TRIPLE OUTPUT TRANSFER CASE FOR A VEHICLE SEAT
First Claim
1. A transfer case assembly for selectively moving a seat assembly in a plurality of adjustment directions, said assembly comprising:
- a motor;
a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor for rotation in response to actuation of said motor;
a plurality of driving gears mounted to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;
a plurality of driven shafts corresponding with said respective plurality of driving gears for independently controlling movement of the seat assembly;
a driven gear rotatably mounted to each of said driven shafts and meshed with a respective one of said driving gears for rotation therewith;
a coupler disposed adjacent each of said driven gears for selectively coupling said driven gears to said respective driven shafts; and
a power actuator disposed adjacent each of said coupler for operative engagement therewith for selectively coupling said driven gears with said respective driven shafts and transfer rotation of said drive shaft to rotation of said driven shafts through independent or simultaneous actuation of said actuators and said motor whereby the seat assembly may be moved in one or more of the plurality of adjustment directions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transfer case assembly (10) for selectively moving a seal assembly in a plurality of adjustment directions. The assembly comprises a motor (12) and a drive shaft (14) operatively connected to the motor (12) for rotation in response to actuation of the motor. A plurality of driving gears (16, 18, 20) are mounted to the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A plurality of drives (24, 28, 32) shafts corresponding with the respective plurality of driving gears are provided for independently controlling movement of the seat assembly in the fore/aft, up and down direction. A driven gear is rotatably mounted to each of the driven shafts and meshed with a respective one of the driving gears for rotation therewith. A coupler (22, 26, 30) is disposed adjacent to each of the driven gears for selectively coupling the driven gears to the respective driven shafts (24, 28, 32). A solenoid (38, 52, 66) is disposed adjacent to each of the couplers (22, 26, 30) for operative engagement therewith for selectively coupling the driven gears with the respective driven shafts to transfer rotation of the drive shaft to rotation of the driven shafts through independent or simultaneous actuation of the solenoids and the motor whereby the seat assembly may be moved in one or more of the plurality of adjustment directions.
20 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A transfer case assembly for selectively moving a seat assembly in a plurality of adjustment directions, said assembly comprising:
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a motor; a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor for rotation in response to actuation of said motor; a plurality of driving gears mounted to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a plurality of driven shafts corresponding with said respective plurality of driving gears for independently controlling movement of the seat assembly; a driven gear rotatably mounted to each of said driven shafts and meshed with a respective one of said driving gears for rotation therewith; a coupler disposed adjacent each of said driven gears for selectively coupling said driven gears to said respective driven shafts; and a power actuator disposed adjacent each of said coupler for operative engagement therewith for selectively coupling said driven gears with said respective driven shafts and transfer rotation of said drive shaft to rotation of said driven shafts through independent or simultaneous actuation of said actuators and said motor whereby the seat assembly may be moved in one or more of the plurality of adjustment directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A transfer case assembly for selectively moving a seat assembly in a plurality of adjustment directions, said assembly comprising:
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a motor; a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor for rotation in response to actuation of said motor; a plurality of driving gears mounted to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a plurality of driven shafts corresponding with said respective plurality of driving gears for independently controlling movement of the seat assembly; a driven gear rotatably mounted to each of said driven shafts and meshed with a respective one of said driving gears for rotation therewith; a coupler disposed adjacent each of said driven gears for selectively coupling said driven gears to said respective driven shafts, said coupler including an engagement ring mounted about said driven shaft, said engagement ring moveable longitudinally along said driven shaft while remaining rotationally fixed relative to said driven shaft; and a power actuator disposed adjacent each of said coupler for operative engagement therewith for selectively coupling said driven gears with said respective driven shafts and transfer rotation of said drive shaft to rotation of said driven shafts through independent or simultaneous actuation of said actuators and said motor whereby the seat assembly may be moved in one or more of the plurality of adjustment directions.
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23. A transfer case assembly for selectively moving a seat assembly in a plurality of adjustment directions, said assembly comprising:
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a motor; a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor for rotation in response to actuation of said motor; a plurality of driving gears mounted to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a plurality of driven shafts corresponding with said respective plurality of driving gears for independently controlling movement of the seat assembly; a driven gear rotatably mounted to each of said driven shafts and meshed with a respective one of said driving gears for rotation therewith and wherein at least one of said driven gears includes a worm drive associated therewith; a coupler disposed adjacent each of said driven gears for selectively coupling said driven gears to said respective driven shafts; and a power actuator disposed adjacent each of said coupler for operative engagement therewith for selectively coupling said driven gears with said respective driven shafts and transfer rotation of said drive shaft to rotation of said driven shafts through independent or simultaneous actuation of said actuators and said motor whereby the seat assembly may be moved in one or more of the plurality of adjustment directions.
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Specification