초록 ▼

A seat slide assembly for a fixed seating arrangement allows for controlled horizontal movement of a seat in relation to a fixed vertical seat post. The seat slide assembly includes a cover configured for attachment to the bottom of a conventional seat, and a seat slide top member attached to the un

A seat slide assembly for a fixed seating arrangement allows for controlled horizontal movement of a seat in relation to a fixed vertical seat post. The seat slide assembly includes a cover configured for attachment to the bottom of a conventional seat, and a seat slide top member attached to the underside of the cover. The bottom of the seat slide top member is configured to receive and attach a pair of parallel ball-type bearing assemblies located on opposite sides of the seat slide assembly. Each bearing assembly is mounted to the underside of the seat slide top member, so that the bearing assemblies move along with the seat slide top member on an upper wall defined by a base. A spring biased seat slide retainer handle is operatively attached to the seat slide top member, and includes a retainer tab that engages a one of a series of spaced slots on a flange extending downwardly from a side of the base, for incremental controlled movement of the seat.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A seat slide, comprising: a seat base defining a support surface; a seat slide top member configured for attachment to a seat; at least one bearing assembly attached between the support surface of the seat base and the seat slide top member, wherein the bearing assembly includes an up

We claim: 1. A seat slide, comprising: a seat base defining a support surface; a seat slide top member configured for attachment to a seat; at least one bearing assembly attached between the support surface of the seat base and the seat slide top member, wherein the bearing assembly includes an upper bearing member secured to the seat slide top member, a lower bearing member secured to the seat base, and a series of axially aligned bearings interposed between the upper bearing member and the lower bearing member to enable axial movement of the upper bearing member relative to the lower bearing member, and thereby the seat slide top member relative to the seat base; and a retainer arrangement interposed between the seat base and the seat slide top member for selectively fixing the position of the seat relative to the seat base. 2. The seat slide of claim 1, wherein the retainer arrangement includes a handle pivotally connected to the seat slide top member and selectively engageable with the seat base. 3. The seat slide of claim 2, wherein the seat base includes a side plate having a series of aligned openings, and wherein the handle is interconnected with a tab configured to selectively engage at least one of the openings in the side plate. 4. The seat slide of claim 3, further comprising a spring interposed between the handle and the seat slide top member for biasing the handle toward an engaged position in which the tab is received within at least one of the openings in the side plate. 5. The seat slide of claim 4, wherein the seat slide top member includes a lateral extension having a downwardly projecting tab configured to engage a first end defined by the spring, and wherein the handle defines a spring receiving recess within which a second end defined by the spring is received. 6. The seat slide of claim 2, wherein the handle is attached to the seat slide top member by a bracket. 7. The seat slide of claim 1, further comprising at least one bearing stress relief member attached to the seat base and configured to overlie the upper bearing member, wherein the stress relief member is configured to prevent upward movement of the bearing assembly relative to the seat base. 8. The seat slide of claim 7, wherein the stress relief member comprises at least one bracket attached to the seat base. 9. A method of assembling a seat slide, comprising the acts of: providing a seat slide comprising: a seat slide top member; at least one bearing assembly having an upper bearing member secured to the seat slide top member, lower bearing member, and a series of axially aligned bearings interposed between the upper bearing member and the lower bearing member to enable axial movement of the upper bearing member relative to the lower bearing member; and a retainer arrangement; providing a chair having a seat mounting member interconnecting the seat slide top member with the mounting member of the chair so as to secure the upper bearing member of the bearing assembly to the chair; providing a base; attaching the lower bearing member to the base to enable axial movement of the seat slide top member, and thereby the seat, relative to the base; and interconnecting the retainer arrangement between the seat slide top member and the base. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of interconnecting the retainer arrangement between the seat slide top member and the base includes pivotally connecting a handle of the retainer arrangement to the seat slide top member, wherein the handle is selectively engageable with the base to selectively maintain the axial position of the seat relative to the base. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of interconnecting the retainer arrangement between the seat slide top member and the base is carried out by engaging a tab associated with the handle with one of a plurality of openings on a side plate extension of the base. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of biasing the tab associated with the handle toward engagement within one of the plurality of openings on the side plate extension of the base. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of biasing the tab toward engagement within one of the plurality of openings on the side plate extension of the base is carried out by a coil spring, and wherein the seat slide top member includes a lateral extension including a downwardly projecting tab configured to engage a first end defined by the coil spring. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the handle defines a spring receiving portion which engages a second end defined by the coil spring, wherein the coil spring applies a biasing force between the handle and the lateral extension of the seat slide top member to urge the tab toward engagement within one of the plurality of openings on the side plate extension of the base. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the act of pivotally connecting the handle to the seat slide top member is carried out by securing a bracket to the seat slide top member. 16. The method of claim 9 further comprising the act of attaching at least one bearing stress relief member to the base so as to overlie the upper bearing member of the bearing assembly. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the stress relief member comprises at least one bracket attached to the base. 18. A seat slide assembly, comprising: a pair of bearings assemblies attached to a seat base which includes a side member having a plurality of adjustment slots, wherein each bearing assembly includes an upper bearing member, a lower bearing member secured to the seat base, and a series of axially aligned bearings interposed between the upper bearing member and the lower bearing member to enable axial movement of the upper bearing member relative to the lower bearing member; a seat slide plate attached to the upper bearings member of each bearing assembly, wherein the seat slide plate is axially slidable relative to the base via the aligned bearings; and a movable retainer member attached to the seat slide plate and selectively engageable with the plurality of adjustment slots, to provide selective axial adjustment of the seat slide plate in relation to the base. 19. The seat slide assembly of claim 18, further comprising a spring interposed between the retainer member and the seat slide plate for biasing the retainer member toward the base side member into engagement with the plurality of adjustment slots. 20. The seat slide assembly of claim 19, wherein the retainer member comprises a handle defining a spring receiving region and the seat slide plate comprises a spring engagement member, wherein the spring defines a first end engaged with the spring receiving region and a second end engaged with the spring engagement member. 21. The seat slide assembly of claim 18, further comprising a pair of strain relief brackets mounted to the base, wherein each strain relief bracket overlies the upper bearing member of one of the bearing assemblies to prevent upward movement of the bearing assembly. 22. The seat slide assembly of claim 18, wherein the seat slide assembly is located below a seat, and further comprising a cover secured to the seat slide plate, wherein the cover is interposed between the seat slide plate and the seat. 23. The seat slide assembly of claim 22, wherein the cover includes downwardly extending side walls configured to surround and shield the seat slide plate, the bearings assemblies and the retainer member.