JP2005082130A - Lock mechanism of slide adjuster for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lock mechanism of a slide adjuster for a vehicle capable of saving a space for installation and having high strength. <P>SOLUTION: A lock member fitting hole 4f is bored in an upper wall part 4a of an upper rail 4, and a lock member 42 is fitted in the lock member fitting hole 4f, and while the lock member 42 is fitted to the upper rail 4 freely to swing around a support shaft 40 fitted to a part of the upper rail 4. The upper rail 4 is locked by the lock member 42 in relation to a lower rail 2, and lock is released by swinging the lock member 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a slide adjuster that slides a vehicle seat in the front-rear direction and positions the vehicle seat at a predetermined position, and particularly relates to a mechanism for locking the slide adjuster.

  Some conventional vehicle slide adjusters have a locking member provided outside in the lateral direction of the lower rail, and the upper rail is locked to the lower rail by this locking member. However, since this configuration requires a relatively large space, recently, a lock member is provided inside the upper rail to achieve space saving (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

JP-A-8-282347 (6th page, FIG. 1) JP-A-4-163236 (Pages 2 to 3 and FIG. 1) JP-A-9-109744 (pages 3 to 4, FIG. 1)

  However, in the slide adjusters described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the lock rail of the lock member is inserted into the lock hole formed in one side of the lower rail and the upper rail, and the upper rail is locked to the lower rail. The slide adjuster described in Patent Document 3 has a structure in which a lock claw of a lock member that is swingably attached to the upper rail is fitted into a lock hole formed in the lower rail to lock the upper rail to the lower rail. When a load is applied to the slide adjuster, there is a problem that the load is applied to the entire lock member and the strength is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a high-strength slide adjuster locking mechanism for a vehicle that can achieve space saving.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a vehicle slide adjuster in which an upper rail is slidably attached to a lower rail attached to a vehicle body. A lock member insertion hole formed in the upper wall; the lock member is inserted into the lock member insertion hole; and the lock member is pivoted about a support shaft attached to a part of the upper rail. The upper rail is swingably attached to the upper rail, the upper rail is locked to the lower rail by the lock member, and the lock member is unlocked by swinging the lock member.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a part of the upper wall portion is cut and raised to form a lock member attachment portion, and the support shaft is attached to the lock member attachment portion.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 3, the lock member has a sliding portion formed in an arc shape, and the lock member is swingably attached to the support shaft via the sliding portion, The lock member is biased in a direction to lock the upper rail with respect to the lower rail by a plate-like spring member attached to an outer peripheral surface thereof.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the plate spring member is attached to an arcuate sliding portion of the lock member, and the lock member is biased inside the upper rail. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a lock hole is formed in the lower rail, and a first lock hole and a second lock hole are formed in the upper rail on both sides of the lock hole, and the lock member is formed. Is inserted into the lock hole of the lower rail and the first and second lock holes of the upper rail, and the lock member is inserted into a part of the lock hole of the lower rail and the first lock hole of the upper rail. The upper rail is locked with respect to the lower rail by contacting a part thereof.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 6, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the lock member, in addition to a part of the lock hole of the lower rail and a part of the first lock hole of the upper rail, The upper rail is locked to the lower rail by further bringing the lock member into contact with a part of the second lock hole of the upper rail.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a clearance is provided between the lock member and the lock member insertion hole, and when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the lock member, the lock member is inserted into the lock member insertion hole. The upper rail is locked with respect to the lower rail by further abutting on a part of the lower rail.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the present invention, the lock member is inserted into the lock member insertion hole formed in the upper wall portion of the upper rail, and the lock member is pivoted about the support shaft attached to a part of the upper rail. Since the upper rail is locked to the lower rail by this lock member, all the load applied to the slide adjuster during locking is applied only to the lock claw of the lock member and to the mounting shaft of the lock member Therefore, it is possible to provide a high-strength vehicle slide adjuster locking mechanism.

