JP2610528B2 - Slide rail steel ball stopper structure - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slide rail steel ball stopper structure for preventing a steel ball incorporated in a gap between sides of a lower rail and an upper rail of a slide rail from falling off.

[Conventional technology]

For example, a seat of an automobile or the like is slidably supported in a front-rear direction by a slide rail. The slide rail includes a lower rail fixed to a vehicle body floor (vehicle floor), and an upper rail fixed to the seat below a side surface of the seat and slidably incorporated in the lower rail via a rolling element. Have been. Leg brackets are riveted to the front and rear ends of the lower rail, and the leg bracket is bolted to the vehicle floor, so that the lower rail is fixed to the vehicle floor. Such slide rails are provided on both sides of the seat.

In general, a roller is used as a rolling element, and two rollers of one set of slide rails are disposed between the lower rail and the upper rail while moving back and forth, and roll on a flat portion at the center of the lower rail. If the two rollers are locally biased (converged) locally, smooth sliding of the upper rail is not ensured, so it is necessary to limit the rolling range of the front and rear rollers to the front half or the rear half, respectively.

Therefore, for example, in a slide rail having a configuration in which the lower rail holds the upper rail, a total of four protruding embosses are provided in the center, two at each of the front and rear ends on both side walls of the upper rail located inside. The rolling range of the rollers is limited by the rivet heads of the leg brackets at the front and rear ends of the lower rail. In this configuration, the front roller can roll between the front end of the upper rail and the center forward protrusion emboss, and the rear roller can roll between the center rear of the upper rail and the rear end protrusion. it can. The front and rear rivet heads prevent the rollers from falling off the lower rail and the upper rail.

According to such a stopper structure, the rolling range of the front and rear rollers is limited to the front half or the rear half, smooth sliding of the upper rail is ensured, and there is no possibility that the rollers fall off.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Recently, steel balls (steel balls) have been used instead of rollers as rolling elements. While the roller is placed on the flat part in the center of the lower rail, the steel ball is placed in the gap between the side of the lower rail and the upper rail, so the rivet head in the flat part in the center of the lower rail drops the steel ball. Does not contribute to prevention at all.

Therefore, four protruding embosses are similarly provided on the lower rail as well as the upper rail, and the protruding embosses of the upper rail and the lower rail limit the rolling range of the steel ball and prevent the steel ball from falling off.

Here, for example, if the protruding embossment at each end of the lower rail is formed in advance, the steel ball cannot be inserted (incorporated) into the gap between the side of the lower rail and the upper rail. For this reason, in such a slide rail, the protruding embossing of each end of the lower rail is usually performed in the final step of assembling the slide rail.

However, the lower rail after being bent into a predetermined shape,
In particular, the work of forming the embossing by projecting from the lower rail after the upper rail is assembled tends to be complicated. When such a protruding emboss is formed, the lower rail is likely to be deformed and expanded, so that the protruding emboss may not sufficiently function as a stopper for preventing the steel ball from falling off. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a steel ball stopper structure for a slide rail that can reliably prevent a steel ball from falling off.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, of the side wall of the upper rail and the side wall of the lower rail, a projecting emboss is provided on the side wall of the inwardly located rail, and the center of the side wall of the outwardly located rail is provided. In addition, a protruding emboss opposed to the protruding emboss is provided, and the rolling range of the steel ball is limited by both protruding embosses.

Then, a slit extending in the vertical direction is provided at each of the front and rear ends of the side wall of the rail located outward, and a steel ball paragraph is formed by a caulking piece formed by caulking the outer edge of the slit in the front and rear direction of the rail. Has been prevented.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slide rail 12
A lower rail 14 fixed to the vehicle body floor surface, and an upper rail 16 fixed to the seat below the side surface of the seat,
Two steel balls 18 as rolling elements are disposed in the gap between the lower rail and the upper rail, separated from each other by two left and right. The leg bracket 19 is riveted to the front and rear ends of the lower rail 14, and the leg bracket is bolted to the vehicle floor, so that the lower rail is fixed to the vehicle floor.

In addition to FIGS. 1 and 2, in addition to FIG. 3, in the embodiment, the lower rail 14 is configured to hold the upper rail 16, and one at the front end and one at the rear end. A total of four protruding embosses 20 (20-1 to 20
-4) is formed on the inner rail, that is, on the side wall of the upper rail 16. 4, two protruding embosses 23 facing the protruding embosses 20 (20-2, 20-3) at the center of the upper rail 16 have lower rails located on the outer side. A slit 22 formed at the center of the side wall of the lower rail 14 and extending in the vertical direction is formed at the front end and the rear end of the side wall of the lower rail. The protruding embossment 20 of the upper rail protrudes outward, and the protruding embossment 23 of the lower rail protrudes inward. 2 in the front-rear direction of the lower rail 14
As will be described later, the outer edges of the slits 22 are caulked to form caulking pieces 22a, and the protruding emboss 20,
22, the steel ball stopper structure 10 is formed from the swaged pieces.

