JP5826793B2 - Slide rail device for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular slide rail device that slidably supports a seat, and more particularly to a vehicular slide rail device that includes a slide lock mechanism that regulates the sliding of a seat.

  A pair of left and right lower rails fixed to a vehicle interior floor surface, and a pair of left and right upper rails that support a seat portion of the seat and can slide in a longitudinal direction with respect to the left and right lower rails; Many are equipped with a slide lock mechanism for restricting the slide of the upper rail. Various structures are known for the slide lock mechanism. As a configuration suitable for downsizing, a lock member that engages and disengages with the lower rail and an urging member that maintains the locked state are provided inside the upper rail. There is a slide lock mechanism.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a structure in which a lock member is supported so as not to rattle the upper rail in a slide lock mechanism with a built-in rail. Specifically, a lock spring having a lock portion that engages and disengages in the lock groove of the lower rail and has a spring property that biases the lock portion in the lock direction, and a lock lever that has a lock portion that engages and disengages in the lock groove of the lower rail. The support portion provided on the upper rail is supported movably in the vertical direction with the support portion as a fulcrum, and a pair of support surfaces is formed on the support portion. In the form using the lock spring, the engagement assisting urging force in a predetermined direction is applied to the lock spring and the lock lever by a separate urging means for urging the lock lever in the form using the lock lever, and in the form using the lock lever, The pair of support surfaces in the support portion have a shape in which the distance between the support surfaces becomes narrower toward the direction of the engagement assist biasing force. Accordingly, the supported portions of the lock spring and the lock lever are pressed against both of the pair of support surfaces, and the back and forth movement with respect to the pair of support surfaces is restricted, and rattling of the lock spring and the lock lever is prevented.

JP 2012-126183 A

  In the slide rail device of Patent Document 1, a pair of retaining portions that have a U-shaped cross-sectional portion that is opened downward at the center in the width direction and that are secured to the lower rail on both sides of the U-shaped cross-sectional portion. In the upper rail having a so-called hat-shaped (Ω-shaped) cross-sectional shape, the support portion is formed by cutting and raising each of a pair of left and right side walls (opposing walls) constituting the U-shaped cross-sectional portion. V-shaped grooves are formed in the left and right support portions, respectively, and each V-shaped groove constitutes the pair of support surfaces. This configuration is excellent in that if the left and right support portions (V-shaped grooves) are in a positional relationship as designed, the support portions can support the lock spring and the lock lever with high accuracy without rattling or falling. However, since the supported portion of the movable member is engaged with both the left and right support portions without play, variations in the relative positions of the left and right support portions (V-shaped grooves) occur due to component accuracy errors and the like. In such a case, the workability of assembling the lock spring and the lock lever to the upper rail may be deteriorated.

  The present invention provides a vehicular slide rail device in which a lock member constituting a slide lock mechanism is supported by a support portion in an upper rail, which can suppress rattling of the lock member with respect to the upper rail, and is excellent in assembling of the lock member. An object is to provide a slide rail device for a vehicle.

  The present invention includes a plurality of vertically extending lock grooves extending in the front-rear direction and arranged in the front-rear direction, and is supported by the lower rail so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The present invention relates to a vehicle slide rail device including an upper rail, a lock state that restricts sliding of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail, and a slide lock mechanism that is in a lock release state that allows sliding. The slide lock mechanism includes a lock member. The lock member includes a lock portion that engages and disengages with the lock groove, and a supported portion that engages with a support portion provided in the upper rail. The supported portion serves as a fulcrum. The lock portion is displaced in the vertical direction to be engaged with and disengaged from the lock groove, and the lock portion is biased in a direction to engage the lock groove. The upper rail is provided with a pair of support portions at different positions in the width direction, and one of the pair of support portions is in contact with the supported portion so that the front / rear position and the vertical position of the supported portion with respect to the upper rail are set. It is the reference support part to decide. The other of the pair of support parts is an escape support part that engages the supported part with a larger clearance than the reference support part. According to the slide rail device, the reference support portion and the supported portion can prevent the lock member from rattling with respect to the upper rail, and the clearance between the escape support portion and the supported portion can enhance the assembling property of the lock member. .

  It is preferable that the reference support portion of the upper rail be a width-gradient changing groove having a pair of support surfaces that gradually narrow the distance between each other. When the lock member operates in the unlocking direction, a force that presses the supported portion in a direction in which the width of the width gradual change groove is reduced acts to suppress rattling of the supported portion. The escape support part is preferably an escape groove having a groove width and depth larger than those of the width gradually changing groove.

