JP3200046B2 - Lock structure of seat slide device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a so-called so-called "inner / outer" pair of rail members, which is capable of restricting or unregulating the operation of a pair of rail members under a synchronous locking operation of a locking means provided on each rail member. The present invention relates to a lock structure of a double-sided lock type seat slide device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, a seat for a vehicle such as an automobile, in particular, a front seat of the automobile is slidably supported in a front-rear direction by a seat slide device interposed between the floor and the floor.

In this seat slide device, a pair of rails is provided in which a runner (also referred to as an upper rail) fixed to a seat side is slidably attached to a fixed guide rail (also referred to as a lower rail) on the floor side. The body is interposed between the seat and the floor at separate positions on the inner side (closer to the center) and the outer side (closer to the outside) in the lateral width direction of the vehicle. In this type of seat slide device, lock means that can be released by a release lever are provided on the inner and outer rail bodies, respectively, and a lock-on operation or a lock-off operation of each lock means is synchronized. so,
The slide restriction of the runner with respect to the guide rail and the restriction release can be integrally performed.

As a locking means in this type of rail body, for example, a form in which a lock claw of a lock plate is inserted and engaged with a series of lock holes drilled in a bottom wall of the guide rail, or an upper surface opening of the guide rail is suspended. There is known a so-called latch type configuration in which a series of lock claws formed on a piece is inserted into and engaged with a lock hole of a lock plate.

In such a latch-type locking means, a vertically movable, for example, a rotatable lock plate provided on the runner is provided under the biasing force of a lock spring, so that insertion between a lock hole and a lock claw can be performed. It is biased in the engagement direction, that is, in the lock-on direction. The inner and outer lock plates are connected between the runners of the respective sides via a release lever having a substantially U-shape in plan view and pivotally connected between the runners.

[0006]

In a front seat of an automobile, a belt anchor of a seat belt is usually provided on an inner runner. Therefore, it has been considered that the safety of the front seat and the like is further improved by increasing the reliability of the lock particularly in the inner rail body.

Conventionally, for example, by providing a phase difference in the operation of the lock plate on the inner side and the outer side, or by making the inner side locking claw longer than the outer side, the inner side locking means is connected to the outer side locking means. Lock-on with higher priority than the lock-on is generally considered as a measure to increase the reliability of the lock in the inner rail body.

However, in these constructions, the stroke of the lock plate in the guide rail (the vertical range).
Therefore, it is inevitable to increase the cross-sectional height of the guide rail, and the guide rail, and thus the rail body itself, tends to be increased in size and cost increases. In particular, in the configuration in which the lock claw provided on the guide rail is lengthened, the guide rail cannot be shared between the inner side and the outer side, and therefore, an increase in cost cannot be avoided from this point.

Also, the guide rail of the rail body is usually
It is fixed to the floor or the like by bolting. The bolt is usually screwed to the floor or the like after passing through a through hole of a guide rail, which is a so-called stupid hole, having a diameter relatively larger than the diameter of the bolt. There is a risk that the position of the guide rail, and thus the rail body, will shift between the inner and outer by an amount corresponding to the difference in diameter.

[0010] Such a displacement of the rail body between the inner and outer members may adversely affect the operation of the release lever, and eventually the lock-on and lock-off operations of the lock plate. In order to prevent the displacement of the rail body, a jig or the like is used to improve the accuracy of mounting the rail body. However, increasing the accuracy of the mounting operation using such a jig or the like involves complicating the operation itself, so that a reduction in workability is inevitable.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lock structure of a seat slide device for further improving the reliability of locking by an inner locking means and facilitating a mounting operation of a rail body without enlarging the rail body. It is intended to be provided.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a release lever is rotatably supported by an inner runner, and an inner lock plate is provided with a predetermined engaging piece. A support shaft, which is connected to the release lever in an interlockable manner and has a cam capable of pressing the outer lock plate in the lock-off direction, is rotatably supported by the outer runner, and is connected via the connecting means. It is connected to the release lever on the inner side so as to be interlocked.

The operation of the inner lock plate is directly controlled by the release lever, while the movement of the cam in conjunction with the operation of the release lever causes the outer lock plate to move to the inner lock plate. The operation is controlled so that the state can be maintained from the preceding lock-off and the lock-on of the inner lock plate can be delayed.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the lock structure of the seat slide device according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat slide device 10 includes locking means 12-I and 12-O, and a pair of inner and outer rail members. 14-I and 14-O are formed as so-called double-sided lock types, each of which is provided so as to be capable of performing a synchronous operation under the operation of the release lever 16.

