Longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat

• US 9,630,530 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Balin, Alexander I, Seibold, Kurt, Kienke, Ingo, Linnenbrink, Jorg
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US14/399,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20150102199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 248424, 248429, 248430, 296 6506, 296 6507, 296 6508, 2973441
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/07 Slide construction
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0722 Constructive details
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/08 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/161 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1814 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1842 pivoting about an axis located in the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/235 by gear-pawl type mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/427 Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/546 Leaf- or flexion springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/20 Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash

Abstract

Longitudinal, adjuster (27) having an outer and an Inner rail (50, 51), characterized in that the outer rail (50) has a structural element (53) which absorbs vertical forces and has a flexible element which biases a rolling body (52) against the inner rail (51).

Claims

1. A longitudinal adjuster having an outer rail and an inner rail, wherein the outer rail has a structural element which is made of a stiff material and which absorbs vertical forces, wherein the outer rail has an elastic element which biases a rolling body against the inner rail, wherein the elastic element is provided as a separate component of the outer rail, wherein the inner rail is realized in a rigid manner, and wherein the outer rail and the inner rail are produced from plastic, fiber reinforced plastic, plastic composite materials, or a combination thereof.

2. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the inner rail, the outer rail, or both the inner rail and the outer rail, is produced from a lightweight building material.

3. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 1, including a rolling or sliding body cage which is comprised of flexible material and arranged in between the inner rail and the outer rail, wherein the rolling or sliding body cage is formed in a resilient manner.

4. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the rolling or sliding body cage is connected to the inner rail, wherein one end of the rolling or sliding body cage has zero degrees of freedom relative to the inner rail, and wherein an other end of the rolling or sliding body cage has at least one degree of freedom.

5. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 4, wherein the other end is reversibly fixed to the inner rail after assembly of the inner rail and the outer rail.

6. A longitudinal adjuster having an outer rail and an inner rail and at least one rolling or sliding body cage, wherein the at least one rolling or sliding body cage is made out of flexible material and arranged in between the inner rail and the outer rail, and wherein the longitudinal adjuster further includes a lock which prevents the at least one rolling or sliding body cage from moving relative to the inner rail.

7. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 6, wherein the inner rail, the outer rail, or both the inner rail and the outer rail, is produced from aluminium, plastic, fiber reinforced plastic, plastic composite materials, or a combination thereof.

8. The longitudinal adjuster according to claim 6, which includes two or more rolling or sliding body cages.