Chairs and seats – Movable bottom – Tiltable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-20
2001-04-17
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Movable bottom
Tiltable
C297S344100, C297S344150, C297S344200, C248S421000, C403S277000, C403S279000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217115
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a linkage assembly where a first link is joined to a second link without fasteners. The linkage assembly allows articulation between linkages while eliminating undesirable free play.
Linkage assemblies are often used in seat assemblies to provide various functions including seat adjustment capability. Linkage assemblies typically include two or more link members, which are joined to each other by fasteners. The use of fasteners adds cost to the seat and lengthens assembly time.
The link members typically receive input from an adjuster control member which causes the links to rotate relative to one another to achieve a desired vertical position. In known links, as the links rotate, there has typically been free play or linear movement between the links. This free play is detrimental to the stability of the adjuster.
Various methods have been used to eliminate the free play between link members. Often bushings are used with the fasteners in the link assembly to take up the free play. The bushings permit the links to rotate relative to one another while providing a tight fit. This is expensive and requires additional assembly time and materials.
Thus, it is desirable to eliminate the use of fasteners and bushings from linkage assemblies by providing a linkage assembly with interconnected links to allow relative rotational movement between links while eliminating free play between the links. By eliminating the use of fasteners and bushings, the cost of the linkage assembly is reduced and assembly time is decreased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A linkage assembly includes at least a first link and a second link that are rotatably mounted together without the use of fasteners. The first link has a first mounting portion and the second link has a second mounting portion that is aligned with the first mounting portion. The first mounting portion is deformed into engagement with the second mounting portion to rotatably connect the first link to the second link.
The preferred inventive method for connecting two links includes providing a first link having a first mounting portion and a second link having a second mounting portion, aligning the first mounting portion with the second mounting portion, and interconnecting the first and second mounting portions to allow relative rotational movement between the first and second links while eliminating free play. Preferably, a portion of one of the links is plastically deformed into engagement with the other link to lock the links together. The links are free to rotate about an axis but are prohibited from axial movement along the axis.
Deforming the body portion of the fastener eliminates undesirable free play between the two members while still allowing the members to rotate with respect to each other. Deforming a portion of one of the links into locking engagement with the other link eliminates the use of fasteners and the operation is easily performed, easily maintained, and is inexpensive. These and other features can be understood from the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4010533 (1977-03-01), Pitner
patent: 4760634 (1988-08-01), Rapp
patent: 4831704 (1989-05-01), Rapp
patent: 4880199 (1989-11-01), Harney
patent: 5310154 (1994-05-01), Ueda et al.
patent: 5498091 (1996-03-01), Chan
patent: 5984562 (1999-11-01), Brandenstein et al.
patent: 0215449B1 (1991-05-01), None
Downey Hugh D.
Garrido Pascal
Olsson Nils O.
Quinn Trajan
Cuomo Peter M.
Dura Global Technologies Inc.
Mescher Richard M.
Roth Robert K.
White Rodney B.
LandOfFree
Simplified linkage assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Simplified linkage assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Simplified linkage assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2537168