Alternating Roller; Or Antifriction Bearing For Auto Seat Patents (Class 384/47)
  • Patent number: 11674744
    Abstract: A divider assembly to be mounted in a storage container for dividing the storage container during use, includes a guiding rail having a first surface and a second surface facing each other and extending in a sliding direction, a slider slidably movable in the guiding rail, and a divider attached to the slider and movable with the slider in the storage container for dividing the storage container into sections. The slider includes at least two slider arms extending in opposite directions. Each slider arm has at least one ball-shaped roller. The ball-shaped rollers roll on at least one of the first surface or second surface of the guiding rail when the divider assembly moves in the sliding direction. A cooling device including the divider assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Nagihan Kiziltepe, Mert Oezer, Mustafa Emin Yildirim
  • Patent number: 11613188
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle includes a seat cushion and an adjustment and suspension device having a base fixed to the frame and a supporting plate fixed to the seat cushion movable in translation relative to the base in a direction of elevation. The seat also has a restraint system that includes: at least one restraint member fixed to the frame, the restraint member defining at least one through opening extending along a main direction of elongation substantially parallel to the direction of elevation; and at least one restraint element fixed to the supporting plate, the through opening of the restraint member receiving the restraint element free in translation along the main direction of elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Siéges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Mustapha Younes, Sébastien Seille
  • Patent number: 11235684
    Abstract: A seat track assembly including a first rail and a second rail spaced apart by a distance and extending parallel with respect to one another, wherein at least one of the first and second rails having a first receiver, a second receiver, the first and second receivers longitudinally translatable with respect to each other, and a sliding member disposed therebetween, wherein the sliding member defines an aperture extending at least partially therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS PAMPUS GMBH
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hagan, Jens Speicher, Lukas Plioska, Alexander Jindra, Abe Sanchez, Chloe Echikson
  • Patent number: 11097638
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing the sliding performance of an adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat are disclosed. The adjusting device comprises a first rail and a second rail movably guided relative to the first rail. Friction-reducing members are disposed between the two rails in a bearing area. The geometry and dimensions of the friction-reducing members are precisely adjusted in accordance with the geometry and dimensions of the two rails in the bearing areas, which are measured separately. The friction-reducing members may be produced using additive manufacturing technology, with a geometry and dimensions precisely in accordance with the geometry and dimensions of the two rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. KG (Coburg)
    Inventor: Anil Bhat
  • Patent number: 10960786
    Abstract: A seat moving structure for a utility vehicle includes a seat and a seat rail for guiding movement of the seat in a longitudinal direction of the seat. The seat has a seat rail contact portion which is in contact with the seat rail. The seat rail has a rail support surface portion which supports the seat rail contact portion from below. The seat rail contact portion is made of a resin. The seat is movably supported in a line contact state or in a point contact state in the longitudinal direction of the seat on the rail support surface portion by the seat rail contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 10518666
    Abstract: A seat track assembly including a first rail and a second rail spaced apart by a distance and extending parallel with respect to one another, wherein at least one of the first and second rails having a first receiver, a second receiver, the first and second receivers longitudinally translatable with respect to each other, and a sliding member disposed therebetween, wherein the sliding member defines an aperture extending at least partially therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS PAMPUS GMBH
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hagan, Jens Speicher, Lukas Plioska, Alexander Jindra, Abe Sanchez, Chloe Echikson
  • Patent number: 10399464
    Abstract: A cover (11), for a rail pair (3) of a longitudinally adjustable vehicle seat (1), includes at least one bottom rail (5) affixed to the vehicle and one top rail (7) which top rail (7) is longitudinally movable relative to the bottom rail (5). The cover (11) has a cover element (11.1) arranged and placed on at least one end (7.1, 7.2) of the rail pair (3) and an integrated stiffening element (11.2), designed to stiffen at least one of the two rails (5, 7), which protrudes into an interior chamber of the rail pair (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.à. r. l.
