Seat suspension with downstop slide element for automatic slide gap

Abstract

A seat suspension including a downstop slide element having an overall width that automatically adjusts to compensate for dimensional variations between relatively stationary and movable frame parts of the seat suspension due to manufacturing tolerances and wear. The downstop has first and second leaf members having spaced apart first and second top and bottom walls, front and rear walls, and inner and outer walls, respectively. A connecting member interconnects the leaf members to place the first and second inner walls in opposed confronting relation for movement toward and away from each other to form a longitudinally extending slide gap therebetween of variable width. A first biasing member is provided to normally urge the pair of leaf members apart. A first tapered portion is provided on the inner wall of at least one of the leaf members. A cam surface is provided on the front wall of at least one of the leaf members. A width adjuster is positioned in the slide gap between the confronting walls and includes a second tapered portion in face-to-face sliding engagement with the first tapered portion and a cam follower in contact with the front wall cam surface. A second biasing member is provided to normally bias the width adjuster to move the respective tapered portions relative to each other in a direction to cause the gap to widen and increase the overall width of the downstop slide element as required to compensate for dimensional differences between the parts due to tolerances and wear and provide lateral stability to the seat suspension.