JP2008265484A - Lock device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly absorb positional unevenness of a lock mechanism and a striker even in the case of forming an opening width of a recessed part of a lock base narrow in order to improve lock strength. <P>SOLUTION: This lock device is structured of a lock mechanism 20 and a striker 50, wherein a hook 30 of the lock mechanism 20 is rotated in the lock releasing direction with deformation of a load absorbing portion (an elastic portion 34a) set in a load transmission route in the case wherein a large load is generated in a direction for falling the striker 50 from the recessed part 22 of the lock base 22 of the lock mechanism 20. An opening side of the recessed part 23 is provided with a first opening edge 23a widened in the opening width, and provided with a second opening edge 23b narrowed in the opening width. The lock mechanism 20 is turnably supported so that a side of the lock base 23, which has the recessed part 23, is circularly moved with a constant amplitude, and while the first opening edge 23a of the recessed part 23 is energized in a direction for rotating toward the second opening edge 23b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lock device that can lock a vehicle seat mainly on the vehicle body side or release the lock.

As this type of locking device, for example, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be cited. In this technique, a lock mechanism is provided on the seat side, and a striker is provided on the vehicle body side. The lock mechanism includes a lock base having a recess capable of receiving a striker, a hook, a pole, and a driving cam. The hook is rotatably supported with respect to the lock base, and forms a locked state in which the striker is held between the lock base and a recessed portion of the lock base, or an unlocked state away from the striker. The pole rotates to engage with the hook to hold the hook in a locked state. The driving cam further presses the hook in the locked state in the locking direction. In addition, the cam includes a fragile portion that deforms before any part of the load transmission path when a large load is generated in a direction in which the striker is pulled out of the recess of the lock base. Due to the deformation of the fragile portion, deformation or breakage of a critical part of the lock mechanism is avoided.
JP 2005-271903 A

In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, if a heavy load is generated in a direction in which the striker in the locked state is pulled out from the recess of the lock base, and the fragile portion of the cam is deformed, from the striker until the hook is received by the pole Rotate in the unlocking direction to leave. As a result, a gap is generated between the recess of the lock base and the end of the hook located on the opening side of the recess, and the lock strength between the lock mechanism and the striker is reduced.
Therefore, it is conceivable to form an overhanging portion having a shape that narrows the opening width on the opening side of the recess so that such a gap does not occur. However, as the opening width of the concave portion is narrowed, it becomes difficult to accept the striker, and variations in the positions of the lock mechanism and the striker cannot be absorbed, and the locking performance is reduced.

  The present invention is intended to solve such problems. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the position variation between the lock mechanism and the striker even if the opening width of the recess in the lock base is narrowed in order to increase the lock strength. It is to be able to absorb properly.

The present invention is for achieving the above object, and is configured as follows.
1st invention consists of the lock mechanism provided in one of the two members latched mutually, and the striker provided in the other of the two members, and the lock mechanism has a recessed part which can receive a striker And a hook that is pivotally supported by the lock base so that the striker is held between the lock base and the lock base by the rotation, or an unlocked state apart from the striker is formed, and the lock base is pivotally supported. And a pole that holds the hook in a locked state by rotating to a position where it can be engaged with the hook, and when a heavy load is generated in a direction in which the striker comes out of the recess of the lock base, This is a locking device in which the hook rotates in the unlocking direction with deformation of the load absorbing part set in the transmission path. , The opening side of the recess in the lock base has a first opening edge shape widening the opening width, and a second opening edge shape narrowing the opening width is set to reverse. The lock mechanism is rotatably supported on one of the two members so that the side having the recess of the lock base moves in an arc with a constant swing width, and the rotation direction of the first opening edge of the recess toward the second opening edge side Is being energized.

  According to this configuration, since the striker can be received by effectively using the opening width of the recess in the lock base, the position of the lock mechanism and the striker can be adjusted even if the opening width of the recess is reduced in order to increase the locking strength. The locking performance can be maintained well by absorbing variations.

According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the second opening edge of the recess of the lock base is set in a shape that overlaps with an end of the hook positioned on the opening side of the recess in the locked state.
Thereby, the lock strength can be further ensured with respect to a large load in a direction in which the striker comes out from the recess of the lock base in the locked state.

