Seat slide construction

Claim 2

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member slidably supported on said lower slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member of stamped sheet metal construction pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniformly longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision on said latch member of a separate one-piece metallic generally U-shaped tooth member of appreciably thicker and stronger material throughout in relation to the sheet metal of the latch member, the parallel arms of said tooth member providing two spaced teeth connected at one end in a fixed spaced parallel relation by their separate connections to the latch member and connected at the other end by the integral rigid cross portion of the U in a fixed spaced parallel relation, their spacing corresponding to the spacing of the aforesaid notches, the teeth being engageable always in two of said notches in different fore-and-aft adjustments of the seat, whereby to resist deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading and also distribute the load on said teeth and notches and thereby insure better holding action in the event of unusually severe strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members despite the locked position of said latch member.

Claim 3

A slide structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the U-shaped tooth member is of stamped sheet metal construction, the latter being of heavier gauge material than the latch member to further increase resistance to deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading.

Claim 4

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member slidably supported on said lower slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member of stamped sheet metal construction pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniformly longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision on said latch member of a separate one-piece metallic generally U-shaped tooth member, the parallel arms of said tooth member providing two spaced teeth connected at one end in a fixed spaced parallel relation by their separate connEctions to the latch member and connected at the other end by the integral rigid cross portion of the U in a fixed spaced parallel relation, their spacing corresponding to the spacing of the aforesaid notches, the teeth being engageable always in two of said notches in different fore-and-aft adjustments of the seat, whereby to resist deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading and also distribute the load on said teeth and notches and thereby insure better holding action in the event of unusually severe strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members despite the locked position of said latch member, the U-shaped tooth member being of stamped sheet metal construction, the connection between one end of the teeth of the U-shaped tooth member and the latch member comprising lugs on the ends of the teeth entered closely in registering holes provided in the latch member, the lugs having outer end portions projecting through the holes the outer ends of which are upset to prevent displacement of said lugs from said holes.

Claim 5

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member slidably supported on said lower slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member of stamped sheet metal construction pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniformly longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision on said latch member of a separate one-piece metallic generally U-shaped tooth member, the parallel arms of said tooth member providing two spaced teeth connected at one end in a fixed spaced parallel relation by their separate connEctions to the latch member and connected at the other end by the integral rigid cross portion of the U in a fixed spaced parallel relation, their spacing corresponding to the spacing of the aforesaid notches, the teeth being engageable always in two of said notches in different fore-and-aft adjustments of the seat, whereby to resist deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading and also distribute the load on said teeth and notches and thereby insure better holding action in the event of unusually severe strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members despite the locked position of said latch member, the U-shaped tooth member being of stamped sheet metal construction, the connection between one end of the teeth of the U-shaped tooth member and the latch member comprising lugs on the ends of the teeth entered closely in registering holes provided in the latch member, the lugs having outer end portions projecting through the holes the outer ends of which are upset to prevent displacement of said lugs from said holes.

Claim 6

A slide structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the U-shaped tooth member is of heavier gauge sheet metal than the latch member to further increase resistance to deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading.

Claim 7

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member of stamped sheet metal construction pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniformly longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision of a pair of spaced parallel rectangular slots provided in said latch member, and a separate one-piece U-shaped tooth member formed of heavier sheet metal than that in said latch member and carried on said latch member, the two legs of the U defining two parallel teeth spaced the same as the slots in said latch member and also spaced the same as the aforesaid notches in which said teeth are engageable to distribute the load on said teeth and notches to insure better holding action in the event of any unusual strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members, said two legs being rigidly spaced and connected at one end by the cross portion of the U and having lugs of rectangular cross section on the other ends entered closely in and extending through said slots in said latch member for riveted connection therewith and for further connecting and rigidly spacing the teeth defined by said legs.

Claim 8

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member of stamped sheet metal construction pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniformly longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision of a pair of spaced parallel rectangular slots provided in said latch member, and a separate one-piece U-shaped tooth member formed of heavier sheet metal than that in said latch member and carried on said latch member, the two legs of the U defining two parallel teeth spaced the same as the slots in said latch member and also spaced the same as the aforesaid notches in which said teeth are engageable to distribute the load on said teeth and notches to insure better holding action in the event of any unusual strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members, said two legs being rigidly spaced and connected at one end by the cross portion of the U and having lugs of rectangular cross section on the other ends entered closely in and extending through said slots in said latch member for riveted connection therewith and for further connecting and rigidly spacing the teeth defined by said legs.

