Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Joshua Gauthier

Johnathan Andrew Line

Joseph Michael Kish

Macit Aktas

Jimmy Moua

Robert Clayton Caldwell

Changwei Xie

David James Tippy

Adam Ewel

Gregory Hagedorn

Adarsh Gupta

Alan George Dry

Glenn Scott

Cung K Chieu

Matthew Schwope

Marcos Silva Kondrad

Spencer Robert Hoernke

David Frederick Lyons

Deeptej Kudav

Jeffrey Gabalski

Ian James

Bradley S Bysouth

Travis Pierce

Ray Kurlonko

Lukasz Gajda

Eric Morse

Arya Sabeti

Michael P Bell

A vehicle seating assembly includes a mounting bracket, a seat, a seatback, and a cam assembly. The seat is rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket. The seatback is rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket. The seatback includes a protrusion. The cam assembly is rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket. The cam assembly includes a lockout cam having a first end and a second end. The first end of the lockout cam engages with the protrusion of the seatback such that movement of the seatback relative to the mounting bracket is restricted in a first non-use state. The second end of the lockout cam engages with the seat such that movement of the seat relative to the mounting bracket is restricted in a second non-use state.

Vehicle seating assembly with lockout cam

A track assembly for a rail-mounted component of a vehicle includes a rail cartridge slidably coupled with a track and defines a first slot. A first electrical connector is positioned within the rail cartridge. A connection cartridge defines a channel. The connection cartridge includes first and second sidewalls joined by a bottom wall. A second electrical connector is positioned within the channel and is configured to selectively engage with the first electrical connector. An actuation member is positioned within the channel and is movable between first and second positions. The actuation member is biased to the first position. An actuator is operably coupled with the actuation member to selectively move the actuation member into the second position against the bias.

Track assembly for a vehicle

A seating assembly is provided with swivel capabilities. The seating assembly includes a coupling member, a seat, a seatback, and a swivel plate. The seat is pivotably coupled to the coupling member. The seatback is also pivotably coupled to the coupling member. Additionally, the swivel plate is coupled to the coupling member.

Seating assembly with swivel capability

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat back. A seat base is coupled to the seat back. A track assembly and the seat base are translatable fore and aft along the track assembly. A rail cartridge slidably engages with the track assembly. An actuation assembly includes a first electrical connector coupled to the rail cartridge and a support member coupled to a second electrical connector. The second electrical connector is operable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the first electrical connector via a sliding engagement of the support member along opposing grooves of an engagement member. The second electrical connector is actuated via an actuator coupled to the second electrical connector.

Seat connection assembly

A track system includes a track member with an elongate shaft mounted thereto. At least one support mechanism is mounted to the track member. The at least one support mechanism includes a housing. An engagement feature includes first and second engagement members spaced-apart from one another to define a receiving area therebetween. The first and second engagement members are operable between deployed and retracted positions relative to the housing. The elongate shaft is received in the receiving area when the first and second engagement members are in the deployed position.

Support mechanism for a track system

A rail assembly can include a track assembly, an elongate shaft mounted to the track assembly, and a carriage assembly received within the track assembly. The carriage assembly can include a slider bracket. The slider bracket includes a first ramp portion and a second ramp portion. The first and second ramp portions are disposed on opposite sides of the slider bracket. The first and second ramp portions each define a receiving aperture. The elongate shaft is received through the receiving apertures of the first and second ramp portions.

Rail assembly having a carriage assembly

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A carriage is coupled to a lower surface of the seat base and includes a locating protrusion on a bottom surface thereof. The track assembly includes a rail. A rail cartridge is slidably engaged with the rail. The rail cartridge defines a locating hole for receiving the locating protrusion. A first electrical connector is coupled to the rail cartridge. A second electrical connector is coupled to the carriage and operable between engaged and disengaged positions. An actuation member is configured to move the second electrical connector between the engaged and disengaged positions. When the second electrical connector is in the engaged position, an electrical connection is formed between the first and second electrical connectors.

A track assembly for a vehicle seating assembly includes a track that defines a lateral channel and a central channel. The lateral channel is in communication with the central channel. A plurality of contact strips are coupled with the track and are positioned within the lateral channel. A rail cartridge is positioned within the central channel and is slidable along the track. The lateral channel is at least partially enclosed by the track and the rail cartridge. A support is operably coupled with the rail cartridge and extends from the central channel into the lateral channel. A plurality of contacts are operably coupled with the support and are configured to engage the plurality of contact strips.

Connector assembly for a vehicle seat

A rail assembly includes a track assembly, an elongate shaft mounted to the track assembly, and a carriage assembly received within the track assembly. The carriage assembly includes a body portion, an exterior surface of the body portion, a slider bracket fastened to the exterior surface of the body portion, and a gear box positioned within the slider bracket. The elongate shaft extends through the gear box.

A track assembly includes a rail cartridge slidably coupled with a track. A first electrical connector is positioned within the rail cartridge. A connection cartridge defines a channel and includes a second electrical connector configured to selectively engage with the first electrical connector. An actuation member is positioned within the channel of the connection cartridge and is coupled with the second electrical connector. A spring is operably coupled to the actuation member and is configured to bias the actuation member in a first position. An actuator is operably coupled with the actuation member. The actuator is moved upward against the bias of the spring to move the actuation member to a second position when the actuator contacts the rail cartridge of the track.

A seat for a vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame including a cross-member extending across a front portion of the seat frame and a cushion pan assembly rotatably coupled to the seat frame and including a cushion pan and a pair of opposing integration brackets each having a cushion pan mounting portion coupled to the cushion pan and a seat frame mounting portion pivotably coupled to the seat frame. The cushion pan assembly is rotatable about an axis defined by a pivotable coupling between the integration bracket and the seat frame and between a design position and a fully upward position.

Cushion pan integration bracket

A rail assembly includes a track assembly defining an interior channel, a shuttle assembly received within the interior channel, and a carriage assembly coupled to the track assembly. The shuttle assembly includes a lock assembly. The carriage assembly includes a trigger assembly. The trigger assembly includes a trigger cam and an actuator cam coupled to the trigger cam. The actuator cam actuates the carriage assembly between locked and unlocked configurations relative to the track assembly.

Rail assembly for a vehicle

A rail assembly includes a track assembly with a retaining lip and a carriage assembly that is received within the track assembly. The carriage assembly includes a body portion, an exterior surface of the body portion, and a retaining bracket fastened to the exterior surface. The retaining bracket extends outwardly from the point at which the retaining bracket is fastened to the exterior surface. The retaining bracket defines a notch that receives the retaining lip of the track assembly.

Carriage assembly having retaining brackets

A seat assembly includes a base frame and first and second guide brackets coupled to opposed sides of the base frame. The first and second guide brackets each include slots disposed therethrough. First and second support brackets are slideably mounted to the slots of the first and second guide brackets, respectively. A seat portion includes a seat frame that is pivotally coupled to the first and second support brackets at opposed first and second ends of the seat frame. The seat frame is configured to pivot with respect to the first and second support brackets between use and upright non-use positions. The base frame is rotatably supported on a swivel mechanism for rotation of the seat assembly between forward-facing and rearward-facing configurations.

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South Lyon, MI, United States of America

Joshua Gauthier