As the rail members 14-I, 14-O, for example, runners (also referred to as upper rails) 18-I, 18-O are
For example, a configuration in which the guide rails (also referred to as lower rails) 20-I and 20-O are slidably assembled via rolling elements such as steel balls 21 and rollers 22 can be exemplified. However, the configuration of this type of rail body 14-I, 14-O is known,
Since the invention itself is not the purpose of the present invention, a detailed description of the basic configuration of the rail body is omitted here.

Here, as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 in addition to FIG. 1, lock members 12-I and 12-O of this kind of rail members 14-I and 14-O are, for example, runners. 18-I, 18-O
There is known a so-called latch-type configuration in which the lock plates 24-I and 24-O are raised and lowered on the side to perform lock-on and lock-off operations.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment of the present invention, the runners 18-I and 18-O are formed as a combination of two plates, respectively, and an arm-shaped lock plate is formed. 24-I and 24-O are rotatably arranged and connected between the two plates by pivot pins 26 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a lock hole 28 is formed in a horizontal bent piece 24a formed at a free end of each of the lock plates 24-I and 24-O so as to penetrate in the vertical direction. At the same time, a series of lock claws 30 that can be inserted into and engaged with the lock holes are formed on the upper surface opening hanging pieces 20a of the guide rails 20-I and 20-O.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lock plates 24-I, 24-O are, for example, runners 18-I, 18
The lock hole formed in the lock claw 30 under the biasing force of the lock spring 32, which serves as a torsion spring with one end 32a locked to -O.
28, i.e., in the lock-on direction.

The rotation of the lock plates 24-I, 24-O, that is, the lock-on and lock-off operations of the lock means 12-I, 12-O can be rotated by the inner runner 18-I. Controllable by a supported release lever 16.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 3, the release lever 16 having the front end as the operating end 16a is mounted on the bracket 34-I.
As a result, the inner runner 18-I is rotatably supported by the inner runner 18-I and cannot move in the axial direction. The release lever is directly connected to the inner lock plate 24-I via an engagement piece 16b formed at the rear end of the release lever 16.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, in the present invention, the support shaft 36 is rotatable about the outer side runner 18-O by being held by the bracket 34-O. In addition, the support shaft is immovably supported in the axial direction, and is connected to the outer lock plate 24-O via a cam 38 integrally provided at the rear end so as to be interlocked therewith. Then, the outer side lock plate 24-O is operatively connected to the release lever by arranging the connection means 42 between the pair of link pieces 40, 41 of the support shaft 36 and the release lever 16 standing upright with respect to the axis. ing.

As the connecting means 42, for example, a wire material such as a wire can be used.

As can be clearly understood from FIGS. 1 and 4, the cam 38 controls the operation of the outer lock plate under engagement and pressing with the engagement end 24b of the outer lock plate 24-O. The outer lock plate is formed so that the rotation of the cam enables the lock plate to maintain its state from the lock-off preceding the inner lock plate 24-I and the lock-on to be delayed by the inner lock plate. Operation is controlled.

That is, in the lock structure of the present invention, the operation of the inner locking means 12-I is directly controlled by the release lever 16, while the outer locking means 12-I is controlled.
The operation of -O is indirectly controlled via the cam 38.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the release lever 16 and the support shaft 36 are provided with return springs 44 and 45, for example, as torsion springs, respectively.
By locking each terminal to the link pieces 40 and 41 and the brackets 34-I and 34-O, respectively, the lock holes 28 and the lock claws 30 are formed in the inner and outer lock plates 24-I and 24-O. A biasing force is applied in the direction of insertion and engagement, that is, in the lock-on direction.

The operation of the inner and outer locking means 12-I and 12-O in conjunction with the release lever 16 will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the release lever 16 is not operated, the release lever is biased and held at the illustrated initial position under the biasing force of the return spring 44. In the locking means 12-I of the side rail body, the lock plate 24-I is provided with the lock claw 30, the engagement position of the lock hole 28,
That is, it is biased and held at the lock-on position under the biasing force of the lock spring 32.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in the initial state of the outer locking means 12-O accompanying the non-operation of the release lever 16, the cam 38 is moved under the biasing force of the return spring 45. Since the lock plate is biased and held at the non-pressing position with respect to the engagement end 24b, the outer side lock plate 24-O is held.
Is also biased and held at its lock-on position under the biasing force of the lock spring 32.