  As an operation mechanism for unlocking, the lock position is supported by the upper rail and allows the lock portion of the lock member to engage with the lock groove, and the unlock presses the lock member in the direction in which the lock portion escapes from the lock groove. A lock release lever that can be rotated between positions, and a non-circular cross-section connection portion connected to the lock release lever. In the case where an operation member that transmits an operation force in the lock position direction is provided, the following configuration is preferable. Regardless of the twisting direction of the connecting part when unlocking, the force point that transmits the operating force in the unlocking position direction from the connecting part of the operating member to the unlocking lever is higher than the reference support part on the basis of the axis of the connecting part. Position on the side close to the relief support. By pressing the lock release lever toward the unlock position at this applied force point, a moment is generated in the lock release lever that increases the pressing force on the side of the reference support portion with respect to the lock member. As a result, even if the escape support is formed on the upper rail, there is no possibility that the lock member is tilted by the unlocking operation by the operating member, and the unlocking can be surely performed.

  In particular, this structure is provided with a pair of lower rails and a pair of upper rails that are spaced apart in the left-right direction of the seat, each upper rail is supported by a lock release lever and a lock member, and the operation member is connected to a pair of left and right lock release levers. It has a pair of connection parts, and is suitable when the right and left positional relationship between the reference support part and the relief support part in the pair of upper rails is common to each other. In order to set the force points at the above-mentioned positions on both the left and right sides, the pair of connecting portions of the operation member may have a modified cross-sectional shape with different contact shapes with respect to the corresponding lock release lever in the locked state.

  Although the present invention does not ask the details of the means for urging the lock member in the lock direction, as an example, the lock spring urges the lock portion in the direction in which the lock member is engaged with the lock groove by its urging force. Can be applied.

According to the present invention, rattling of the lock member can be suppressed by the reference support portion in the upper rail, and the assemblability of the lock member can be enhanced by the escape support portion.
In addition, the attachment point that transmits the operating force in the unlock position direction from the connecting part of the operating member to the unlocking lever is supported on the basis of the axis of the connecting part regardless of the twisting direction of the connecting part when unlocking. When the lock release lever is pressed in the unlock position direction, the moment that increases the pressing force on the side of the reference support portion relative to the lock member is generated in the lock release lever. Thus, even if the escape support portion is formed, there is no fear that the lock member is tilted by the unlocking operation by the operating member, and a reliable unlocking operation can be realized.

It is the perspective view which looked at the slide seat apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention from the front diagonal upper direction which showed the upper rail slid to the rear-end position. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the front diagonal upper direction of the slide rail apparatus which abbreviate | omits and shows the rail unit of the right side (outer side). It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III arrow line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the rail unit which shows a lower rail by a longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is the perspective view seen from the front diagonal upper direction of the rail unit which shows a lower rail by a longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is the perspective view seen from the front slanting lower part of the upper rail which partially fractured | ruptured, the lock release lever, and a lock spring. It is the perspective view seen from the front slanting lower part of the lower rail, the lock release lever, and lock spring which were shown in the longitudinal cross section. It is a typical side view which shows the state of a lock spring when a lock release lever is located in a lock position and an unlock position. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the upper rail, the lock release lever, the lock spring, and the loop handle in a locked state, with only the upper rail viewed in a vertical side view. FIG. 10 is a side view similar to FIG. 9 when in an unlocked state. It is a top view of the slide sheet apparatus of FIG. FIG. 12 is a plan view of a state where the lower rail is omitted from FIG. 11 and the loop handle and the lock release lever are removed from the upper rail. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part of the slide seat device seen through a rear end locking portion of a lock spring and a rear locking piece of an upper rail. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a relationship between a rear locking piece on the side having a V-shaped groove in the upper rail and a rear end locking portion of the lock spring, as seen from a longitudinal side view of a part of the upper rail and the rear end locking portion. It is the side view which showed the relationship between the back latching piece of the side which has a U-shaped groove | channel in an upper rail, and the rear-end latching | locking part of a lock spring by seeing a part of upper rail and a rear-end latching part as a vertical side view. FIG. 16 is a side view showing the left and right rear locking pieces shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 in an overlapping manner. It is sectional drawing of the slide seat apparatus of this embodiment which follows the XVII-XVII arrow line of FIG. 11, (A) shows a locked state, (B) shows a lock release state. It is sectional drawing of the slide sheet apparatus of this embodiment which follows the XVIII-XVIII arrow line of FIG. 11, (A) shows a locked state, (B) shows a lock release state. It is sectional drawing of the slide seat apparatus of this embodiment which follows the XIX-XIX arrow line of FIG. 11, (A) shows a locked state, (B) shows a lock release state. It is sectional drawing in the same cross-sectional position as FIG. 17 of the slide sheet apparatus of the comparative example different from this embodiment, (A) shows a locked state, (B) shows a lock release state. It is sectional drawing in the same cross-sectional position as FIG. 18 of the slide sheet apparatus of the comparative example different from this embodiment, (A) shows a locked state, (B) shows a lock release state. It is sectional drawing in the same cross-sectional position as FIG. 19 of the slide sheet apparatus of the comparative example different from this embodiment, (A) shows a locked state, (B) shows a lock release state.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The direction in the following description is based on the arrow direction indicated in the figure. A slide rail device 10 is provided on the floor surface of an automobile (vehicle) (not shown), and a seat (having a seat back and a seat cushion) is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail 30 constituting the slide rail device 10. It is.

