Including Actuator Patents (Class 296/65.15)
  • Patent number: 11607974
    Abstract: A novel power slide with a motor directly connected to a lead screw includes a left slide and a right slide each including a top rail, a bottom rail, a power motor, a lead screw, a threaded assembly and a retainer ring. A first slot and a second slot are formed in two ends of the top rail, respectively. The power motor is fixed to a lower surface of the top rail through a motor bracket. The lead screw has an end connected to the power motor and another end rotatably fixed to the lower surface of the top rail. A bottom portion of the threaded assembly is fixedly connected to an upper surface of the bottom rail, and the lead screw horizontally penetrates through the threaded assembly and is in threaded fit with the threaded assembly. The retainer ring is located in the first slot, and a gap is formed between the retainer ring and the first slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: KEIPER SEATING MECHANISMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chuan Wang, Hongbin Ni, Zhenyi Tang, Hongyu Wang, Xiaoming Zhang
  • Patent number: 11305676
    Abstract: It is provided an adjusting device for a seat element of a vehicle seat supporting a body part of a seat user, with at least one driving device comprising a spindle drive and at least one adjustable support element for changing the contour or position of the seat element, wherein the spindle drive comprises a spindle extending along a spindle axis, which is floatingly mounted at a spindle end via a spindle holder such that at this spindle end the spindle is displaceable along at least one spatial direction extending transversely to the spindle axis. The spindle holder comprises a first and a second compensating element for a displaceability of the spindle end with respect to two first and second spatial directions extending approximately perpendicularly to each other and each perpendicularly to the spindle axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, COBURG
    Inventors: Sebastian Eichhorn, Florian Schmieder, Wera Wolniczak
  • Patent number: 10940819
    Abstract: A method for detecting the displacement position of a vehicle seat is described. When the vehicle seat is being displaced, a magnetic field-sensitive sensor device monitors a change of one magnetic field component and depending on the output signal which has been generated by the sensor device, a conclusion is drawn about the adjustment position of the vehicle seat. The magnetic field-sensitive sensor device is displaced relative to a measuring section using the magnetic field-sensitive device. An absolute value of the magnetic field strength of a magnetic field whose magnetic field strength changes essentially continuously along a longitudinal extension of the measuring section is detected and converted into an absolute displacement position of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: POLYCONTACT AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zaugg, Joshua Lanter
  • Patent number: 10730466
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat (100) comprising: a seat cushion (101); a seat back (102) capable of being folded toward the seat cushion (101); a slide rail (110) movable in the front-back direction with the seat cushion (101) mounted thereon; a stationary rail (120) for guiding the slide rail (110); and a drive motor (160) for driving the slide rail (110) in the front-back direction along the stationary rail (120). The vehicle seat (100) is configured such that an integral sensor bracket (130) on which a magnetism sensor (141) and a limit switch (151) are mounted is affixed to the slide rail (120), and a magnetic body (142) which is detected by the magnetism sensor (141) and a detection plate (153) which activates the limit switch (151) are mounted to the stationary rail (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TACHI-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Watanabe, Takayuki Ohmori
  • Patent number: 9067513
    Abstract: A seat slide position detection device for a vehicle includes: a fixed rail attached to a vehicle floor; a movable rail supported to the fixed rail slidably in a longitudinal direction of the fixed rail; a detected portion disposed in a predetermined area of the fixed rail extending in the longitudinal direction; and a position sensor attached to the movable rail and having a sensor detector in a position of the position sensor opposed to the detected portion. The position sensor includes a protrusion attached to the movable rail with an extremity portion of the protrusion in contact with the movable rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiko Ozawa, Timothy J. Wieber, Paul J. Jefferies, Harutomi Nishide
  • Patent number: 9016797
    Abstract: A seat device for use in a vehicle that can move through an opening of a vehicle between a loading and unloading position positioned outside the vehicle, where a passenger can load and unload as well as be seated, and a seating position positioned in the cabin of the vehicle, where the passenger can maintain a seated disposition. A securing member of the seat device can secure a wheelchair in a folded state to a side surface or a back surface of the seat. The wheelchair together with the seat can move from the loading and unloading position to inside the cabin of the vehicle, with the passenger in a seated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Iida, Masami Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8870147