    Inventors: Ingo Quast, Erik Sprenger
  • Patent number: 9956596
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a sliding rail of a longitudinal adjustment device for a vehicle seat, in which the longitudinal adjustment device has at least one pair of rails having two sliding rails and having sliding and/or rolling elements, the two sliding rails can be moved in the longitudinal direction against one another, the sliding and/or rolling elements are disposed between the sliding rails, and the sliding rails have contact tracks by which the sliding and/or rolling elements are in contact. A sliding rail is produced and then painted. Subsequently, at least one contact track is irradiated with a laser. In this way the layer of paint located on the contact track is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Peter Fuchs, Thomas Gittermann, Harald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9889780
    Abstract: A vehicle seat that can suitably protect a seated occupant against an impact from a seat width direction is described, while enlargement of the seat in the seat width direction is restrained. A support member provided to the vehicle seat supports the seated occupant from a side of the seated occupant, and includes an inner plate attached to a seat width direction inner side of a side frame, an outer plate attached to a seat width direction outer side of the side frame, and a connection plate for connecting the inner plate and the outer plate on a seat front side. The outer plate is attached to the seat width direction outer side of the side frame at a position that does not overlap in the seat width direction with attachment positions of the inner plate and the side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Akimitsu Kurihara
  • Patent number: 9327615
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a first rail, which includes a first horizontal wall, a first vertical wall, and a first flange, and a second rail, which includes a second vertical wall and a second flange. A joining was connects the second vertical wall with the second flange. The coupling portion between the first horizontal and vertical walls includes a first ball guide. The basal end portion of the second flange includes a second ball guide. A first ball is arranged between the first and second ball guides. A restricting member that projects on the first horizontal wall functions to reduce a vertical space between the joining wall and the first horizontal wall and is contactable to the joining wall when the second vertical wall is deformed due to a load that is applied to produce pushing force between the first ball and the second rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9238428
    Abstract: There is provided a back frame of a vehicle seat, which includes a frame body formed by extrusion molding and including a press-fitting portion into which a part attachment bracket is press-fitted for attaching a part to the frame body. The press-fitting portion of the frame body and an abutment surface of the bracket are formed with an engagement portion where one of the frame body and the bracket is brought into engagement with the other in a direction in which the part attachment bracket is press-fitted into the press-fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Yamada, Fumitoshi Akaike
  • Patent number: 9150124
    Abstract: An actuating unit of a motor vehicle seat comprises an actuating element, a base part, a pivot axis, and a spring. The pivot axis is disposed between the base part and the actuating element and enables a pivoting movement of the actuating element relative to the base part. The spring is disposed between the actuating element and the base part and elastically biases the actuating element into a rest position relative to the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: C. ROB. HAMMERSTEIN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Daniel Urban, Antal Teer
  • Patent number: 8573847
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit is provided, which is capable of preventing the variation in the position of a roller cage assembly caused by sliding motions of the roller cage assembly between a first guide rail and a second guide rail, without reducing the number of rollers. The linear motion guide unit includes first and second guide rails having track portions formed concavedly to have a V-shaped section on the faces opposing each other; and a roller cage assembly disposed between the first and second guide rails and having a plurality of rollers located between the first and second guide rails and ring-shaped pinions adapted to surround the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Won ST Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taek Won Lee
  • Patent number: 8360644
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit in which the smaller pitch between the center-lines of adjacent rollers installed in a cage results in the greater number of the rollers lying in a preselected length of the cage to increase load-carrying capacity. The cage plate has openings for retaining the rollers arranged in the lengthwise direction of the cage plate. Each of the openings has a contour whose major axis lies in a widthwise direction of the cage plate. Bearing lips retain axially opposite end surfaces of the rollers, the bearing lips extending inside from an edge around the opening at locations corresponding with diametrically opposite ends of the major axis. The bearing lips end into wedged bearing edges deformable elastically. The bearing edges have bearing slants that conform to the end surfaces of the roller to bear the roller thereon. The bearing slants are in diametrically symmetric relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Kanoh
  • 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: 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: 8206038
