Structural support for seat track assembly

• US 6,264,158 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dura Global Technologies Incorporated (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Original Assignee: Dura Global Technologies Incorporated (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Olsson, Nils, Garrido, Pascal, Freund, Roger, Downey, Hugh D., Collins, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US09/207,795
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 248/424, 248/422, 248/429, 248/430, 248/419, 248/420, 248/421, 248/157, 248/405, 297/344.1, 297/216.1, 297/311, 297/452.18, 296/65.15, 296/65.13, 296/65.18, 310/83, 464/180, 74/891.4
• US Class Current: 248/422
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0747 the opening of the cross section being oriented in a direction different from the vertical, e.g. transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1803 with independent front and/or rear adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/181 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1853 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism

Abstract

A support structure for a vehicle seat assembly which allows the seat position to be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the vehicle. The seat support structure is mounted to a vehicle structure and includes a first track, a second track, a torque tube and a brace member supported for movement relative to the first track with the seat bottom being supported on the second track for movement relative to the first track. A restraint bracket which is attached to the seat belt is adjacent the torque tube and second track without the necessity of fasteners. The restraint bracket mounting allows a force to be transfered to the associated torque tube, first track, and second track. The present invention further provides a method of seat assembly in which the torque tube is maintained under compression and the brace member under tension to provide a rigid, integral seat support structure.

Claims

1. An assembly for mounting a seat within a vehicle comprising, in combination:

a first member to be mounted to a vehicle structure and defining a longitudinal axis;

a second member supported for movement relative to said first member along said longitudinal axis, said second member including a first bearing surface defined by an opening;

a torque tube for providing vertical seat adjustment, said torque tube extending into said opening and presenting a second bearing surface for rotatably supporting said first bearing surface;

a link fixedly attached to said torque tube for rotatably actuating said torque tube; and

a restraint bracket adjacent said torque tube, said restraint bracket positioned between said link and said second member;

wherein said restraint bracket is adapted to be attachable to a seat belt.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a brace member fixedly mounted to said first member track and said second member track.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said torque tube is rotatable within said restraint bracket.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said restraint bracket is sandwiched between said link and said second member.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said restraint bracket includes a flange portion extending through an opening in said second member, said flange portion engagable with said first member.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said restraint bracket provides a mount for a drive motor.

7. An assembly for mounting a seat within a vehicle comprising, in combination:

a stationary track assembly having a first stationary track and a second stationary track mounted to a vehicle structure and defining a longitudinal axis;

a movable track assembly having a first movable track and a second movable track for movement relative to said stationary track assembly along said longitudinal axis, said first movable track and said second movable track defining a first bearing surface;

a torque tube for receiving input from an actuator, said torque tube presenting a second bearing surface rotatably supported by said first bearing surface, said torque tube providing vertical seat adjustment when said torque tube rotates due to input from said actuator; and

a brace member fixedly mounted to said first movable track and said second movable track;

wherein said brace member defines a horizontal axis that is diagonally traverse to said longitudinal axis.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said brace member defines a horizontal axis that is traverse to said longitudinal axis.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said brace member is a pair of brace members which define a horizontal axis that is traverse to said longitudinal axis.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said pair of brace members includes a first brace member defining a first horizontal axis and a second brace member defining a second horizontal axis, said first and second horizontal axes being generally parallel to one another and transverse to said longitudinal axis.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said pair of brace members are mounted in a V-like configuration.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said brace member is maintained under tension.

13. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said torque tube is maintained under compression.

14. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said brace member is maintained under tension and said torque tube is maintained under compression.

15. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said torque tube is mounted through a restraint bracket, said restraint bracket attached to a seat belt.

16. An assembly method for a vehicle seat support structure comprising, in combination, the steps of:

(1) providing a stationary track assembly having a first stationary track and a second stationary track which define a longitudinal axis;

(2) attaching a movable track assembly having a first movable track and a second movable track for movement relative to said stationary track assembly along said longitudinal axis;

(3) rotatably mounting a torque tube between said first movable track and said second movable track to define a substantially horizontal axis, said torque tube being rotatably maintained under compression between said first movable track and said second movable track;

(4) fixedly mounting a brace member between said first movable track and said second movable track, said brace member maintained under tension between said first movable track and said second movable track; and

(5) mounting a restraint bracket to said torque tube, wherein said restraint bracket is adapated to be attached to a seat belt.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said torque tube and said brace member exert opposing forces on said first and said second movable tracks.