    Abstract: A track assembly is provided and may include a track, at least one slide mechanism, and a lock mechanism. The at least one slide mechanism may be slidably attached to the track. The lock mechanism may be associated with the at least one slide mechanism and may operate between a locked state restricting movement of the at least one slide mechanism relative to the track and an unlocked state permitting movement of the at least one slide mechanism relative to the track. The lock mechanism may include a plurality of lock plates independently movable relative to one another between a first position engaging the track and a second position disengaged from the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew J. Simms, David L. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8820694
    Abstract: A lower rail or an upper rail has a first wall provided at a position on a first one of opposite sides in a widthwise direction thereof, and a second wall provided at a position on the other, second, side in the widthwise direction and disposed opposed to the first wall. At least one of the first wall and the second wall has an opening. At least one of an outer portion of the holding member in the widthwise direction and an outer portion of the nut member in the widthwise direction is inserted in the opening and disposed opposed to an inner side-surface of the opening facing in a frontward-rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tarusawa, Kiyonori Umezaki
  • Publication number: 20140197658
    Abstract: An actuating drive for a rail guide of a longitudinal adjustment of a motor vehicle seat has a rotational drive, which has an output shaft (70), and a transmission, which has a spindle nut (54), which is rotationally connected to the output shaft (70) and which has a spindle (52). The spindle (52) has a spindle thread, with which the spindle nut (54) is engaged. The spindle (52) is curved in a circular radius of curvature (42). The radius of curvature (42) is between 1,500 and 3,000 mm. The spindle nut (54) is a straight nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Burckhard Becker
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8496220
    Abstract: The system comprising a base (2) having attachment means (3) which are movable between a retracted position for fitting/dismantling the seat and an active position for attachment of the seat, by an operating lever (4) which is movable between a retracted fitting/dismantling position and an active position for blocking of the attachment means and which has means (6) for articulation with the base (2) and disengageable means (8) for locking the lever in the active position, is characterized in that the locking means comprise means in the form of a catch (9) which are carried by the lever or the base and are suitable for cooperation, in the active position, with holding means (10) of the base or of the lever in order to lock the lever (4) in the active position, the means in the form of a catch (9) being resiliently deformable in order to allow them to pass over the holding means (10) and engage in the locking position and to be freed therefrom under the action of rotary operating means (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: ATTAX
    Inventor: Xavier Marechal
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8469432
    Abstract: A sliding rail for a vehicle seat, comprising a fixed section and a mobile section assembled to slide on the fixed section and controlled by a screw-nut system comprising a longitudinal adjusting screw. The adjusting screw is integral with a support which comprises a base pressing against the bottom of the fixed section. The base and the bottom of the fixed section are traversed by an attaching screw screwed into the floor of the vehicle. The base of the support is held against the bottom of the fixed section by a retaining tab which passes above the base and which is integral with the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventor: Christian Couasnon
  • Patent number: 8408511
    Abstract: An actuation lever according is provided for a longitudinal adjustment device of a car seat, and includes, but is not limited to a gripping section, which a person uses to grab the actuation lever, and at least one attachment section for mechanically coupling the lever with a locking unit of the longitudinal adjustment device. The actuation lever is at least section ally, but preferably completely, made out of an injection molded plastic part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Valerii Semenchenko
  • Patent number: 8348326
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes: a plurality of lower rails adapted to be fixed at a floor of the vehicle in an inclining manner relative to the floor of the vehicle; a plurality of upper rails adapted to be slidably supported by the lower rails, respectively, and to support a seat for the vehicle; a motor generating a driving force for moving the upper rails in a manner where the upper rails slide relative to the corresponding lower rails; a transmitting mechanism transmitting the driving force of the motor to the upper rails; and at least one slide-resistance applying portion provided in the transmitting mechanism and applying an increased slide resistance to the transmitting mechanism when the upper rails move to slide downwardly on the inclination while applying a decreased slide resistance to the transmitting mechanism when the upper rails move to slide upwardly on the inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Koga
