Chairs and seats – Movable bottom – Bottom and back movable as a unit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-15
2001-10-30
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Movable bottom
Bottom and back movable as a unit
C248S429000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309021
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automobile seat, and more particularly, to an automobile seat capable of moving in forward and backward directions.
2. Description of Relevant Art
In a conventional power seat structure, movable rails fixed to a seat are engaged with stationary rails fixed to a vehicle body such that the movable rails can move forward and backward, lead screws provided along the movable rails are threaded in nuts mounted to the stationary rails, a rotational force of a motor is transmitted to a front end of each of the lead screws through a gear unit supported on the side of the movable rail, and the movable rail is moved forward and backward together with the seat by rotating the lead screw with respect to the nut (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. H4-96541 discloses similar technique).
When an excessive forward load is applied to the seat, the load is first applied from the movable rails to the gear units provided at the front ends of the lead screws. The load is transmitted therefrom to the nuts which is fixed to the stationary rails through the lead screws, and the load is received by the nuts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, in this art, since the forward load applied to each of the movable rails is transmitted to the nut only through the backward path from the gear unit to the lead screw, it is necessary to increase the thickness of a panel mounted to the gear unit so that a midpoint of the path should not be damaged. Therefore, the weight and cost of the vehicle are increased.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile seat capable of dispersing a load applied to a movable rail and transmitting the load to the nut.
To achieve the above object, there is provided an automobile seat having a reinforcing structure, having a first rail which is fixed on a side of a seat and which is moved relative to a second rail fixed on a side of a vehicle body; a driving mechanism which is to move the first rail relative to the second rail and has a lead screw. The lead screw is supported on the side of the first rail and has an end surface. Further, the seat has a bracket which is fixed to the first rail and is arranged to be opposed to an end surface of the lead screw.
A first guide member includes a rail and a member fixed with the rail, and a second guide member includes a rail and a member to move with the rail.
Preferably, the seat has a nut which is supported on the side of the second rail and which is screwed to the lead screw.
Preferably, the lead screw has an end, the driving mechanism further has a gear unit which is provided on the end of the lead screw, and a driving source for rotating the lead screw through the gear unit.
Preferably, the bracket and the end surface of the lead screw are opposed to each other at a predetermined distance, and when the first rail is displaced forward by more than a predetermined distance, the bracket abuts against the end surface of the lead screw.
Preferably, the bracket has a base mounted to the first rail, a bottom surface opposed to the end surface of the lead screw, and a flange projecting from the bottom surface toward the lead screw.
Preferably, the flange has a first flange covering a side of the lead screw and a second flange covering another side of the lead screw.
Preferably, a third flange is formed between the first and second flanges, the third flange covers an inner side of the lead screw in a widthwise direction of a vehicle, and the third flange is shorter than a gap between the end surface of the lead screw and the bottom surface of the bracket.
Preferably, the first and second flanges are opposed to each other.
Preferably, the bottom surface has an abutment surface for abutting against the end surface of the lead screw when the first rail is deformed, and a connection surface for connecting the abutment surface and the base to each other. A bead is formed on one of the abutment surface and the connection surface.
Preferably, the first rail is formed with a slit. The base is formed with a bent portion which is bent toward the first rail and inserted into the slit.
Preferably, the automobile seat is applied to a belt-in type.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4645159 (1987-02-01), Terada et al.
patent: 4721337 (1988-01-01), Tomita
patent: 5048786 (1991-09-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5125611 (1992-06-01), Cox
patent: 5150872 (1992-09-01), Isomura
patent: 5765798 (1998-06-01), Isomura
patent: 5823499 (1998-10-01), Ito et al.
patent: 4-96541 (1992-08-01), None
Moro Kouji
Yasui Hiroyuki
Berkowitz Marvin C.
Cuomo Peter M.
Ikeda Bussan Co. Ltd.
Nath Gary M.
Nath & Associates PLLC
LandOfFree
Movement device for automobile seat and automobile seat does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Movement device for automobile seat and automobile seat, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Movement device for automobile seat and automobile seat will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2578811