Next, the detailed structure of the slide rail device 10 will be described.
The illustrated slide rail device 10 supports the right (driver's seat) seat, and as a large component, a pair of left and right rail units 20 and a loop handle (operation) for connecting the front end portions of the left and right rail units 20 to each other. Member) 60.
The left and right rail units 20 have the following structure.
The rail unit 20 has a pair of left and right lower rails 21 that are fixed to the vehicle floor via a pair of front and rear brackets 15 and are symmetrical to each other. The lower rail 21 is a metal channel member extending in the front-rear direction and having an upper surface opened, and includes a substantially horizontal bottom wall 22, a pair of left and right outer wall portions 23 extending upward from left and right sides of the bottom wall 22, and left and right outer walls. A pair of left and right ceiling portions 24 extending inward from the upper edge portion of the portion 23 and a pair of left and right inner wall portions 25 extending downward from the inner edge portions of the left and right ceiling portions 24 are provided. The front and rear brackets 15 are fixed to the vicinity of both front and rear ends of the lower rail 21 via two rivets 16 and 17, and the heads 16 a and 17 a of the rivets 16 and 17 are both located immediately above the bottom wall 22. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the upper edge portions (portions connected to the ceiling portion 24) of the left and right inner wall portions 25 are base end support portions 26 extending in the front-rear direction. A number of locking teeth 27 whose upper ends are connected to the base end support portion 26 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction at the lower edge portions of the left and right inner wall portions 25, and between the adjacent locking teeth 27. A lock groove 28 having an open lower end is formed. Adjacent lock grooves 28 have the same pitch (front-rear spacing), and the front-rear width of each lock groove 28 is also the same. Further, a front end stopper 29a and a rear end stopper 29b located near the front end and the rear end of the lower rail 21 are formed on the lower edge portions of the left and right inner wall portions 25 by cutting and raising. The right front end stopper 29a and the rear end stopper 29b are cut and raised so as to incline to the right, and the left front end stopper 29a and the rear end stopper 29b are cut and raised to incline to the left.

The rail unit 20 includes an upper rail 30 that can slide in the front-rear direction with respect to the lower rail 21.
The upper rail 30 is a metal channel member extending in the front-rear direction and having an open bottom surface, and has a base portion 31 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a longitudinal center portion of the lower edge portions of the left and right side walls of the base portion 31. A rising wall 32 extending upward from the removed portion and a locked wall 33 extending upward from the central portion are provided. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 8, etc., there are four (two each) longitudinal movements in a portion straddling the lower edge of the left and right locked walls 33 and the lower edge of the side wall of the base 31. The regulation grooves 34a and 34b are formed upward. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 to 6, and 9 to 16, rear locking pieces (supports) that extend inward and extend upward are formed on the rear portions of the left and right side walls of the base 31. Part) 36 is formed by cutting and raising, and a downward V-shaped groove (reference support part, width gradually changing groove) 36a is formed at the upper end of the left rear locking piece 36 (indicated by reference numeral 36L). A downward U-shaped groove (an escape support portion, an escape groove) 36b is formed at the upper end of the rear locking piece 36 (indicated by reference numeral 36R). As shown in FIG. 14, the front and back support surfaces 36c of the V-shaped groove 36a are symmetrical in the front-rear direction, and the distance between the front and rear is gradually narrowed toward the lower side. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the front and rear clearance surfaces 36d of the U-shaped groove 36b have a larger interval than the front and rear support surfaces 36c of the V-shaped groove 36a, and the bottom portion (front and rear clearance surfaces) of the U-shaped groove 36b. 36d) is located below the bottom of the V-shaped groove 36a. Inwardly-facing front locking pieces 37 are formed by cutting and raising at portions located slightly in front of the central portion of the left and right side walls of the base portion 31.

  A metal inner reinforcement 47 for increasing the rigidity of the upper rail 30 is fixed to the inner surface of the base portion 31 of the upper rail 30. Further, a metal upper reinforcement 12 for increasing the rigidity of the upper rail 30 is fixed to the upper surface of the left upper rail 30 in a state where the locked wall 33 and the front and rear positions are aligned.