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8256822
    Abstract: A driving force transmitting device having a direction changing gear mechanism which transmits a rotation torque from a drive shaft to a driven shaft having an axis extending in a direction different from a direction of an axis of the drive shaft. The direction changing gear mechanism includes an output, an input gear attached to the drive shaft for restricting a relative rotation and engaged with the output gear, a gear housing rotatably supporting the output gear and the input gear under engagement condition, wherein one of the output gear and the input gear is provided with a rotation phase adjusting portion exposed outside for adjusting a rotation phase of the output gear relative to a rotation phase of the second engagement portion of the driven shaft upon the output gear being assembled to the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Koga, Hirokazu Suzumura, Jueru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8210593
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for a component (6) and a drive element (11, 12) for the component. The drive element has a housing (9). The component is produced by a primary forming process, such as die-casting, thixomolding or plastic injection molding so that a region of the component defines the housing of the drive element. The component and the housing are distinguished by a low weight and a small structural space requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8145388
    Abstract: An automatic driving position adjustment system and its method are disclosed in which a manual adjustment to a first adjustable component results in the automatic adjustment of a second adjustable component. When the position or angle of a seat or other first adjustable component is adjusted by the driver, a detector measures the relative change in position or angle of the first adjustable component. A controller computes the required change in position or angle of the second adjustable component by multiplying a prescribed coefficient by the relative change in position or angle of the first adjustable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiichi Kusunoki
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8061755
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular electric wheelchair, having a chassis and a driver's seat which is fastened thereto and can be set in its inclination with respect to the chassis. The vehicle includes an inclination sensor which determines the angular position (?) of the seat surface of the driver's seat with respect to the horizontal (H), an adjusting device which is connected to the chassis and to the driver's seat, and a control and regulating device which is operatively connected to the inclination sensor and the adjusting device and via which the driver's seat can be pivoted by the adjusting device in such a manner that its seat surface is always situated essentially parallel to the horizontal (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Brendel, Andreas Biederstaedt
  • Patent number: 8033589
    Abstract: A vehicle seat of the present invention has an engaged member, an engagement member and a guide portion. The engagement member is provided on the seat body so as to be movable between a restraint position and a restraint release position. The engagement member is capable of moving to the restraint position, so as to be advanced to a position in which the engagement member faces the engaged member, and is capable of moving to the restraint release position, so as to be retracted to a position in which the engagement member does not face the engaged member. The guide portion is capable of moving the engagement member to the restraint position when the seat body moves to the retracted position, and is capable of moving the engagement member to the restraint release position when the seat body is advanced from the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Kusanagi, Yoshiyuki Miura
  • Patent number: 8006949
    Abstract: A seat slide device includes a handle rotatably supported in holding holes provided respectively at a pair of upper rails to rotate a radial projection portion for releasing a lock mechanism, and a bearing member having an outer edge portion disposed between the upper rail and the radial projection portion formed at the handle, a holding portion disposed between the upper rail and the outer periphery of the handle, and a cushioning portion allowing the handle to move in an axial direction. The bearing member is disposed to fit into the holding hole for supporting the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Masatoshi Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20110169294
    Abstract: An adjustable memory track assembly for a vehicle seat has a lower rail adapted to be secured relative to a vehicle frame, and an upper rail adapted to support the seat for fore/aft sliding movement relative to the lower rail. The adjustable memory track assembly also has a track lock assembly operable via a first actuator between a locked, engaged state wherein relative movement between the lower and upper rails is resisted, and an unlocked, disengaged state wherein the seat can be slid to and then locked in a user-selected position. A memory module is operable via a second actuator to record the user-selected position. The second actuator is also operatively connected to disengage the track lock assembly to allow forward movement of the seat from the user-selected location to a forward location, and thereafter allow rearward movement of the seat back to, but not past, the user-selected location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jorn Sandmann, Sandra Frese, Andre Schebaum, Hans-Peter Mischer, Michael Wojatzki, Klaus Walter, Marc Laumeier
