Leaf Spring Track Latch

Abstract

A seat track assembly is provided for mounting a seat to a vehicle floor A fixed track is mounted to the floor and a movable track is fixedly secured to the seat and slidably coupled to the fixed track. A latch is operatively coupled to the movable track for selectively engaging the fixed track. A towel bar is operatively coupled to the latch for actuating the latch between a locked position coupled with the fixed track to prevent sliding movement between the fixed and movable tracks and an unlocked position decoupled from the fixed track to allow sliding movement between the fixed and movable tracks. A leaf spring extending between the movable track and the latch biases the latch into the locked position and permits resilient movement of the latch along a linear path between the locked and unlocked positions in response to pivotal movement of the towel bar.

1 . A seat track assembly for mounting a seat to a vehicle floor, said seat track assembly comprising:
 a track mechanism including a fixed track adapted to be mounted to the vehicle floor and a movable track adapted to be fixedly secured to the seat and slidably coupled to said fixed track;   a latch operatively coupled to said movable track for selectively engaging said fixed track to interlock said movable track relative to said fixed track;   a towel bar operatively coupled to said latch for actuating said latch between a locked position coupled with said fixed track to prevent sliding movement between said fixed and movable tracks and an unlocked position decoupled from said fixed track to allow sliding movement between said fixed and movable tracks; and   a leaf spring extending between said movable track and said latch, said leaf spring biasing said latch into said locked position and permitting resilient movement of said latch along a linear path between said locked and unlocked positions in response to pivotal movement of said towel bar.   
   
   
       2 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said fixed and movable tracks define a longitudinally extending open space therebetween. 
   
   
       3 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said leaf spring and said latch are disposed within said open space between said fixed and movable tracks. 
   
   
       4 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said leaf spring includes an arcuate segment extending between forward and rearward ends adapted to be fixedly secured to said movable track, said arcuate segment biasing said latch into said locked position and permitting resilient movement of said latch along said linear path. 
   
   
       5 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said latch is fixedly secured to said arcuate segment of said leaf spring. 
   
   
       6 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said forward end of said leaf spring includes a generally U-shaped segment having an open bottom side and a top side fixedly secured to said movable track. 
   
   
       7 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said rearward end of said leaf spring includes a vertical segment fixedly secured to said movable track. 
   
   
       8 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said towel bar is pivotally coupled to said U-shaped segment of said leaf spring. 
   
   
       9 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said towel bar includes at least one leg extending between first and second ends and a handle disposed at said first end, said leg pivotally coupled to said U-shaped segment of said leaf spring between said first and second ends and operatively coupled to said latch at said second end for actuating said latch between said locked and unlocked positions. 
   
   
       10 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said forward end of said leaf spring includes a flexible arm below said leg of said towel bar allowing downward deflection of said leg in response to a downward load applied to said towel bar to prevent damage to at least one of said leaf spring, latch, and towel bar. 
   
   
       11 . A seat assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said flexible arm extends forwardly from said bottom side of said U-shaped segment of said leaf spring. 
   
   
       12 . A seat assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said latch includes a body fixedly secured to said arcuate segment of said leaf spring, a head disposed outside said track mechanism adjacent said movable track, a neck extending through an opening in said movable track and extending between said body and said head, a latch plate extending laterally from said body for selectively engaging a plurality of teeth disposed along said fixed track, and a longitudinally extending channel for receiving said second end of said leg of said towel bar. 
   
   
       13 . A seat assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said head includes an engagement surface extending beyond said opening in said movable track, said engagement surface abutting said movable track when said latch is in said unlocked position and spaced above said movable track when said latch is in said locked position. 
   
   
       14 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said latch plate includes a plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures engaging said plurality of teeth when said latch is in said locked position and disengaged from said plurality of teeth when said latch is in said unlocked position.