When the operating end 16a of the release lever is pulled up in the lock-off direction, that is, counterclockwise in FIG. 1 from the initial lock-on state, the inner lock plate 24-I by the engagement piece 16b of the release lever. Engagement of the engagement end 24c of the
By the pressing, the inner lock plate starts to rotate in the lock-off direction, that is, the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, and the cam 38 of the outer lock device is interlocked via the connecting device (wire material) 42. Is rotated clockwise in the figure as shown by the arrow in FIG. The engagement and pressing of the engagement end 24b by the rotation of the cam 38 causes the outer lock plate 24-O to rotate in the lock-off direction, that is, the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

At this time, while the inner lock plate 24-I rotates in the lock-off direction substantially corresponding to the rotation angle of the release lever 16, the outer lock plate 24-O is interlocked with the release lever. 5 and FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B), the outer side lock plate is controlled by the cam even when the operation is linked to the release lever, as shown in FIGS. By the pressing of the engagement end 24b, the lock is turned off prior to the inner lock plate. That is,
In the lock structure of the present invention, there is a lock-off state of only the outer lock means 12-O as shown, or a lock-on state of only the inner lock means 12-I.

When the release lever 16 is further rotated in the release direction, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A and 8B,
The inner lock plate 24-I is locked off with a delay to the outer lock plate 24-O, and the guide rails 20-I, 2
The slide of the runners 18-I, 18-O with respect to 0-O, that is, the operation of the rail bodies 14-I, 14-O becomes possible.

The operating force of the release lever 16 is released from the lock-off state of the lock means 12-I and 12-O on both the inner side and the outer side shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A and 8B. 5 or 6 (A), (B), the inner lock plate 24-I is rotated by the return of the release lever toward the initial position, thereby causing the inner side lock plate 24-I to rotate. While the lock hole 28 and the lock claw 30 are partially locked as shown, the outer lock plate 24-O is
Thus, the lock-off state is maintained. That is, at the time of the lock-on operation, the inner lock means 12-I is locked on prior to the outer lock means 12-O.

When the release lever 16 is further returned to the initial position and the cam 38 is rotated to the non-pressing position with respect to the engagement end 24b, the outer lock plate 24-O is delayed with respect to the inner lock plate 24-I. The lock is turned on, and the lock means 12-I and 12-O on both the inner side and the outer side are both returned to the lock-on state (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4).

As described above, in the lock structure of the seat slide device according to the present invention, the lock-on of the inner lock means 12-I is prioritized, and the outer lock means 12-O is operated in accordance with this. Is controlled.

That is, since the lock-on of the outer lock means 12-O does not occur at the time of lock-off of the inner lock means 12-I, the phenomenon that only the outer lock means is locked on is a certainty in the present invention. Be eliminated. Therefore, according to the present invention, the lock-on of the inner lock means 12-I is more reliable.

In the present invention, it is sufficient to rotate the inner and outer lock plates 24-I and 24-O within a range where the lock between the lock claw 30 and the lock hole 28 and the lock-off can be obtained. The stroke of the lock plate in the guide rails 20-I, 20-O is minimized on either side. Therefore, the cross-sectional height of the guide rails 20-I, 20-O is suppressed, and thus the guide rails can be downsized, and the rail bodies 14-I, 14-O can be downsized, and the cost can be reduced. It becomes possible.

Further, without changing the stroke of the lock plate or the length of the lock claw, the lock plates 24-I, 2
Since the timing of the rotation of the 4-O, and thus the timing of lock-on and lock-off of the lock means 12-I and 12-O on the inner side and the outer side are merely shifted by the cam 38, the guide rail 20- I and 20-O can be shared, and from this point, the cost can be sufficiently reduced.

In the present invention, the release lever 16
Is merely supported by the inner side runner 18-I, so that the displacement between the inner and outer rail bodies 14-I and 14-O hardly affects the operation of the release lever. Then, the release lever 16 and the cam 38 are connected with a pair of link pieces 40 and 41.
Since it is sufficient to connect the rails 14-I and 14-O of the inner and outer rails so that they can be interlocked under the construction of the connecting means 42 between the inner and outer lock members 12-I and 14-O. I, 12-
It cannot directly affect the behavior of O.

