Track assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919624-B2
Application number	US-201615379391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 15, 2015
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A track assembly includes an upper track that includes an interface member having a first end and a second end, a plurality of wheel assemblies, an anchor, and one or more locking blocks disposed on a side of the interface member. Embodiments of the system include a lower track with a first side and a second side, wherein a flat portion is disposed near a top of each of the first side and the second side. In embodiments, flat portions may extend along a longitudinal axis associated with the lower track. A plurality of gaps may be disposed on the flat portions, and the gaps may be configured to receive a locking block and an anchor. The anchor may be configured to guide the upper track as the upper track travels along the longitudinal axis associated with the lower track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track assembly, comprising:
a first track; and,
a second track movably connected to the first track, the second track comprising:
an interface member including a first end and a second end;
a plurality of wheels connected to the interface member;
an anchor movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track;
a second anchor movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track; and
a locking block movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track.

2. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor is configured to restrict movement of the second track relative to the first track in a first direction.

3. The track assembly of claim 2 , wherein the locking block is configured to restrict movement of the second track relative to the first track in a second direction.

4. The track assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first direction is a vertical direction and the second direction is a longitudinal direction.

5. The track assembly of claim 1 , comprising a spring connected to the anchor and configured to bias the anchor into engagement with the first track.

6. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wheels includes four wheels configured to roll in a longitudinal direction on a rolling surface of the first track.

7. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first track includes a plurality of gaps and the locking block is configured to engage one or more of the plurality of gaps.

8. A track assembly, comprising:
a first track; and,
a second track movably connected to the first track, the second track comprising:
an interface member including a first end and a second end;
a plurality of wheels connected to the interface member;
an anchor movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track;
a locking block movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track; and
a second locking block.

9. The track assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a second anchor, the second anchor movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track.

10. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein the locking block and the second locking block are disposed at opposite sides of the interface member.

11. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein the locking block includes a chamfered leading edge and the second locking block includes a chamfered trailing edge.

12. The track assembly of claim 10 , wherein the locking block and the second locking block are configured to move independently from each other.

13. The track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first track includes an inner profile and an outer profile.

14. The track assembly of claim 13 , wherein the inner profile comprises steel and the outer profile comprises aluminum.

15. The track assembly of claim 1 , comprising a release alignment mechanism connected to the second track, the release alignment mechanism including a first lever and a second lever, the second lever configured to selectively engage the first track upon actuation of the first lever.

16. A method of operating a track assembly, the method comprising:
providing the track assembly, the track assembly comprising:
a first track; and
a second track movably connected to the first track, the second track comprising:
an interface member including a first end and a second end;
a plurality of wheels connected to the interface member;
an anchor movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track; and
a locking block movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track;

actuating a release alignment mechanism, the release alignment mechanism including a first lever and a second lever, the second lever configured to selectively engage the first track;
disengaging the locking block from the first track;
disengaging the anchor from the first track;
moving the second track relative to the first track from a first position to a second position; and,
removing the second track from the first track.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the track assembly includes a second anchor movably connected to the interface member and configured to selectively engage the first track; and the track assembly includes a second locking block.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising reassembling the second track with the first track at a third position, moving the second track to a fourth position, engaging the locking block, and engaging the anchor.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising moving the second track from the fourth position to a fifth position, and removing the second track from the first track.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least the second position and the third position are different.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Cziomer Alfred
• Laumeier Marc
• Walter Klaus
• Wojatzki Michael
• Bochert Torsten

Classifications

• B60N2/07 Primary

  Slide construction · CPC title

• B60N2/0715

  C or U-shaped · CPC title

• B60N2/0875

  in a vertical direction · CPC title