Vehicle Seating Having Releasable Keeper for Towel Bar

Abstract

A seat track assembly for mounting a seat assembly to floor of a motor vehicle. The seat track assembly includes track mechanism having a fixed track adapted to be mounted to the floor and a movable track slidingly adjustable relative to the fixed track. A latch is operatively coupled to the movable track for selectively locking the movable track relative to the fixed track. An actuator is pivotally coupled to the movable track and is operatively coupled to the latch for releasing the latch to allow sliding movement between the fixed and movable tracks. A keeper assembly extends between the latch and the actuator. The keeper assembly selectively decouples the actuator from the latch when the actuator is urged to move beyond a normal range of movement.

1 . A seat track assembly for mounting a seat assembly to a floor of a motor vehicle, said seat track assembly comprising:
 a track mechanism including a fixed track adapted to be mounted to the floor and a movable track slidingly adjustable relative to said fixed track;   a latch operatively coupled to said movable track and movable for selectively locking said movable track relative to said fixed track;   an actuator pivotally coupled to said movable track and operatively coupled to said latch for moving said latch between locked and unlocked positions enabling selective sliding movement between said fixed and movable tracks; and   a keeper assembly operatively coupling said latch and said actuator for positioning said actuator for deployment and enabling selective decoupling from said latch when said actuator is urged to move in a locking direction beyond a normal range of movement between said locking and unlocking positions.   
   
   
       2 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said actuator includes a handle and at least one leg pivotally coupled to said movable track, said keeper assembly releasably engaging said leg. 
   
   
       3 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said leg extends between a first end pivotally coupled to said movable track and a second end at said handle, said keeper assembly releasably coupled between said latch and said leg between said first and second ends. 
   
   
       4 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said keeper assembly includes an upper portion coupled to said latch and a lower portion releasably coupled to said leg of said actuator. 
   
   
       5 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said lower portion of said keeper assembly extends between a first end and a second end defining an axial passageway and includes an opening for selectively releasing said leg of said actuator therethrough when a predetermined downward load is applied to said actuator. 
   
   
       6 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said lower portion of said keeper assembly includes a first arm and a second arm having spaced apart opposing bottom edges defining said opening therebetween. 
   
   
       7 . A set track assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said first arm and said second arm are C-shaped and are positioned in a face to face relation. 
   
   
       8 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said opening of said keeper assembly selectively receives said leg of said actuator therethrough when a predetermined unlocking load is applied to said actuator. 
   
   
       9 . A seat track assembly for mounting a seat assembly to a floor of a motor vehicle, said seat track assembly comprising:
 a pair of track mechanisms, each including a fixed track adapted to be mounted to the floor and a movable track slidingly adjustable relative to said fixed track;   a pair of latches, each operatively coupled to one of said movable tracks for selectively locking said movable track relative to said fixed track;   an actuator pivotally coupled to said movable track and operatively coupled to each of said latches for moving said latches and enabling selective sliding movement between said fixed and movable tracks; and   a pair of keeper assemblies, each operatively coupling one of said latches and said actuator for positioning said actuator for deployment and enabling selective decoupling from said latches when said actuator is urged to move in a locking direction beyond a normal range of movement between said locking and unlocking positions.   
   
   
       10 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said actuator includes a handle and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of said handle, each leg pivotally coupled to one of said movable tracks, said pair keeper assemblies each releasably engaging one of said pair of legs. 
   
   
       11 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein each of said keeper assemblies includes a first C-shaped arm and a C-shaped second arm, positioned in a spaced face to face relation defining an opening therebetween for receiving one of said pairs of legs. 
   
   
       12 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein each of said first and second C-shaped arms are resilient. 
   
   
       13 . A seat track assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein each of said keeper assemblies are configured to be affixed to one of said latches.