IP Library Granted Patent US 10,160,350
Granted Patent B2
US 10,160,350 · App. 14/754,841 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat and method for assembly

Inventors: Leo Ioppolo (Washington Twp, MI); Paul Herr (Fraser, MI)
Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
B60N2/0727B60N2/0705B60N2/073B60N2/0715B60N2/0722
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,160,350
App. No.
14/754,841
Granted
Dec 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat comprises a lower rail 2 and a second rail 1 movably guided relative to the first rail. A first end stop 4 is supported on the second rail 1 or on the first rail 2 at a central position so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction, for defining the front end position and/or rear end position of the second rail 1 by cooperation with the first rail 2 or the second rail 1 and edges of a retainer cage 6 used for accommodating bearing members. According to the invention the total travel range of the adjusting device can be extended, because the central end stop can be displaced in longitudinal direction.

Claims (41)

1. An adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat, comprising:

a first rail and a second rail, the second rail being movably guided in a longitudinal direction relative to the first rail, and

an end stop for defining a front end position and/or a rear end position of the second rail relative to the first rail, wherein

the second rail is an upper rail of the adjusting device and comprises a base leg, an L-leg projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base leg, a connecting leg, which projects therefrom and extends in parallel with the base leg and a bearing leg, which extends relative to the connecting leg under an acute angle and towards an interior of the rail,

a lateral bearing area of the second rail is formed by the bearing leg of the second rail, and

a recess is formed in the bearing leg of the second rail, said recess extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein

the end stop is supported in the recess, and

the end stop positively grips behind the bearing leg of the second rail so as to be displaceably supported on the second rail in the longitudinal direction along said recess, for defining the front end position and/or rear end position of the second rail by cooperation of the end stop with an edge of said recess, wherein

an oblong retainer for accommodating bearing members is disposed between the first rail and the second rail,

the oblong retainer is supported so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and

the front end position and/or rear end position of the second rail is further defined by cooperation of the end stop with the oblong retainer.

2. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed in a central region of the adjusting device and extends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the end stop is provided in the central region of the adjusting device and extends transverse to the longitudinal direction in a gap between the first rail and the second rail.

3. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end stop comprises a base member and a supporting surface spaced apart from each other, for forming a guide channel, wherein the base member is formed corresponding to the bearing leg of the second rail.

4. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the base member comprises a slanted connecting leg and an embracing portion, for embracing an edge of the recess.

5. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3 , wherein protrusions are formed on the supporting surface and/or on a bottom of the guide channel, for reducing friction between the end stop and the bearing leg.

6. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed on an inner surface of a guiding channel, which are aligned along the longitudinal direction, wherein grooves are formed in between these protrusions for accommodating grease or a lubricant to further reduce friction between the end stop and the bearing leg.

7. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the end stop is integrally formed of a resin or plastic material.

8. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the oblong retainer comprises a retainer recess extending in the longitudinal direction, for defining the front end position and/or the rear end position of the second rail by cooperation with the end stop.

9. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the oblong retainer comprises a front side wall and a rear side wall, said retainer recess being formed between the front side wall and the rear side wall, wherein the length of the retainer recess corresponds to a maximum travel range of the second rail relative to the first rail.

10. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the oblong retainer does not extend beyond a front edge or rear edge of the first rail or second rail in any of the end positions of the second rail.

11. An adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat, comprising:

a first rail and a second rail, which second rail is movably guided in a longitudinal direction relative to the first rail, and

an end stop for defining a front end position and/or a rear end position of the second rail relative to the first rail, wherein

a recess is formed in the second rail or in the first rail, said recess extending in the longitudinal direction and having a rear edge and a front edge,

the end stop is formed as a part separate to the first rail and second rail, which is not fixed to the first rail or second rail, and

the end stop is supported on the second rail or on the first rail by a positive-fit and is displaced in the recess in the longitudinal direction and relative to the first rail or to second rail by movement of the second rail relative to the first rail, so that

the front end position and/or the rear end position of the second rail relative to the first rail is defined by cooperation of the end stop with the first rail or with the second rail and with one of the rear edge and front edge of the recess,

wherein the recess is formed in a sidewall of a lateral bearing area of the second rail,

wherein the recess extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in a lateral bearing area of the second rail and a first end stop positively grips behind the lateral bearing area of the second rail so as to be displaceably supported on the second rail, and

wherein the second rail is an upper rail of the adjusting device and comprises a base leg, an L-leg projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base leg, a connecting leg, which projects therefrom and extends in parallel with the base leg and a bearing leg, which extends relative to the connecting leg under an acute angle and towards an interior of the rail,

the lateral bearing area of the second rail is formed by the bearing leg of the second rail, and

the first end stop positively grips behind the bearing leg.

12. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the recess is formed in a central region of the adjusting device and extends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the end stop is provided in the central region of the adjusting device and extends transverse to the longitudinal direction in a gap between the first rail and the second rail.

13. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 , wherein

an oblong retainer for accommodating bearing members is disposed between the first rail and the second rail,

the oblong retainer is supported so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and

the front end position and/or rear end position of the second rail is further defined by cooperation of the end stop with the oblong retainer.

14. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the oblong retainer comprises a retainer recess extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the front end position and/or the rear end position of the second rail relative to the first rail is further defined by cooperation of the end stop with the retainer recess.

15. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the oblong retainer comprises a front side wall and a rear side wall, said retainer recess being formed between the front side wall and the rear side wall, wherein the length of the retainer recess corresponds to a maximum travel range of the second rail relative to the first rail.

16. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the end stop comprises a base member and a supporting surface spaced apart from each other, for forming a guide channel, wherein the base member is formed corresponding to the bearing leg of the second rail.

17. The adjusting device for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the end stop is integrally formed of a resin or plastic material.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE LAST NAME OF THE FIRST INVENTOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 036090 FRAME 0735. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 17, 2017
From: IOPPOLO, LEO; HERR, PAUL
To: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG, COBURG
Reel/Frame 042485/0304 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2015
From: LOPPOLO, LEO; HERR, PAUL
To: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG, COBURG
Reel/Frame 036090/0735 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170001542A1 · Jan 5, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,263,762