IP Library Granted Patent US 11,225,201
Granted Patent B2
US 11,225,201 · App. 16/215,127 · Granted Jan 18, 2022

Track assembly

Inventor: Antoine Moulin (Aurec-sur-Loire, FR)
Assignee: Lear Corporation
B60R11/00F16M13/02B60P7/08B60R2011/0084F16M2200/027
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,225,201
App. No.
16/215,127
Granted
Jan 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A support assembly includes a first support member, a second support member, and/or a rod. The first support member and/or the second support member may be connected via the rod. The first support member and/or the second support member may be configured to move longitudinally along the rod. The first support member and/or the second support member may be configured to rotate about the rod. The first support member and/or the second support member may be configured to selectively engage a track. The first support member may include a first contact member and/or a third contact member. The second support member may include a second contact member and/or a fourth contact member. The first contact member may be configured to move with the third contact member, and/or the second contact member may be configured to move with the fourth contact member.

Claims (54)

1. A support assembly for a track, comprising:

a first support member;

a second support member; and

a rod;

wherein the first support member and the second support member are connected via the rod; the first support member and the second support member are configured to slide longitudinally along the rod;

the first support member and the second support member are configured to rotate about the rod;

the first support member and the second support member are configured to selectively engage said track; and

the first support member, the second support member, and the rod are disposed such that in an engaged position of the support assembly, the rod is substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of said track.

2. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first support member includes a first contact member and a third contact member; and the second support member includes a second contact member and a fourth contact member.

3. The support assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first contact member is configured to move with the third contact member; the second contact member is configured to move with the fourth contact member; and the first support member and the second support member are biased toward a disengaged position.

4. The support assembly of claim 2 , wherein bottom portions of the first contact member and the third contact member are configured to move outward to contact a first side of said track; and

bottom portions of the second contact member and the fourth contact member are configured to move outward to contact a second side of said track.

5. The support assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first contact member includes an upper portion and a lower portion;

the upper portion is configured to contact a top surface of a second side of said track; and

the lower portion is configured to contact an inner surface of a first side of said track.

6. The support assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second contact member includes a first fin and the third contact member includes a second fin.

7. The support assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first fin and the second fin are configured to engage an aperture in said track to limit longitudinal movement of the support assembly.

8. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are configured to clamp a first side of said track such that a portion of the first side of said track is disposed between a lower portion of the first support member and an upper portion of the second support member in a vertical direction; and

the first support member and the second support member are configured to clamp a second side of said track such that a portion of the second side of said track is disposed between an upper portion of the first support member and a lower portion of the second support member in said vertical direction.

9. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first support member includes a first latch and a first aperture; and the second support member includes a second latch and a second aperture.

10. The support assembly of claim 9 , wherein in the engaged position, the first latch is engaged with the second aperture and the second latch is engaged with the first aperture; and

the first latch, the second latch, the first aperture, and the second aperture are configured to limit rotation of the first support member and the second support member.

11. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first support member includes a first latch;

the second support member includes a second latch;

when the first support member and the second support member are in a disengaged position, the first latch and the second latch are not engaged with ends of the rod; and

in the engaged position, the first latch and the second latch engage ends of the rod to limit longitudinal movement of the first support member and the second support member.

12. A track assembly comprising:

the support assembly of claim 1 ; and

said track, said track including:

an outer track; and

an inner track disposed at least partially in the outer track.

13. The track assembly of claim 12 , wherein an upper portion of a first contact member of the first support member and an upper portion of a second contact member of the second support member are configured to contact respective outer surfaces of the outer track when the support assembly is engaged with the track.

14. The track assembly of claim 13 , wherein a lower portion of the first contact member and a lower portion of the second contact member are configured to contact respective inner surfaces of the outer track when the support assembly is engaged with the track.

15. The track assembly of claim 14 , wherein the lower portion of the first contact member and the lower portion of the second contact member each include a fin, and the fins are configured to engage the inner track and limit longitudinal movement of the first support member and the second support member relative to the track.

16. The track assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first support member and the second support member include corresponding apertures that, when the first support member and the second support member are in a clamped position, are substantially aligned and configured for attaching a connector.

17. The track assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are configured to move between a first position and a second position; the first support member and the second support member are not engaged with the track in the first position; and the first support member and the second support member are clamped with the track in the second position.

18. A support assembly for a track, comprising:

a first support member;

a second support member; and

a rod;

wherein the first support member and the second support member are connected via the rod; at least one of the first support member and the second support member is configured to move longitudinally along the rod; one or both of the first support member and the second support member are configured to rotate about the rod; the first support member and the second support member are configured to selectively engage said track; the first support member includes a first contact member; the second support member includes a second contact member; and

the first contact member and the second contact member are substantially S-shaped.

19. A support assembly for a track, comprising:

a first support member;

a second support member;

a rod; and

a biasing member configured to bias the first support member and the second support member toward a disengaged position;

wherein the first support member and the second support member are connected via the rod; at least one of the first support member and the second support member is configured to slide longitudinally along the rod;

one or both of the first support member and the second support member are configured to rotate about the rod;

the first support member and the second support member are configured to selectively engage said track;

the first support member and the second support member are configured to move between a first position and a second position;

removal of the first support member and the second support member from said track is not substantially restricted when the first support member and the second support member are in the first position; and

removal of the first support member and the second support member from said track is restricted when the first support member and the second support member are in the second position.

20. The support assembly of claim 19 , wherein in an engaged position, top portions of the first support member and the second support member are in contact with each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2018
From: MOULIN, ANTOINE
To: LEAR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047730/0954 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200180517A1 · Jun 11, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,662,269