Motor mount structure for vehicle seat adjustment apparatus

• US 4,448,381 A
• Filed: 03/10/1982
• Issued: 05/15/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Telephone & Telegraph Corp. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anspaugh, Dennis J., Siegrist, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US06/356,849
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 248/394, 248/395, 248/429, 248/675, 248/607, 248/201, 248/615, 5/68, 297/330, 310/112, 411/521
• US Class Current: 248/394
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0296 Central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special purpose circuits or mechanisms

Abstract

An apparatus for fixing the relative position of components within an automotive seat track mechanism. Such mechanisms are conventionally powered by electric motor drive, such as a motor with multiple armatures or by using separate motors mounted on a unitary platform or by using clutch activated members driven by a single motor. The output of the motor drive is transmitted through respective gearing to lead screws or rack and pinions within or adjacent to the tracking structures at both sides of the seat to translate the seat horizontally. The motor drive output is also transmitted to operate individual lead screws or rack and pinions within or adjacent one structure for the vertical seat movements. The motor mount is secured to the tracking structure at one side of the seat. A simple light weight holding rod secures the motor mount to the opposed side structure to produce a rigid, yet readily detachable motor mount. The motor mount can more readily withstand shock and vibration, especially during shipping and assembly of the seat track mechanism.

Claims

1. A motor vibration reducing apparatus for a power adjusting mechanism for a vehicle seat, comprising:

first and second transversely spaced apart base rails arrayed fore and aft in said vehicle, a first and a second slide track with the slide tracks tracked relative to the respective rails for longitudinal driven movement therealong, a motor drive unit including a plurality of output shafts extending transversely between said rails, slide track drive members coupled to respective ones of said output shafts for driving said tracks on operation of the motor drive unit, a motor housing structure enclosing said motor drive unit, said motor housing structure including transversely opposed end walls, platform structure secured to said housing structure for rigidly securing one end wall of said motor unit to the adjacent one of said slide tracks for longitudinal movement therewith, the invention comprising means for preventing undue longitudinal vibration of the motor unit comprising a rigid elongated rod laterally extending through the housing structure of the motor drive unit and engaged with the other of said slide tracks, and means affixing one end of said rod firmly adjacent said one end wall, said rod extending through the other end wall and extending to drop-in engagement with the other of said slide tracks transversely adjacent said motor unit to stabilize said motor unit.

2. A motor vibration reducing apparatus for a power seat adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the engagement of said rod to the other slide track comprises a stepped end of the rod protruding through an opening in said track sized to receive the rod end.

3. A motor vibration reducing apparatus for a power seat adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 2, in which said means for affixing the rod to said one end wall comprises a snap-on fastener affixed to said rod outwardly of said one end wall of said housing structure.