Seat track assembly with memory mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12043146-B2
Application number	US-202017627790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2020
Priority date	Jul 16, 2019
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A seat track assembly provides forward and rearward movement of a seat assembly. A latch mechanism allows movement of a movable track between a plurality of positions. A memory mechanism with a memory plate and a memory tab are operable between a home position in which the memory tab is disposed in a recess of the moveable track, and a memory position in which the memory plate is coupled with a plurality of angled teeth to define a selected position. Actuation of the memory mechanism to the memory position unlocks the latch mechanism to allow movement of the movable track in a first direction away from the selected position to an easy-entry position. Movement of the movable track in a second direction from the easy-entry position stops the movable track at the selected position, allowing the latch mechanism to lock and the memory mechanism to return to the home position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seat track assembly for providing forward and rearward movement of a seat assembly along a floor of an automotive vehicle, the seat track assembly comprising:
a fixed track adapted to be fixedly secured to the floor of the automotive vehicle;
a tooth rack extending along and fixedly secured to the fixed track, the tooth rack having a plurality of teeth extending upwardly therefrom;
a movable track adapted to be fixedly secured to the seat assembly and slidably coupled to the fixed track, the movable track including an elongated slot extending between opposite first and second ends and having a recess at the first end thereof, wherein the recess is defined by a front wall extending from the first end of the elongated slot, an opposite rear wall, a floor extending between the rear and front walls, and a truncated corner connecting the rear wall of the recess to the elongated slot;
a latch mechanism operatively coupled between the fixed and movable tracks, wherein the latch mechanism prevents sliding movement of the movable track and is selectively disengaged from the fixed track to allow sliding movement of the movable track between a plurality of positions; and
a memory mechanism operatively coupled to the moveable track and operable between:
a home position in which the memory mechanism is disengaged from the plurality of teeth for moving with the moveable track during sliding movement thereof, and
a memory position in which the memory mechanism is engaged with the plurality of teeth for coupling to the fixed track to define a previously selected one of the plurality of positions,

wherein the memory mechanism includes a memory plate extending between a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein the memory plate includes a memory tab extending laterally therefrom to selectively engage the recess of the elongated slot;
wherein the memory tab extends along the elongated slot between a head portion and an arm portion such that the head portion is adapted to selectively and matingly couple within the front and rear walls of the recess and the arm portion is adapted to selectively engage the truncated corner for reducing friction between the recess and the memory tab as the memory mechanism moves to and from the home position;
wherein actuation of the memory mechanism to the memory position disengages the latch mechanism from the fixed track, thereby allowing sliding movement of the movable track in a first direction from the previously selected one of the plurality of positions to an easy-entry position, and in a second direction opposite the first direction from the easy-entry position wherein the memory mechanism stops the movable track at the previously selected one of the plurality of positions, thereby reengaging the latch mechanism with the fixed track and returning the memory mechanism to the home position, and
wherein the plurality of teeth are angled from a vertical position for increasing engagement with the memory mechanism when in the memory position to further secure the memory mechanism to the fixed track at the previously selected one of the plurality of positions.

2. The seat track assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of teeth are angled rearward towards the second direction.

3. The seat track assembly of claim 2 wherein the latch mechanism is independently operable to disengage the latch mechanism from the fixed track when the memory mechanism is in the home position.

4. The seat track assembly of claim 3 wherein the memory plate is operatively coupled to the movable track such that the memory plate is disengaged from the plurality of teeth when the memory mechanism is in the home position and the memory plate is engaged with the plurality of teeth when the memory mechanism is in the memory position.

5. The seat track assembly of claim 4 wherein the memory plate is slidably coupled to the elongated slot such that the memory tab is disposed in the recess when the memory mechanism is in the home position and the memory tab is withdrawn from the recess when the memory mechanism is in the memory position.

6. The seat track assembly of claim 5 wherein the first end of the elongated slot contacts the memory tab to stop the movable track at the previously selected one of the plurality of positions in response to sliding movement of the movable track in the second direction.

7. The seat track assembly of claim 6 wherein the memory plate includes at least one memory tooth extending from the first end thereof for engaging the plurality of teeth of the tooth rack when the memory mechanism is in the memory position.

8. The seat track assembly of claim 7 wherein the memory mechanism is biased towards the home position.

9. The seat track assembly of claim 8 further comprising a latch release lever pivotally coupled to the movable track, wherein the latch release lever directly engages the latch mechanism and is operable to disengage the latch mechanism from the fixed track in response to pivotal movement of the latch release lever.

10. The seat track assembly of claim 9 further comprising a slider for engaging the second end of the memory plate and the latch release lever, wherein the slider is operable between a raised position when the memory mechanism is in the home position and the latch mechanism is engaged with the fixed track, and a depressed position when the memory mechanism is in the memory position and the latch mechanism is disengaged from the fixed track.

11. The seat track assembly of claim 10 further comprising a guide tab disposed on the movable track, the guide tab adapted and arranged for engaging and guiding and the slider between the raised position and the depressed position.

12. The seat track assembly of claim 11 wherein the movable track contacts the slider in the depressed position to prevent the slider from moving to the raised position during sliding movement of the movable track between the previously selected one of the plurality of positions and the easy-entry position, thereby preventing engagement of the latch mechanism with the fixed track.

13. The seat track assembly of claim 12 further comprising a cam lever pivotally coupled to the movable track for engaging the slider, wherein pivotal movement of the cam lever in a first direction moves the slider from the raised position to the depressed position.

14. The seat track assembly of claim 13 wherein movement of the slider from the raised position to the depressed position actuates the memory mechanism to the memory position prior to disengaging the latch mechanism from the fixed track.

15. The seat track assembly of claim 14 wherein movement of the slider from the depressed position to the raised position allows the latch mechanism to engage the fixed track prior to allowing the memory mechanism to return to the home position.

16. A seat track assembly providing forward and rearward movement of a seat assembly along a floor of an automotive vehicle, the seat track assembly comprising:
a fixed track adapted to be fixedly secured to the floor of the automotive vehicle;
a movable track adapted to be fixedly secured to the seat assembly and slidably coupled to the fixed track, the moveable track including an elongated slot extending between opposite first and second ends with a recess extending from the first end thereof;
a latch mechanism operatively coupled between the fixed and movable tracks, wherein the latch mechanism prevents sliding movement of the movable track and is selectively disengaged from the fixed track to allow sliding movement of the movable track

Assignees

• Magna Seating Inc
• Zang Creston A
• Kurzeja Kristof M

Inventors

• Zang Creston A
• Kurzeja Kristof M

Classifications

• B60N2002/126

  the backrest being maintained in its tilted position until the seat has slided to its memorised position · CPC title

• B60N2/0875

  in a vertical direction · CPC title

• B60N2/0812

  Location of the latch · CPC title

• B60N2/0715

  C or U-shaped · CPC title

• B60N2/0825 Primary

  outside the rail · CPC title