  In addition, since the lock member is inserted into the lock member insertion hole formed in the upper wall portion of the upper rail, space saving can be achieved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a vehicle slide adjuster S provided with a lock mechanism according to the present invention. The slide adjusters S are arranged on both sides of a seat (not shown), and the seat is set at a desired position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Used to do. Since the pair of left and right slide adjusters S have a symmetrical structure, only the slide adjuster S on one side (right side as viewed from the seat occupant) will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle slide adjuster S includes a lower rail 2 and an upper rail 4 that is slidably attached to the lower rail 2 in the front-rear direction. The lower rail 2 is fixed to the vehicle floor by a pair of front and rear brackets 6 and 8, while a side frame 10 constituting a seat cushion frame is attached to the upper rail 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lower rail 2 has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and includes a bottom wall portion 2a, an outer wall portion 2b rising above both edges of the bottom wall portion 2a, and an outer wall portion 2b. The upper wall portion 2c extends substantially horizontally from the upper edge toward the inner side, and the inner wall portion 2d hangs down from the inner edge of the upper wall portion 2c. In addition, a large number of rectangular lock holes 2e (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) are formed in the inner wall portion 2d at predetermined intervals. The rectangular lock holes 2e are at least inside the seat center. What is necessary is just to form in the wall part 2d.

  On the other hand, the upper rail 4 has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and includes an upper wall portion 4a, an inner wall portion 4b suspended from both edges of the upper wall portion 4a, and a lower edge of the inner wall portion 4b. The lower inclined wall 4c extending obliquely upward toward the outside, the outer wall portion 4d rising above the outer edge of the lower inclined wall 4c, and the protruding wall portion 4e extending substantially horizontally outward from the upper edge of the outer wall portion 4 It is comprised by.

  The outer wall 2b of the lower rail 2 is located outside the outer wall 4d of the upper rail 4, the upper wall 2c of the lower rail 2 is located above the protruding wall 4e of the upper rail 4, and the inner wall of the lower rail 2 2d is located between the inner wall 4b and the outer wall 4d of the upper rail 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a rectangular lock member insertion hole 4 f into which a lock member to be described later is inserted is formed at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the upper wall portion 4 a of the upper rail 4. The inner wall portion 4b and the outer wall portion 4d located near the seat center have a plurality (five in FIG. 5) of rectangular lock holes 4g and 4h at portions corresponding to the lock member insertion holes 4f of the upper wall 4a. It has been drilled. As shown in FIG. 5, the widths of the lock hole 2e of the lower rail 2 and the lock holes 4g and 4h of the upper rail 4 correspond to the taper shape of the lock claw 42a of the lock member 42, and the inner side of the upper rail 4 The width of the lock hole 4g of the wall 4b, the lock hole 2e of the lower rail 2, and the lock hole 4h of the outer wall 4d of the upper rail 4 are gradually narrowed in this order.

  Further, on both sides in the width direction of the lock member insertion hole 4f, a lock member attachment portion 4k formed by cutting and raising the upper wall portion 4a so that the inner wall portion 4b extends upward to a predetermined height is integrally formed. The locking member mounting portion 4k is provided with a rectangular locking hole 4l. A substantially cylindrical resin support shaft 40 is attached to the lock member attachment portion 4k. A lock member 42 is swingably attached to the support shaft 40, and the lock member 42 is attached to the outer peripheral surface thereof. The plate spring 44 is always urged in the direction of arrow F.

  Two flat portions 40a are formed on both sides of the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the support shaft 40, and a fitting groove 40b into which the lock member mounting portion 4k of the upper rail 4 is fitted is formed between the two flat portions 40a. ing. The width of the fitting groove 40b is set slightly smaller than the width of the lock member mounting portion 4k of the upper rail 4, and a locking projection 40c is formed on one of the two inner walls facing the fitting groove 40b. Yes.

  The lock member 42 has a curved cross section, and is fitted at one end (lower end) of the lock hole 2e of the lower rail 2 and the lock holes 4g and 4h of the upper rail 4 to lock the upper rail 4 to the lower rail 2. A plurality of (five in FIG. 5) lock claws 42a having a comb shape projecting inwardly and formed in a tapered shape. However, in a state where the lock claw 42a is fitted in all of the lock holes 4g, the lock holes 2e, and the lock holes 4h, the lock claw 42a contacts the lock holes 4g and the lock holes 2e, and each lock claw 42a and the corresponding lock hole A predetermined clearance is formed between 4h. In this state, a predetermined clearance is also formed between the front and rear edges of the lock member 42 and the front and rear edges of the lock member insertion hole 4f formed in the upper wall portion 4d of the upper rail 4. ing. Furthermore, an engaging portion 42b for engaging with an operation member described later is formed on the other end (upper end) of the lock member 42 so as to protrude inward. An arcuate sliding portion 42c for attachment to the support shaft 40 is formed on the outer side of the engaging portion 42b. The inner diameter of the sliding portion 42c is set to be approximately equal to the outer diameter of the support shaft 40. ing. A rectangular hole 42d into which one end (upper end) of the leaf spring 44 is loosely inserted is formed in a part of the sliding portion 42c and in the vicinity thereof.