    Abstract: A pinion-holder assembly is compact in size to fit easily within a transverse area of a raceway defined between raceway grooves on guideway members. The pinion-holder assembly is preferable to fit securely into a cage plate with ease, helping lessen required number of parts, simple and compact in construction, and less costly to fabricate. A holder has sides bulged widthwise into triangular shapes in transverse section to closely conform to the raceways on the guideway members and recesses lying in the lengthwise direction at apexes or ridges of the triangular shapes. A cage plate has a window of rectangular shape longer in sides in the lengthwise direction of the cage plate, and the longer sides have fringes somewhat raised inside the window so as to fit into the recesses on the holder, hereby fastening the holder to the cage plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Kanoh
  • Patent number: 8196887
    Abstract: A seat mount with integrated adjustment that includes a seat base with integrally molded slide bearing receiving pockets that each receives an integrally formed slide bearing of one piece and unitary construction that engages apertures formed in a seat mount that preferably is a seat slide plate or seat mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company, A Unit Of Jason Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce Dahlbacka, Kenneth Braun
  • Patent number: 7993060
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail adapted to be securely mounted on one of a vehicle floor and a seat, a second rail adapted to be securely mounted on the other of the vehicle floor and the seat and movably assembled relative to the first rail, a first bent portion formed at the first rail, a pair of second bent portions respectively formed at the second rail at longitudinal sides of the first bent portion of the first rail so as to contact the first bent portion to restrict further relative movement of the first and second rail, and a relief portion provided at one of the first and second rails so as to face one of the second and first bent portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 7988232
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) is disclosed, particularly a commercial vehicle seat, with a seat base (3) which is designed as a scissors-type stand and is provided with intersecting rockers (15) and at least one frame (11, 13) that movably guides at least one of the rockers (15) in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle seat (1) by a bearing mechanism (21). The bearing mechanism (21) features at least one compensating element that rests against a first guide (33), at least some sections of which are inclined at an angle (a) relative to the transversal direction (y) of the vehicle seat (1), and can be moved along the first guide (33) in the longitudinal direction (x). The bearing mechanism (21) further features at least one rotatably mounted wheel (23) which is supported on a second guide (35) and can be rolled along the second guide (35) in the longitudinal direction (x). A slider (31) which can be displaced along the first guide (33) is used as a compensating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Weber, Georg Ruess, Harald Klein, Rüdiger Nissen
  • Publication number: 20090060401
    Abstract: Slider for a motor vehicle seat including a stationary profile section extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a substantially planar base plate and at least one side shoulder, said base plate having a substantially constant width and including an attachment area for receiving a head of a fastening screw, wherein the stationary profile section has a local deformation increasing the width of the base plate and narrowing the shoulder to the extent that the raceway of the stationary profile section is blocked; a movable profile section; roller elements rolling along a raceway extending longitudinally on the shoulder of the stationary profile section and retained in position relative to each other by cage
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Faurecia Sieges d' Automobile
    Inventors: Rene Rohee, Jean-Marie Fretel
  • Patent number: 7438474
    Abstract: A spacer structure for cross rollers comprises a frame and four protruding wings, the protruding wings are arranged in pairs on opposing sides of the frame and outwardly extend therefrom. The two inactive end surfaces of the roller are confined between the paired protruding wings of the spacer. The slenderness ratio of the roller is designed to be 0.7-0.98 for facilitating installation of the roller between the paired protruding wings of the spacer, and such arrangement can effectively reduce the contact area between the spacer and the roller. The paired opposite protruding wings can provide a stable positioning effect to the end surfaces of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Yan-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 7416216
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a rolling element 7 for rotating upon relative movement of both shafts 1 and 2 in the axial direction is disposed between three pairs of axial grooves 3 and 5 which are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male shaft 1 and on the inner peripheral surface of the female shaft 2, respectively, a raceway surface element 9 which is in contact with the rolling element 7 and an elastic member 10 for pressurizing the rolling element 7 against the male shaft 1 and the female shaft 2 through the raceway surface element 9 are interposed between the axial groove 3 on the male shaft side 1 and the rolling element 7, and a sliding member 8 for slidably moving upon relative movement of the both shafts 1 and 2 in the axial direction is disposed between another three pairs of axial grooves 4 and 6 which are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male shaft 1 and on the inner peripheral surface of the female shaft 2, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Shoda, Yasuhisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 7210849