  • Publication number: 20110031774
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes: a plurality of lower rails adapted to be fixed at a floor of the vehicle in an inclining manner relative to the floor of the vehicle; a plurality of upper rails adapted to be slidably supported by the lower rails, respectively, and to support a seat for the vehicle; a motor generating a driving force for moving the upper rails in a manner where the upper rails slide relative to the corresponding lower rails; a transmitting mechanism transmitting the driving force of the motor to the upper rails; and at least one slide-resistance applying portion provided in the transmitting mechanism and applying an increased slide resistance to the transmitting mechanism when the upper rails move to slide downwardly on the inclination while applying a decreased slide resistance to the transmitting mechanism when the upper rails move to slide upwardly on the inclination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka KOGA
  • Publication number: 20100308618
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), especially a motor vehicle seat, has at least one lockable pair of seat rails (3) for adjusting various longitudinal positions of the seat, which the vehicle seat (1) can assume in the use position suitable for the transport of passengers. A rail actuation device (12) is provided for unlocking the pair of seat rails (3). At least one lock (5) is provided for locking with the vehicle structure, whereby after unlocking the lock (5), the vehicle seat (1) can be converted from the use position into a nonuse position. A lock actuation device (14) is provided for unlocking the lock (5). A stop (16) is provided which is operative between the pair of seat rails (3) and/or rail actuation (12), on the one hand, and the lock actuation (14) and/or lock (5), on the other hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Walter HOLZHUETER
  • Patent number: 7789368
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle capable of preventing generation of noise includes lower rails, upper rails, lock mechanisms, release levers, and stoppers. Each lock mechanism includes a plurality of lock holes provided on the lower rail and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail and a lock lever provided on the upper rail to be pivotable about a pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail for engagement with and disengagement from the lock holes. Further, each release lever pivots the lock lever to release the engagement of the lock holes with the lock lever, and each stopper restricts the position at which the release lever remains separated from the lock lever. At least contact portions of the release lever with the lock lever and the stopper are provided with a coating layer made of a resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Yasuhiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 7735798
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor, an upper rail fixed to a vehicle seat and supported by the lower rail so as to be movable relative thereto, and a lock mechanism including multiple lock portions provided on the lower rail along a longitudinal direction thereof, a spindle provided on the upper rail and having a rotation axis that extends in a longitudinal direction of the upper rail, and a lock member rotating about the rotation axis and engageable with or disengageable from the lock portions. The spindle is supported by a recess portion formed in a surface of the upper rail in an inwardly extending manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kojima
  • Publication number: 20100065708
    Abstract: A power seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a screw member, a feed nut member fixed to the lower rail and meshed with the screw member, a retention member fixed to the upper rail, a fitting member rotatably held by the retention member and fixed to the screw member, a gear box mounted on the retention member and rotatably supporting an output rotation member, a drive unit transmitting a rotation drive force to the screw member, and first and second cut-and-lifted portions formed at first and second longitudinal walls of the upper rail respectively, the cut-and-lifted portions making contact with the fitting member when a load is applied to the screw member in an axial direction thereof to distribute the load to the upper rail, the cut-and lifted portions being formed by bending portions of the first and second longitudinal walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka KOGA
  • Publication number: 20100051776