That is, in the present invention, even if the mounting accuracy of the inner and outer rail bodies 14-I and 14-O is relaxed, the lock-on by the inner and outer locking means 12-I and 12-O is performed. Since there is no significant effect on the reliability of the method, work using a jig or the like can be omitted. Therefore, by simplifying the mounting work,
The workability at the time of mounting the inner and outer rail bodies 14-I and 14-O, that is, the seat slide device 10, is sufficiently improved.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the rotation angle of the cam 38 linked to the release lever 16 is necessarily larger than the rotation angle of the outer lock plate 24-O. In other words, even if the operation of the cam 38 varies due to the operation of the release lever 16, the variation can be sufficiently absorbed under the operation of the cam.
The displacement of the outer lock plate 24-O with respect to 24-I can be sufficiently suppressed.

Therefore, also from this point, the mounting accuracy of the inner and outer rail bodies 14-I and 14-O can be sufficiently relaxed, thereby improving the workability.

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the lock plates 24-I and 24-O are illustrated as rotatable arms, but the lock holes 28 are formed in the runners 18-I and 18-O. On the other hand, as long as it is possible to move up and down, it is not limited to this,
For example, the lock plate itself may be provided to be able to move up and down with respect to the runner.

However, the lock plates 24-I, 24-O
If the arm is a rotatable arm, appropriate lock means for lock-on and lock-off can be achieved without complicating the configuration.
I, 12-O can be easily secured. And lock plate 24
When the release lever 16 and the cam 38 are rotatable in the left-right direction of the rails 14-I, 14-O when the -I, 24-O is a rotatable arm, the rotation direction is In this case, the lock plate is displaced by approximately 90 degrees with respect to the rotation direction of the lock plate, which is the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIGS. 3 and 4) of each rail.

That is, even if an excessive impact acts in the left-right direction or in the forward-backward direction, the release lever 16, the cam 38, and the rail bodies 14-I, 14-O cause the impact due to the shift in the rotating direction. Does not rotate integrally under the inertial force of
The influence of the inertial force on the lock means 12-I and 12-O can be reliably prevented, and from this point, the lock-on reliability and the holding ability are further enhanced.

In the embodiment of the present invention,
A pair of link pieces erected on the release lever 16 and the support shaft 36
40 and 41 are connected by a connecting means 42 made of a wire material or the like so as to be interlocked, but it is sufficient to transmit the rotation of the release lever provided on the inner side to the cam 38 on the outer side. Without limitation, for example, by other means such as a connecting rod,
The release lever and the cam may be connected to be interlockable.

However, according to the combination of the pair of link pieces 40, 41 and the connecting means 42, appropriate interlock between the release lever 16 and the cam 38 can be easily ensured without complicating the configuration.

Further, the lock claw 30 of the hanging piece 20a of the upper surface opening of the guide rails 20-I, 20-O is inserted into the lock hole 28 regulated by the lock plates 24-I, 24-O, and can be engaged. As the lock means 12-I and 12-O are embodied, but not limited thereto, for example, a series of lock holes formed by drilling the lock claws of the lock plate in the bottom wall of the guide rail, It may be configured to be inserted and engaged under the descent.

The lock hole 28 and the lock claw in the drawing
The number and shape of 30 are merely examples, and the lock holes and lock claws are inserted into and engaged with the runners 18-I, 18-O with respect to the guide rails 20-I, 20-O. The number and the shape are not limited to those shown in the figure because it is sufficient that the slide can be regulated.

In the seat slide device 10 shown in the embodiment of the present invention, since the lock-on of the inner locking means 12-I is further ensured, a belt anchor is provided on the inner runner 18-I. The present invention is suitable for a seat slide device mounted on a front seat or the like of an automobile. However, by ensuring lock-on by one of the lock means, it is possible to reliably prevent incomplete lock-on, that is, a so-called half-lock state, so that various types of passengers such as a rear seat of an automobile, a train, an airplane, and a ship can be used. It goes without saying that even if the present invention is applied to a seat or the like, effects such as securing safety of a seated person and facilitation of wearing can be sufficiently secured.

The embodiments described above are intended to explain the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way. All the modifications and alterations within the technical scope of the present invention are also included in this embodiment. It goes without saying that it is included in the invention.