Claim 9

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member slidably supported on said lower slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniform longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision on said latch member of a generally U-shaped tooth member, the parallel arms of which provide two spaced teeth connected at one end in a fixed spaced parallel relation to the latch member and connected at the other end by the cross portion of the U in a fixed spaced parallel relation, their spacing corresponding to the spacing of the aforesaid notches, the teeth being engageable always in two of said notches in different adjustments of the seat, whereby to resist deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading and also distribute the load on said teeth and notches and thereby insure better holding action in the event of unusually severe strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members despite the locked position of said latch member, the notches beIng of inwardly tapered form, and one of the two teeth of the generally U-shaped sheet metal tooth member having wedging engagement in one of two neighboring notches but the other tooth being compressed from one side to a predetermined depth both to make for closer grained metal, thus obtaining longer wear, and so as to obtain a predetermined clearance relative to the corresponding side of the other notch.

Claim 10

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member slidably supported on said lower slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniform longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision on said latch member of a generally U-shaped tooth member, the parallel arms of which provide two spaced teeth connected at one end in a fixed spaced parallel relation to the latch member and connected at the other end by the cross portion of the U in a fixed spaced parallel relation, their spacing corresponding to the spacing of the aforesaid notches, the teeth being engageable always in two of said notches in different adjustments of the seat, whereby to resist deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading and also distribute the load on said teeth and notches and thereby insure better holding action in the event of unusually severe strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members despite the locked position of said latch member, the notches beIng of inwardly tapered form, and one of the two teeth of the generally U-shaped sheet metal tooth member having wedging engagement in one of two neighboring notches but the other tooth being compressed from one side to a predetermined depth both to make for closer grained metal, thus obtaining longer wear, and so as to obtain a predetermined clearance relative to the corresponding side of the other notch.

Claim 11

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member slidably supported on said lower slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniformly longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision on said latch member of a generally U-shaped tooth member, the parallel arms of which provide two spaced teeth connected at one end in a fixed spaced parallel relation to the latch member and connected at the other end by the cross portion of the U in a fixed spaced parallel relation, their spacing corresponding to the spacing of the aforesaid notches, the teeth being engageable always in two of said notches in different adjustments of the seat, whereby to resist deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading and also distribute the load on said teeth and notches and thereby insure better holding action in the event of unusually severe strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members despite the locked position of said latch member, the notches being of inwardly tapered form, and one of the two teeth of the generally U-shaped sheet metal tooth member having wedging engagement in one of two neighboring notches but the other tooth being compressed from the outer side thereof to a predetermined depth both to make for closer grained metal, thus obtaining longer wear, and so as to obtain a predetermined clearance relative to the corresponding side of the other notch.

Claim 12

In a seat slide structure comprising an elongated stationary horizontal lower slide member, an elongated horizontal seat supporting upper slide member slidably supported on said lower slide member in telescoping relation thereto, and a latch member pivoted on said upper slide member engaging selectively in notches provided in uniformly longitudinally spaced relation in said lower slide member, the improvement which consists in the provision on said latch member of a generally U-shaped tooth member, the parallel arms of which provide two spaced teeth connected at one end in a fixed spaced parallel relation to the latch member and connected at the other end by the cross portion of the U in a fixed spaced parallel relation, their spacing corresponding to the spacing of the aforesaid notches, the teeth being engageable always in two of said notches in different adjustments of the seat, whereby to resist deformation of said teeth relative to said latch member under severe transverse loading and also distribute the load on said teeth and notches and thereby insure better holding action in the event of unusually severe strain tending to cause relative longitudinal movement between said slide members despite the locked position of said latch member, the notches being of inwardly tapered form, and one of the two teeth of the generally U-shaped sheet metal tooth member having wedging engagement in one of two neighboring notches but the other tooth being compressed from the outer side thereof to a predetermined depth both to make for closer grained metal, thus obtaining longer wear, and so as to obtain a predetermined clearance relative to the corresponding side of the other notch.