    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: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Koga, Jueru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7669824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive for adjusting motor vehicle seats comprising a spindle (5) fixed to a first (4) of two rails (3, 4) which are adjustable with respect to each other with the aid of holding devices (60) arranged on the end of the spindle (5). A transmission (9) actuated by a motor (2) is placed on the second rail (3), According to id invention, the holding devices (60) comprise an external bowl-shaped supporting surface (66) in which each end of the spindle (5) is fixedly mounted, respectively. Said solution is more advantageous in comparison with conventional holding devices which are embodied in the form of flexible stamped parts, in particular the inventive holding devices exhibit a high resistance in the case of crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignees: IMS Gear GmbH, Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Woehrle, Hans Dropmann, Andreas Gapp, Urban Knoepfle, Stefan Wetzig
  • Patent number: 7658429
    Abstract: A vehicle seat slide device includes lower rails, upper rails, screw shafts, nut members, an electric motor and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is composed of a drive reduction gear mechanism coupled directly to an output shaft of the electric motor, a pair of left and right direction conversion gear mechanisms coupled directly to the screw shafts, and a transmission shaft arranged to pass through an output gear of the drive reduction gear mechanism to be rotatably bodily with the output gear and coupled at opposite ends thereof to respective input gears of the direction conversion gear mechanisms. A lean force bracket is further provided to be secured at opposite ends thereof to the upper rails and supports the drive reduction gear mechanism and both of the direction conversion gear mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Koga, Hirokazu Suzumura, Jueru Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20100019525
    Abstract: A walk-in memory apparatus for an automobile seat locks the seat on a body only after the seat moves past a preset reference point when the seat, moved forwards with a seat back folded up by a seat walk-in apparatus, moves backwards with the seat back unfolded. The walk-in memory apparatus causes the entire seat to move forwards along tracks in an unlocked state when the seat back is folded up. The seat includes a track memory unit which, when the seat moves backwards with the seat back unfolded, causes the seat to be unlocked from the track when the stopper bracket is located ahead of a reference stopper and to be locked on the track when the stopper bracket is located behind the reference stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DAEWON PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jang Jae Yong, Yoo Jong Moon, Lee Byung Jae, Seo Sang Man, Kim Eun Sue
  • Publication number: 20090272869
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat has a left pair of rails (20), a right pair of rails (22) and an electric motor (24). An adjustment gear (32) is associated with each pair of rails (20, 22). The electric motor (24) has an output shaft (36) connected to the two adjustment gears (32). A motor retaining plate (42) is connected to a seat rail (26) of the left pair of rails (20) and to a seat rail (26) of the right pair of rails (22), receives the electric motor (24) and has a longitudinal direction. The motor retaining plate (42) forms a guide for the output shaft (36) of the electric motor (24), extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor retaining plate (42) and is connected to the adjustment gear (32) of the left pair of rails (20) on one side of the electric motor (24) and to the adjustment gear (32) of the right pair of rails (22) on the other side of the electric motor (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: C. ROB HAMMERSTEIN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wilfried BENEKER, Robert LANDSKRON, Stefan LINGNAU
  • Publication number: 20090243327
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes a screw shaft, a feeding nut, a supporting member, a driving unit, an intermediate member supported by the screw shaft and arranged to be rotatable relative to the supporting member, and an elastic biasing mechanism. The intermediate member includes a radial sliding contact surface slidably contacting a radial bearing surface of the supporting member, first and second thrust sliding contact surfaces contacting first and second thrust bearing surfaces formed at the supporting member, respectively. The elastic biasing mechanism elastically biases the first and second thrust sliding contact surfaces of the intermediate member to contact the first and second thrust bearing surfaces, respectively, and further elastically biases the intermediate member to a thrust receiving member provided at the screw shaft for assembling the intermediate member and the thrust receiving member onto the screw shaft without a clearance between the intermediate member and the thrust receiving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Koga, Jueru Shimizu, Hirokazu Suzumura
  • Publication number: 20090243326
    Abstract: An electrically operated seat slide apparatus includes a lower rail fixed to a floor of a vehicle body, and an upper rail slidably disposed to the lower rail. A seat is connected to the upper rail. A screw shaft is disposed inside the upper rail. A nut is threadedly connected to the screw shaft and connected to the lower rail. A motor is disposed to side of the upper rail. A gear box is fixed to the upper rail to transmit a rotation of the motor to the screw shaft. Additionally, first and second plates are provided for allowing an impact load applied to the upper rail to be directly transmitted to the screw shaft so as to prevent the impact load from being transmitted through the gear box to the screw shaft, and for setting a moving range of the nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kimata, Takaya Kanazawa