[0052]

As described above, according to the lock structure of the seat slide device according to the present invention, the lock-on of the inner lock means is prioritized, and the phenomenon of locking only the outer lock means is eliminated. Therefore, the lock-on reliability of the inner locking means is further enhanced.

It is sufficient to raise and lower the lock plates on the inner and outer sides with a minimum stroke at which lock-on and lock-off between the lock claws and lock holes can be obtained. Therefore, the size of the guide rail and the size of the rail can be reduced, and the cost can be sufficiently reduced.

Further, since the rotation timing of the lock plate is merely shifted by the cam without changing the stroke of the lock plate or the length of the lock claw, the guide rail can be shared. Therefore, the cost can be sufficiently reduced.

Further, the release lever is merely supported by the inner side runner, and it is sufficient if the inner side release lever and the outer side cam are connected by a connecting means so as to be interlocked. Relaxation of the mounting accuracy of the rail does not significantly affect the lock-on reliability of the inner and outer locking means. Therefore, the simplification of the mounting operation sufficiently improves the mounting operability of the seat slide device.

Further, since the cam absorbs a shift in operation between the inner and outer lock means, a shift in operation between the lock means due to a shift in position between the inner and outer rails is ensured. Can be suppressed. Therefore, also from this point, the mounting accuracy of the inner and outer rail bodies can be relaxed, and the workability can be improved.

Further, if the inner and outer lock plates can be rotated along the front-rear direction of each rail body, a shift in the rotation direction causes a release lever by inertia force,
Since the cam and the rail body do not rotate integrally, the influence of the inertial force on the locking means can be reliably prevented, and from this point, the lock-on reliability and the holding ability are further enhanced.

Combination of the release lever and the cam by means of a combination of the release lever and a pair of link pieces erected on the support shaft and connecting means provided between the link pieces makes the structure complicated. Without the release lever,
Appropriate interlocking between the cams can be easily secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a lock structure of a seat slide device according to the present invention, as viewed from the front of a seat slide device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the seat slide device, showing a lock structure of the seat slide device.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken schematic front view of an inner rail body in an initial state (lock-on state) of a lock unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the outer rail body partially broken in an initial state (lock-on state) of the lock means.

FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a lock structure of the seat slide device, showing a preceding lock-off state of the outer locking means.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic front views of the inner lock member and the outer lock member partially broken, respectively, showing a preceding lock-off state of the outer lock member.

FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a lock structure of the seat slide device, showing a lock-off state of inner and outer lock means.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view, partially broken away, of the inner and outer locking means showing a lock-off state of the inner and outer locking means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Seat slide device 12-I, 12-O Lock means 14-I, 14-O Rail body 16 Release lever 18-I, 18-O Runner 20-I, 20-O Guide rail 24-I, 24-O Lock Plate 38 cam

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-10-44838 (JP, A) JP-A-63-306942 (JP, A) JP-A-11-321401 (JP, A) 323571 (JP, A) JP-A-2000-190760 (JP, A) JP-A-6-49157 (JP, U) JP-A-4-49528 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷⁾ , DB name) B60N 2/08

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A locking means for locking and unlocking a pair of inner and outer rails, each of which has a runner slidably mounted on a fixed guide rail, by means of a lifting / lowering operation of a lock plate on the runner side. However, in a double-sided lock type seat slide device provided so as to be synchronously operable under operation of a release lever, the release lever is rotatably supported by the inner side runner,
A support shaft integrally having a cam that enables the inner lock plate to be interlocked with the release lever via a predetermined engagement piece and that can press the outer lock plate in the lock-off direction, The inner-side lock plate is rotatably supported by the outer-side runner, and is operatively connected to the inner-side release lever via a connecting means, and the inner-side lock plate is directly controlled by the release lever. The rotation of this cam linked to the operation of the release lever allows the side lock plate to maintain its state from the lock-off preceding the inner lock plate, and to lock on later than the inner lock plate. A lock structure for a seat slide device, wherein 2. The release lever and the cam are rotatable in the left and right directions of the inner and outer rail bodies.
The lock structure for a seat slide device according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer lock plates are provided rotatably along the front-rear direction of each rail body. 3. The release lever and the support shaft are each formed with a pair of link pieces standing upright with respect to the axis, and the release lever and the cam are provided by erection of connecting means between the pair of link pieces. 3. The lock structure for a seat slide device according to claim 1, wherein the interlock can be performed.