Track system with a support member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12044301-B2
Application number	US-202117179159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2021
Priority date	Feb 21, 2020
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

An anchor for a support member of a track system may include an anchor body, a toothed anchor portion, and an anchor member. The anchor body may be connectable to said support member. The toothed anchor portion may include a plurality of anchor teeth configured to engage a plurality of track teeth of a toothed portion of a track assembly. The anchor member may be configured to facilitate engagement of the plurality of anchor teeth and said plurality of track teeth. The anchor body, the toothed anchor portion, and the anchor member may be connected to one another to collectively form a hook portion configured to engage said toothed portion of said track assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An anchor for a support member of a track system, comprising:
an anchor body connectable to said support member;
a toothed anchor portion including a plurality of anchor teeth configured to engage a plurality of track teeth of a toothed portion of a track assembly; and
an anchor member configured to facilitate engagement of the plurality of anchor teeth and said plurality of track teeth;
wherein the anchor body, the toothed anchor portion, and the anchor member are connected to one another to collectively form a hook portion configured to engage said toothed portion of said track assembly; and
the toothed anchor portion is disposed at least partially between the anchor body and the anchor member.

2. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein:
the anchor body, the anchor member, and the toothed anchor portion extend substantially parallel to one another substantially in an X-direction;
the anchor body and the anchor member extend beyond the toothed anchor portion substantially in a Z-direction such that a gap is defined above the toothed anchor portion substantially in the Z-direction and between the anchor body and the anchor member substantially in a Y-direction; and
the gap is configured to receive at least a portion of said toothed portion of said track assembly.

3. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein:
the anchor body has a rotation axis disposed at or about a first end of the anchor body; and
the toothed anchor portion and the anchor member are connected at or about a second end of the anchor body, which is disposed opposite the first end of the anchor body.

4. The anchor of claim 1 , including:
an anchor protrusion extending substantially perpendicularly from the anchor body; and
an anchor tab extending from the anchor protrusion substantially perpendicularly from the anchor protrusion, the anchor tab configured to engage a slider of said support member and facilitate adjustment of the anchor body.

5. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein the anchor body includes a ramp portion configured to engage an anchor cam of said support member.

6. The anchor of claim 5 , wherein:
the ramp portion includes a first ramp end and a second ramp end;
the first ramp end is disposed above the second ramp end; and
the second ramp end extends farther from the anchor body.

7. The anchor of claim 6 , wherein the ramp portion is curved.

8. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein:
the anchor body includes a first anchor receptacle;
the anchor member includes a second anchor receptacle;
the toothed anchor portion includes (i) a first anchor projection engaged with the first anchor receptacle to connect the toothed anchor portion and the anchor body to one another, and (ii) a second anchor projection engaged with the second anchor receptacle to connect the toothed anchor portion and the anchor member to one another;
the first anchor projection and the second anchor projection extend from opposite sides of the toothed anchor portion; and
the first anchor projection and the second anchor projection are configured differently from one another.

9. The anchor of claim 1 , including:
an anchor recess extending at least partially through the anchor body, the toothed anchor portion, and the anchor member; and
an anchor connector engaged with the anchor recess and connecting the anchor body, the toothed anchor portion, and the anchor member.

10. A track system, comprising:
the anchor of claim 1 ; and
the track assembly;
wherein the anchor is configured to move between (i) an engaged position in which the toothed anchor portion is engaged with the toothed portion of the track assembly, and (ii) a disengaged position in which the toothed anchor portion is disengaged from the toothed portion of the track assembly.

11. The track system of claim 10 , wherein moving from the disengaged position to the engaged position includes the anchor translating substantially vertically upward and rotating toward the toothed portion of the track assembly.

12. A track system, comprising:
a track assembly including a toothed portion; and
a support assembly including a support member removably and adjustably connected to the track assembly;
wherein the toothed portion includes a plurality of track teeth;
the support member includes an anchor configured to connect the support assembly to the track assembly;
the anchor includes a plurality of anchor teeth configured to engage the plurality of track teeth;
the anchor is adjustable to an engaged position in which the anchor and the toothed portion are engaged with one another; and
the anchor is adjustable to a disengaged position in which the anchor and the toothed portion are not engaged with one another.

13. The track system of claim 12 , wherein:
the anchor includes an anchor adjustment portion;
the support member includes a rotatable anchor cam; and
the rotatable anchor cam includes an anchor cam projection configured to selectively engage the anchor adjustment portion to disengage the anchor from the toothed portion of the track assembly.

14. The track system of claim 13 , wherein:
the anchor includes a ramp portion; and
the anchor cam includes an anchor cam protrusion configured to engage the ramp portion of the anchor such that, when the anchor cam is rotated, the anchor cam protrusion slides along the ramp portion to adjust the anchor in a transverse direction substantially toward or away from the toothed portion of the track assembly.

15. The track system of claim 14 , wherein:
the support member includes an engagement member adjustable in a substantially longitudinal direction; and
the engagement member is operatively connected to the anchor cam such that adjustment of the engagement member substantially in the longitudinal direction rotates the anchor cam.

16. The track system of claim 15 , wherein:
the anchor cam includes a plurality of anchor cam teeth; and
the engagement member includes a plurality of engagement member teeth engageable with the plurality of anchor cam teeth and operatively connecting the engagement member and the anchor cam.

17. The track system of claim 15 , wherein:
the support member includes an engagement body rotatable about an axis extending substantially in the transverse direction; and
the engagement body is operatively connected to the engagement member such that rotation of the engagement body adjusts the engagement member substantially in the longitudinal direction.

18. The anchor of claim 1 , wherein the toothed anchor portion is in contact with the anchor body and the anchor member.

19. The track system of claim 12 , wherein the support member is vertically removable from the track assembly.

20. An anchor for a support member of a track system, comprising:
an anchor body connectable to said support member;
a toothed anchor portion including a plurality of anchor teeth configured to engage a plurality of track teeth of a toothed portion of a track assembly; and
an anchor member configured to facilitate engagement of the plurality of anchor teeth and said plurality of track teeth;
wherein the anchor body, the toothed anchor portion, and the anchor member are connected to one another to collectively form a hook portion that opens upward and is configured to engage said toothed portion of said track assembly; and
the plurality of anchor teeth extend upward and the toothed anchor portion is parallel with the anchor body.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Moulin Antoine
• Hamtache Nordine

Classifications

• E01B25/04

  Rack rails; Supports or connections for rack rails · CPC title

• B61C11/04

  tractive effort applied to racks · CPC title

• B60N2/07 Primary

  Slide construction · CPC title

• B60N2/015

  Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis · CPC title

• F16H1/04

  involving only two intermeshing members · CPC title