  • Publication number: 20090085367
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to integrally form lever operated cables with vehicle seats are described. An example apparatus includes a channel integrally formed in a portion of a vehicle seat and a seat position control integrally coupled to the vehicle seat. A cable assembly slidably movable within the channel and has a first end operatively coupled to a seat position adjustment mechanism and a second end operatively coupled to the seat position control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Kevin Downey
  • Patent number: 7506856
    Abstract: In a seat slide device applicable to an automotive vehicle, a lock mechanism includes: a lock arm disposed on an upper rail to be pivotable around a pivotal center axis; lock pawls formed on the lock arm along the elongate direction of the upper rail; lock holes formed on a lower rail and the upper rail, the lock pawls being inserted through the lock holes to lock the upper rail with respect to the lower rail; a pair of slits formed at predetermined front-and-rear positions of a side surface of the upper rail; and a bearing bracket, the bearing bracket and the lock arm being disposed within an enclosed space between the upper rail and the lower rail and including a pair of bearing portions and both ends of the lock arm and the pair of bearing portions being disposed within inner spaces defined by the pair of slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Ikegaya, Takuji Soga
  • Patent number: 7484787
    Abstract: The invention relates to a longitudinal scat adjustment device having an upper rail and a lower rail. The upper rail sits in the lower rail. Between the two rails a spindle is fixedly connected to the lower rail. Drivable on the spindle is a transmission, which can be retained in a specific manner by slotted bridges in the case of a crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram-Heinrich Hofschulte, Michael Wöhrle, Frank Probst, Fred Krimmel
  • Patent number: 7472939
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for transmitting a rotational movement comprising a flexible shaft and a sheath inside which the flexible shaft is housed, said sheath being arranged in order to allow the rotation of said shaft inside said sheath. The outer surface of the flexible shaft is machined so as to have a substantially smooth surface finish. The invention also concerns an adjustment system for a motor vehicle seat comprising such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Inderflex-Technoflex
    Inventor: Denis Tores
  • Publication number: 20080284197
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat cushion may include a pair of slide devices disposed on a vehicle floor, a pair of lock devices respectively provided to the slide devices, and an operation mechanism of the lock devices. The slide devices are arranged and constructed to slide the vehicle seat on the vehicle floor. The lock devices are capable of releasably locking the vehicle seat at a desired position on the vehicle floor. The operation mechanism includes a synchronization member having an operation member. The synchronization member is disposed above the slide devices and is linked to the lock devices via a linking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomokazu FUKUDA, Masahiro FUJIEDA, Yasuhiro KOJIMA
  • Patent number: 7422186
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and a power seat adjuster assembly for a vehicle seat. The power seat adjuster assembly includes a track assembly having a lead screw and a lead screw constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Kropfreiter, Thomas Rorabacher, John R. Sims, Ryan Kadlec, Vien Le
  • Patent number: 7422264
    Abstract: The invention discloses a vehicle seat adjusting apparatus including a seat base, a mechanically operated first transmission device, a first supporting plate, a mechanically operated second transmission device, and a second supporting plate. When the first transmission device is operated to be stationary, the second transmission device is capable of being operated to rotate a rotation shaft thereof to rotate the second supporting plate with respect to the first supporting plate. The second transmission device also actuates a first gear thereof to meshably rotate on a stationary first rack member of the first transmission device, such that the second supporting plate, together with the first supporting plate, moves with respect to the seat base along a direction defined by the first rack member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Pro-Glory Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Yung Lung, Yun-Chin Su
  • Patent number: 7404584
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat apparatus for a vehicle, which has the functions of supporting a seat main body being placed on a floor and behind pedals in the vehicle in such a way that the seat main body is movable forward, backward, upward and downward and that the seat main body is made higher in height as it moves forward, and adjusting a position of the seat main body forward, backward, upward and downward in a predetermined adjusting orbit, so that the position fits different builds of drivers. Furthermore, the adjusting orbit is determined based on hip points of the drivers, and the hip points are set on the condition that a viewpoint and heels of the drivers are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Maruyama, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7367605
