JP2005119389A - Retainer structure of seat slide device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retainer structure of a seat slide device capable of improving an assembling property to a slide rail, and realizing a smooth slide action and the like of the slide rail. <P>SOLUTION: A base 5 is made of a resin, and a projection formed at a portion of a roller mounting hole 8 of the base 5 is made deformable. An indentation 11 formed at an axial core position on both axial end faces of a roller 6 is set to a size for allowing fit of the projection 10, and each projection 10 on the roller mounting hole 8 side is elastically fit in each indentation 11 of the roller 6, so as to hold the roller 6 on the base 5 side. Under such a constitution, in a condition that each projection 10 is fit in each indentation 11 of the roller 6, there is little play between the indentation 11 and the projection 10, so as to surely prevent the roller 6 from inclining toward the base 5 and realize a proper rolling action of the roller 6. Also, a smooth slide action becomes possible, resulting in improvement of reliability of the actuation of the seat slide device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a vehicle seat slide device comprising a slide rail composed of a lower rail and an upper rail which are fitted and slidable relative to each other, and is interposed between the lower rail and the upper rail so as to allow relative sliding between the two. The present invention relates to a retainer structure that can be made.

  In general, a slide rail that constitutes a seat slide device is configured such that a lower rail that is fixed to a vehicle body side and an upper rail that is fixed to a lower surface side of a seat cushion are relatively slidable with a retainer interposed therebetween. It is configured by being inserted (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the retainer holds the lower rail and the upper rail that are inserted and retracted in the axial direction in a non-contact state and smoothly slides relative to each other. In general, the first wall portion is inserted into a gap portion between the bottom wall of the lower rail and the bottom wall of the upper rail facing the lower rail, and the side wall of the lower rail and the upper facing the lower wall. A base having a substantially L-shaped cross-section formed by a second wall portion that is disposed to enter a gap between the rail and the side wall of the rail is provided on the first wall portion and includes a bottom surface of the lower rail and a bottom surface of the upper rail. A roller which is interposed between the rollers and supports the load in the downward direction, and is provided between the corner of the lower rail and the corner of the upper rail which is provided on the second wall and is opposed to the upper rail. Direction load Constructed and a ball that lifting.

  The base is usually made of steel, and the rollers and balls attached to the base are made of steel. The roller needs to be rotatably mounted in the roller mounting hole that is opened in the first wall of the base. To realize this, the shaft of the slide rail is included in the rim of the roller mounting hole. Protrusions extending inwardly of the roller mounting hole are formed at two positions opposite to each other in a direction orthogonal to the direction, and on the roller side, recesses are formed on both end surfaces in the axial direction. Each of the protrusions is inserted into each of the recesses, and the protrusion is used as a rotation support portion when the roller rotates.

  The retainer is assembled by fitting the lower rail and the upper rail into the gap between the two from the axial end.

JP-A-8-230526 (paragraphs “0012” to [0021], FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5).

  However, in the retainer structure of the above-mentioned known example, both the base and the roller assembled to the base are made of steel. Therefore, the roller is fitted into the roller mounting hole of the base, and the recesses are inserted into the recesses. When engaging the protrusion on the roller mounting hole side, it is difficult to expect a large amount of elastic deformation on the protrusion side, so the diameter of the recess is the diameter required to engage the protrusion and rotationally support it. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to assemble the roller to the base. Therefore, even if the diameter of the recess is increased more than necessary, and the protrusion does not elastically deform, the roller of the base By assembling the roller in an inclined state with respect to the mounting hole, the protrusion can be engaged with the recess. Therefore, in the state where the roller is assembled on the base side, there is a large backlash between the two.

  For this reason, the retainer constructed by assembling the roller on the base body 5 is inserted into the slide rail side, and the lower rail and the upper rail of the slide rail are relatively slid by the rolling operation of the roller. (I.e., when the sheet fixed on the upper rail side is slid in the front-rear direction), the backlash between the protrusion on the base side and the concave portion on the roller side causes the roller to move from the lower rail. The above-mentioned base inserted in a proper state in the gap with the upper rail is tilted, the smooth rolling operation of the roller is hindered, the sliding resistance due to the sliding of the roller increases, and the smooth sliding operation As a result, the operational reliability of the seat slide device is impaired.

