Power seat arrangement

Claim 2

A power seat arrangement comprising, a fixed base defining a rectilinear operating way, a shaft fixed with respect to said base extending in and longitudinally of said way, a pair of oppositely acting bell crank levers positioned in said way and spaced apart longitudinally of said way, said bell crank levers operating about axes extending crosswise of said way, means mounting said bell crank levers for movement on said base substantially parallel to said way, a seat frame positioned in vertical alignment with said way, with one arm of each bell crank lever being pivotally connectEd to said seat frame, an actuator mechanism for each bell crank lever disposed in said way, with the other arm of the respective bell crank levers being connected to the actuator mechanism therefor, said actuator mechanisms operatively engaging said shaft for movement thereof longitudinally of said shaft on actuation of the respective mechanisms, and power means for selectively driving said actuator mechanisms to move same longitudinally of said way to swing said levers about their said axes for shifting said seat frame relative to said base.

Claim 3

The power seat arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein: said shaft is externally threaded, said power means for each actuator mechanism comprising rotary motor means coupled to the respective actuator mechanisms for driving same, said actuator mechanisms each including means for converting rotary motion provided by said motor means to linear motion of said actuator mechanisms longitudinally of said way under the action of said mechanisms operatively engaging said shaft, and means for holding said actuator mechanisms against rotational movement.

Claim 4

A power seat arrangement comprising, a base defining a rectilinear operating way, an externally threaded shaft fixed against movement and extending in and longitudinally of said way, a pair of oppositely acting bell crank levers positioned in said way and spaced apart longitudinally of said way, opposed rectilinear guideways disposed on either side of said operating way in which said levers are journaled, said bell crank levers operating about axes extending crosswise of said way, a seat frame positioned in vertical alignment with said way, with one arm of each bell crank lever being pivotally connected to said seat frame, an actuator mechanism for each bell crank lever disposed in said way, said other arms of said levers making a shifting motion transmitting connection with the respective actuator mechanisms that is rectilinear in nature and directed normally of said way and vertically of said arrangement, said actuator mechanisms operatively engaging said shaft for movement thereof longitudinally of said shaft on actuation of the respective mechanisms, whereby when said actuator mechanisms are driven in opposite directions, said seat frame is moved vertically of said base and said levers shift longitudinally of said guideways, means for holding said actuator mechanisms against rotational movement, and power means for selectively driving said actuator mechanisms to move the same longitudinally of said way to swing said levers about their said axes for shifting said seat frame relative to said base, said power means for each actuator mechanism comprising rotary motor means coupled to the respective actuator mechanism for driving the same, said actuator mechanisms each including means for converting rotary motion provided by said motor means to linear motion of said actuator mechanisms longitudinally of said way under the action of said mechanisms operatively engaging said shaft.

Claim 5

A power seat arrangement comprising, a base defining a rectilinear operating way, an externally threaded shaft fixed against movement and extending in and longitudinally of said way, a pair of oppositely acting bell crank levers positioned in said way and spaced apart longitudinally of said way, opposed rectilinear guideways disposed on either side of said operating way in which said levers are journaled, said bell crank levers operating about axes extending crosswise of said way, a seat frame positioned in vertical alignment with said way, with one arm of each bell crank lever being pivotally connected to said seat frame, an actuator mechanism for each bell crank lever disposed in said way, said other arms of said levers making a shifting motion transmitting connection with the respective actuator mechanisms that is rectilinear in nature and directed normally of said way and vertically of said arrangement, said actuator mechanisms operatively engaging said shaft for movement thereof longitudinally of said shaft on actuation of the respective mechanisms, whereby when said actuator mechanisms are driven in opposite directions, said seat frame is moved vertically of said base and said levers shift longitudinally of said guideways, means for holding said actuator mechanisms against rotational movement, and power means for selectively driving said actuator mechanisms to move the same longitudinally of said way to swing said levers about their said axes for shifting said seat frame relative to said base, said power means for each actuator mechanism comprising rotary motor means coupled to the respective actuator mechanism for driving the same, said actuator mechanisms each including means for converting rotary motion provided by said motor means to linear motion of said actuator mechanisms longitudinally of said way under the action of said mechanisms operatively engaging said shaft.

Claim 6

A power seat arrangement comprising: a base defining a rectilinear operating way, a guide shaft extending longitudinally and centrally of said way, a pair of rock shafts extending crosswise of said way in parallel spaced apart relation, said rock shafts being coplanar in a plane paralleling said way, said rock shafts at their ends being mounted for shifting movement longitudinally of said way, a seat frame positioned above said way and over said shafts, said rock shafts each having a first bell crank arm pivotally connected to said seat frame and a second bell crank arm, an actuator device for each rock shaft, said actuator devices each comprising a housing received over said guide shaft and including means for selectively and independently moving the respective devices longitudinally of said guide shaft in either direction, said housings each defining an external vertical slot with the second bell crank aRm of the respective rock shafts having a floating force transmitting connection with the respective housing slots for applying to the respective second bell crank arms the motion of said housings, said rock shafts and said arms being disposed to define oppositely acting bell crank levers, whereby when said actuator devices are moved longitudinally of said guide shaft in opposte directions said seat frame is moved vertically of said base.