    Abstract: A flexible shaft designed to rotate inside a sheath for transmitting rotary motion can include at least one core wire and winding wired wound around the core wire. The core wire has an elasticity and resilience that are lower than the elasticity and resilience of the winding wires. According to some examples, the core wire can be formed of annealed copper or annealed brass. The winding wires can be formed of steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Inderflex-Technoflex
    Inventor: Denis Tores
  • Patent number: 7350844
    Abstract: A walk-in mechanism is provided to a seat, which includes an extension coil spring. One end of the extension coil spring is engaged with a first support element fixed to a floor, while another end thereof is engaged with a second support element fixed to the seat. The walk-in mechanism further includes a connecting element for operatively connecting such another end of extension coil spring with a seat back of the seat. Forward and backward movement of the seat causes movement of both of the second support element and another end of extension coil in forward and backward directions. Also, with forward inclination of the seat back, such another end of extension coil spring is moved backwardly via the connecting element. Hence, a tensile force of the extension coil spring is increased and decreased to allow a user to easily move the seat to either of walk-in position and normal use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7325851
    Abstract: A power seat slide apparatus includes: a housing fixedly mounted on the first rail and possessing a reverse U-shaped cross section projecting upwardly with an upper wall, which forms an upper surface of the reverse U-shaped cross section, and first and second sidewalls, which forms side surfaces of the reverse U-shaped cross section. The housing further includes a notch defined by a first notch end surface of the upper wall and a second notch end surface of the first and second sidewalls. A nut member is fitted into the notch of the housing, supported inside the housing, and is held tight in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by the first notch end surface and the second notch end surface. A screw shaft is freely rotatably supported by the second rail and is engaged with the nut member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sadao Ito, Makoto Sakai, Eiichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7316441
    Abstract: It is one object of this invention to provide a technique that is effective in diminishing the range of fluctuation of a load applied to a drive source when a seat main body in a vehicle seat moving apparatus is moved between a raised position and a lowered position. For this purpose, this invention provides a vehicle seat moving apparatus constructed as follows. Provided on a rotation base 31, for rotating a seat main body 10 between a position where it faces the front side of the vehicle and a position where it faces a door opening, is a widthwise slide base 41 that moves horizontally in the vehicle width direction while the seat main body 10 faces the door opening. The seat main body 10 is supported by the slide base 41 via four-bar linkage mechanisms 44. Guide rollers 46 are attached to upper link arms 44a of the four-bar linkage mechanisms 44. The guide rollers 46 are placed on cam surfaces of cam plates 47 provided to the rotation base 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamitsu Iwatani, Takafuki Hijikata, Chikanori Fujita, Yasuo Suga, Yoshiyuki Miura, Kenji Horiguchi, Kenji Murabayashi, Susumu Yamada
  • Patent number: 7303223
    Abstract: A power seat slide device for a vehicle includes a first rail fixed on a vehicle floor, a second rail fixed at a vehicle seat, a first rolling body, a second rolling body, a screw shaft having a shaft center, a gear box including a gear housing and a supporting bracket and a plate, the supporting bracket including a main unit portion and extending portions, the main unit portion engaging with a top end surface of each of the second side wall portions and a top end surface of the cover portion and each of extending portions extends outward in a width direction thereof from the main unit portion and engaging with a top end surface of the base end portion of each of the second folded wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nakamura, Toshihiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7182385
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat, and a seat track mounting adapted to slidingly mount the seat to a vehicle floor. The seat track mounting comprising an elongate slidingly engaged seat track member including a pair of spaced apart side flanges which define a channel section. The vehicle seat assembly further comprising a hydraulic actuator arranged in use to extend and retract as the seat is slidingly moved on the seat track mounting. This hydraulic actuator is located longitudinally within seat track member within the channel section and between the pair of side flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh H. Christopher