Apparatus and method of seat adjuster slide

Claim 2

A vehicle seat adjuster slide assembly, said assembly in combination comprising: a sheet metal formed lower rail for connection to said vehicle, said lower rail including; a channel floor; spaced apart generally upward extending legs forming a bay with said channel floor; and projecting flanges extending generally transversely from said legs away from said bay; at least one bearing ball nested on the top of each of said flanges laterally spaced of said bay; at least one bearing ball nested on the bottom of each of said flanges laterally spaced of said bay; and an upper rail for connection to said seat, said upper rail including; a ceiling section covering said bay; generally C-shaped side bellies laterally spaced from one another and joined to said ceiling, each said side belly surrounding and nesting said upper and lower bearing balls and, the ends of said bellies extending under said flanges of said upper rail whereby said upper rail can slide on said lower rail without contact between said side bellies and said flanges except when an excessive force is placed on said upper rail causing said side belly ends to contact said flanges to prevent separation of said upper rail from said lower rail.

Claim 3

A seat adjuster slide assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower bearing balls are held within an interference fit between said side bellies and said lower rail flange.

Claim 4

A seat adjuster slide assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said flange of said lower rail includes a section bent over into a double thickness.

Claim 5

A seat adjuster slide assembly as described in claim 1 wherein each said flange has at least two upper and two lower bearing balls.

Claim 6

A vehicle seat adjuster slide assembly, said assembly in combination comprising: a sheet metal formed lower rail for connection with said vehicle, said lower rail including; a channel floor; spaced apart generally upward extending legs forming a bay with said channel floor; projecting flanges extending from and generally transverse to said legs away from said bay and having an outward portion inclined downwardly and away from said bay and having a portion bent over into a double thickness; at least two upper bearing balls nested on top of each of said flanges in contact with said inclined outward portion; at least two lower bearing balls nested on the bottom of said bent over portion of each of said flanges; and an upper rail formed of sheet metal for connection to said seat, said upper rail including; a ceiling section covering said bay; and generally C-shaped side bellies laterally spaced from one another and joined to said ceiling, each said side belly surrounding and nesting in an interference fit said upper and lower bearing balls, and the end of said bellies extending under said flanges of said lower rail whereby said upper rail can slide on said lower rail without contact between said side bellies and said flanges except when an excessive vertical force is placed on said upper rail causing said side belly ends to contact said flanges to prevent separation of said upper rail from said lower rail.

Claim 7

A vehicle seat adjuster slide assembly, said assembly in combination comprising: a sheet metal formed lower rail for connection with said vehicle, said lower rail including; a channel floor; spaced apart generally upward extending legs forming a bay with said channel floor; projecting flanges extending from and generally transverse to said legs away from said bay and having an outward portion inclined downwardly and away from said bay and having a portion bent over into a double thickness; at least two upper bearing balls nested on top of each of said flanges in contact with said inclined outward portion; at least two lower bearing balls nested on the bottom of said bent over portion of each of said flanges; and an upper rail formed of sheet metal for connection to said seat, said upper rail including; a ceiling section covering said bay; and generally C-shaped side bellies laterally spaced from one another and joined to said ceiling, each said side belly surrounding and nesting in an interference fit said upper and lower bearing balls, and the end of said bellies extending under said flanges of said lower rail whereby said upper rail can slide on said lower rail without contact between said side bellies and said flanges except when an excessive vertical force is placed on said upper rail causing said side belly ends to contact said flanges to prevent separation of said upper rail from said lower rail.

Claim 8

A vehicle seat adjuster slide assembly, said assembly in combination comprising: a sheet metal formed lower rail for connection with said vehicle, said lower rail including: a channel floor; spaced apart generally upward extending legs forming a bay with said channel floor; projecting flanges extending from and generally transverse to said legs away from said bay and having an outward portion inclined downwardly and away from said bay and having a portion bent over into a double thickness; at least two upper bearing balls nested on top of each of said flanges in contact with said inclined outward portion; at least two lower bearing balls spaced laterally outward from said upper bearing balls nested on the bottom of said bent over portion of each of said flanges; and an upper rail formed of sheet metal for connection to said seat, said upper rail including; a ceiling section covering said bay; and generally C-shaped side bellies laterally spaced from one another and joined to said ceiling, each said side belly surrounding and nesting in an interference fit said upper and lower bearing balls, and the end of said bellies extending under said flanges of said lower rail to point inboard of said flange bent over portion whereby said upper rail can slide on said lower rail without contact between said side bellies and said flanges except when an excessive vertical force is placed on said upper rail causing said side belly ends to contact said flanges to prevent separation of said upper rail from said lower rail.

Claim 9

A vehicle seat adjuster slide assembly, said assembly in combination comprising: a sheet metal formed lower rail for connection with said vehicle, said lower rail including: a channel floor; spaced apart generally upward extending legs forming a bay with said channel floor; projecting flanges extending from and generally transverse to said legs away from said bay and having an outward portion inclined downwardly and away from said bay and having a portion bent over into a double thickness; at least two upper bearing balls nested on top of each of said flanges in contact with said inclined outward portion; at least two lower bearing balls spaced laterally outward from said upper bearing balls nested on the bottom of said bent over portion of each of said flanges; and an upper rail formed of sheet metal for connection to said seat, said upper rail including; a ceiling section covering said bay; and generally C-shaped side bellies laterally spaced from one another and joined to said ceiling, each said side belly surrounding and nesting in an interference fit said upper and lower bearing balls, and the end of said bellies extending under said flanges of said lower rail to point inboard of said flange bent over portion whereby said upper rail can slide on said lower rail without contact between said side bellies and said flanges except when an excessive vertical force is placed on said upper rail causing said side belly ends to contact said flanges to prevent separation of said upper rail from said lower rail.