Itt Corporation

International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation

Max O Heesch

Derek K Gauger

Vincent Russo

Richard W Rees

Vincenzo Russo

James T Baker

Harold G Scholin

Allen D Berg

A power seat adjuster includes a rotatable drive shaft with first and second axial ends and an intermediate arcuate portion connecting the first and second axial ends. The first and second axial ends are respectively axially connected to a drive motor gear assembly and to a driven lead screw. A horizontal drive block threadingly engaging the lead screw is rotatably and vertically translatingly mounted in an aperture in a lower track for self-alignment of the drive block with respect to the lead screw. A housing rotatably receives the axial connection between one end of the drive shaft and the lead screw. The bearing block is rotatably and translatingly mounted in a bracket fixed to an upper track for self-alignment of the drive shaft with the lead screw. A drive block engages the lead screw and is mounted for rotation and translation in a link. The upper and lower tracks have a guide section and an abutment section which collapse together in a self-cinching action under force loading to resist separation of the upper and lower tracks.

Vehicle power seat adjuster with end driven lead screw actuation

A power seat adjuster includes a rotatable drive shaft with first and second axial ends and an intermediate arcuate portion connecting the first and second axial ends. The first and second axial ends are respectively axially connected to a drive motor gear assembly and to a driven lead screw. A horizontal drive block threadingly engaging the lead screw is rotatably and vertically translatingly mounted in an aperture in a lower track for self-alignment of the drive block with respect to the lead screw. A housing rotatably receives the axial connection between one end of the drive shaft and the lead screw. The drive nut is rotatably and translatingly mounted in a bracket fixed to an upper track for self-alignment of the drive shaft with the lead screw. A drive block engages the lead screw and is mounted for rotation and translation in a link. The upper and lower tracks have a guide section and an abutment section which collapse together in a self-cinching action under force loading to resist separation of the upper and lower tracks.

Track assembly for vehicle power seat adjuster

The present invention provides an apparatus and method of utilization of the same of a recliner seat latch which is infinitely adjustable and pawl locking mechanisms. A preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a torsional spring to allow infinite adjustment and also has a backup pawl member which engages directly with the clutch gear of the seat latch assembly.

Reclining infinitely variable seat latch with dual locking mechanisms

A seat recliner is provided comprising a seat back support mounted at a pivot pin to a base frame. A sector gear is affixed to the seat back support and includes an opening through which the pivot pin passes. A first gear set is mounted on a pin in the base frame and includes a first gear meshed with the sector gear and a second gear. A second gear set is also mounted on a pin in the base frame and includes a first gear meshed with the second gear of the first gear set and a second gear. A clutch spool is mounted on a pin in the base frame and includes a gear meshed with the second gear of the second gear set. A coil spring surrounds the clutch spool. When the spring is tensioned, the clutch spool is prevented from rotating and the seat back is held from rotational movement about the pivot pin. A clutch release plate contacts the spring coil in a manner such that a selected movement of the release plate decreases the coil spring tension on the clutch spool. This permits rotation of the clutch spool and subsequent rotational movement of the seat back support.

Manual seat recliner

A seat back recliner mechanism is disclosed including a serially arranged gear train having a pair of infinitely adjustable spring coil clutches serially arranged by way of a reduction gear. One clutch absorbs rotational loading on the seat back in one direction, and one clutch absorbs rotational loading on the seat back in the opposite direction.

Infinite manual seat back recliner

A headrest for an automotive vehicle seat is disclosed including a headrest frame including a lower portion extending along an upper exterior portion of the seatback and mounted to a mounting frame for generally pivotable forward and rearward movement. A first track provides for the forward and rearward movement and a bladder mounted between the mounted frame and headrest frame selectively expands and contracts to move the headrest frame along the track. The mounting frame is provided with a elongated portion extending into the interior of the seatback and includes a linear gear operated by a reversible motor driven gear for selectively vertically extending and retracting the headrest.

Headrest for an automotive vehicle seat

A combination second passengers seat and console is disclosed including a hollow seat frame mounted between a primary passengers seat and a drivers seat for movement with the drivers seat and a compartmentalized compartment frame mounted for selective movement to an extended position whereat a console is formed and a retracted position within the seat frame whereat the second passengers seat is formed. A track and an operator controlled reversible motor driven lead screw provides for selective extension and retraction of the compartment frame.

