Power seat apparatus for vehicle

• US 8,038,197 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Koga, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US12/556,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20100065708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.18, 296/65.13, 296/65.14, 248/424, 248/429, 248/430
• US Class Current: 296/65.18
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02258 characterised by the mounting of the electric motor for adjusting the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped

Abstract

A power seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a screw member, a feed nut member fixed to the lower rail and meshed with the screw member, a retention member fixed to the upper rail, a fitting member rotatably held by the retention member and fixed to the screw member, a gear box mounted on the retention member and rotatably supporting an output rotation member, a drive unit transmitting a rotation drive force to the screw member, and first and second cut-and-lifted portions formed at first and second longitudinal walls of the upper rail respectively, the cut-and-lifted portions making contact with the fitting member when a load is applied to the screw member in an axial direction thereof to distribute the load to the upper rail, the cut-and lifted portions being formed by bending portions of the first and second longitudinal walls.

Claims

1. A power seat apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a lower rail provided at a vehicle floor;

an upper rail slidably supported by the lower rail and holding a seat for the vehicle;

a screw member rotatably arranged between the lower rail and the upper rail and extending in a direction where the upper rail is slidable;

a feed nut member fixed to the lower rail and meshed with the screw member;

a retention member fixed to the upper rail;

a fitting member rotatably held by the retention member and fixed to the screw member;

a gear box mounted on the retention member and rotatably supporting an output rotation member that is rotatably connected to the screw member; and

a drive unit transmitting a rotation drive force to the screw member by means of the output rotation member supported by the gear box; and

first and second cut-and-lifted portions formed at first and second longitudinal walls of the upper rail respectively, the cut-and-lifted portions making contact with the fitting member when a load is applied to the screw member in an axial direction thereof to distribute the load to the upper rail, the cut-and lifted portions being formed by bending portions of the first and second longitudinal walls.

2. The power seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cut-and-lifted portions are arranged in a vicinity of a rear end surface of the fitting member.

3. The power seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cut-and-lifted portions make contact with the fitting member at a position away from an axial center of the screw member relative to a connected portion between the upper rail and the retention member.

4. The power seat apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first and second cut-and-lifted portions make contact with a rear end surface or a front end surface of the fitting member at a position below a horizontal plane that passes through a rotational axis of the screw member.

5. The power seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end portion or a bent portion serving as a base point for bending of each of the cut-and-lifted portions is arranged above upper ends of first and second longitudinal walls of the lower rail in a state where the upper rail engages with the lower rail.

6. The power seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bent groove having a predetermined groove width and a U-shape is formed at each of the first and second longitudinal walls of the upper rail to face a rear end surface of the fitting member.