  The leaf spring 44 is also formed in a curved shape like the lock member 42, and one end and the other end of the leaf spring 44 come into contact with the inner wall portion 4 b of the upper rail 4 and the base end portion of the lock claw 42 a of the lock member 42. Contact portions 44a and 44b are formed. Similarly to the lock member 42, a part of the leaf spring 44 is formed in an arc shape, and the leaf spring 44 is attached to the lock member 42 so that the arc shape portion covers the arc-shaped sliding portion 42 c of the lock member 42. It is attached.

  When the lock member 42 is attached to the upper rail 4, the resin support shaft 40 is first attached inside the sliding portion 42 c of the lock member 42, and the lock claw 42 a of the lock member 42 is locked to the lock hole 2 e of the lower rail 2 and the upper rail 4. Fit into the holes 4g and 4h. Thereafter, the locking member mounting portion 4k of the upper rail 4 is press-fitted into the fitting groove 40b of the support shaft 40, and a locking projection 40c protruding from the inner wall of the fitting groove 40b is formed on the locking member mounting portion 4k of the upper rail 4. The rectangular locking hole 4l is locked. Next, one end of the leaf spring 44 is loosely inserted into the rectangular hole 42d of the lock member 42, and the contact portions 44a and 44b formed at one end and the other end of the leaf spring 44 are the inner wall portion 4b of the upper rail 4 and the lock member. By attaching the leaf spring 44 onto the lock member 42 so as to abut the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the lock pawl 42a of the lock 42, the lock member 42 is constantly urged in the direction of the arrow F within the upper rail 4.

  Alternatively, the locking member mounting portion 4k of the upper rail 4 is first press-fitted into the fitting groove 40b of the support shaft 40, and the locking protrusion 40c protruding from the inner wall of the fitting groove 40b is formed on the locking member mounting portion 4k of the upper rail 4. The rectangular locking holes 4l may be locked. In this case, the sliding portion 42c of the lock member 42 is then attached to the support shaft 40, and the lock claw 42a may be fitted into the lock hole 2e of the lower rail 2 and the lock holes 4g and 4h of the upper rail 4.

  Further, the side frame 10 attached to the upper rail 4 has a bottom wall portion 10a and a side wall portion 10b, and a lock member insertion hole is formed at a portion corresponding to the lock member 42 in a longitudinal intermediate portion of the bottom wall portion 10a. 10c is formed. A bracket 46 bent in an L shape is attached to the front end portion of the side frame 10, and the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the operation shaft 48 is pivotally attached to the bracket 46. A press-fit piece 50 is attached to the front end portion of the operation shaft 48, and the press-fit piece 50 is press-fitted into the end portion of the pipe-shaped operation member 34 bent in a U shape. Further, a spring locking projection 48a is integrally formed at the rear of the front end portion of the operation shaft 48, and the other end of the spring 52 whose one end is locked to the side frame 10 is locked to the spring locking projection 48a. As a result, the front end portion of the operation shaft 48 is constantly biased downward. A pressing piece 48b bent inward is integrally formed at the rear end of the operation shaft 48, and the pressing piece 48b is located above the engaging portion 42b of the lock member 42. If necessary, the upper rail 4 is locked or unlocked with respect to the lower rail 2 by engaging with the engaging portion 42b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, each protruding wall portion 4e of the upper rail 4 is formed with two raised portions 4m spaced at a predetermined interval before and after the lock hole 4h. A long hole 4n is formed along the raised portion 4m in the curved portion between the outer wall portion 4d adjacent to the portion 4m and the protruding wall portion 4e. The raised portion 4m is formed with a long hole 4n having a predetermined length in a curved portion between the outer wall portion 4d and the protruding wall portion 4e before and after the lock hole 4h, thereby forming an upper edge of the long hole 4n. The protruding wall 4e is slightly lifted and curved.

8 to 10 show various modifications of the raised portion 4m. Raised portion 4m shown in Figure 8 is one that together form a flat portion 4m ₁ in central, to form an inclined portion 4m ₂ between the flat portion 4m ₁ and the protruding wall portion 4e. Raised portion 4m shown in Figure 9, the forms of the inclined portion 4m ₃ back and forth a central portion as a vertex, and has a triangular shape as a whole. Raised portion 4m shown in FIG. 10 is obtained by forming small arcuate protrusions 4m ₄ at its center.

  A retainer 14 is mounted on the bottom wall portion 2a at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the lower rail 2 so as to hold the ball 12 in a rollable manner. The retainer 14 has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and two cutout portions 14a are formed at predetermined intervals on each of both sides thereof, and the bottom wall portion of the lower rail 2 is formed in the cutout portion 14a. Balls 12 (see FIG. 4) for abutting both edges of 2 a and the lower inclined wall 4 c of the upper rail 4 to smoothly slide the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 2 are accommodated.

  In the vehicle slide adjuster S configured as described above, during operation of the vehicle, the lock member 42 is urged by the leaf spring 44, and the lock claw 42a is locked to the lock hole 2e of the lower rail 2 and the lock holes 4g, 4h of the upper rail 4. (FIG. 4). Further, the lock claw 42a is formed in a taper shape, and the lock hole 4g of the upper rail 4, the lock hole 2e of the lower rail 2, and the lock hole 4h of the upper rail 4 are arranged in this order so as to correspond to the taper shape. Since the front and rear edges of each lock claw 42a are in contact with the corresponding front and rear edges of the lock hole 4g and the lock hole 2e, the upper rail 4 is securely locked to the lower rail 2 and attached to the upper rail 4. The sheet thus obtained is held at a predetermined position.

  When it is desired to adjust the front / rear position of the seat while the vehicle is stopped, when the operating member 34 provided below the front portion of the seat is lifted, the operating shaft 48 rotates in the direction of arrow G and the rear end of the operating shaft 48 is moved. The part descends. As a result, the engaging portion 42b of the lock member 42 is pressed against the urging force of the leaf spring 44 by the pressing piece 48b formed at the rear end portion of the operation shaft 48, and the lock member 42 rotates the support shaft 40 ( Rotation) Rotates in the opposite direction of arrow F as the center. Accordingly, the lock claw 42a of the lock member 42 is released from the lock hole 2e of the lower rail 2 and the lock holes 4g and 4h of the upper rail 4, so that the lock of the upper rail 4 with respect to the lower rail 2 is released.

  Thereafter, when a load is applied in the front-rear direction of the seat, the upper rail 4 slides in the front-rear direction on the lower rail 2 via the balls 12 held by the retainer 14 so as to be able to roll, so that the operation member 34 is at a desired position. When the hand is released, the operation shaft 48 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow G due to the weight of the operation member 34, and the rear end of the operation shaft 48 rises. As a result, the locking member 42 is rotated in the direction of arrow F by the urging force of the leaf spring 44, and the locking claw 42a is reinserted into the locking holes 2e of the lower rail 2 and the locking holes 4g and 4h of the upper rail 4. 4 is locked to the lower rail 2 and the seat is held in that position.

  In addition, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the lock member 42 due to a vehicle collision or the like at the time of locking, the front and rear edges of each lock claw 42a are in addition to contact with the corresponding front and rear edges of the lock holes 4g and 2e. In addition, the front edge or rear edge of the lock hole 4h of the upper rail 4 is in contact with the front edge or rear edge of the lock rail 42, and the front edge or rear edge of the lock member 42 is also in front of the lock member insertion hole 4f formed in the upper wall portion 4a of the upper rail 4. It comes into contact with the edge or the rear edge, and is configured to handle a large load.

  Further, the protruding wall 4e of the upper rail 4 is formed with a plurality of (two on one side in this embodiment) raised portions 4m, and only these raised portions 4m slide on the inner surface of the upper wall 2c of the lower rail 2. Therefore, the sliding resistance is relatively small, and the sliding of the upper rail 4 with respect to the lower rail 2 is performed smoothly. In addition, the elongated portion 4n formed adjacent to the lower portion of the raised portion 4m gives the raised portion 4m elasticity in the vertical direction, and the manufacturing accuracy that affects the sliding property of the upper rail 4 with respect to the lower rail 2 Even if it falls to some extent, it can be absorbed by the elasticity (flexibility or deflection) of the raised portion 4m.

  In the present embodiment, the lock member mounting portions 4k are formed on both sides of the lock member insertion hole 4f, but may be formed only on one side of the lock member insertion hole 4f near the sheet center.

