Spacer having a tolerance absorption mechanism

Abstract

An assembly includes a first vehicle seat component, a second vehicle seat component that can pivot relative to the first vehicle seat component, a fastener to secure the first vehicle seat component and second first vehicle seat component together, and a spacer to absorb radial vibrations. The spacer includes a body and a plurality of flexible leaflets that extend radially from the body to absorb axial vibrations. The body and the plurality of flexible leaflets are integral and monolithic to define a single component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly comprising:
 a first vehicle seat component;   a second vehicle seat component that can pivot relative to the first vehicle seat component;   a fastener to secure the first vehicle seat component and second first vehicle seat component together; and   a spacer to absorb radial vibrations, wherein the spacer includes a body and a plurality of flexible leaflets that extend radially from the body to absorb axial vibrations, and the body and the plurality of flexible leaflets are integral and monolithic to define a single component.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first seat component is a component of a frame subassembly of a vehicle seat back, and the second seat component is a resilient component of a seat cushion. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fastener includes a shank, a larger diameter shank, and a shoulder, the larger diameter shank of the fastener is received in an opening in the spacer, and each of the plurality of leaflets engage the shoulder of the fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the body includes a smaller diameter portion, a larger diameter portion, and an opening that receives the fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein each of the plurality of leaflets is raised slightly with respect to the larger diameter portion of the body by a distance. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein the distance is about 0.6 mm 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein each of the plurality of leaflets is located between two sections of the larger diameter portion. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein a gap between each of the plurality of leaflets and the two sections of the larger outer diameter portion allows the plurality of leaflets to move axially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein the plurality of leaflets have a width that is smaller than a width of the sections of the larger diameter portion of the spacer. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of leaflets comprise four leaflets. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein each of the plurality of leaflets have a width that is approximately equal to a width of the sections of the larger diameter portion of the spacer. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the plurality of leaflets comprise three leaflets. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly comprising:
 a first vehicle seat component;   a second vehicle seat component that can pivot relative to the first vehicle seat component;   a fastener to secure the first vehicle seat component and second first vehicle seat component together; and   a spacer to absorb radial vibrations, wherein the spacer includes a body and a circumferential flange that extends axially from the body to absorb axial vibrations, and the body and the circumferential flange are integral and monolithic to define a single component.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the first seat component is a component of a frame subassembly of a vehicle seat back, and the second seat component is a resilient component of a seat cushion. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the fastener includes a shank, a larger diameter shank and a shoulder, the larger diameter shank of the fastener is received in an opening in the spacer, and the circumferential flange engages the shoulder of the fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the body includes a smaller diameter portion, a larger diameter portion, and an opening that receives the fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the circumferential flange is raised slightly with respect to the larger diameter portion by a distance. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the distance is about 0.6 mm 
     
     
         19 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the circumferential flange moves axially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fastener. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein the circumferential flange extends 360 degrees around the longitudinal axis of the fastener.