According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, a load absorbing portion using an elastic body is provided on at least one of the engaging surfaces of the hook and the pole that are engaged with each other in the locked state.
In this case, it is possible to prevent abnormal noise from being generated on the locking surface between the hook and the pole in the locked state, and when a heavy load is generated that rotates the hook in the unlocking direction, the load absorbing portion is crushed. The hook and the pole are engaged with each other at the locking surfaces, and the necessary engagement strength is obtained.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a retractable seat for a vehicle. The seat shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a three-seater rear seat. To store this type of seat, the reclining mechanism 13 is first operated, and the seat back 12 is moved toward the seat cushion 10 as shown in FIG. Defeat. In parallel with this, the unlocking operation of the locking device that holds the rear side lower part of the seat cushion 10 and the floor 14 side is performed. Thereafter, the seat cushion 10 is rotated with its front end as a fulcrum, and the entire seat rests against the back of the front seat (not shown).
As a structure for that purpose, the front end portion of the seat cushion 10 is connected to a hinge bracket 16 fixed to the floor 14 by a rotary shaft 18. The configuration of the locking device that locks the rear side lower part of the seat cushion 10 and the floor 14 side is the lock mechanism 20 provided at the rear side lower part (one of the two members) of the seat cushion 10 and the floor 14 (two The striker 50 is roughly divided into the other member). In addition, the connection structure by the hinge bracket 16 and the rotating shaft 18 and the locking device are respectively arranged on both sides of the seat.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an unlocked state of the lock mechanism 20. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the lock state of the lock mechanism 20. The lock mechanism 20 is mainly composed of a lock base 22, a hook 30, a pole 40, and a release lever 46.
The lock base 22 is a set of two, and both the lock bases 22 are coupled at a predetermined interval, and are assembled in a state where other components other than the release lever 46 are sandwiched therebetween. The lock base 22 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 27 with respect to the lower part on the rear side of the seat cushion 10 which is one of the two members.
The lock base 22 includes a recess 23 that opens downward at a lower portion thereof. The recess 23 can receive the striker 50 from its open side. Also, both edges on the opening side of the recess 23 are divided into a first opening edge 23a having a shape opened to widen the opening width and a second opening edge 23b having a shape projecting in the direction of narrowing the opening width. It has been. However, the protruding amount of the second opening edge 23b is larger than the opening amount of the first opening edge 23a, and as a result, the opening width of the recess 23 is set narrower than before.
Note that the entire edge of the recess 23 including these opening edges 23 a and 23 b is covered with a resin coating 26. This resin coating 26 is for preventing the generation of abnormal noise due to metal contact between the lock base 22 and the striker 50 during a locking operation described later.

In the side portion of the support shaft 27 in the lock base 22, there is provided a cut portion 28 that enters the shape of a “U” from the outside to the inside. A stopper pin 11 fixed to the seat cushion 10 side, which is one of the two members, is located in the cut portion 28. Thereby, the rotation of the lock base 22 using the support shaft 27 as a fulcrum is restricted by the stopper surfaces 28a, 28b of the cut portion 28 facing each other against the stopper pin 11. The lock base 22 is always urged clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the elastic force of a spring (not shown). For this reason, the lock base 22 in the unlocked state is maintained in a state where one stopper surface 28a of the cut portion 28 contacts the stopper pin 11 (FIG. 2). That is, the lock base 22 can be rotated around the axis of the support shaft 27 so that the side having the recess 23 moves in a circular arc with a constant swing width, and in the unlocked state, the lock base 22 is maintained at the rotational position shown in FIG. Yes. And the recessed part 23 at this time is in the state where the opening width with respect to the striker 50 is wide.
The elastic force of the spring urging the lock base 22 is set to a relatively small force that keeps the lock base 22 in the state shown in FIG.

The hook 30 is supported so as to rotate about the axis of the hook shaft 36 with respect to the lock base 22 and includes a hook recess 31 that opens obliquely to the side. The hook recess 31 engages with a striker 50 received in the recess 23 of the lock base 22, and the striker 50 is sandwiched between the rear portion of the recess 23, whereby the lock mechanism 20 is locked (see FIG. 3). A locking surface 32 that contacts the pole 40 is provided on the outer periphery of the hook 30. The surface of the hook 30 is covered with a resin coating 34 over almost the entire surface including the hook recess 31 and the locking surface 32. This resin coating 34 prevents the occurrence of noise due to the metal contact between the hook 30 and the striker 50 and the metal contact between the hook 30 and the pole 40 during the locking operation.
An elastic portion 34 a located between the locking surface 32 and the locking surface 42 of the pole 40 is formed in a portion of the resin coating 34 that covers the locking surface 32. That is, the locking surface 32 of the hook 30 is received by the locking surface 42 of the pole 40 via the elastic portion 34a. The elastic portion 34a prevents abnormal noise due to metal contact between the hook 30 and the pole 40, elastically deforms so as to be crushed by a large load that rotates the hook 30 in the unlocking direction, and absorbs the load. Thus, the elastic part 34a of the resin coating 34 corresponds to the “load absorbing part” of the present invention.