Retractable console for an automotive vehicle seat

A reversibly extensible headrest for an automotive vehicle is disclosed including a three link triangular linkage arrangement having a transverse manual or motor operated shaft oppositely threaded along two portions, at least one pair of links each mounted to the headrest at a common pivot point and to a respective one of the oppositely threaded portions. A third link is mounted to the headrest spaced from the common pivot point and one of the threaded portions. The mounting of the links to the threaded shaft being by way of corresponding threaded nuts. In the extended position the one pair of links are maintained in longitudinal side-by-side abutment providing lateral stability to the headrest.

Adjustable headrest

A single spring clutch mechanism is disclosed providing for equal holding power in opposite directions of application of torsional forces thereto. The clutch includes a single torsional spring mounted for always being in tension regardless of the direction of application of torsional forces. The clutch provides for infinite angular positioning and retention of a member controlled by the clutch and is particularly adapted for use in an automotive reclining seat mechanism.

Single-spring clutch mechanism

An integral seat frame and track is provided. Two base tracks comprising elongated structural elements are mounted to a vehicle floor in a spaced, parallel relationship. A seat frame assembly comprises two spaced, parallel structural elments joined at one end of each by a third structural element. The parallel elements of the seat frame assembly are adapted to fit cooperatively with the seat tracks so that the seat frame is movable along the seat tracks. The seat frame elements include provision to receive seat support members that are stretched between the seat frame elements. A flange extends outwardly and downwardly from each seat frame element and is adapted to support a seat cover stretched over its edges. Seat back supports are affixed to each seat frame parallel element.

Integral seat frame and track

Apparatus for securing a seat belt to a longitudinally adjustable seat track mechanism of a motor vehicle. The seat belt is connected to one end of a lever, the lever being pivotal within the legs of a stepped U bracket, the step being secured to the movable track of the mechanism. The lever has a clamp end normally held out of engagement with a longitudinally extending tension member such as a wire cable secured to the vehicle body. The lever is held in its normal condition by either a shear pin or by the action of a helical spring. When a crash load is applied to the seat belt, the load causes the pin to shear (or when a spring is used--overcomes the spring bias) and the lever freed of restraint rotates to a position clamping the tension member against the base of the U bracket and preventing movement of the seat and seat belt relative to the vehicle body.

Seat belt anchoring apparatus

A power seat track apparatus for selectively positioning an automotive vehicle seat. The apparatus is adapted to be powered by electric motor drive, preferably with separate motors for each drive direction. The seat back is mounted on the upper track of the seat track mechanism for horizontal drive with the track. The vertical drive through front and back torsion tubes or bars act on only the seat pan and seat cushion but not the seat back. Since the vehicle shock loading requirements must be met by the structural seat pan or seat frame, the pan for holding only the seat cushion may be reduced in size as compared to the usual power seat frame. The back cushion seat mounting is designed to withstand shock loading by its mounting on the upper seat track separate from the seat pan and cushion elevating mechanism.

Vehicle seat track apparatus

Disclosed is a regulator mechanism for two window panels mounted in the door of an automotive vehicle. The panels are slidable independently of one another in a common plane between raised and lowered positions under the control of the regulator mechanism. Both window panels are operated by independently operable lever arms, both lever arms being mounted for rotation on a common pivot shaft. The lever arms are secured to respective sector gears, both sector gears also being mounted for rotation on the common pivot shaft. Each sector gear is driven independently of the other by a driving gear, the driving gears being angularly spaced from the pivot shaft to prevent operative interference between the operative end of each lever arm. The mechanism is mounted as a unitary assembly on a unitary mounting plate, the plate providing a support structure for the common pivot shaft and the respective pinion shafts. In this manner, the spacing between the respective operating gears is set once the mechanism is assembled as a unit and need not be adjusted on assembly of the unit into the vehicle.

Unitary regulator mechanism for multiple window panels

An apparatus for selectively positioning an automotive vehicle seat is disclosed. The apparatus is adapted to be powered by an electric motor drive, such as a motor with multiple armatures or by using separate motors or by using clutch activated members driven by a single motor. Output of the motor drive is transmitted through respective gearing to lead screws within tracking structures at both sides of the seat to translate the seat horizontally. The motor drive output is also transmitted to operate individual lead screws for the vertical seat movements. To provide elevational movement of the front and rear ends of the seat, separate mechanisms from the motor drive to front and rear end lead screws are provided, these mechanisms being distributed along the seat width. These lead screws cause rotation of respective individual torsion bars at the respective front and rear ends of the seat. By the construction shown, rotation of a torsion bar raises or lowers the respective seat end.

Growing community of inventors

Brooklyn, MI, United States of America

Max O Heesch