Contrary to the embodiment, the upper rail 16 may hold the lower rail 14.In this configuration, the protruding emboss 20 is provided on the inner lower rail, the slit 22, and the protruding emboss 23 is provided on the outer upper rail 16. It goes without saying that each is provided.

Steel ball 18, for example, as follows
It is incorporated into the slide rail 12. First, from the left side (corresponding to the front of the slide rail 12) in FIG.
The upper rail 16 is inserted through 14 and assembled. Here, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), the upper rail 16 is slid to the left (front) to protrude the embossments 20-1, 20.
-2 from the space provided below between the steel balls 18
Into the gap between the sides of the lower rail 14 and the upper rail 16. After inserting the steel ball 18, the outer edge of the slit 22 is swaged to form a swaged piece 22a. The caulking process is
For example, a slit in the front-rear direction of the lower rail 14
The center of the outer edge of 22 is pressed to form a substantially triangular swaged piece 22a. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the upper rail 16 is slid rightward (rearward), and the steel ball 18 is inserted from the space provided between the protruding embosses 20-3 and 20-4. The outer edge of the slit 22 is swaged to form a swaged piece 22a.

FIG. 4 (C) shows a state in which the upper rail is returned to a substantially central position after the front and rear steel balls 18 have been assembled. It goes without saying that the steel balls 18 are inserted almost simultaneously on the left and right sides (see FIG. 5).

Thus, after inserting the steel ball 18, the slit 22
If the outer edge of the steel ball is swaged, the steel ball is prevented from falling off because it is hindered by the swaging piece 22a. The caulking process of the edge of the slit 22 is simpler than the forming process of the protruding emboss, and the steel ball assembling process can be performed quickly and easily. Also, the caulking of the edge of the slit 22
The deformation and expansion of the lower rail 14 are unlikely to occur, and the falling off of the steel ball 18 is reliably prevented.

Further, since the swaging is performed on the outer edge of the slit 22 instead of the inner edge, the swaged piece 22a is easily formed into a rising shape facing the steel ball 18. In the caulking piece 22a having such a shape, since the edge of the slit 22 faces the steel ball 18, even if a large pressing force is transmitted from the upper rail 16 via the steel ball 18,
The swaged piece is not easily deformed, and the steel ball 18 is reliably prevented from falling off.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, a rod 26 is slidably disposed between the steel balls so that the front and rear steel balls 18 are always separated from each other by a certain distance to prevent the steel balls 18 from being biased toward the center. The rod 26 is made of, for example, resin, and is inserted into the lower rail before the steel ball 18 is inserted.
14. Inserted into the gap on the side of the upper rail 16. In this embodiment, a slit 22 is also formed in the center of the lower rail 14, and after the steel balls 18 are disposed before and after the rod 26, the inner edge of the slit in the front and rear direction of the lower rail is caulked. The rod 26 is not a circular cross section, but has a deformed shape having a corresponding clearance groove on the peripheral surface in consideration of the clearance of the caulking piece 22a and the protruding emboss 20, as shown in FIG. The caulking of 22 is performed by checking the direction of the rod through the slit and correcting if necessary.

The inner edge of the central slit 22 and the outer edge of the outer slit are caulked to form the caulking pieces 22a, so that each caulking piece has a rising shape facing the steel ball 18, so that a strong configuration is provided. Thus, the steel ball stopper structure 10 is obtained.

In the configuration of the second embodiment, in addition to the same effect as the above-described embodiment, the steel ball 18 is sufficiently separated from the rod 26, so that the upper rail 16 can slide more smoothly. Further, since the slit 22 is also formed in the center of the lower rail 14, the presence or absence of the rod 26 can be easily confirmed through this slit, and forgetting to dispose the rod can be prevented. Further, when the central slit 22 is crimped, the direction of the rod can be confirmed and corrected through the central slit, and the rod can be arranged in a normal state.

The integrated rail in which the upper rail 16 is used as a part (side member) of the seat cushion frame may be provided with the steel ball stopper structure 10 of the present invention.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to the seats of automobiles but also to slide rails of seats of trains, airplanes, ships, and the like.

