Vehicle power seat adjuster with end driven lead screw actuation
First Claim
1. A drive apparatus for a power seat adjuster having a first component movable relative to a second component comprising:
- a rotatable drive shaft having first and second axial ends and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second axial ends;
a driven shaft;
means, adapted to be coupled to the driven shaft and the first component, for moving the first component relative to the second component upon rotation of the driven shaft;
the second end of the drive shaft co-axially connected to the driven shaft in a fixed connection for simultaneous rotation of the drive shaft and the driven shaft; and
means for rotating the first axial end of the drive shaft.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power seat adjuster includes a rotatable drive shaft with first and second axial ends and an intermediate arcuate portion connecting the first and second axial ends. The first and second axial ends are respectively axially connected to a drive motor gear assembly and to a driven lead screw. A horizontal drive block threadingly engaging the lead screw is rotatably and vertically translatingly mounted in an aperture in a lower track for self-alignment of the drive block with respect to the lead screw. A housing rotatably receives the axial connection between one end of the drive shaft and the lead screw. The bearing block is rotatably and translatingly mounted in a bracket fixed to an upper track for self-alignment of the drive shaft with the lead screw. A drive block engages the lead screw and is mounted for rotation and translation in a link. The upper and lower tracks have a guide section and an abutment section which collapse together in a self-cinching action under force loading to resist separation of the upper and lower tracks.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A drive apparatus for a power seat adjuster having a first component movable relative to a second component comprising:
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a rotatable drive shaft having first and second axial ends and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second axial ends; a driven shaft; means, adapted to be coupled to the driven shaft and the first component, for moving the first component relative to the second component upon rotation of the driven shaft; the second end of the drive shaft co-axially connected to the driven shaft in a fixed connection for simultaneous rotation of the drive shaft and the driven shaft; and means for rotating the first axial end of the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A power seat adjuster for a vehicle comprising:
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first and second track assemblies, each formed of a lower track adapted to be fixed on the vehicle and an upper track slidably mounted in the lower track; drive motor means; a first drive shaft coupled to the drive motor means and rotated by the drive motor means, the first drive shaft having first and second axial end portions and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second axial ends; a first driven shaft; means for co-axially connecting the second axial end of the first drive shaft to the first driven shaft in a fixed connection to transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft; and means, responsive to rotation of the driven shaft, for effecting relative movement of the upper track with respect to the lower track. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power seat adjuster for a vehicle comprising:
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first and second track assemblies, each formed of a lower track adapted to be fixed on the vehicle and an upper track slidably mounted in the lower track; drive motor means; a first drive shaft coupled to the drive motor means and rotated by the drive motor means, the first drive shaft having first and second axial end portions and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second axial ends; a first driven shaft; means for co-axially connecting the second axial end of the first drive shaft to the first driven shaft in a fixed connection to transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft, the means for co-axially connecting including; bracket means fixedly mounted to an upper track; and a housing rotatably receiving a fixed connection between the second axial end of the first drive shaft and one end of the first driven shaft, the housing mounted in the bracket means; and means, responsive to rotation of the driven shaft, for effecting relative movement of the upper track with respect to the lower track. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A seat back recliner for a vehicle having a seat back movable relative to a seat bottom, the seat bottom mounted on first and second track assemblies, each formed of a lower track adapted to be fixed to the vehicle and an upper track movably mounted on the lower track, the seat back recliner comprising:
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a drive motor means; a first drive shaft coupled to the drive motor means and rotated by the drive motor means, the first drive shaft having first and second axial end portions and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second axial ends; a first driven shaft; means for co-axially connecting the second axial end of the first drive shaft to one end of the first driven shaft in a fixed connection to transmit rotation of the first drive shaft to the driven shaft; and means, adapted to be connected between the driven shaft and the seat back, for translating rotation of the driven shaft to pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A seat back recliner for a vehicle having a seat back movable relative to a seat bottom, the seat bottom mounted on first and second track assemblies, each formed of a lower track adapted to be fixed to the vehicle and an upper track movably mounted on the lower track, the seat back recliner comprising:
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a drive motor means; a first drive shaft coupled to the drive motor means and rotated by the drive motor means, the first drive shaft having first and second axial end portions and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second axial ends; a first driven shaft; means for co-axially connecting the second axial end of the first drive shaft to one end of the first driven shaft in a fixed connection to transmit rotation of the first drive shaft to the driven shaft, the means for co-axially connecting including; bracket means adapted to be fixedly mounted to one of the first and second track assemblies; and a housing receiving a fixed connection between the second axial end of the first drive shaft and one end of the first driven shaft, the housing mounted in the bracket means; and means, adapted to be connected between the driven shaft and the seat back, for translating rotation of the driven shaft to pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom.
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Specification