Track assembly

Abstract

A track assembly ( 10 ) comprises a seat track member ( 12 ) that in use is secured to the base of a vehicle seat, slidably engaged with a floor track member ( 14 ) that in use is secured to the floor of a vehicle. At least one bearing assembly ( 16 ) is form fittingly retained between engaging portions of the track members ( 12, 14 ) so as to facilitate sliding movement of the seat track member ( 12 ) along the length of the floor track member ( 14 ).The or each bearing assembly ( 16 ) comprises an elongate spacer ( 52 ) provided with a steel ball ( 54 ) at either of its ends. At least one plastic ball ( 56 ) is provided in a side by side arrangement with each of the steel balls ( 54 ) such that a steel ball ( 54 ) is located between each plastic ball ( 56 ) and the spacer ( 52 ). In preferred embodiments, two plastic balls ( 56, 58 ) are provided in a side by side arrangement with each steel ball ( 54 ). The use of plastic balls in the or each bearing assembly ( 16 ) reduces the formation of indentations in the track members ( 12, 14 ).

1 . A track assembly suitable for slidably mounting a seat to the floor of a vehicle, comprising: 
 a first track member, slidably connected to a second track member; and    at least one bearing assembly retained between the first and second track members to facilitate sliding movement of the first track member along the length of the second track member;    the or each bearing assembly including first and second groups of ball bearings separated by an elongate spacer extending in the longitudinal direction of the tracks, each group of ball bearings including a rigid ball formed from a rigid material and a resilient ball formed from a resilient material, the rigid ball being located between the resilient ball, and the respective end of the elongate spacer.    
     
     
         2 . A track assembly suitable for slidably mounting a seat to the floor of a vehicle, comprising: 
 a first track member, slidably connected to a second track member; and    at least one bearing assembly retained between the first and second track members to facilitate sliding movement of the first track member along the length of the second track member;    the or each bearing assembly including first and second groups of ball bearings separated by an elongate spacer extending in the longitudinal direction of the tracks, each group of ball bearings including at least two different types of ball, wherein the compressibility of each of the different types of ball is such that the ball bearings burnish the track members and brinnelling of the track members is prevented.    
     
     
         3 . A track assembly, as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the or each bearing assembly comprises an elongate spacer and, at either end of the spacer, two resilient balls and a rigid ball in a side by side arrangement, the rigid ball being located between the resilient balls and the respective end of the elongate spacer.  
     
     
         4 . A track assembly, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the rigid and resilient balls have the same diameter as each other.  
     
     
         5 . A track assembly, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resilient material is an acetal resin.  
     
     
         6 . A track assembly as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the resilient material is a polyamide-amide engineering resin or a polyamide-imide engineering resin.  
     
     
         7 . A track assembly, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rigid material is steel.  
     
     
         8 . A track assembly, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the elongate spacer is an elongate cylindrical member having a diameter relatively smaller than the diameter of said balls.  
     
     
         9 . A track assembly, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the elongate spacer is formed from a plastics material.  
     
     
         10 . A track assembly, as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the elongate spacer is formed from metal.  
     
     
         11 . A track assembly generally as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.