Seat track with continuous engagement and memory easy entry mechanism
First Claim
1. An assembly for mounting a seat within a vehicle, comprising:
- a first track having a side wall including a plurality of spaced slots through said side wall, said slots each having a first operative dimension and being spaced apart by a first distance;
a second track in moveable mating engagement with said first track;
a plurality of locking pawls each having a second operative dimension and being supported on said second track for movement between a first position where said pawls are adapted to be received within one or more of said slots such that said second track does not move relative to said first track and a second position where said second track is free to move, said locking pawls being spaced apart by a second distance that is not equal to said first distance; and
whereina preselected ratio exists between said second dimension and each of said first dimension, said first distance and said second distance, respectively, such that said first operative dimension is twice said second dimension, said second distance is three times said second operative dimension and said first distance is equal to said first dimension and at least one of said locking pawls is partially received within at least one of said slots whenever said locking pawls are in said first position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle seat mounting assembly includes a locking device mounted on an upper track that moves relative to a lower track. The mounting device includes a plurality of locking pawls that engage one or more slots on the lower track so that the upper track, and the seat, are maintained in a fixed position relative to the lower track. The locking device includes a first release bracket for disengaging the locking device and adjusting the position of the seat. Activation of the first release bracket causes simultaneous movement of a seat position indicator. The seat position indicator remains stationary relative to the lower track in the event that a second release bracket is used to disengage the locking device. When the second release bracket is used, the position indicator serves to provide for automatic repositioning of the seat into its last position before activation of the second release lever. The locking device further includes a plurality of locking pawls that are dimensioned and spaced in a preselected order corresponding to dimensions and spacings of slots in the lower track so that at least one of the locking pawls engages at least one slot in the lower track at all times that the locking device is in a locking position.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An assembly for mounting a seat within a vehicle, comprising:
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a first track having a side wall including a plurality of spaced slots through said side wall, said slots each having a first operative dimension and being spaced apart by a first distance; a second track in moveable mating engagement with said first track; a plurality of locking pawls each having a second operative dimension and being supported on said second track for movement between a first position where said pawls are adapted to be received within one or more of said slots such that said second track does not move relative to said first track and a second position where said second track is free to move, said locking pawls being spaced apart by a second distance that is not equal to said first distance; and
whereina preselected ratio exists between said second dimension and each of said first dimension, said first distance and said second distance, respectively, such that said first operative dimension is twice said second dimension, said second distance is three times said second operative dimension and said first distance is equal to said first dimension and at least one of said locking pawls is partially received within at least one of said slots whenever said locking pawls are in said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification