PATENT ABSTRACT
A seat track protector assembly is provided for a vehicle. The seat track protector assembly includes a cover adapted to be disposed adjacent an end of a lower track member for a seat of the vehicle and adapted for movement by an upper track member of the seat. The seat track protector assembly also includes a spring cooperating with the lower track member and the cover to return the cover toward the end of the lower track member when the cover is moved away from the end of the lower track member by the upper track member.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to seats for vehicles and, more particularly, to a seat track protector assembly for a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide a seat for a vehicle such as a sport utility vehicle or a pick-up truck. Typically, the seat includes a generally horizontal seat portion and a generally vertical back portion operatively connected to the seat portion. The seat may include at least one, preferably a pair of tracks to allow longitudinal adjustment of the seat portion. The tracks are spaced laterally and extend longitudinally and are secured to vehicle structure such as a seat riser by suitable means such as fasteners. The tracks are steel, rolled sections with a fixed lower track member and a sliding upper track member. The tracks may be manually adjusted longitudinally or by power. When the seat is adjusted rearward, the upper track member moves into a rear passenger occupant foot space where it can be contacted by a foot of an,occupant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a seat track protector assembly for a vehicle. The seat track protector assembly includes a cover for a rear of a seat track, which matches a shape of an upper track member and moves with the upper track member until it is disposed on a lower: track member for the seat track as the upper track member moves forward of the lower track member. In addition, the seat track protector assembly includes a spring cooperating with the cover and is attached to the fixed lower track. As the upper track member moves rearward, the cover is engaged and moved rearward, thereby providing protection in any seat position. 
     The seat track protector assembly of the present invention is disposed over a track member of the seat, substantially: reducing risk of sharp foot contact with the track member by an occupant. The seat track protector assembly also improves the appearance of the seat track. The assembly is self-contained to fit to an existing seat track using simple fasteners from under the seat track. Therefore, it provides an easy retrofit while offering a durable, tamper-resistant character. 
    
    
     Other objects and features of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat track protector assembly, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with a seat of a vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the seat track protect assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the seat track protector assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating a first operational state. 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the seat track protector assembly illustrating a second operational state. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the seat track protector assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the seat track protector assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating first operational state. 
     FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the seat track protector assembly of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the seat track protector assembly of FIG. 7 illustrating a second operational state. 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the seat track protector assembly of FIG. 7 illustrating a third operational state. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 through 3, one embodiment of a seat track protector assembly  10 , according to the present invention, is shown for a vehicle, generally indicated at  12 . The vehicle  12  includes a vehicle body (partially shown) having a floor  14  and a seat  16  mounted to the floor  14 . The seat  16  has a seat portion  18  operatively connected to the floor  14  by one or more seat rails or tracks, generally indicated at  20 . It should be appreciated that, except for the seat track protector assembly  10 , the vehicle  12  and seat  16  are conventional and known in the art. 
     The seat tracks  20  are spaced laterally and extend longitudinally. Each seat track  20  includes a lower track member  24 . The lower track member  24  is generally “U” shaped with a flange  26  at each upper end extending laterally for a function to be described. The lower track member  24  is connected to a seat riser (not shown) of the floor  14  by suitable means such as fasteners (not shown). It should be appreciated that there are two seat tracks  20  per seat and that the lower track member  24  is attached to an outboard and inboard seat riser. It should also be appreciated that the seat track protector assembly  10  is used on each seat track  20 . 
     Each seat track  20  also includes an upper track member  28  to slide along the lower track member  24 . The upper track member  28  has an inverted general “U” shape with: a first flange  30  at each lower end extending laterally. The first flange  30  overlaps the flange  26  of the lower track member  24  and slides relative thereto. The upper track member  28  has a second flange:  32  extending perpendicularly from the first flange,  30  and a third flange  34  extending perpendicularly and laterally from the second flange  32  to cover a side edge of the flange  26  of the lower track member  24 . The track members  24  and  28  are made of a rigid material such as metal. The upper track member  28 , is connected to a seat pan (not shown) by suitable means such as welding. It should be appreciated that the seat tracks  20  are conventional and known in the art. It should also be appreciated that the lower track member  24  is fixed and the upper track member  28  may be moved manually or be powered by suitable means (not shown). 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the seat track protector assembly  10 , according to the present invention, is mounted to the lower track member  24  of the seat track  20 . The seat track protector assembly  10  includes a channel member  36  disposed within the lower track member  24 . The channel member  36  extends longitudinally with a generally “U” cross-sectional shape. The channel member  36  has a base wall  38  and a pair of opposed sidewalls  40  at the lateral sides thereof extending upwardly and generally perpendicular to the base wall  38  to form a channel  42 . The channel member  36  has a pair of opposed end walls  44  at the longitudinal ends thereof extending upwardly and generally perpendicular to the base wall  38 . The end walls  44  have an aperture  46  extending longitudinally therethrough. The aperture  46  is generally rectangular in shape for a function to be described. The channel member  36  is made of a metal material such as steel. 
