The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 1991
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1991
Atwood Industries, Inc., Rockford, IL (US);
Abstract
A track assembly of a vehicle seat adjuster includes an upper track secured to the seat and adjustable back and forth along a lower track which is anchored to the vehicle floor pan. Friction between the tracks is reduced by load-bearing rollers located between the tracks at the center thereof and by spherical balls located between the tracks along the sides thereof. The rollers travel independently of the balls to prevent possible binding of the rollers, the balls along each side of the track being held in fixed longitudinally spaced relation by a strip-like retainer. The balls are positioned at the lower corners of the upper track and, if the vehicle is involved in a severe frontal crash, the balls cause portions of the upper track to be forcibly pinched between portions of the lower track so as to effect interlocking of the tracks and thereby reduce the danger of the upper track moving forwardly relative to and separating vertically from the lower track under the influence of seat belt loads imposed on the upper track.