    Abstract: To provide a sliding apparatus which may depress a micro slip phenomenon without fail and realize the system with a simple structure and which is less expensive to save a cost and superior in practical use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Bearing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Matsuru Yamazaki, Toyoshi Kazama
  • Patent number: 6971797
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit where there is provided a tiny mechanism to keep a cage retaining therein more than one rolling element against wobbling. The cage retaining rolling elements holds therein a pinion, which mates with racks lying in the raceway grooves. A pinion holder is allowed to snap into a hook hole formed in the cage. To this end, the pinion holder has a flange extending out of any side of the pinion holder so as to come into abutment against any one surface of an edge around the hook hole, and an snap hook extending out of the other side of the pinion holder to come into engagement with another surface of the edge around the hook hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Obara, Shigeki Kakei
  • Patent number: 6960022
    Abstract: A “hybrid” or macrocomposite guideway, wherein the “traditional” or existing guideway material (e.g., hardened steel) is maintained as the wear resistant, low friction surface intended to be in physical contact with one or more bearings, and further wherein this surface is backed up or supported by a substrate comprising a stiff, lightweight material. This macrocomposite guideway combines the desirable friction and wear characteristics of the traditional bearing materials with the stiffness and low mass of advanced materials. Candidate substrate materials include composites having a ceramic and/or a metallic matrix, monolithic ceramics or monolithic light metals. A cladding comprising the hardened steel wear surface layer may be attached to the rigid, lightweight substrate by adhesive bonding, mechanical fasteners or other mechanical fit such as a friction or interference fit. Preferably, though, the attachment is by means of a metallurgical bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Kulicke & Soffa Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Beatson, E. Walter Frasch, Paul J. Schlosser, Jai R. Singh, David W. McKenna, Craig Emmons
  • Patent number: 6942386
    Abstract: A roller bearing for linear movements has two guide members arranged coaxially relative to each other between which there are provided races for roller members extending in the longitudinal direction. The roller members are biased in radial direction by at least one elastic element. The races for the roller members are shaped as guide surfaces directly at the two guide members, and the elastic element is provided radially offset with regard to the guide surfaces and acts by means of webs only indirectly onto these surfaces, by being subjected to a radial clamping force of a further annular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Timken GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Weissflog
  • Patent number: 6886983
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit is disclosed in which a rack-and-pinion arrangement is interposed between paired guide rails to keep a cage retaining more than one rolling element therein against falling off from the guide rails. In the linear motion guide unit, the cage arranged between confronting raceway grooves of the guide rails hold therein a pinion, which comes in mating with a rack lying in the raceway grooves. The cage is made therein with an aperture in which a thick portion of a pinion holder fits to secure the pinion holder to the cage. The pinion is comprised of a disc having teeth that come in mating with the rack, and a shaft serving as an axis about which the disc rotates. The pinion is held in the pinion holder, with the shaft being carried for rotation in pinion chamber in the pinion holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Tsuboi, Kishinori Shibamoto
  • Publication number: 20040131291
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail assembled to a vehicle seat, an upper rail slidably engaging with the corresponding upper rail for supporting the vehicle seat, a loop-shaped release handle supported by the upper rail on its end portion for releasing the engagement between the upper rail and the lower rail, and a bracket fixed to the upper rail for detachably supporting the release handle, an opening portion formed on the bracket allowing the end portion of the release handle to pass there through, and a flexible tongue formed on the bracket and adapted to be flexibly movable in vertical direction for engaging with a stopper piece provided at the end portion of the release handle. The current invention uses a technical device for detaching the end portion of the release handle from the bracket fixed to the upper rail for supporting the end portion of the release handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Niimi, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Shin Shiraki
  • Publication number: 20040131290
    Abstract: A “hybrid” or macrocomposite guideway, wherein the “traditional” or existing guideway material (e.g., hardened steel) is maintained as the wear resistant, low friction surface intended to be in physical contact with one or more bearings, and further wherein this surface is backed up or supported by a substrate comprising a stiff, lightweight material. This macrocomposite guideway combines the desirable friction and wear characteristics of the traditional bearing materials with the stiffness and low mass of advanced materials. Candidate substrate materials include composites having a ceramic and/or a metallic matrix, monolithic ceramics or monolithic light metals. A cladding comprising the hardened steel wear surface layer may be attached to the rigid, lightweight substrate by adhesive bonding, mechanical fasteners or other mechanical fit such as a friction or interference fit. Preferably, though, the attachment is by means of a metallurgical bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: David T. Beatson, E. Walter Frasch, Paul J. Schlosser, Jai R. Singh, David W. McKenna, Craig Emmons