  Further, as described above, it has been pointed out that when the roller is inclined with respect to the base body, both of them are in contact with each other, and abnormal noise is likely to occur with the sliding operation.

  In view of this, the present invention has been made for the purpose of providing a retainer structure for a vehicle seat slide device capable of improving the ease of assembly to the slide rail and realizing a smooth slide operation of the slide rail. It is.

  In the present invention, the following configuration is adopted as a specific means for solving such a problem.

  In the first invention of the present application, the lower rail 2 fixed to the vehicle body side and the upper rail 3 fixed to the lower surface side of the seat cushion 3 are relatively slidable with a retainer 4 interposed therebetween. In the seat slide device inserted and inserted, the retainer 4 is made of steel on the first wall portion 5a of the resin base body 5 having a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape including the first wall portion 5a and the second wall portion 5b. The roller 6 is configured by mounting a steel ball 7 on the second wall portion 5b, and a roller mounting hole that opens through the first wall portion 5a in the thickness direction. A portion 8 is provided, and a pair of opening edges facing the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the base body 5 of the roller mounting hole portion 8 are respectively provided on the inner side of the opening to provide projections 10 and 10. The axial center positions of both end surfaces of the roller 6 in the axial direction are By providing recesses 11, 11 having a size that allows the insertion of the projection 10, the projections 10, 10 on the roller mounting hole 8 side are elastically inserted into the recesses 11, 11 of the roller 6. The roller 6 is held on the base 5 side.

  According to a second invention of the present application, in the retainer structure of the vehicle seat slide device according to the first invention, the protrusion 10 is formed in a substantially wedge shape, and the recess 11 is formed in a tapered hole shape. .

  According to a third invention of the present application, in the retainer structure of the vehicle seat slide device according to the first or second invention, the ball 7 is provided with a bolt mounting portion provided on the second wall portion 5b side of the base body 5. It is characterized in that it is held by elastically inserting into 9.

  In the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  (A) According to the retainer structure of the vehicle seat slide device according to the first invention of the present application, the base 5 is made of resin, and the protrusion 10 provided in the roller mounting hole 8 portion of the base 5 can be elastically deformed. In addition, the recesses 11 and 11 provided at the axial center positions of both end surfaces in the axial direction of the roller 6 are set to a size that allows the protrusion 10 to be engaged, and the recesses 11 and 11 of the roller 6 are set. The roller 6 is held on the base 5 side by elastically fitting the protrusions 10 and 10 on the roller mounting hole 8 side to the recesses 11 and 11 of the roller 6. In the state in which the projections 10 are inserted, there is almost no backlash between the recess 11 and the projection 10. For this reason, the retainer constructed by assembling the roller on the base body 5 is inserted into the slide rail side, and the lower rail and the upper rail of the slide rail are relatively slid by the rolling operation of the roller. In this case, it is possible to reliably prevent the roller 6 from being inclined with respect to the base body 5, realizing an appropriate rolling operation of the roller 6, enabling a smooth sliding operation, and eventually the seat sliding device. Operational reliability will be improved.

  In addition, since the roller 6 is held in an appropriate posture without tilting with respect to the base body 5, it is possible to prevent the uneven contact between the two and the generation of noise due to the sliding operation, and the value of the product. A high vehicle seat slide device can be provided.

  (B) According to the retainer structure of the vehicle seat slide device according to the second invention of the present application, in addition to the effects described in (a) above, the following specific effects can be obtained. That is, in the present invention, the protrusion 10 is formed in a substantially wedge shape and the recess 11 is formed in a tapered hole shape. Therefore, when both of these are fitted, the roller 6 is automatically rolled. Centering is performed, the smooth rolling operation of the roller 6 is further promoted, and further improvement in the reliability of operation of the seat slide device can be expected.