  The vehicle slide adjuster provided with the lock mechanism according to the present invention has a high strength because the load applied to the slide adjuster is only applied to the lock claw of the lock member and not to the mounting shaft of the lock member. It can be applied to various automobiles and the like that are required.

It is a perspective view of the slide adjuster for vehicles provided with the locking mechanism concerning the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one of the vehicle slide adjusters of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged exploded perspective view of the vehicle slide adjuster of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vehicle slide adjuster of FIG. 2, and particularly shows a locked state of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail by a lock mechanism. It is a fragmentary sectional bottom view which shows the relationship between the lock nail | claw of the lock member which comprises the lock mechanism concerning this invention, and the lock hole formed in the upper rail and the lower rail. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged side view of the upper rail in the vehicle slide adjuster of FIG. 2, and particularly shows raised portions formed before and after the lock hole. It is sectional drawing along line VII-VII of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged side view of the upper rail in the vehicle slide adjuster of FIG. 2, and particularly shows a modification of the raised portions formed before and after the lock hole. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged side view of the upper rail in the vehicle slide adjuster of FIG. 2, and particularly shows another modification of the raised portion formed before and after the lock hole. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged side view of the upper rail in the vehicle slide adjuster of FIG. 2, and shows still another modification example of the raised portions formed particularly before and after the lock hole.

Explanation of symbols

2 lower rail, 2a bottom wall, 2b outer wall, 2c upper wall,
2d inner wall, 2e lock hole, 4 upper rail, 4a upper wall,
4b inner wall part, 4c lower inclined wall, 4d outer wall part, 4e protruding wall part,
4f Lock member insertion hole, 4g, 4h Lock hole, 4k Lock member mounting part,
4l locking hole, 4m raised part, 4m ₁ flat part, 4m ₂ , 4m ₃ inclined part,
4m ₄ arc-shaped convex part, 4n long hole, 10 side frame, 10a bottom wall part,
10b side wall, 10c lock member insertion hole, 12 balls, 14 retainer,
14a notch, 34 operation member, 40 support shaft, 40a flat part,
40b insertion groove, 40c locking projection, 42 lock member, 42a lock claw,
42b engaging portion, 42c sliding portion, 42d rectangular hole, 44 leaf spring,
44a, 44b contact part, 46 bracket, 48 operation shaft,
48a Spring locking projection, 48b Pressing piece, 50 Press-in piece,
52 Spring, S Slide adjuster.

Claims (7)

In the vehicle slide adjuster in which the upper rail is slidably attached to the lower rail attached to the vehicle body,
The upper rail has a lock member insertion hole formed in an upper wall portion thereof, and the lock member is inserted into the lock member insertion hole, and a support shaft attached to a part of the upper rail is pivoted. The lock member is swingably attached to the upper rail, the upper rail is locked to the lower rail by the lock member, and unlocking is performed by swinging the lock member. A lock mechanism for a vehicle slide adjuster. 2. The locking mechanism for a vehicle slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a part of the upper wall part is cut and raised to form a lock member attaching part, and the support shaft is attached to the lock member attaching part. The lock member has a sliding portion formed in an arc shape, and the lock member is swingably attached to the support shaft via the sliding portion, and the lock member is attached to an outer peripheral surface thereof. 2. The vehicle slide adjuster locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the upper rail is urged by a plate spring member in a direction to lock the upper rail with respect to the lower rail. 4. The vehicle slide adjuster according to claim 3, wherein the plate-like spring member is attached to an arc-shaped sliding portion of the lock member and biases the lock member inside the upper rail. 5. Lock mechanism. The lower rail is provided with a lock hole, a first lock hole and a second lock hole are formed in the upper rail on both sides of the lock hole, and the lock claw of the lock member is connected to the lock hole of the lower rail and the lock rail. The upper rail is inserted into the first and second lock holes of the upper rail, and the lock member is brought into contact with a part of the lock hole of the lower rail and a part of the first lock hole of the upper rail. 5. The vehicle slide adjuster lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is locked with respect to the lower rail. When a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the lock member, in addition to a part of the lock hole of the lower rail and a part of the first lock hole of the upper rail, the lock member is connected to the second of the upper rail. 6. The vehicle slide adjuster locking mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the upper rail is locked with respect to the lower rail by further contacting a part of the lock hole. A clearance is provided between the lock member and the lock member insertion hole, and when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the lock member, the lock member is further brought into contact with a part of the lock member insertion hole to 7. The vehicle slide adjuster locking mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the upper rail is locked to the lower rail.

Images