  • Patent number: 6736541
    Abstract: In a linear motion guide unit in which a rack-and-pinion arrangement is interposed between paired guide rail members to keep a cage against falling off from the guide rail members, the rack is made reduced in size in depth direction to fit well in even a gutter cut small in depth in the guide rail member. The rack is made up of successive teeth mating with the pinion, and side walls to join the teeth together with one another. The side walls of the rack are rendered thickened sidewise with depth while sidewise opposing surfaces defining a gutter cut in the guide rail also lean away one another with depth in a way conforming to the side walls of the rack, so that the rack can be fastened in the gutter by virtue of face-to-face engagement of the side walls with the associated surfaces in the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kamimura, Takaaki Tsuboi, Kouji Obara
  • Publication number: 20030206669
    Abstract: A track assembly (10) comprises a seat track member (12) that in use is secured to the base of a vehicle seat, slidably engaged with a floor track member (14) that in use is secured to the floor of a vehicle. At least one bearing assembly (16) is form fittingly retained between engaging portions of the track members (12, 14) so as to facilitate sliding movement of the seat track member (12) along the length of the floor track member (14).The or each bearing assembly (16) comprises an elongate spacer (52) provided with a steel ball (54) at either of its ends. At least one plastic ball (56) is provided in a side by side arrangement with each of the steel balls (54) such that a steel ball (54) is located between each plastic ball (56) and the spacer (52). In preferred embodiments, two plastic balls (56, 58) are provided in a side by side arrangement with each steel ball (54). The use of plastic balls in the or each bearing assembly (16) reduces the formation of indentations in the track members (12, 14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventor: Rodger G. Smith
  • Patent number: 6575631
    Abstract: Into a raceway groove formed between outer and inner races, there are incorporated a plurality of rolling elements of which outside diameters serving as the rolling contact surfaces thereof each has a curvature in the axial direction as well and also each of which has a radius smaller than the radius of the raceway surfaces of the outer and inner races. The rolling elements are arranged in such a manner that the mutually adjoining rolling elements cross each other alternately and also that the outside diameters of the respective rolling elements are always contacted at two points with the raceway surfaces of one race and the raceway surfaces of the other race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shoda, Jun Liu, Yukio Sato
  • Publication number: 20020124706
    Abstract: A guide device includes a ram and a column translatable axially relative to each other. The ram has an outer circumferential surface of a squared cross section formed of four flat portions each of which extends axially. The column disposed around the ram has a through hole of a squared cross section formed of four flat portions corresponding to the flat portions of the ram. In each flat portion of the column is provided a needle bearing that rolls on the corresponding flat portion of the ram. Inside the column are provided a plurality of supporting shafts extending in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction or to the axial direction of each flat portion of the ram. Each needle bearing is rotatably supported by the corresponding supporting shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Isel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20020110293
    Abstract: A translation table with a pair of bearing assemblies located between a first element and a second element. Each bearing assembly has a pair of roller bearings located at one end of a bearing separator strip, and another pair of roller bearings located at an opposite end of the separator strip. There are no bearings located between the outer pairs of roller bearings. Providing a roller bearing assembly with no roller bearings in the inner portion of the separator strip creates a relatively stiff bearing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Millard A. Nunnally
  • Patent number: 6419069
    Abstract: A cross roller assembly suitable for use with rollers disposed in a cross roller arrangement is provided for the purpose of preventing the rollers from skewing as much as possible to thereby guide them in a stable manner. The cross roller assembly (21) includes first and second rollers (8, 9), and a retainer (22) for holding the first and second rollers (8, 9) in respective alignment with their axes of rotation alternatively arranged at right angles with respect to each other. The retainer (22) has a pair of end holders (23) for supporting the opposite ends of each roller. Each of the end holders (23) has an outer surface which is formed of a flat guide surface so as to regulate or restrict each roller to its suitable posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Hiroshi Teramachi
  • Publication number: 20020085773