  The pole 40 and the release lever 46 are respectively fixed on the pole shaft 44 that is rotatably supported by the lock base 22. The pole 40 has a locking surface 42 that can be received in contact with the locking surface 32 of the hook 30. The release lever 46 is coupled to a cable (not shown) that transmits an unlocking operation force (tensile force) to the lock mechanism 20. The release lever 46 receives the unlocking operation force and rotates together with the pole shaft 44, and the pole 40 rotates through the pole shaft 44. A lock spring (not shown) using a tension coil spring is hung between the hook 30 and the release lever 46 (pole 40), and the hook 30 is urged counterclockwise in FIG. 2, for example. At the same time, the release lever 46 is urged clockwise.

Next, the function of the locking device will be described.
Now, it is assumed that the lock mechanism 20 is in the unlocked state shown in FIG. As already described, the hook 30 is urged counterclockwise, and a part of the hook 30 abuts against a stopper (not shown) of the lock base 22 so as to be held at the rotational position of FIG. On the other hand, the pole 40 is urged in the clockwise direction, and the tip end portion of the pole 40 abuts on the outer periphery of the hook 30 so that the pole 40 is held at the rotational position shown in FIG.
Due to the locking operation of the lock mechanism 20, the striker 50 relatively enters the recess 23 of the lock base 22, and with this entry, the striker 50 hits one end 31 a of the hook recess 31 of the hook 30. A force to rotate around the axis of the hook shaft 36 acts. As a result, the hook 30 rotates in the clockwise direction against the biasing force described above, and the striker 50 is engaged with the hook recess 31, and the other end 31 b of the hook recess 31 and the back of the recess 23 are The striker 50 is sandwiched between them. In parallel with this, the pole 40 is rotated by the urging force described above, and the locking surface 42 contacts the locking surface 32 of the hook 30 and receives it. As a result, the lock mechanism 20 is held in the locked state shown in FIG. In this locked state, the end 31 b of the hook recess 31 of the hook 30 overlaps with the second opening edge 23 b of the recess 23 of the lock base 22, and the opening side of the recess 23 is closed by the hook 30.
When an operation for unlocking is performed in the locked state of the lock mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 3, the release lever 46 is rotated counterclockwise together with the pole 40 through the cable. For this reason, the locking surface 42 of the pole 40 is disengaged from the locking surface 32 of the hook 30, and the hook 30 rotates counterclockwise by the biasing force described above. Thereby, the hook recessed part 31 of the hook 30 leaves | separates from the striker 50, and the lock mechanism 20 will be in the unlocked state shown in FIG. 2 again.

Next, mainly referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the function of absorbing the positional variation between the locking mechanism 20 and the striker 50 due to the assembling tolerance or the like will be described.
FIG. 4 shows a locking operation when the position of the striker 50 with respect to the locking mechanism 20 is relatively shifted from the reference position S by the dimension L in the left direction of the drawing. FIG. 5 shows a lock operation when the position of the striker 50 is relatively displaced from the reference position S by the dimension L in the right direction of the drawing. Therefore, the displacement absorption during the locking operation will be described with reference to these drawings.
As already described, when the lock mechanism 20 is in the unlocked state, the lock base 22 is kept in a state where one stopper surface 28a of the cut portion 28 is in contact with the stopper pin 11, and the recess 23 is opened to the striker 50. It is in a wide state. Accordingly, even in the unlocked state shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 5 (A), the recess 23 has a wide opening width with respect to the striker 50 which is displaced in the range of the dimension L to the left or right in the drawing. Opposite.

When the locking operation described above is performed from the unlocked state shown in FIG. 4A, the striker 50 that has entered the recess 23 as shown in FIG. The hook 30 is rotated clockwise. Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), the striker 50 enters the depth of the recess 23, and the striker 50 is sandwiched between the depth of the recess 23 and the other end 31b of the hook recess 31, and is locked. It becomes. In the locked state shown in FIG. 4 (C), the lock base 22 rotates slightly against the urging force around the axis of the support shaft 27 as the striker 50 enters the depth of the recess 23, and the cut is made. The stopper surface 28 a of the portion 28 is separated from the stopper pin 11.
When the locking operation is performed from the unlocked state shown in FIG. 5A, the striker 50 toward the recess 23 hits the first opening edge 23a of the recess 23 as shown in FIG. Rotate a little against the biasing force. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, the striker 50 enters the recess 23 while rotating the hook 30, and accordingly, the lock base 22 further rotates against the urging force. Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, in the locked state where the striker 50 has entered the back of the recess 23, the lock base 22 further rotates, and the other stopper portion 28b of the cut portion 28 contacts the stopper pin 11. .

