Patent Application
20250229675
The present disclosure relates to vehicle seats, including vehicle seats provided with a longitudinal adjustment assembly and motor bracket assembly for the same.
A known rail adjustment system for a motor vehicle seat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,155.
According to one embodiment, a longitudinal adjustment assembly for use in a vehicle seat is provided. The longitudinal adjustment assembly may include at least one fixed rail, at least one translatable rail, a spindle, a gearbox, at least one gear, a motor, a transmission member, and a motor bracket. The at least one translatable rail may be configured to translate along the at least one fixed rail to adjust a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat. The spindle may be supported by the at least one fixed rail and the gearbox may be configured for attachment to the at least one translatable rail. The at least one gear may be disposed in the gear housing and configured to be operatively connected to the spindle. The transmission member may extend from the motor and into the gearbox and the transmission member may be configured to transmit rotational movement from the motor to the at least one gear. The motor bracket may include a main body and a pair of spring arms that may extend from the main body. The main body of the motor bracket may carry the motor and the pair of spring arms may be each configured to deflect away from one another as the gearbox is inserted between the pair of spring arms. Each spring arm of the pair of spring arms may be configured to move towards one another in response to the gearbox being positioned in an installed position.
According to another embodiment, a motor bracket assembly for use in a vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat may include a translatable rail, a fixed rail, and a spindle assembly. The motor bracket assembly may include a motor bracket, a motor, a first gear, and a gearbox. The motor bracket may include a main body, a first arm, and a second arm. The main body may include a first lateral edge region and the first and second arms may each extend from the first lateral edge region of the main body. The first arm may define a first aperture and the second arm may define a second aperture. The motor may be carried by the motor bracket and the first gear may be operatively connected to the motor and configured to be operatively connected to the spindle assembly of the vehicle seat. As the first gear rotates, the spindle assembly may be actuated to translate the translatable rail along the fixed rail to adjust a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat. The gearbox may include a first gear receptacle that may be provided with a first end region and a second end region. The first gear may be disposed in the first gear receptacle and the first end region may be disposed in the first gear receptacle. The first end region may be disposed in the first aperture of the first arm and the second end region may be disposed in the second aperture of the second arm.
According to yet another embodiment, a method of assembling a motor bracket assembly for use in a vehicle seat is provided. The method may include: Attaching a motor to a main body of a motor bracket, the main body of the motor bracket may include a first edge region and a second end region, and the motor bracket may include a first spring arm and a second spring arm. The first and second spring arms may extend from the first edge region of the main body; inserting a gearbox between the first spring arm and the second spring arm so that the first spring arm deflects outwardly and away from the second spring arm; and Fixing the gearbox to the motor bracket. The fixing step may include the first spring arm deflecting inwardly towards the second spring arm so that the gearbox is fixed to the first spring arm and the second spring arm.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative bases for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical application. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
“A”, “an”, and “the” as used herein refers to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By way of example, “a processor” programmed to perform various functions refers to one processor programmed to perform each and every function, or more than one processor collectively programmed to perform each of the various functions.
The term “curvilinear” as used herein refers to a shape consisting of a curved line or curved lines.
The term “substantially” or “about” may be used herein to describe disclosed or claimed embodiments. The term “substantially” or “about” may modify a value or relative characteristic disclosed or claimed in the present disclosure. In such instances, “substantially” or “about” may signify that the value or relative characteristic it modifies is within ±0%, 0.10%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 10% of the value or relative characteristic.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The motor bracket assembly 118 may include motor bracket 124 and a motor 136 configured to actuate to adjust the longitudinal adjustment position of the vehicle seat 100. The motor bracket 124 may include a main body 126 that may carry or support the motor 136, and the main body 126 may include a first edge region 128 and a second edge region 130. The first edge region 128 and the second edge region 130 may each include one or more (e.g., two) spring arms 132, 134. As will be described in greater detail below, the first spring arm 132 and the second spring arm 134 may be collectively configured for attachment to a gearbox, such as an outboard gearbox 142 and an inboard gearbox 142′.