  (C) According to the retainer structure of the vehicle seat slide device according to the third invention of the present application, in addition to the effects described in (a), the following specific effects can be obtained. That is, in the present invention, the ball 7 is held by being elastically fitted into the bolt mounting portion 9 provided on the second wall portion 5b side of the base body 5, so that, for example, the base body 5 is made of steel. Compared to the case where the ball 7 is made, the work of attaching the ball 7 to the base body 5 is easy, and the holding performance of the ball 7 is improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on preferred embodiments.

  FIG. 1 shows a main part of a seat slide device having a retainer structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a slide rail, and a vehicle floor side through an attachment bracket 21. The lower rail 2 fixed to the lower rail 2 and the upper rail to which the seat cushion 23 of the seat 22 comprising the seat cushion 23 and the seat back 24 is fixed and fitted so as to be slidable relative to the lower rail 2. 3. A retainer 4 described below, which is the gist of the present invention, is mounted between the lower rail 2 and the upper rail 3 constituting the slide rail 1.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower rail 2 extends inward in the horizontal direction from the bottom wall 2a, a pair of left and right side walls 2b rising from both edges of the bottom wall 2a and the upper ends of the side walls 2b. It has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape including a pair of left and right upper walls 2c and a pair of left and right inner vertical walls 2d extending downward from the inner edge of the upper wall 2c.

  The upper rail 3 includes a top wall 3a, a pair of left and right inner vertical walls 3b extending downward from both left and right edges of the top wall 3a, and a pair of left and right extending horizontally outward from the lower end of the inner vertical wall 3b. And a pair of left and right side walls 3d extending upward from the outer edge of the bottom wall 3c.

  The lower rail 2 and the upper rail 3 position the top wall 3a of the upper rail 3 and the pair of left and right inner vertical walls 3b, 3b inside the pair of left and right inner vertical walls 2d, 2d of the lower rail 2. The pair of left and right side walls 3d, 3d of the upper rail 3 are opposed to the inner surfaces of the pair of left and right side walls 2b, 2b of the lower rail 2, and the pair of left and right bottom walls of the upper rail 3 are opposed to the inner surface of the bottom wall 2a of the lower rail 2. In a state where 3c and 3c are opposed to each other, they are inserted and arranged so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. In order to perform the relative movement of the lower rail 2 and the upper rail 3 smoothly and accurately while avoiding mutual contact between them, the retainer 4 described below is used.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the retainer 4 includes a pair of left and right substantially L-shaped gaps (that is, the lower rail 2 of the lower rail 2) formed between the lower rail 2 and the upper rail 3 of the slide rail 1. A substantially L-shaped configuration in which a gap between the bottom wall 2a and the bottom wall 3c of the upper rail 3 facing the bottom wall 2a and a gap between the side wall 2b of the lower rail 2 and the side wall 3d of the upper rail 3 are continuous. Each of which is inserted and disposed in each of the slide rails 1 on both sides of the slide rail 1 in the width direction, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. It comprises a roller 6 and a ball 7 to be assembled.

  The base 5 is a resin molded product integrally formed by molding using a resin material, and has a predetermined length having a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape along the shape of the gap on the slide rail 1 side. The first wall portion 5a is located on one side of the bent portion and the second wall portion 5b is located on the other side.

  The first wall portion 5a has a tongue-like shape with a central portion in the longitudinal direction extending outward. The first wall portion 5a has a rectangular opening for attaching the roller 6 described below to the central portion of the tongue-shaped portion. A roller mounting hole 8 is formed. Further, out of the peripheral edge of the roller mounting hole 8, a wedge shape is formed at the center of a pair of peripheral edges 8 a and 8 a substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the base body 5 toward the inside of the roller mounting hole 8. The protrusions 10 extending in the direction are integrally formed. In this case, the distance between the pair of peripheral edges 8a, 8a of the roller mounting hole 8 is set to a dimension that substantially matches the axial length of the roller 6 described below. The protrusion length of the protrusion 10 is set to a dimension sufficient to support the roller 6.

  In this embodiment, the protrusion 10 on the roller mounting hole 8 side extends in a wedge shape with the same thickness. In other embodiments, for example, it is formed in a conical shape. It can also be done.

  The second wall portion 5b of the base body 5 has a tip formed in a rod shape, and two positions separated in the axial direction of the rod portion are cut out to predetermined lengths to form ball mounting portions 9. . In this case, the length of the ball mounting portion 9 is set to a dimension smaller than the diameter dimension of the steel ball 7 by a predetermined dimension. In addition, circular recesses 12 are provided on the left and right end surfaces of the ball mounting portion 9.

  The roller 6 is integrally formed of a steel end shaft body, and its axial length substantially matches the distance between the pair of peripheral surfaces 8a, 8a of the roller mounting hole 8 on the shaft length base 5 side. It is made the size. Further, in the center of the axial end faces 6b, 6b of the roller 6 (that is, the axial center position of the roller 6), concave portions 11 each having a conical cross-sectional shape are formed. Further, the outer peripheral surface 6a of the roller 6 and the shoulder portions where the end surfaces 6b and 6b located at both ends thereof are continuous are chamfered to be guide portions 6c and 6c, respectively.

  The ball 7 is a steel sphere, and the outer diameter dimension thereof is set to be larger by a predetermined dimension than the dimension between both wall surfaces of the ball mounting portion 9 on the base 5 side.

  The retainer 4 as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained by mounting the roller 6 in the roller mounting hole 8 of the base body 5 thus configured and the ball 7 of the ball mounting section 9. It is what

  Here, the attachment operation | work of the said roller 6 with respect to the said roller mounting hole part 8 of the said base | substrate 5 is demonstrated according to the operation | work process with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball 7 is assembled to the ball mounting portion 9 portion of the base 5. In this case, the ball 7 is pressed between the left and right walls of the ball mounting portion 9. The ball 7 is prevented from falling off from the ball mounting portion 9 by inserting and inserting a part of the peripheral surface of the ball 7 into the concave portion 12 on the ball 7 side.

  On the other hand, when the roller 6 is mounted in the roller mounting hole 8, the roller 6 is inserted into the roller mounting hole 8 from either the upper or lower direction. , The protrusions 10 and 10 provided on the opposing peripheral edges 8a and 8a of the roller mounting hole 8 face the inside of the roller mounting hole 8 while keeping the shape of the first wall 5a. Is extended.

  When the roller 6 is pushed into the roller mounting hole 8 side from the state of FIG. 6, the protrusions 10 and 10 are connected to the guide portions 6 c and 6 c on the shoulder of the roller 6 as shown in FIG. 7. And is elastically bent upward by receiving the pushing force of the roller 6, and allows the roller 6 to pass between the pair of protrusions 10 and 10. Accordingly, when the roller 6 is further pushed into the roller mounting hole 8 side, the protrusions 10 and 10 slide on the end surfaces 6b and 6b of the roller 6, and when this corresponds to the recesses 11 and 11, respectively. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the elastic restoring force is elastically inserted into the recesses 11 and 11, and the roller 6 is held in the roller mounting hole 8 by the regulating force.

  When the roller 6 is assembled in the roller mounting hole 8, the recess 11 is set to a size that allows the projection 10 to be inserted, and the projection 10 is placed in the recess 11. Since it is inserted in a repressed state, there is almost no play between them. Further, in this case, since the projection 10 of the roller 6 has a conical cross-sectional shape, the centering of the roller 6 is automatically performed by elastically fitting the projection 10 into the recess 11. And it is performed with high accuracy.

  Thus, the assembly of the roller 6 and the ball 7 to the base body 5 is completed, and the retainer 4 is obtained.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the retainer 4 manufactured as described above is arranged between the axial lower rail 2 and the upper rail 3 of the slide rail 1 from one axial end side of the slide rail 1. The seat slide device is configured with the slide rail 1 by being inserted and arranged in the gap. When the retainer 4 is fitted into the slide rail 1 side, the roller 6 of the retainer 4 is connected to the bottom wall 2a of the lower rail 2 and the bottom wall of the upper rail 3 as shown in FIG. It is disposed between 3c and supports a downward load acting between them. On the other hand, the balls 7 of the retainer 4 are interposed between the corners of the vertical walls 2b and the top wall 2c of the lower rail 2 and the upper ends of the vertical walls 3d of the upper rail 3, and the lower rail 2 and the upper The horizontal and upward loads acting between the rails 3 are supported.

