Motorized vehicle seat lift mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An adjustment device for adjusting the height of a seat within a vehicle, comprising:
- a motor shaft having a first axial end and a second axial end;
a motor associated with said shaft such that said motor selectively causes said shaft to rotate;
a gear housing receiving said first shaft end;
an end cap receiving said second shaft end;
a cover extending between said gear housing and said end cap; and
a damper positioned between said end cap and said second shaft end such that said shaft is prevented from moving axially within said device when said cover is coupled with said end cap and said gear housing.
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Abstract
A vehicle seat lift mechanism includes a motor assembly that is used to adjust the height position of the vehicle seat. The motor assembly includes a motor shaft that is maintained within a housing that includes a damper member that is deformed during the assembly process. The damper member eliminates axial play within the motor assembly. The motor shaft includes rounded contours on the ends of the shaft that interact with disk-like bearing plates to effectively eliminate friction during motor operation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An adjustment device for adjusting the height of a seat within a vehicle, comprising:
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a motor shaft having a first axial end and a second axial end; a motor associated with said shaft such that said motor selectively causes said shaft to rotate; a gear housing receiving said first shaft end; an end cap receiving said second shaft end; a cover extending between said gear housing and said end cap; and a damper positioned between said end cap and said second shaft end such that said shaft is prevented from moving axially within said device when said cover is coupled with said end cap and said gear housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of assembling a device for adjusting the height of a seat within a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a motor shaft having a first axial end and a second axial end; (b) placing the motor shaft first axial end within a gear housing; (c) placing a damper member within an end cap; (d) placing the end cap over the motor shaft second axial end such that the damper member is generally aligned with an axis of the motor shaft; (e) deforming the damper member by moving the end cap toward the gear housing; and (f) securing the end cap and the gear housing in the position established in step (e) such that the deformed damper member prevents the motor shaft from moving axially within the device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A device for adjusting the height of a seat within a vehicle, comprising:
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a seat support bracket adapted to be secured to a base portion of the seat; a first link member pivotally connected to one end of said support bracket for pivotal movement relative to said seat support bracket about a first pivot axis; a mounting bracket pivotally supporting said first link member for pivotal movement relative to said mounting bracket about a second pivot axis that is generally parallel to said first pivot axis; a first moving member coupled to said first link member such that movement of said moving member causes said first link member to move about said second pivot axis, said moving member moving along an axis that is generally perpendicular to said first and second pivot axes; a first motor assembly including a first motor and a first motor shaft having a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to said first and second pivot axes, said first motor selectively causing movement of said first moving member by causing said first motor shaft to rotate about said longitudinal axis; a second link member pivotally connected to another end of said support bracket for pivotal movement relative to said support bracket about a third pivot axis, said second link member being pivotally supported by said mounting bracket for pivotal movement relative to said bracket about a fourth pivot axis, said third and fourth pivot axes being generally parallel to said first and second pivot axes; a second moving member coupled to said second link member such that movement of said second moving member causes said second link member to move about said third pivot axis, said moving member moving along an axis that is generally perpendicular to said third and fourth pivot axes; a second motor assembly including a second motor and a second motor shaft having a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to said third and fourth pivot axes, said second motor selectively causing movement of said second moving member by causing said second motor shaft to rotate about said longitudinal axis; and wherein said movement of said moving members, respectively, adjust a height position of the seat. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification