Track system with a support member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12233756-B2
Application number	US-202217837326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2022
Priority date	May 4, 2018
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

A support assembly may be configured for connections with, adjustment along, and removal from a track assembly. The support assembly may include a support member and/or an electrical connector. The electrical connector may be adjustably connected to the support member and adjustable to a first position and a second position relative to the support member. The electrical connector may include a first contact configured to engage a first conductor of said track assembly. The first contact may be engageable with said first conductor when the electrical connector is in the first position. The electrical connector may be configured such that the first contact is disposed at a distance from said first conductor when the electrical connector is in the second position. The first contact may be movably connected to the electrical connector such that the first contact is movable relative to the electrical connector and the support member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support assembly configured for connections with, adjustment along, and removal from a track assembly, the support assembly comprising:
a support member; and
an electrical connector adjustably connected to the support member and adjustable to a first position and a second position relative to the support member, the electrical connector including a first contact configured to engage a first conductor of said track assembly;
wherein the first contact is engageable with said first conductor when the electrical connector is in the first position;
the electrical connector is configured such that the first contact is disposed at a distance from said first conductor when the electrical connector is in the second position; and
the first contact is movably connected to the electrical connector such that the first contact is movable relative to the electrical connector and the support member; and
the support member comprises a vehicle seat.

2. The support assembly of claim 1 , including a slider connected to the support member and configured to cause rotation of the electrical connector between the first position and the second position.

3. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts including the first contact; and
the plurality of electrical contacts are each movable about a plurality of axes relative to the electrical connector.

4. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the electrical connector has a connector rotational axis;
the first contact protrudes from the electrical connector; and
the first contact is configured to move along or about a first contact axis that is perpendicular to the connector rotational axis.

5. The support assembly of claim 4 , wherein, when the electrical connector is in the first position, the first contact axis extends in a transverse direction of the support member.

6. The support assembly of claim 1 , including a spring disposed at least partially in the electrical connector;
wherein the spring is configured to bias the first contact into engagement with said first conductor when the electrical connector is in the first position.

7. The support assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the first contact includes a stabilizer, a support protrusion connected to the stabilizer, and an engagement protrusion extending from the support protrusion; and
the engagement protrusion is engaged with the spring to restrict movement of the spring relative to the support protrusion.

8. The support assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the electrical connector includes a second contact, a second biasing member, and an alignment protrusion;
the second contact is configured to engage a second conductor of said track assembly when the electrical connector is in the first position; and
the alignment protrusion is disposed adjacent to the second contact and configured to engage said track assembly to facilitate alignment of the second contact with said second conductor as the electrical connector moves toward the first position.

9. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first contact includes a ball joint portion.

10. The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector includes a second contact; and
the first contact and the second contact each include a ball joint portion.

11. A track system, comprising:
the support assembly of claim 1 ; and
said track assembly;
wherein the track assembly includes a track and an insulator; and
the first conductor is connected to the track via the insulator.

12. The track system of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the first conductor is retained in a recess of the insulator.

13. A track system, comprising:
a track assembly; and
a support assembly configured for connections with, adjustment along, and removal from the track assembly, the support assembly comprising:
a support member; and
an electrical connector adjustably connected to the support member and adjustable to a first position and a second position relative to the support member, the electrical connector including a first contact configured to engage a first conductor of said track assembly;

wherein the first contact is engageable with said first conductor when the electrical connector is in the first position;
the electrical connector is configured such that the first contact is disposed at a distance from said first conductor when the electrical connector is in the second position;
the first contact is movably connected to the electrical connector such that the first contact is movable relative to the electrical connector and the support member
the track assembly includes a track and an insulator;
the first conductor is connected to the track via the insulator;
when the electrical connector is in the first position, the electrical connector restricts vertical removal of the support assembly from the track assembly; and
when the electrical connector is in the second position, the electrical connector does not restrict vertical removal of the support assembly from the track assembly.

14. The track system of claim 11 , wherein the electrical connector includes a second contact;
a first wire is connected to the first contact; and
a second wire extends through an aperture of the first contact to connect to the second contact.

15. The track system of claim 11 , wherein:
the insulator extends beyond the first conductor such that the first contact is guidable into the first conductor via a tapered opening of a recess of the insulator when the electrical connector is adjusted toward the first position.

16. The track system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first contact includes a first flat surface, a first transition surface, a first curved surface, a second flat surface, a second transition surface, and a second curved surface;
the first flat surface extends between and connects the second curved surface and the first transition surface;
the first transition surface extends between and connects the first flat surface and the first curved surface such that a transition is defined between the first flat surface and the first curved surface;
the first curved surface extends between and connects the first transition surface and the second flat surface;
the second flat surface extends between and connects the first curved surface and the second transition surface;
the second transition surface extends between and connects the second flat surface and the second curved surface such that a second transition is defined between the second flat surface and the second curved surface;
the second curved surface extends between and connects the second transition surface and the first flat surface; and
the first contact has a first contact rotational axis and is rotationally biased about the first contact rotational axis via a biasing member such that, when the electrical connector is in the first position, the first curved surface and the second curved surface of the first contact are biased into contact with opposing surfaces of the first conductor.

17. The track system of claim 11 , wherein:
the track assembly includes a second track;
the support assembly includes a second electric connector connected to the support member;
the second electrical connector is disposed at least partially in the second track; and
an electrical contact of the second electrical connector is movable into engagement with a conductor of the second track.

18. The track system of claim 11 , wherein:
the track assembly include

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Moulin Antoine
• Ricart Raul
• Jones Jeffrey A
• Vesper Sven
• Grosser Marlon Christian
• Condamin Thibaud
• Hamtache Nordine

Classifications

• B60N2/0806

  with pin alignment systems, e.g. with at least one of a plurality of locking pins always aligned w.r.t. at least one of a plurality of pin-receiving elements · CPC title

• B60N2/0715 Primary

  C or U-shaped · CPC title

• B60N2/933

  rotatable · CPC title

• B60R22/22

  secured to the vehicle floor · CPC title

• B60N2/20

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title