    Abstract: Into a raceway groove formed between outer and inner races, there are incorporated a plurality of rolling elements of which outside diameters serving as the rolling contact surfaces thereof each has a curvature in the axial direction as well and also each of which has a radius smaller than the radius of the raceway surfaces of the outer and inner races. The rolling elements are arranged in such a manner that the mutually adjoining rolling elements cross each other alternately and also that the outside diameters of the respective rolling elements are always contacted at two points with the raceway surfaces of one race and the raceway surfaces of the other race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shoda, Jun Liu, Yukio Sato
  • Patent number: 6386499
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a lower rail fixed on the floor of the vehicle, and an upper rail slidably supported on the lower rail through intermediately located members such as rollers and balls. The upper rail has a horizontal portion possessing an outer face adapted to be connected with a seat cushion frame and an inner face contacting the intermediately located members. The horizontal portion of the upper rail possesses a stepped portion dividing the horizontal portion of the upper rail into a connection portion adapted to be connected to the seat cushion frame and a contact portion which contacts the intermediate members. By dividing the horizontal portion of the upper rails into the connection portion and the contact portion, possible adverse affects associated with distortion resulting from welding the upper rail to the cushion frame is significantly reduced and preferably avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada, Satoshi Hisada
  • Patent number: 6382836
    Abstract: Into a raceway groove 3 formed between outer and inner races 1 and 2, there are incorporated a plurality of rolling elements 5, 5 of which outside diameters 5a serving as the rolling contact surfaces thereof each has a curvature in the axial direction as well and also each of which has a radius smaller than the radius of the raceway surfaces of the outer and inner races. The rolling elements 5 are arranged in such a manner that the mutually adjoining rolling elements 5, 5 cross each other alternately and also that the outside diameters 5a, 5a of the respective rolling elements 5, 5 are always contacted at two points with the raceway surfaces 1a, 1b of one race 1 and the raceway surfaces 2b, 2a of the other race 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shoda, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 6276830
    Abstract: Linear guide assembly comprising at least two guide rails, which are moveable in the longitudinal direction with respect to each other and have prismatic shaped raceways, a plurality of rolling elements guided in a cage, at least one gear wheel for the positive guidance of the cage is connected to the cage, which wheel engages in toothed racks, each of which is connected to a guide rail, the gear wheel comprising a disk, having axial projections distributed around the periphery at least one of the end surfaces and rows of uniformly spaced recesses, into which the projections on the disk can engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: SKF Linearsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Edelmann, Andreas Geyer, Hermann Glöckner, Georg Hierl, Holger Kristandt, Uwe Mayer, Henryk Velde, Lothar Walter
  • Patent number: 6200032
    Abstract: A roller and guide assembly for use in an actuating seat suspension having a roller assembly comprised of a first and second roller that articulate on upper and lower guide surfaces formed by a channel. The first roller rotatingly engages the lower guide surface and the contact between the first roller and guides surface permits the roller to move horizontally along the guide surface while preventing the downward movement of the roller assembly. The second roller rotatingly engages the upper guide surface an the contact between the roller and guide surface permits the roller to move horizontally along the guide surface while preventing the upward movement of the roller assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Dale Ropp
  • Patent number: 6155719
    Abstract: Linear guide assembly comprising at least two guide rails, which are movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to each other having similarly shaped raceways, a plurality rolling elements, guided in a cage, at least one gear wheel connected to the cage for the positive guidance of the cage, which wheel engages in toothed racks or the like, each of which is connected to a guide rail, said gear wheel consisting of a disk, having an external circumference which is provided with uniformly distributed axial rolling elements, which project slightly beyond the disk, and wherein said recesses, correspond to the external shape of the rolling elements and into which the rolling elements can engage, are provided equal distances apart directly in the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Edelmann, Andreas Geyer, Hermann Glockner, Georg Hierl, Holger Kristandt, Uwe Mayer, Henryk Velde, Lothar Walter
  • Patent number: 6123459
    Abstract: A linear guide includes rolling bodies that are inserted into mutually corresponding grooves of mutually guided parts. The guide surfaces for the rolling bodies are partially formed by plane surfaces of rotatable beveled round rods that are positioned in the grooves. The linear guide is constructed as a double guide on both sides with respectively two spaced-apart guide grooves on mutually opposed sides of the mutually guided parts. Because the guide surfaces are partially formed by the plane surfaces of the rotatable beveled round rods, wedge angles between the mutually guided parts are compensated. Manufacturing technical requirements regarding the matching of the distances of the guide grooves to each other are thereby greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Hans Brinkmann, Walter Geis
  • Patent number: 6089521
