Track assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11440482-B2
Application number	US-201816215090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 10, 2018
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

A track assembly includes a track and/or a support assembly. The support assembly may be configured for connection with the track. The support assembly may include a housing, a support member, an actuator, a rod, a latch, and/or an engagement portion. The engagement portion may extend from the latch. The engagement portion may be configured to selectively engage an inner surface of the track. The housing may include a longitudinal axis and/or the actuator may be configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The latch may include a first position, a second position, and/or a third position. When the latch is in the third position, the engagement portion may be configured not to engage the track. The engagement portion may be configured to contact the track when the latch is in the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track assembly comprising:
a track; and
a support assembly configured for connection with the track, the support assembly including:
a housing;
a support member;
an actuator;
a rod;
a latch configured to rotate about or with the rod; and
an engagement portion extending from the latch;
wherein the engagement portion is configured to selectively engage an inner surface of the track;
the support member is configured to be removed from the track; and
the housing includes a contact portion configured to contact a top side of the track.

2. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch has a first position, a second position, and a third position;
the housing includes a longitudinal axis;
the actuator is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis; and
the actuator is configured such that when the latch is in the first position, the actuator is flush with an outer surface of the housing.

3. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch has a first position, a second position, and a third position; and
when the latch is in the third position, the engagement portion is configured to not engage the track.

4. The track assembly of claim 3 , wherein the engagement portion is configured to contact the track when the latch is in the first position; and
when the latch is in the first position, movement of the support assembly is limited in three directions.

5. The track assembly of claim 4 , wherein the engagement portion is configured not to engage the track when the latch is in the second position; and
when the latch is in the second position, movement of the support assembly is limited in two directions.

6. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the latch between a first position, a second position, and a third position; and
in the first position of the latch, one or more clamp portions of the actuator are engaged with respective support portions of the housing to clamp the latch with the track and substantially prevent longitudinal movement of the support assembly relative to the track.

7. The track assembly of claim 6 , wherein engagement between the clamp portions and the support portions is configured to move the actuator vertically such that the rod moves vertically in an aperture of the support member.

8. The track assembly of claim 6 , wherein, in the first position of the latch, engagement of the clamp portions with the respective support portions provides a vertically clamping force to the latch onto an underside of the track.

9. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein, in the second position and the third position of the latch, the one or more clamp portions are disengaged from the respective support portions and the rod is disposed in a bottom portion of an aperture of the support member.

10. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the track includes an inner track and an outer track; and
the latch is configured to clamp onto the outer track.

11. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rod is configured to move vertically in an aperture of the support member.

12. A track assembly comprising:
a track; and
a support assembly configured for connection with the track, the support assembly including:
a housing;
a support member;
an actuator;
a rod;
a latch configured to rotate about or with the rod; and
an engagement portion extending from the latch;
wherein the housing includes a first housing member connected to a second housing member; and upper portions of the first housing member and the second housing member are configured to contact top sides of the track.

13. A support assembly comprising:
a housing including a first housing member and a second housing member;
a support member disposed at least partially in the housing;
an actuator; and
a latch including an engagement portion;
wherein the actuator and the latch are rotatably connected to the support member; the engagement portion is configured to selectively engage a track;
the support member is configured to be removed from said track;
the first housing member includes a first contact portion;
the second housing member includes a second contact portion; and
the first contact portion and the second contact portion are configured to contact top sides of said track to support the support assembly on said track.

14. The support assembly of claim 13 , wherein the support member includes a first support portion and a second support portion;
the first support portion and the second support portion extend laterally from the support member; and
the first support portion and the second support portion are disposed in contact with a first protrusion and a second protrusion of the first housing member.

15. The support assembly of claim 13 , including a second support member and a second track;
wherein the second support member is configured to selectively engage the second track; and
the second support member is configured to cooperate with the support member to support and restrict movement of an object.

16. The support assembly of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate and to move vertically.

17. The support assembly of claim 13 , including a rod;
wherein the actuator includes a slot configured to facilitate vertical movement of the rod.

18. The support assembly of claim 13 , wherein the actuator includes a curved clamp portion configured to rotate with the actuator to engage a support portion of the support member and move the latch.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Moulin Antoine

Classifications

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• B60R11/00 Primary

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• E01B3/22

  Longitudinal sleepers; Longitudinal sleepers integral or combined with tie-rods; Combined longitudinal and transverse sleepers · CPC title

• B60R9/048 Primary

  Carriers characterised by article-gripping {, -covering,}-retaining, or -locking means · CPC title

• B60R2011/0084

  with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position · CPC title