Seat track mechanism for vehicle seat

• US 20040155168A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsushiro, Hiromasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,073,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/424
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0725 Closing members for covering the slide

Abstract

A seat track mechanism for a vehicle seat, comprises a pair of substantially parallel movable rails attached to the vehicle seat, a pair of substantially parallel stationary rails attached to a floor section of a vehicle, the movable rails being combined with the stationary rails so as to be slidable along the stationary rails, and shutter members for covering the stationary rails, the shutter members being movably supported to the stationary rails so as to pass around one ends of the stationary rails, around the other ends of the stationary rails, and then under bottom portions of the stationary rails, the shutter members having openings, and the movable rails being combined with the stationary rails through the openings of the shutter members.

Claims

1. A seat track mechanism for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a pair of substantially parallel movable rails attached to said vehicle seat;

a pair of substantially parallel stationary rails attached to a floor section of a vehicle;

said movable rails being combined with said stationary rails so as to be slidable along said stationary rails; and

shutter means for covering said stationary rails;

said shutter means being movably supported to each of said stationary rails so as to pass around one end of a corresponding stationary rail, around the other end of the stationary rail, and then under a bottom portion of the stationary rail;

said shutter means having an opening; and

each of said movable rails being combined with a corresponding stationary rail through said opening.

2. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprises a plurality of a caterpillar-like, endless belt-like body, said endless belt-like body comprising a plurality of narrow strips which are disposed adjacent to one another and connected to one another by hinge pins.

3. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 1, further including shutter guide means provided at each of said stationary rails, said shutter means being movably supported through said shutter guide means to said stationary rail so as to be movable along said stationary rail.

4. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 2, further including shutter guide means provided at each of said stationary rails, said shutter means being movably supported through said shutter guide means to said stationary rail so as to be movable along said stationary rail.

5. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle seat comprises a power seat.

6. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said vehicle seat comprises a power seat.

7. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said vehicle seat comprises a power seat.

8. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said vehicle seat comprises a power seat.

9. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said power seat is provided with a power slide mechanism which comprises a reversible motor attached to a side of one of said movable rails, a lead screw arranged within each of said stationary rails so as to extend along a corresponding stationary rail and supported to said stationary rail, a screw nut mounted on said lead screw so as to be movable along said lead screw and meshed with said lead screw, a gear box provided in each of said movable rails, and a worm gear arranged within said gear box, coupled to said reversible motor, and meshed with said screw nut, and said screw nut being held by said gear box.

10. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said power seat is provided with a power slide mechanism which comprises a reversible motor attached to a side of one of said movable rails, a lead screw arranged within each of said stationary rails so as to extend along a corresponding stationary rail and supported to said stationary rail, a screw nut mounted on said lead screw so as to be movable along said lead screw and meshed with said lead screw, a gear box provided in each of said movable rails, and a worm gear arranged within said gear box, coupled to said reversible motor, and meshed with said screw nut, and said screw nut being held by said gear box.

11. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said power seat is provided with a power slide mechanism which comprises a reversible motor attached to a side of one of said movable rails, a lead screw arranged within each of said stationary rails so as to extend along a corresponding stationary rail and supported to said stationary rail, a screw nut mounted on said lead screw so as to be movable along said lead screw and meshed with said lead screw, a gear box provided in each of said movable rails, and a worm gear arranged within said gear box, coupled to said reversible motor, and meshed with said screw nut, and said screw nut being held by said gear box.

12. A seat track mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said power seat is provided with a power slide mechanism which comprises a reversible motor attached to a side of one of said movable rails, a lead screw arranged within each of said stationary rails so as to extend along a corresponding stationary rail and supported to said stationary rail, a screw nut mounted on said lead screw so as to be movable along said lead screw and meshed with said lead screw, a gear box provided in each of said movable rails, and a worm gear arranged within said gear box, coupled to said reversible motor, and meshed with said screw nut, and said screw nut being held by said gear box.