Track assembly

• US 10,889,208 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2018
• Issued: 01/12/2021
• 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): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johns, Hilary L
• Application Number:
  US16/131,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20190337414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 2808011
• 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, and/or a lever. The support member may be connected to the lever, and/or the lever may include a rotational axis substantially parallel to the track. The lever may rotation about the rotational axis between a first position and/or a second position. The lever may be configured to engage the track in a longitudinal direction when the lever may be in a first position. The lever may be configured to engage the track in a lateral direction when the lever may be in a second position. The lever may be configured to limit longitudinal movement of the support member along the track. The track may include a longitudinal window that may have a first edge and/or a second edge.

Claims

1. A track assembly, comprising;

a track;

a lever including a rotational axis substantially parallel to the track;

a support member connected to the lever; and

wherein the lever rotates about the rotational axis between a first position and a second position;

the lever is configured to engage the track in a longitudinal direction when the lever is in the first position;

and the lever is configured to contact an inner surface of the track in a lateral direction when the lever is in the second position.

2. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever is configured to limit longitudinal movement of the support member along the track.

3. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the track includes a longitudinal window having a first edge and a second edge.

4. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein a location of the longitudinal window corresponds to a seat position relative to a seat belt assembly;

and

the first edge and the second edge correspond to maximum separation distances between the seat belt assembly and the support member.

5. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein the lever is connected to a biasing element configured to move the lever from the second position to the first position when a contact portion of the lever is laterally aligned with the longitudinal window.

6. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is connected to a seat including a seat back and a seat cushion;

the lever is connected to at least one of the seat back or the seat cushion; and

the lever is configured to limit movement of the seat into a seating position when the lever is in the second.

7. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein a seat connected to the support member is in a non-seating configuration when the lever is in the second position;

and

the seat is in a seating configuration when the lever is in the first position.

8. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal window corresponds to a portion of a side wall of the track with a reduced height.

9. The track assembly of claim 1, including a seat belt assembly with a mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion does not move with the support member.

10. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever is connected to a biasing element configured to bias the lever toward the first position.

11. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever includes a contact portion having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion.

12. The track assembly of claim 11, wherein the contact portion is substantially triangular.

13. The track assembly of claim 11, wherein longitudinal movement of the support member is limited when the third portion of the contact portion is not in contact with the track.

14. The track assembly of claim 11, wherein longitudinal movement of the support member is not substantially limited when the third portion of the contact portion is in contact with the track.

15. The track assembly of claim 11, wherein the track includes a window having a first edge and a second edge, and wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion is configured to contact at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the window;

the track includes a first track portion and a second track portion;

the window extends along substantially all of the first track portion;

and the lever is configured to prevent movement of a seat connected to the support member from a non-seating configuration to a seating configuration while the support member is outside of the first track portion.

16. The track assembly of claim 15, wherein the third portion does not contact the track in the first position;

and the third portion contacts the inner surface of the track in the second position.

17. The track assembly of claim 16, wherein the first portion and the second portion are substantially parallel.

18. The track assembly of claim 16, wherein the first portion and the second portion are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the track.

19. A vehicle, including,

the track assembly of claim 1;

a vehicle body; and

a seat belt assembly;

wherein the track includes a longitudinal window having a first edge and a second edge;

and the longitudinal window corresponds to a position of a mounting portion of the seat belt assembly to define a safe seating zone.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the mounting portion of the seat belt assembly is fixedly attached to the vehicle body.