The embodiments described above are for explaining the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way. All modifications and alterations within the technical scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. Needless to say.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the steel ball stopper structure of the slide rail of the present invention, in which the steel ball is prevented from falling off by the caulked piece at the edge of the slit, the caulking process of the edge of the slit is simple, so that the steel ball assembling step is performed. Can be done quickly and easily. Also, the caulking of the edge of the slit can be performed without deforming or expanding the rail, so that the steel ball can be reliably prevented from falling off between the lower rail and the upper rail.

And, in the front-rear direction of the rail, the caulking pieces at the front and rear ends are formed by caulking at the outer edge of the slit, and the caulking piece at the center is formed by caulking at the inner edge of the slit, so the caulking piece is a steel ball. Can be formed into a shape that is not easily deformed even under pressure. Therefore, even if a large pressing force is transmitted via the steel ball, the swaged piece is not easily deformed, and from this point, the steel ball is reliably prevented from falling off.

Further, in the slide rail in which the rod is disposed between the steel balls, a caulking piece is also formed at the center of the lower rail, and the presence or absence of the rod can be easily confirmed through the slit in the center, so that forgetting to dispose the rod can be prevented. Also,
Through the central slit, the direction of the rod can be confirmed and corrected, and the rod can be arranged in a normal state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are an exploded perspective view and a perspective view of a slide rail having a steel ball stopper structure according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the slide rail, and FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (C). Is a semi-longitudinal sectional view of a slide rail showing a steel ball assembling step, FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a slide rail after assembling a steel ball, FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4 (C), FIG. 7 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the slide rail taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6 according to another embodiment. 10: Steel ball stopper structure, 12: Slide rail,
14: lower rail, 16: upper rail, 18: steel ball, 19: leg bracket, 20: upper rail protruding emboss, 22: lower rail slit, 22a: caulking piece, 23: lower rail protruding emboss, 26: rod.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-49-72054 (JP, A) JP-A-1-73432 (JP, U) JP-A-59-57233 (JP, U) JP-A-56 95936 (JP, U) Actually open 1956-175233 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A steel ball roll disposed between a lower rail fixed to the floor of a vehicle body and an upper rail fixed to the seat below the side surface of the seat to secure sliding of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail. In the steel ball stopper structure of the slide rail that limits the movement range, of the side wall of the upper rail and the side wall of the lower rail, the emboss that protrudes from the side wall of the inwardly located rail is provided at the center of the side wall of the outwardly located rail. Protruding embosses opposed to the protruding embossing are provided, respectively, to limit the rolling range of the steel ball, and a slit extending vertically is provided at each of the front and rear ends of the side wall of the outer rail, By crimping pieces formed by crimping of the outer edge of the slit in the front-rear direction of the rail, Steel ball stopper structure of the slide rail, characterized in that to prevent dropping of the steel ball. 2. A steel ball roll disposed between a lower rail fixed to the floor of a vehicle body and an upper rail fixed to the seat below the side of the seat to secure sliding of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail. In the steel ball stopper structure of the slide rail that limits the movement range, of the side wall of the upper rail and the side wall of the lower rail, a protruding emboss is provided on the side wall of the inner rail, and the center of the side wall of the outer rail is provided. And slits extending in the vertical direction are provided at the front and rear ends, respectively, and the respective caulking formed by the caulking of the inner edge of the central slit and the outer edge of the slit at the front and rear ends in the front and rear direction of the rail. The piece limits the rolling range of the steel ball and prevents the steel ball from falling off Steel ball stopper structure of the slide rail, wherein the door. 3. A pair of front and rear steels disposed in a gap between a lower rail fixed to a vehicle body floor surface and an upper rail fixed to the seat below a side surface of the seat to secure sliding of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail. In the steel ball stopper structure of the slide rail that limits the rolling range of the ball, of the side wall of the upper rail and the side wall of the lower rail, the embossing protrudes from the side wall of the rail located inward and the side wall of the rail located outside. A slit extending in the vertical direction is provided on each of the center and front and rear sides, and the inner edge of the center slit and the outer edge of the front and rear end slits are formed by caulking in the front and rear direction of the rail, respectively. The caulking piece limits the rolling range of the steel ball and prevents the steel ball from falling In addition, a rod with a protrusion embossed and a clearance groove for caulking pieces on the peripheral surface is slidably arranged between the front and rear steel balls to prevent the steel ball from biasing to the center of the rolling range. The slide rail has a steel ball stopper structure.