     The seat track protector assembly  10  also includes a tape  48  for securing the channel member  36  to the lower track member  24 . The tape  48  is of an adhesive type, preferably a structural bonding tape disposed between the base wall  38  of the channel member  36  and a base wall of the lower track member  24  to adhesively secure the channel member  36  to the lower track member  24 . The tape  48  is generally planar and rectangular in shape. It should be appreciated that the tape  48  is conventional and known in the art. 
     The seat track protector assembly  10  includes a plurality of bumpers  50  disposed between the sidewalls  40  of the channel member  36  and sidewalls of the lower track member  24 . The bumpers  50  are made of an elastomeric material such as rubber. The bumpers  50  are generally planar and rectangular in shape. The bumpers  50  limit the channel member  36  from contacting the lower track member  24 . It should be appreciated that the bumpers  50  are conventional and known in the art. 
     The seat track protector assembly  10  also includes a pin  52  extending longitudinally and through the apertures  46  of the channel member  36 . The pin  52  is generally rectangular in cross-sectional shape. The pin  52  is made of a metal material such as steel. The pin  52  extends longitudinally beyond the end walls  44  of the channel member  36  for a function to be described. It should be appreciated that the apertures  46  of the channel member  36  and the cross-sectional shape of the pin  52  are complementary to prevent rotation of the pin  52 . 
     The seat track protector assembly  10  includes an end or trim cover  54  disposed about one end of the pin  52 . The cover  54  is made of a rigid material such as a metal material such as steel. The cover  54  may be of any suitable shape and is attached to the end of the pin  52  by suitable means such as welding. It should be appreciated that the cover  54  covers a longitudinal end of the seat tracks  20 . 
     The seat track protector assembly  10  also includes a spring  56  disposed about the pin  52  between an end of the pin  52  and one of the end walls  44  of the channel member  36 . The spring  56  is of a coil type for a function to be described. It should be appreciated that a compression of the spring  56  is equal to a longitudinal travel of the seat  16 . 
     The seat track protector assembly  10  further includes a spring retainer  58  for retaining the spring  56  on the pin  52 . The spring retainer  58  is generally rectangular in shape and has an aperture  60  extending therethrough. The aperture  60  is generally rectangular in shape to allow the pin  52  to extend therethrough. The spring retainer  58  is a plate made of a rigid material such as plastic. The seat track protector assembly  10  further includes a pin member  62  such as a hairpin or cotter pin that extends into an aperture  64  in the pin  52  adjacent the spring retainer  58 . It should be appreciated that the pin member  62  prevents the spring retainer  58  from exiting the pin  52 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in operation of the seat track protector assembly  10 , the seat track protector assembly  10  is spring-loaded and self-contained, which fits to the lower track member  24  of the seat tracks  20  for the seat  16  as illustrated in FIG.  4 . As the seat  16  is moved longitudinally rearward as indicated by the arrow A, the upper track member  28  engages the cover  54 . As a result, the cover  54  and pin  52  move rearward to compress the spring  56  between the spring retainer  58  and the end wall  44  of the channel member  36  as illustrated in FIG.  5 . As the seat  16  moves longitudinally forward, the spring  56  urges the spring retainer  58  away from the end wall  44  of the channel member  36 , causing the pin  52  and cover  54  to be returned to cover the end of the lower track member  24  as illustrated in FIG.  4 . It should be appreciated that the cover  54  protects both the upper and lower track members  24  and  28  and moves rearward as the upper track member  28  moves rearward relative to the lower track member  24 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the seat track protector assembly  10  is shown. Like parts of the seat track protector assembly  10  have like reference numerals increased by one hundred (100). In this embodiment, the seat track protector assembly  110  has the spring  156  disposed about the pin  152  and in the channel  142  of the channel member  136 . The seat track protector assembly  110  also has the spring retainer  158  disposed about the pin  152  and in the channel  142 . The operation of the seat track protector assembly  110  is similar to the seat track protector  10 . It should be appreciated that the seat track protector assembly  10  and  110  are self-contained units, which fit into the lower track member  24 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 through 10, yet another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the seat track protector assembly  10  is shown. Like parts of the seat track protector assembly  10  have like reference numerals increased by two hundred (200). In this embodiment, the seat track protector assembly  210  has only the cover  254  and the spring  256 . The cover  254  has at least one, preferably a plurality of projections  270  extending axially. The spring  256  has one end connected to one of the projections  270 , preferably a center projection  270   a  and the other end is connected to the lower track member  24  via a retainer  271 . The other projections  270  fit within the end of the lower track member  24  when the cover  254  is adjacent the lower track member  24 . The operation of the seat track protector assembly  210  is similar to the seat track protector  10  in that, as the seat  16  is moved longitudinally rearward as indicated by the arrow A, the upper track member  28  engages the cover  254  to move the cover  254  rearward as illustrated in FIG.  10  and the spring  256  causes the cover  254  to be returned to cover the end of the lower track member  24  when the upper track member  28  moves forward as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9. 
     The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.