provided with a slit into which a spring is fitted for being urged. The bracket also holds the spring. To avoid an engagement between the plate and the slit when the operating lever passes during an assembly of the apparatus, the plate is configured to incline relative to the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Genta Moriyama, Mikihito Nagura, Taku Harada
  • Publication number: 20120074288
    Abstract: A slide apparatus for a vehicle includes first and second rails and a rolling element circulation unit including first and second cases and a plurality of rolling elements accommodated within a receiving portion that includes first and second annular receiving portions accommodating the rolling elements annularly arranged in a rolling and circulating manner. The second case includes elongated bores connected to the first and second annular receiving portions in a state where the second case is mounted at the second rail. A portion of the rolling elements is exposed from the elongated bores while being inhibited from disengaging from the elongated bores. The rolling elements exposed from the elongated bores make contact with an operating surface of the first rail and inner surfaces of the first and second annular receiving portions, and roll and circulate in association with a relative movement between the first and second rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi YAMADA, Shinya Isobe
  • Publication number: 20120074289
    Abstract: A seat track mechanism for a vehicle, includes a lower rail mounted to a vehicle floor; an upper rail supported by the lower rail and slidable relative to the lower rail; and spherical rotators held between the lower and upper rails, the spherical rotators rolling via a sliding movement of the upper rail. One of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one horizontal flat portion parallel to a widthwise direction of the seat track mechanism and parallel to a direction of the sliding movement of the upper rail, and the other of the upper rail and the lower rail includes at least one rotator supporting recess having a circularly arcuate shape in cross section which is uniform in a lengthwise direction of the seat track mechanism, the spherical rotators being held between the rotator supporting recess and the horizontal flat portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Akihiro KIMURA, Hidehiko Fujioka, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Kanji Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120061548
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes: a lower rail that is fixed on a vehicle floor; and an upper rail that is fixed to a seat and is movably supported on the lower rail in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, wherein the lower rail has a lower rail hook part, wherein the upper rail has an upper rail hook part, wherein the upper rail hook part is to be engaged with the lower rail hook part in the upper and width directions, wherein the lower rail has a curvature part that is downwards convex as viewed from the width direction of the vehicle, and wherein the lower end of the lower rail hook part at the curvature part has a notch part, in which the downward extending amount is reduced compared to the other part of the lower rail hook part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Genta MORIYAMA, Tsutomu OYA, Toshio ARAKI
  • Publication number: 20120061547
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes: a lower rail that is fixed on a vehicle floor and extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and an upper rail that is fixed to a seat and is movably supported on the lower rail in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, wherein the lower rail has a lower rail hook part extending in a width direction of the vehicle, wherein the upper rail has: a pair of rolling members arranged in the front-rear direction of the upper rail; and a shoe, which has a sliding contact part that slidingly contacts a lower surface of the lower rail hook part, wherein the lower rail has a curvature part that is convex downwards as viewed from the width direction, and wherein the shoe is arranged at an outer side of the pair of rolling members in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Genta MORIYAMA, Tsutomu Oya
  • Patent number: 8128051
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle includes lower rails, upper rails, screw mechanisms provided between the upper rails and the lower rails, the screw mechanism including a screw shaft and a nut which is engaged with the screw shaft, one of the screw shaft and the nut being mounted to the upper rail so as to rotate, the other of the screw shaft and the nut being fixedly mounted to the lower rail, and a slide driving mechanism including a driving motor, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a rotational force outputted from the driving motor to one of the screw shaft and the nut so as to rotate, a bracket having the driving motor and the transmission mechanism mounted thereon and connecting the upper rails, and a protection cover attached to the bracket for covering at least lower and bottom sides of the driving motor and the transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Koga, Jueru Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20120032060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat track having a retainer arranged in a space extending in the fore-and-aft direction and the vertical direction between a lower rail and an upper rail and a lower ball and an upper ball rotatably supported on an upper portion and a lower portion of the retainer and configured to come into contact with both the lower rail and the upper rail, and is intended to provide a seat track in which vibrations in the vertical direction generated in the upper rail are reduced. There are provided a plurality of the lower balls and a plurality of the upper balls which are supported by the retainer, and a center-to-center distance between the plurality of lower balls lying next to each other is set to be different from a center-to-center distance between the plurality of upper balls lying next to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Hiromitsu SUZUKI, Yoichi TAKADA
  • Patent number: 8091851
    Abstract: A vehicle slide device is provided, which can adjustably move the second rail along the first rail without play therebetween in a front-rearward direction with a long adjustment stroke. In the vehicle slide device according to the invention, since a plurality of rolling elements annularly arranged in the attaching portion formed at the second rail are always in contact with the operating surface of the attaching portion and the operating surface of the first rail when the second rail moves relative to the first rail in a front-rearward directions, the play of the second rail relative to the first rail in up-down and right-left directions can be eliminated. Further, since the plurality of rolling elements roll and circulate at the attaching portion, the second rail can smoothly move in a front-rearward direction along the first rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto, Shinya Isobe, Hiroyuki Okazaki