Seat fold actuator

Abstract

An actuator configured to actuate a member. The actuator optionally including capabilities for storing and releasing kinetic energy. The actuator being suitable for use in any number of environments, including but not limited to facilitating seat folding operations.

1 . An assembly operable to actuate a latch from a retained position to a released position, the assembly comprising:
 a power plate operable to actuate the latch from the retained position to the released position with kinetic energy provided from a power spring;   at least one ball bearing positioned within each of at least one aperture of the power plate, each ball bearing being operable between a stored position and a freed position, the stored position preventing the power plate from actuating the latch from the retained position to the released position and the freed position freeing the power plate to actuate the latch from the retained position to the released position; and   a trigger plate having an aperture for each of the at least one ball bearings, the trigger plate being moveable between a blocking position and non-blocking position, the blocking positioning de-aligning the trigger plate apertures to the ball bearing apertures to block the ball bearings from the free position and the non-blocking position aligning the trigger plate apertures to the ball bearing apertures to allow the ball bearings to reach the free position.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the power spring provides substantially all kinetic energy used to actuate the latch from the retained position to the released position. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the ball bearings retain substantially all of kinetic energy of the power spring when in the stored position. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the power plate apertures include an incline surface for directing movement of the ball bearings to the freed position. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the trigger plate apertures include an incline surface for directing movement of the ball bearings to the stored position. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein a distance traveled by each ball bearing when moving from the stored position to the free position is less than half a diameter of the ball bearing. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein an additional spring applies kinetic energy to the trigger plate to force the ball bearings from the free position to stored position, the ball bearings retaining the kinetic force of the additional spring when in the stored position. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a reference plate having an aperture for each of the at least one ball bearing, the apertures of the reference plate facilitating movement of the lease one ball bearing between the corresponding apertures of the power plate and the trigger plate. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion each of the at least one ball bearing remains within the apertures of the reference plate when in the stored position and the free position. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the reference plate is gear-less. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein each of the power plate and the reference plate are gear-less. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a chaser spring operable to actuate the trigger plate from the non-blocking position to the blocking position. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the chaser spring actuates the trigger plate from the non-blocking position to the blocking position in a direction counter-clockwise to a direction of the power spring. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly operable to actuate a latch from a retained position to a released position, the assembly comprising:
 a power plate operable between a first position and a second position, the latch being in the retained position when the power plate is in the first position in the latch being in the released position when the power plate is in the second position;   a power spring operable to move the power plate from the first position to the second position;   a reference plate adjoining the power play;   a trigger plate operable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the latch being in the retained position when the trigger plate is in the third position in the latch being in the released position when the trigger plate is in the fourth position, the reference adjoining the reference plate;   a chaser spring operable to move the trigger plate from the blocking position to the non-blocking position; and   wherein the reference plate remained stationary while the power plate moves from the first position to the second position and while the trigger plate moves from the blocking position to the non-blocking position.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14  further comprising at least one ball bearing journaled within the reference plate, the at least one ball bearing movable between corresponding apertures included in each of the power plate and the trigger plate, the at least one ball bearing preventing movement of the power plate from the first position to the second position when at least partially positioned within the corresponding apertures of the power plate. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the trigger plate blocks the at least one ball bearing from exiting corresponding apertures within the power plate when in the blocking position and permits the at least one ball bearing to exit corresponding apertures within the power plate when in the non-blocking position, the at least one ball bearing entering corresponding apertures within the trigger plate when the trigger plate is in the fourth position. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein each of the power plate, the power spring, the reference plate, the trigger plate, and the chaser spring are coaxial. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein a distance traveled by each ball bearing when moving between corresponding apertures included in each of the power plate and the trigger plate is less than half a diameter of the ball bearing. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly operable to actuate a latch from a retained position to a released position, the assembly comprising:
 a power plate operable between a first position and a second position, the latch being in the retained position when the power plate is in the first position in the latch being in the released position when the power plate is in the second position;   a reference plate adjoining the power play;   a trigger plate operable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, the latch being in the retained position when the trigger plate is in the third position in the latch being in the released position when the trigger plate is in the fourth position, the reference adjoining the reference plate; and   wherein the reference plate remained stationary while the power plate moves from the first position to the second position and while the trigger plate moves from the blocking position to the non-blocking position.   
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19  further comprising at least one ball bearing journaled within the reference plate, the at least one ball bearing movable between corresponding apertures included in each of the power plate and the trigger plate, the at least one ball bearing preventing movement of the power plate from the first position to the second position when at least partially positioned within the corresponding apertures of the power plate, and wherein the trigger plate blocks the at least one ball bearing from exiting corresponding apertures within the power plate when in the blocking position and permits the at least one ball bearing to exit corresponding apertures within the power plate when in the non-blocking position, the at least one ball bearing entering corresponding apertures within the trigger plate when the trigger plate is in the fourth position.