The first gear 148 may be operatively coupled to (e.g., directly connected) to a spindle 144 that may be disposed between the translatable rail 122′ and the fixed rail 120′. The spindle 144 may be operatively connected to a spindle nut 146 and the translatable rail 122′. As an example, the spindle nut 146 may be fixed to the fixed rail 120′ and a spindle bracket 154 and spindle bushing 156 may connect the spindle 144 to the translatable rail 122′ so that as the first gear 148 rotates, the spindle 144 rotates and translates with respect to the spindle nut 146 to adjust a longitudinal position of the translatable rail 122′ and the vehicle seat assembly 100.
In one or more embodiments, the motor 136 may be operatively connected to the outboard gearbox 142 and the inboard gearbox 142′ by one or more transmission members. As an example, a first transmission member 138 may extend from one side of the motor 136 to the second gear 150 disposed in the outboard gearbox 142 and the second transmission member 140 may extend from the other side of the motor 136 to the second gear 150 disposed in the inboard gearbox 142′. Each of the transmission members 138, 140 may be formed by a semi-rigid material and ends of each transmission member 138, 140 may be disposed within an aperture defined by each of the first gears 150 and the other ends of the transmission members 138, 140 may be disposed in an aperture defined by the motor 136. As the motor 136 rotates, rotational movement may be transmitted through the transmission member 138, 140 to the first gear 150 of the inboard and outboard gearboxes 142, 142′. In one or more embodiments, the second transmission member may include a transmission member cover 158.
The motor bracket assembly 118 may provide a number of advantages. Known longitudinal adjustment assemblies do not include motor bracket assemblies provided with a motor, transmission members, and gearboxes as a sub-assembly. Rather, these components, along with the inboard and outboard rail assemblies, are assembled in one manufacturing location. The rail assemblies are provided to the operator and the operator must install the motor, transmission members, and the gearboxes prior to connecting the gearboxes to the inboard and outboard rail assemblies.
As will be described below, the first and second arms 132, 134 that extend from the first and second edge portions 128, 130 of the motor bracket 124 enable the gearboxes to be assembled to the motor bracket 124 in a relatively easy and secure manner. This assembly process allows the motor bracket assembly 118 to be shipped to another manufacturer so that it may be integrated into the longitudinal adjustment assembly 104. One or more of the first and second arms 132, 134 may include a number of attachment features to provide a secure connection between the gearboxes 142, 142′ to the motor bracket 124 without the use of fasteners or other hardware.
In one or more embodiments, the proximal portion 168 of the first arm 132 may be spaced apart from the proximal portion 168 of the second arm 134 by a first width W1, the distal portion 172 of the first arm 132 may be spaced apart from the distal portion 172 of the second arm 134 by a second width W2, and the medial portion 170 of the first arm 132 may be spaced apart from the medial portion 170 of the second arm 134 by a third width W3. As an example, the first width W1 may be less than the second width W2, and the third width W3 may be less than the first width W1 and the second width W2.
The proximal portion 168 of each of the arms 132, 134 may define an attachment aperture 190 that may be configured to receive an attachment fastener 152 (
In one or more embodiments, the medial portion 170 of the first arm 132 may define a first aperture 160 and the medial portion 170 of the second arm 134 may define a second aperture 162. As shown in
The first and second apertures 160, 162 may each be sized and shaped to engage an outer periphery of the first and second end regions 198, 200, respectively to form a press-fit or form-fit connection between the gearboxes 142, 142′ and the arms 132, 134 of the motor bracket 124. At least one the first and second apertures 160, 162 may include one or more alignment features that may serve one or more purposes. As an example, an inner periphery 182 of the first aperture 160 may have a substantially circular and/or uniform shape, though other non-circular shapes are readily contemplated by this disclosure. The inner periphery 182 of the first aperture 160 may be configured to lie along an outer periphery 202 of the first end region 198 of the spindle gear receptacle 196.