Claim 7

A power seat arrangement comprising: a base defining a rectilinear operating way, a guide shaft extending longitudinally and centrally of said way, a pair of rock shafts extending crosswise of said way in parallel spaced apart relation, said rock shafts being coplanar in a plane paralleling said way, said rock shafts at their ends being mounted for shifting movement longitudinally of said way, a seat frame positioned above said way and over said shafts, said rock shafts each having a first bell crank arm pivotally connected to said seat frame and a second bell crank arm, an actuator device for each rock shaft, said actuator devices each comprising a housing received over said guide shaft and including means for selectively and independently moving the respective devices longitudinally of said guide shaft in either direction, said housings each defining an external vertical slot with the second bell crank aRm of the respective rock shafts having a floating force transmitting connection with the respective housing slots for applying to the respective second bell crank arms the motion of said housings, said rock shafts and said arms being disposed to define oppositely acting bell crank levers, whereby when said actuator devices are moved longitudinally of said guide shaft in opposte directions said seat frame is moved vertically of said base.

Claim 8

A power seat arrangement comprising: a base defining a rectilinear operating way, a threaded guide shaft disposed within said way and extending longitudinally and centrally thereof, said shaft being fixed against rotation, a seat frame positioned over said way, a pair of rock shafts extending crosswise of said way in parallel spaced apart relation, said shafts being coplanar in a plane paralleling said way, said rock shafts having their ends supported for shifting movement longitudinally of said way, said rock shafts each having a first bell crank arm pivotally connected to said seat frame and a second bell crank arm for actuating the respective rock shafts, an actuator device for each rock shaft operably connected to the respective second bell crank arms, said actuator devices each comprising a housing received over said guide shaft and including rotary power drive means for selectively and independently actuating said devices and rotating driven means operably engaging said guide shaft for converting rotary motion of same to linear motion of said devices longitudinally of said way, said housings each including an external vertical slot, with the respective housings at said slots respectively having floating force transmitting connections with the respective rock shaft second arms for applying to the respective second arms the motion of the respective housings on operation of said power drive means, said rock shafts and said arms thereof being disposed relative to each other and the respective housings to define oppositely acting bell crank levers, and means for holding said devices against rotation on actuation of said power drive means thereof, whereby when said actuator devices are moved longitudinally of said guide shaft in opposite directions, said seat frame is moved vertically of said base.

Claim 9

A power seat arrangement comprising: a base defining a rectilinear operating way, a threaded guide shaft disposed within said way and extending longitudinally and centrally thereof, said shaft being fixed against rotation, a seat frame positioned over said way, a pair of rock shafts extending crosswise of said way in parallel spaced apart relation, said shafts being coplanar in a plane paralleling said way, said rock shafts having their ends supported for shifting movement longitudinally of said way, said rock shafts each having a first bell crank arm pivotally connected to said seat frame and a second bell crank arm for actuating the respective rock shafts, an actuator device for each rock shaft operably connected to the respective second bell crank arms, said actuator devices each comprising a housing received over said guide shaft and including rotary power drive means for selectively and independently actuating said devices and rotating driven means operably engaging said guide shaft for converting rotary motion of same to linear motion of said devices longitudinally of said way, said housings each including an external vertical slot, with the respective housings at said slots respectively having floating force transmitting connections with the respective rock shaft second arms for applying to the respective second arms the motion of the respective housings on operation of said power drive means, said rock shafts and said arms thereof being disposed relative to each other and the respective housings to define oppositely acting bell crank levers, and means for holding said devices against rotation on actuation of said power drive means thereof, whereby when said actuator devices are moved longitudinally of said guide shaft in opposite directions, said seat frame is moved vertically of said base.

Claim 10

The arrangement set forth in claim 5 wherein: said means for holding said devices against rotation comprises: said housings and said base having planar portions paralleling said way and in mutual engagement.

Claim 11

The arrangement set forth in claim 6 wherein: said base comprises an elongate base plate, said base plate having a flat medial portion and upstanding side portions on either side of same defining said operating way, said side portions being formed to define opposed guideways on either side of said operating way and extending longitudinally of said operating way, with said shafts having their said ends received in the respective guideways for supporting them for said shifting movement of said shafts.

Claim 12

The arrangement set forth in claim 7 wherein: said base plate medial portion forms said planar portion of said base.

Claim 13

The arrangement set forth in claim 7 wherein: said base plate includes flanges projecting from either side of same outwardly of said base plate side portions, said base plate flanges being formed to receive connectors making said base plate fast against movement in its operative condition.

Claim 14

The arrangement set forth in claim 6 wherein: said actuator device housings each include a parallelepiped portion, defining said planar portions thereof, and a round portion housing said rotary driven means thereof, said guide shaft extending through the respective housing parallelepiped and round portions thereof with said guide shaft extending axially of said housing round portions, said housings each having an electrical rotary motor secured to same to one side of same, with saId motors being disposed on either side of said shaft and comprising said power drive means.