As is apparent from the above description, the lock mechanism 20 (lock base 22) can be rotated around the axis of the support shaft 27 within a certain range, and an urging force is applied to the rotation in one direction. Thus, although the opening width of the recess 23 in the lock base 22 is set narrower than before, the striker 50 can be received using the opening width of the recess 23 effectively. Therefore, it is possible to absorb the variation in the position between the lock mechanism 20 and the striker 50 and maintain the lock performance satisfactorily.
When a large load in the direction in which the striker 50 comes out of the recess 23 of the lock base 22 is applied to the hook 30 in the locked state, as described above, the gap between the locking surface 32 of the hook 30 and the locking surface 42 of the pole 40. As shown in FIG. 6, the elastic part 34a located at is crushed, thereby absorbing the load. Although the hook 30 is rotated in the unlocking direction by the amount of deformation of the elastic portion 34 a, the end 31 b is kept in a state of being superimposed on the second opening edge 23 b of the lock base 22. As a result, the lock strength against the load in the direction in which the striker 50 comes out from the recess 23 of the lock base 22 is maintained. That is, both the locking performance and the locking strength of the locking mechanism 20 can be achieved.

FIG. 7 shows the lock mechanism 20 having a driving function for the hook 30 in a locked state. In this drawing, a driving cam 60 is rotatably supported on the pole shaft 44. A drive spring 64 is hung between the cam 60 and the lock base 22. The cam 60 is urged clockwise with the axial force of the pole shaft 44 as a fulcrum by the elastic force of the driving spring 64, and the tip surface of the cam 60 contacts and presses the protruding portion 33 of the hook 30. For this reason, the rotational force in the locking direction with respect to the hook 30 acts strongly, and the striker 50 is driven into the back of the recess 23 of the lock base 22 and the backlash between the lock mechanism 20 and the striker 50 is performed.
Further, the cam 60 is provided with a fragile portion 62 between the tip surface thereof and a portion supported by the pole shaft 44. When the heavy load in the direction in which the striker 50 comes out of the recess 23 of the lock base 22 is applied to the hook 30, the fragile portion 62 is deformed earlier than the other portions and the load is absorbed. When the fragile portion 62 is deformed, the locking surface 32 of the hook 30 is received by the locking surface 42 of the pole 40, and the aforementioned loosely packed state is eliminated, but the locked state of the locking mechanism 20 is maintained. Further, with the deformation of the fragile portion 62, the hook 30 rotates in the unlocking direction in the same manner as when the elastic portion 34a of the resin coating 34 is crushed, but its end portion 31b is formed on the second opening edge 23b of the lock base 22. It is kept in a polymerized state. As a result, the lock strength against the load in the direction in which the striker 50 comes out from the recess 23 of the lock base 22 is maintained.
In FIG. 7, the weakened portion 62 of the cam 60 corresponds to the “load absorbing portion” of the present invention. And the "load absorption part" of the lock mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 7 is good also as a form which deform | transforms the protrusion part 33 of the hook 30. FIG.

Side view of a retractable seat for a vehicle Configuration diagram showing the unlocked state of the locking mechanism Configuration diagram showing the lock state of the lock mechanism Explanatory drawing showing the absorption operation when the position of the lock mechanism and striker is displaced in one direction Explanatory drawing showing the absorption operation when the position of the lock mechanism and striker is shifted in the other direction Configuration diagram showing the locked state of the locking mechanism when a large load is generated that rotates the hook in the unlocking direction Configuration diagram showing the lock state of a lock mechanism with a drive-in function

Explanation of symbols

10 Seat cushion (one of two members)
14 floor (one of two parts)
20 Locking mechanism 22 Lock base 23 Recess 23a First opening edge 23b Second opening edge 30 Hook 34a Elastic part (load absorbing part)
40 pole 50 striker

Claims (3)

It consists of a lock mechanism provided on one of the two members locked together, and a striker provided on the other of the two members,
The lock mechanism is a lock base having a recess capable of receiving a striker, and is pivotally supported by the lock base so that the striker is clamped between the lock base and the lock base, or separated from the striker. A hook that forms an unlocked state, and a pole that is pivotally supported by the lock base and rotates to a position engageable with the hook, thereby holding the hook in a locked state;
This is a locking device in which the hook rotates in the unlocking direction in response to deformation of the load absorbing part set in the load transmission path when a large load is generated in the direction in which the striker comes out of the recess of the lock base. There,
On the opening side of the recess in the lock base, a first opening edge having a shape that widens the opening width and a second opening edge having a shape that narrows the opening width are set.
The lock mechanism is rotatably supported on one of the two members so that the side having the recess of the lock base moves in an arc with a constant swing width, and the rotation direction of the first opening edge of the recess toward the second opening edge side Locking device being biased to. The locking device according to claim 1,
A lock device in which the second opening edge of the recess of the lock base is set to a shape that overlaps with the end of the hook located on the opening side of the recess in the locked state. The locking device according to claim 1 or 2,
A locking device in which a load absorbing portion using an elastic body is provided on at least one of the engaging surfaces of a hook and a pole that are engaged with each other in a locked state.

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