An inner periphery 184 of the second aperture 162 may have a substantially circular and non-uniform shape that is configured to lie along an outer periphery 204 of the second end region 200 of the spindle gear receptacle 196. As one non-limiting example, the inner periphery 184 of the second aperture 162 may include a first section 186 and a second section 188. The first section 186 may be substantially curvilinear with a semi-circular shape and the second section 188 may be formed by a flat 176 or relatively straight line extending between ends of the first section 186.
The outer periphery 204 of the second end region of the spindle gear receptacle 196 may include one or more alignment or locating features configured to engage the second section 188 of the inner periphery 184 of the second aperture. In one or more embodiments, the outer periphery 204 of the second end region of the spindle gear receptacle 196 may have a first diameter D1 and the outer periphery 202 of the first end region 198 of the spindle gear receptacle 196 may have a second diameter D2 that may be less than the first diameter D1. This may provide a poka-yoke feature so that the gearbox may not be oriented incorrectly with respect to the first and second arms 132, 134. In other words, because the first end region 198 is only sized to fit within the first aperture 160, incorrect assembly may be prevented.
As an example, the one or more alignment features may be formed by a flat 206 configured to engage or lie along the flat 176 formed by the second section 188 of the inner periphery 184 of the second aperture 162. As one non-limiting example, after the second end region 200 of the spindle gear receptacle 196 is disposed within the second aperture, the gearbox 142, 142′ may be clocked or rotated so that the attachment apertures 190 of the first and second arms 160, 162 is aligned with an attachment receptacle 208 of the gearbox 142, 142′. In at least one embodiment, the second section 188 may be disposed adjacent to the distal portion 172 of the second arm 134, so that the gearbox 142, 142′ rests along the second section 188. However, the second section 188 may also be positioned in another location, such as disposed closer to the proximal portion 168 or within the center of the medial portion 170.
In at least one embodiment, one or more of the first and second arms 132, 134 may be formed so that as the gearbox 142, 142′ is inserted between the first and second arms 132, 134 at least one of the first and second arms 132, 134 deflects away from the other of the first and second arms 132, 134. After the gearbox 142, 142′ is in a predetermined position (e.g., an installed position) the arm 132, 134 that deflected away from the other arm may return to secure the gearbox 142, 142′ between each of the arms 132, 134.
One or more of the arms 132, 134 may include one or more features to create a biased or spring-like effect between each of the arms 132, 134 and the gearbox 142, 142′. The arms 132, 134 and, as an example, the entire motor bracket 124 may be an injection molded component formed of one or more polymeric materials including thermoplastics such as Polypropylene, such as a glass-filled Polyproylene (Celstran PP-GF30-0453 P10/0), or Polyamide 66 (PA66) or another suitable material, as required.
As illustrated in
As another example, one or more of the arms 132, 134 may include one or more notches, apertures, reliefs, or cutouts to facilitate the elastic deformation and spring back properties of the arms 132, 134. In one or more embodiments, an outer periphery 180 of one or more of the arms 132, 134 may include a first cutout 164 and a second cutout 166 so that segments of the medial portion 170 of each of the arms 132, 134 have a reduced thickness as compared to other segments of the medial portion 170. The reduced segments formed by the cutouts may enable bending of the medial portion 170 as the gearbox 142, 142′ is inserted between the arms 132, 134. The first and second cutouts 164, 166 may be positioned in predetermined locations to facilitate the bending movement while maintaining sufficient strength of each of the arms 132, 134. As one non-limiting example, the first cutout 164 may be disposed closer to the distal portion 172 and the second cutout 166 may be positioned closer to the proximal portion 168.
The second gear or spindle gear 150 may include an inner periphery provided with one or more serrations 212 configured to receive and engage the spindle 144. After each gearbox 142, 142′ is assembled to the motor bracket 124 to form the motor bracket assembly 118, the motor bracket assembly 118 may be positioned to adjacent to and pressed toward to the inboard and outboard rail assemblies 114, 116 so that the spindle 144 of the inboard rail assembly 116 and the spindle 144 of the outboard rail assembly 114 extends into the second gear 150 of each of the rail assemblies 114, 116.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, to the extent any embodiments are described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics, these embodiments are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.
The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.
