Track assembly

• US 10,850,645 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2018
• Issued: 12/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Condamin, Thibaud, Hamtache, Nordine, Moulin, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Duckworth, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US16/131,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20190337416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01541 using moving hooks B60N2/01583 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01591 with wheels coupled to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/072 Complex cross-section, e.g. obtained by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0722 Constructive details
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0732 Attachment of seat frame to the slide, e.g. eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0806 with pin alignment systems, e.g. with at least one of a plurality of locking pins always aligned w.r.t. at least one of a plurality of pin-receiving elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0818 inside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0843 about a longitudinal axis
• 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 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/54 using mechanical springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/933 rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/20 Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/22 secured to the vehicle floor

Abstract

A track assembly includes a track, a support member, a lever, and a slider. The support member may be configured for selective connection with the track. The lever may be connected to the support member, and the slider may be connected to the support member. The lever may be configured to limit movement of the slider and to limit movement of the support member. The slider may be configured to move longitudinally along the support member. The slider may be connected at a top of the support member. The lever may be configured to rotate about an axis that may be parallel to the track. The lever may include a top portion. The lever may include a first position and/or a second position. The slider may be configured to selectively contact the top portion of the lever when in a first position.

Claims

1. A track assembly, comprising;

a track;

a support member configured for selective connection with the track;

a lever connected to the support member;

a slider connected to the support member;

an anchor; and

a track locking component;

wherein the lever is configured to limit movement of the slider and to limit movement of the support member; and

the slider is configured to actuate the anchor and the track locking component.

2. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the slider is configured to move longitudinally along the support member.

3. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever includes a top portion;

the lever includes a first position and a second position; and

the slider is configured to selectively contact the top portion of the lever when the lever is in the first position.

4. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein the lever is connected to a biasing member and the biasing member biases the lever toward the first position.

5. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein the slider includes a protrusion configured to contact the top portion of the lever.

6. The track assembly of claim 5, including a second lever connected to the support member;

wherein the protrusion includes a first surface, a second surface, and a second lever engagement portion;

the first surface of the protrusion is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal direction;

the second surface of the protrusion is disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction;

the top portion of the lever includes a first surface and a second surface;

the first surface of the lever is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

the second surface of the lever is disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction;

the first surface of the lever is configured to engage the first surface of the slider to restrict movement of the slider; and

the second lever engagement portion is configured to engage the second lever without engaging the lever.

7. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to support a seat;

and the lever is configured to (i) limit movement of the support member to within a first portion of the track while said seat is in a seating configuration, (ii) prevent removal of the support member from the track while said seat is in the seating configuration, and (iii) prevent movement of said seat from a non-seating configuration to the seating configuration while the support member is outside of the first portion of the track.

8. The track assembly of claim 1, including a second lever and a rod supporting the second lever, the anchor, and the track locking component;

wherein the slider is configured to actuate the second lever.

9. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever includes a top portion and a bottom portion;

the top portion is configured to contact the slider; and

the bottom portion is configured to contact the track.

10. A track assembly, comprising;

a track;

a support member configured for selective connection with the track;

a lever connected to the support member; and

a slider connected to the support member;

wherein the lever is configured to limit movement of the slider and to limit movement of the support member; and

the slider includes a first position, a second position, and a third position, and the slider is in contact with the lever in the second position and the third position.

11. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the lever is configured to prevent the slider from moving from the second position to the third position when the lever is in a first lever position.

12. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the slider is configured to prevent rotation of the lever when the slider is in the third position.

13. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the lever is configured to move from a second lever position to a first lever position when the slider moves from the third position to the second position.

14. A seat assembly, comprising:

a seat; and

a track assembly connected to the seat, the track assembly including;

a track;

a support member configured for selective connection with the track; and

a lever connected to the support member;

wherein the lever is configured to (i) limit movement of the support member to within a first portion of the track while the seat is in a seating configuration, (ii) prevent removal of the support member from the track while the seat is in the seating configuration, and (iii) prevent movement of the seat from a non-seating configuration to the seating configuration while the support member is outside of the first portion of the track.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the track assembly includes a slider connected to a top of the support member.

16. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the lever is configured to rotate about an axis parallel to the track.

17. The track seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the lever has a first position and a second position;

the lever restricts movement of a slider relative to the support member when the lever is in the first position; and

the lever does not substantially restrict movement of the slider when the lever is in the second position.

18. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the lever includes a first position and a second position;

and

removal of the support member from the track is restricted prevented when the lever is in the first position.

19. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein the track assembly includes an anchor and a slider;

and

wherein the slider is configured to actuate the anchor and contact the lever.

20. The seat assembly of claim 14,

wherein the track assembly includes a slider;

the lever includes a recess configured to receive an engagement portion of the slider;

the engagement portion of the slider is configured to cause rotation of a second lever; and

the engagement portion is not configured to move the lever.