  Thus, in the thus configured seat slide device, when the upper rail 3 of the slide rail 1 moves relative to the lower rail 2 in the axial direction (that is, when adjusting the slide position of the seat 22). As the roller 6 and the ball 7 roll, the sliding motion of the slide rail 1 is performed lightly and smoothly, and the retainer 4 is provided in anticipation of such action. .

  However, for example, if there is a large backlash between the recess 11 of the roller 6 and the protrusion 10 inserted into the recess 6 as in the conventional retainer structure, it is inserted into the gap between the lower rail 2 and the upper rail 3. The roller 6 is tilted with respect to the base 5 and the smooth rolling operation of the roller is impeded, the roller 6 slips, and the sliding resistance becomes difficult due to an increase in sliding resistance. As described above, the operational reliability of the seat slide device is impaired. Further, as described above, the roller 6 is tilted with respect to the base body 5 so that both of them are biased to contact each other and abnormal noise is likely to be generated with the sliding operation.

  However, in the seat slide device of this embodiment, as described above, there is almost no play between the concave portion 11 on the roller 6 side and the protrusion 10 on the roller mounting hole portion 8 side inserted into the concave portion 11. As a synergistic effect, the inclination of the roller 6 during the sliding operation of the slide rail 1 is prevented in advance and surely, and the centering of the roller 6 is accurately performed. Thus, a smooth slide operation based on the proper and smooth rolling operation of the roller 6 is realized, and as a result, the operational reliability of the seat slide device is improved.

  In addition, since the roller 6 is held in an appropriate posture without tilting with respect to the base body 5, it is possible to prevent the uneven contact between the two and the generation of noise due to the sliding operation, and the value of the product. A high vehicle seat slide device can be provided.

It is a side view of a vehicular seat slide device provided with a retainer structure concerning the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a slide rail and a retainer shown in FIG. 1. It is III-III sectional drawing of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a retainer. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly state of a retainer. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before the assembly | attachment of the roller in a retainer. It is sectional drawing which shows the initial state of the assembly | attachment process of the roller with respect to a retainer. It is sectional drawing which shows the assembly completion state of the roller with respect to a retainer.

Explanation of symbols

1 ..Slide rail 2 ..Lower rail 3 ..Upper rail 4 ..Retainer 5 ..Base 6 ..Roller 7 ..Ball 8 ..Roller mounting hole 9 ..Ball mounting part 10 ..Protrusion 11 .. Recess 12 ·· Recess 21 ·· Mounting bracket 22 · · Seat 23 · · Seat cushion 24 · · Seat back

Claims (3)

The lower rail (2) fixed to the vehicle body side and the upper rail (3) fixed to the lower surface side of the seat cushion (3) are relatively slidable with a retainer (4) interposed therebetween. In the seat slide device to be inserted,
The retainer (4) is made of steel on the first wall (5a) of the resin base (5) having a substantially L-shaped cross-section composed of the first wall (5a) and the second wall (5b). A roller (6) made of steel and a steel ball (7) mounted on the second wall (5b), respectively,
The first wall portion (5a) is provided with a roller mounting hole portion (8) that penetrates and opens in the thickness direction, and the length direction of the base body (5) of the roller mounting hole portion (8). The projections (10) and (10) are provided on the pair of opening edges facing in the direction orthogonal to the inner side of the opening, respectively, while the protrusions (10) and (10) are provided. Providing recesses (11), (11) having a size that allows the protrusion (10) to be inserted;
The roller (6) is inserted into the substrate by elastically fitting the protrusions (10), (10) on the roller mounting hole (8) side into the recesses (11), (11) of the roller (6). (5) A retainer structure for a vehicle seat slide device, which is held on the side. In claim 1,
A retainer structure for a vehicle seat slide device, wherein the protrusion (10) is formed in a substantially wedge shape and the recess (11) is formed in a tapered hole shape. In claim 1 or 2,
The vehicle seat, wherein the ball (7) is held by being elastically fitted into a bolt mounting portion (9) provided on the second wall portion (5b) side of the base body (5). Retainer structure of slide device.

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