Position adjustment device with deformation type damper means

Claim 2

In combination with a spring-biased positioning device suitable for providing multiple position adjustment to a movable member and a compression spring is provided to effect a return movement for an extensible-retractable portion of such device, the improved construction and arrangement for dampening the spring loaded return movement of the movable portion of said device, which comprises, an elongated elastomeric surfaced deformable member connected to one portion of said device, and connecting a roller-holding sleeve member which slidably encompasses said deformable member to the other portion of said device, said sleeve member in turn having a plurality of spaced internal ramped surface recess means each of which hold a roller means to engage the surface of said deformable member, such ramped recess means being sized with respect to the roller means retained therein to cause the latter to be depressed radially inward into the elastomeric surface of the deformable member as there is rectilinear movement in one direction and, conversely, permit a nOn-pressuring, free rolling of the roller means upon movement in the opposing direction, and the orientation of said ramped surface recess means in said sleeve member being such as to depress said roller means and provide a wave-form resisting force from the surface of said elongated deformable member which resists the expansion force of the compression spring member of the positioning device.

Claim 3

The positioning device of claim 1 further characterized in that said extensible-retractable portion thereof is adapted to telescope with respect to an adjacent tubular member and a compression spring is utilized to provide an extending movement between such portions.

Claim 4

The positioning device of claim 1 further characterized in that a threaded-nut member and a threaded rod member are in a threaded engagement with one another, whereby one of such threaded members may be extensible and retractable with respect to the other, and said compression spring is positioned between said members in a manner to assist in an extending movement therebetween.

Claim 5

The positioning device of claim 1 further characterized in that both the elastomeric surface deformable member and the encompassing roller-holding sleeve member are concentrically arranged around the extensible-retractable portion of such device.

Claim 6

The positioning device of claim 1 further characterized in that both the elastomeric surface deformable member and the encompassing roller-holding sleeve member are in a side-by-side arrangement with respect to the extensible-retractable portion of such device.

Claim 7

The positioning device of claim 1 further characterized in that said roller means within said ramped surface recess means comprises spherical-shaped ball means of a hard material capable of engaging and deforming the elastomeric surface of the elongated deformable member.

Claim 8

The positioning device of claim 1 further characterized in that said roller means within said ramped surface recess means are small rod-shaped rollers of a hard material capable of engaging and deforming the elastomeric surface of the elongated deformable member which is of a polygonal corss-section.

Claim 9

The positioning device of claim 1 further characterized in that such device is connected between a fixed base portion of a seat and a movable member of a movable seat back adjusting system, whereby there is multiple position adjustment for the back of such seat.

Claim 10

A spring-biased seat back positioning device having a surface deforming type of dampening means integrated therewith suitable to resist a compression spring return movement of at least one extensible-retractable member which comprises in combination, a first member for attachment to a non-movable portion of a seat, a second member rectilinearly movable relative to the first member and having means for attachment to a movable seat back member, with one member having a non-rotating threaded part and the other of said members rotatably carrying a part having threading to cooperate with the fixed threaded part, the threading of such parts being sufficiently steep that axial force between members will cause a rotation of the rotatable part and travel of one such part, a locking means connected to at least one threaded part to preclude rectilinear movement between said members, a compression spring member positioned between said first and second members in a manner to urge an extended relative positioning of such member, an elongated deformable member with a deformable elastomeric surface connected to one of first said members, a roller-holding sleeve member which slidably encompasses said elongated deformable member and connects to the other of said first said members, said sleeve member having internal ramped surface recess means therein in turn holding roller means for engaging the surface of said deformable member, such ramped surface recess means being sized with respect to the roller means retained therein to cause the latter to be depressed radially inward into the elastomeric surFace of the deformable member as there is rectilinear movement in one direction and, conversely, permit non-depressed free rolling of the roller means upon movement in the opposing direction, and orientation of the slope of said ramped surface recess means in said sleeve member with respect to said compression spring member being such as to depress said ball means and provide a wave-form resisting force from the surface of said elongated deformable member which resists the expansion force of the compression spring member in the positioning device.

Claim 11

A spring-biased seat back positioning device having a surface deforming type of dampening means integrated therewith suitable to resist a compression spring return movement of at least one extensible-retractable member which comprises in combination, a first member for attachment to a non-movable portion of a seat, a second member rectilinearly movable relative to the first member and having means for attachment to a movable seat back member, with one member having a non-rotating threaded part and the other of said members rotatably carrying a part having threading to cooperate with the fixed threaded part, the threading of such parts being sufficiently steep that axial force between members will cause a rotation of the rotatable part and travel of one such part, a locking means connected to at least one threaded part to preclude rectilinear movement between said members, a compression spring member positioned between said first and second members in a manner to urge an extended relative positioning of such member, an elongated deformable member with a deformable elastomeric surface connected to one of first said members, a roller-holding sleeve member which slidably encompasses said elongated deformable member and connects to the other of said first said members, said sleeve member having internal ramped surface recess means therein in turn holding roller means for engaging the surface of said deformable member, such ramped surface recess means being sized with respect to the roller means retained therein to cause the latter to be depressed radially inward into the elastomeric surFace of the deformable member as there is rectilinear movement in one direction and, conversely, permit non-depressed free rolling of the roller means upon movement in the opposing direction, and orientation of the slope of said ramped surface recess means in said sleeve member with respect to said compression spring member being such as to depress said ball means and provide a wave-form resisting force from the surface of said elongated deformable member which resists the expansion force of the compression spring member in the positioning device.

Claim 12

The device of claim 9 further characterized in that both the elastomeric surface deformable member and the encompassing roller-holding sleeve member are concentrically arranged around the extensible-retractable portion of such device.