Seat track protector assembly for vehicle

• US 6,511,032 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Lee, James E
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Korie
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEINHOLD, INGRID M
• Application Number:
  US09/996,971
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 248/429, 248/424, 248/430, 248/345.1, 296/68.1, 296/65.13, 312/334.27, 312/334.31
• US Class Current: 248/429
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0725 Closing members for covering the slide

Abstract

A seat track protector assembly is provided for a vehicle. The seat track protector assembly includes a cover adapted to be disposed adjacent an end of a lower track member for a seat of the vehicle and adapted for movement by an upper track member of the seat. The seat track protector assembly also includes a spring cooperating with the lower track member and the cover to return the cover toward the end of the lower track member when the cover is moved away from the end of the lower track member by the upper track member.

Claims

1. A seat track protector assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a cover adapted to be disposed adjacent an end of a lower track member for a seat of the vehicle and adapted for movement by an upper track member of the seat; and

a spring cooperating with the lower track member and said cover to return said cover toward the end of the lower track member when said cover is moved away from the end of the lower track member by the upper track member.

2. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a channel member adapted to be disposed in the lower track member.

3. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said channel member comprises a base wall extending longitudinally and end walls extending perpendicular to longitudinal ends of said base wall and having an aperture extending longitudinally through the end wall.

4. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a pin extending through said aperture in said channel member and connected to said cover.

5. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a spring retainer disposed about said pin, said spring being disposed between said spring retainer and said channel member.

6. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 5 including a pin member extending through said pin to prevent said spring retainer from exiting said pin.

7. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a tape for securing said channel member to the lower track member.

8. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 2 including at least one bumper to be disposed between said channel member and the lower track member.

9. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring is a coil spring.

10. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring is disposed about said pin either one of outside of said channel member and inside of said channel member.

11. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom and adapted to be disposed within the lower track member.

12. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said spring is a coil spring connected to one of said projections and adapted to be connected to the lower track member.

14. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said channel member comprises a base wall extending longitudinally and end walls extending perpendicular to longitudinal ends of said base wall and having an aperture extending longitudinally through the end walls.

15. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said aperture is generally rectangular in shape.

16. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein a pin is generally rectangular in shape and extends through said aperture.

13. A seat track protector assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a channel member adapted to be disposed in and fixed to a lower track member for a seat of the vehicle;

a pin extending longitudinally through longitudinal ends of said channel member;

a cover connected to one of the longitudinal ends of said pin and adapted to be disposed adjacent an end of the lower track member and adapted for movement by an upper track member of the seat; and

a coil spring disposed about said pin and cooperating with said channel member to urge said cover toward the end of the lower track member when moved away from the end of the lower track member by the upper track member.

17. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a spring retainer disposed about said pin, said spring being disposed between said spring retainer and said channel member.

18. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 17 including a pin member extending through said pin to prevent said spring retainer from exiting said pin.

19. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a tape for securing said channel member to the lower track member.

20. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 13 including at least one bumper to be disposed between said channel member and the lower track member.

21. A seat track protector assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said spring is disposed about said pin either one of outside of said channel member and inside of said channel member.

22. A seat track assembly for a vehicle comprising:

at least one seat track having a lower track member adapted to be fixed to a vehicle structure and an upper track member adapted to be connected to a seat and moveable relative to the lower track member;

a channel member disposed in said lower track member;

a pin extending through said channel member;

a cover connected to said pin to cover an end of said lower track member; and

a spring disposed about said pin and cooperating with said channel member to urge said cover toward the end of said lower track member when said cover is moved away from the end of said lower track member by said upper track member.