Seat-track assembly

Abstract

A seat-track assembly is provided and may include a first track member having a series of locking features and a second track member slidably supported by the first track member. The seat-track assembly may also include a locking mechanism having at least two locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with the locking features to restrict relative movement between the first and second track members and an unlocked state disengaged from the locking features to permit relative movement between the first and second track members. The at least two locking pawls may each include at least two locking elements that are received within respective ones of the series of locking features in the locked state such that each of the locking elements simultaneously restrict relative movement between the first track member and the second track member in two directions when the locking pawls are in the locked state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seat-track assembly comprising:
 a first track member having a series of locking features;   a second track member slidably supported by said first track member; and   a locking mechanism disposed at least partially between said first track member and said second track member and including at least two locking pawls movable between a locked state engaged with said locking features to restrict relative movement between said first track member and said second track member and an unlocked state disengaged from said locking features to permit relative movement between said first track member and said second track member, said at least two locking pawls each including at least two locking elements that are received within respective ones of said series of locking features when in said locked state, each of said locking features having a first width and each of said locking elements having a second width that is no more than half of the first width, the first and second widths extending in a direction parallel to an axis along which said second track member is movable relative to said first track member.   
     
     
         2 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first track member and said second track member are movable in two opposite directions relative to one another along said axis when said locking mechanism is in said unlocked state. 
     
     
         3 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two locking pawls are independently movable relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising an actuator operable to selectively apply a force on said at least two locking pawls to maintain said at least two locking pawls in said unlocked state. 
     
     
         5 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the locking elements of at least one of said at least two locking pawls is received within respective ones of said series of locking features following release of said force. 
     
     
         6 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each of said locking features in said first track member has a forward face and a rearward face relative to said axis, and further wherein the locking elements of one of said at least two locking pawls engage the forward faces of respective ones of said series of locking features and the locking elements of another of said at least two locking pawls engage the rearward faces of respective ones of said series of locking features when in said locked state. 
     
     
         7 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said series of locking features are spaced apart in a direction parallel to said axis by a first distance and wherein the locking elements of one of said at least two locking pawls are spaced apart from the locking elements of another of said at least two locking pawls in said direction by said first distance. 
     
     
         8 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said first width is substantially equal to said first distance. 
     
     
         9 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 8 , wherein relative movement between said first track member and said second track member is limited to a second distance following release of said force before said locking elements of another one of said at least two locking pawls is received within respective ones of said series of locking features, to thereby prevent further relative movement between said first track member and said second track member. 
     
     
         10 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said second width is substantially equal to said second distance. 
     
     
         11 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said second width is half of said first width. 
     
     
         12 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said at least two locking pawls comprises four locking pawls. 
     
     
         13 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said four locking pawls are equally spaced relative to said axis. 
     
     
         14 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said first width is substantially equal to 10 mm and said second width is substantially equal to 5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said locking mechanism further includes biasing means for biasing said at least two locking pawls toward said locked state. 
     
     
         16 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said locking mechanism further includes a mounting bracket, wherein said at least two locking pawls and said biasing means are mounted to said mounting bracket so as to comprise a subassembly, and further wherein said mounting bracket containing said subassembly is fixedly connected to said second track member. 
     
     
         17 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said at least two locking pawls move in a direction perpendicular to said axis between said locked state and said unlocked state. 
     
     
         18 . The seat-track assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said first track member comprises opposite sidewalls defining a longitudinal channel parallel to said axis and said series of locking features comprise a series of locking features in each of said opposite sidewalls, and further wherein said at least two locking elements of each of said at least two locking pawls are received within said respective ones of said series of locking features on both of said opposite sidewalls when in said locked state.