    Abstract: An automobile seat slide unit includes two slide rail assemblies disposed on respective sides of a seat. Each of the slide rail assemblies has a lower rail to be secured to a vehicle floor and an upper rail to be secured to the seat and slidably mounted on the lower rail for adjusting the position of the seat in a direction longitudinally of a vehicle body. The lower rail has a generally flat bottom wall, two outer side walls extending upwardly from respective side edges of the bottom wall, and two inner side walls extending laterally inwardly and downwardly from respective upper edges of the outer side walls to present a shape generally similar to an inverted figure "U". On the other hand, the upper rail has a generally flat upper wall, two inner side walls extending downwardly from respective side edges of the upper wall, and two outer side walls extending laterally outwardly and upwardly from respective lower edges of the inner side walls to present a shape generally similar to the shape of a figure "U".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tarusawa, Mitsuhiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5984254
    Abstract: A vehicle seat slideway has a male channel member whose two flanges are outwardly extended by flaps extending at an angle outwards and towards the web of the male channel member to a vertical end portion, and a female channel member having flanges extended by reentrant troughs penetrating between the flanges and the flaps of the male channel member. Same-diameter balls are disposed firstly between each flap and the corresponding reentrant trough, bearing against at least the vertical end portion of the flap and against a sloping flat portion which extends an initial horizontal portion of the reentrant trough, and secondly against the flap and a corner zone situated at the junction between the web and the corresponding flange of the female channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.ois Baloche, Rene Rohee
  • Patent number: 5961089
    Abstract: A slide for vehicle seats includes a generally U-shaped female section having two flanges respectively extending to flange returns that confront one another. Also included is a generally U-shaped male section also having two flanges respectively extending to flange returns that are oppositely directed from one another, the flange returns of the male section are inserted under the flange returns of the female section. At least one retention unit is attached to the female section and extends between the flanges of the male section. Pointed teeth extend from edges of the retention unit and are directed toward confronting adjacent planar surfaces of the male section flanges. Tips of the teeth are made of a material harder than that of the male section to allow penetration of the teeth into the planar surfaces of the male section flanges thereby anchoring the teeth therein, in response to deformed displacement of the male section flanges toward the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements S.A
    Inventor: Michel Soisnard
  • Patent number: 5897213
    Abstract: A machine slide comprising a support member having two longitudinally-extending races with outwardly-facing, longitudinally extending grooves at opposite sides thereof, and a carriage movable on the support member. The carriage has two longitudinally-extending races having inwardly facing, longitudinally-extending grooves. When the carriage is placed on the support member, the grooves of the support member and the grooves of the carriage correspond to define two parallel longitudinally-extending raceways for roller bearings. There are two longitudinally-extending slits forming an island in the bottom surface of the carriage above one of the races on the carriage. A longitudinally-extending groove is located along the outside face of the side wall of the carriage nearest the island. A bearing retainer that regulates the spacing of the roller bearings is mounted within each raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Bayside Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Feinstein, Robert Nichols
  • Patent number: 5692839
    Abstract: A slide for a vehicle seat comprises a first bar having a narrow channel section with vertical flanges that are extended outwardly by rims, and a second bar having a wide upside-down channel section enveloping the first bar with the ends of the vertical flanges being extended inwardly by reentrant troughs, the two bars being shaped to form four ball tracks between them. Each outer vertical flange has an outwardly directed ridge, and each rim has an extension suitable for hooking against the inside face of a ridge when a vertical force is exerted tending to pull the two bars apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements SA
    Inventors: Rene Rohee, Fran.cedilla.ois Baloche
  • Patent number: 5666870
    Abstract: A press die set includes a hollow cylindrical guide bush mounted on a punch holder, a cylindrical retainer received within the guide bush, and a columnar guide post vertically mounted on a die holder and received within the retainer. First right angle grooves are formed on the outer surface of the guide post parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guide post. First planar surfaces are formed on an outer surface of the guide post parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide post and perpendicular to a radius of the guide post. Second right angle grooves are formed on the inner surface of the guide bush parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guide bush. Second planar surfaces are formed on the inner surface of the guide bush parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide bush and perpendicular to a radius of the guide bush. Cross roller bearings are positioned between the first and second right angle grooves, and plain roller bearings are positioned between the first and second planar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Enomoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Enomoto, Kazuo Yamada, Mitsuji Hosoda, Toshio Wada, Kazuyoshi Umeya, Koki Okanda