Patent ID: 8128051
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: first and second lower rails extending in a front-rear direction which are laterally spaced and adapted to be fixed to a vehicle floor; first and second upper rails extending in the front-rear direction which are laterally spaced and adapted to support a seat, the first and second upper rails being slidably supported by the first and second lower rails, respectively; a first screw mechanism provided between the first upper rail and the first lower rail, the first screw mechanism including a first screw shaft and a first nut which is screwed on the first screw shaft, one of the first screw shaft and the first nut being rotatably mounted to the first upper rail, the other of the first screw shaft and the first nut being fixedly mounted to the first lower rail; a second screw mechanism provided between the second upper rail and the second lower rail, the second screw mechanism including a second screw shaft and a second nut which is screwed on the second screw shaft, one of the second screw shaft and the second nut being rotatably mounted to the second upper rail, the other of the second screw shaft and the second nut being fixedly mounted to the second lower rail; and a slide driving mechanism including (a) a driving motor, (b) a transmission mechanism for transmitting a rotational force outputted from the driving motor to one of the first screw shaft and the first nut being mounted to the first upper rail so as to rotate and to one of the second screw shaft and the second nut being mounted to the second upper rail so as to rotate, (c) a bracket extending in a left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the bracket having the driving motor and the transmission mechanism mounted thereon and connecting the first and second upper rails, and (d) a protection cover means for covering at least front and bottom sides of the driving motor and the transmission mechanism wherein the bracket includes a first end positioned on a top surface of the first upper rail, a second end positioned on a top surface of the second upper rail, front and rear side flanges formed by bending a front end and a rear end of the bracket in a downward direction, and engagement hole portions formed on each of the side flanges, the bracket presenting an inverted U-shape in cross-section where a bottom side of the bracket is open, wherein the protection cover includes a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, engaging detent portions provided on an upper rim of the front wall and an upper rim of the rear wall that include an engagement projection being provided on an outer side each of the engaging detent portions, and guide portions which include guide members with a first portion which is parallel to the bottom wall and a second portion which is parallel to the front and rear walls, the protection cover presenting a U-shaped cross-section where an upper side of the protection cover is open, wherein the engagement projection of the protection cover is fitted into a corresponding engagement hole portion of the bracket to attach the protection cover to the bracket, and wherein the side flanges of the bracket are sandwiched by the guide members and one of the front or rear walls of the protective cover.