  The rail unit 20 further includes a lock release lever 40 attached to the upper rail 30 and a lock spring (lock member) 50. The lock release lever 40 is a metal channel member that is formed by press-molding a metal plate, extends in the front-rear direction, and has an open bottom surface, and includes a pair of left and right side walls 41. The front end portion of the unlocking lever 40 has a U-shaped cross section in which the upper portions of the pair of side walls 41 are connected by the upper wall 42. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10, a rotational contact protrusion 43 that extends in the left-right direction protrudes from the upper surface of the lock release lever 40. A pair of left and right spring pressing pieces 44 project from the rear end of the unlocking lever 40, and the lower edge of the front part of the left and right side walls 41 (the part located in front of the rotational contact convex part 43). An upward spring hooking groove 45 is provided in the recess.

  The lock spring 50 is a symmetrical member obtained by bending a single metal wire. A pair of front and rear lock portions 51F and 51R extending substantially horizontally toward the outside are formed in a portion located slightly rearward of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the left and right side portions of the lock spring 50. Each of the lock part 51F and the lock part 51R includes a pair of front and rear lock pieces that linearly extend from the main body of the lock spring 50 toward the outside (the right side is the right side and the left side is the left side), and a pair of lock pieces. And a connecting portion extending in the front-rear direction for connecting the tips. A portion of the lock spring 50 located behind the lock portion 51R is substantially horizontal in the free state, and a portion of the lock spring 50 located forward of the lock portion 51F is substantially horizontal in the free state. A pair of left and right front end locking pieces 52 project outward and substantially horizontally at the front end of the lock spring 50. Further, the rear end portion of the lock spring 50 constitutes a rear end locking portion 53 extending in the left-right direction in plan view.

  The lock release lever 40 is accommodated substantially in the upper rail 30 from the front end opening of the upper rail 30, and the rotation contact convex portion 43 is in contact with the ceiling surface of the base 31 (the contact portion P in FIGS. 9 and 10). Reference: A space is formed between a portion other than the rotation contact convex portion 43 on the upper surface of the unlocking lever 40 and the ceiling surface of the base portion 31). As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, 9, 10, 14 to 16, the lock spring 50 has a rear end latching portion 53 that has a V-shaped groove 36 a and a U-shaped groove of the left and right rear retaining pieces 36 </ b> L and 36 </ b> R. (See the triangle mark in FIG. 9. Only the U-shaped groove 36 b is shown in FIG. 9, but the rear end of the V-shaped groove 36 a is also shown in FIGS. 14 and 16. The locking portion 53 is inserted), and the portions located slightly forward of the left and right lock portions 51F and 51R are respectively locked to the left and right front locking pieces 37 (see the triangular marks in FIG. 9). The lock portions 51F and 51R are engaged with the corresponding forward and backward movement restricting grooves 34a and 34b from below, and the left and right front end locking pieces 52 are locked from below with the spring hooking grooves 45 (see the upward arrow in FIG. 9). See), the spring is pressed on the upper surface of the lock spring 51 in the vicinity of the lock portions 51F and 51R. And it is brought into contact with 44. The lock spring 50 attached to the upper rail 30 and the lock release lever 40 in this manner is elastically deformed to generate an upward biasing force (elastic force) (see the upward arrow in FIG. 9). By this urging force, the rotational contact convex portion 43 of the unlocking lever 40 is pressed against the ceiling portion of the base 31, and the unlocking lever 40 is rotated about the contact portion P between the ceiling portion and the rotational contact convex portion 43. When the front end portion (upper wall 42) of the lock release lever 40 is not applied with an upward external force, the lock release lever 40 is held at the lock position shown in FIG. The When the lock release lever 40 is in the lock position, the lock portions 51F and 51R of the lock spring 50 engage with the corresponding lock grooves 28 (see the lock portions 51F and 51R drawn by solid lines in FIG. 8).

  On the other hand, when an upward external force is applied to the front end portion (upper wall 42) of the lock release lever 40 against the urging force of the lock spring 50, the lock release lever 40 rotates to the unlock position shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the spring pressing piece 44 of the unlocking lever 40 pushes down the lock spring 50, so that the lock spring 50 receives the support of the rear locking piece 36 and the rear end locking portion 53 and the front locking piece 37. The lock portions 51F and 51R are elastically deformed downward with the portion receiving the support as a fulcrum, and escape downward from the corresponding lock grooves 28 (see the lock portions 51F and 51R drawn in phantom lines in FIG. 8). . Further, a partial force of the urging force generated by elastic deformation of the lock spring 50 becomes a urging force that urges the peripheral portion of the rear end locking portion 53 downward (see the downward arrow in FIG. 10). This component force urges the rear end locking portion 53 to move toward the lower ends of the V-shaped groove 36a and the U-shaped groove 36b. Then, when the rear end locking portion 53 reaches a predetermined vertical position, the two front and rear portions of the rear end locking portion 53 come into contact with both the support surfaces 36c of the front and rear V-shaped grooves 36a, and the urging force This contact state is maintained (see FIG. 14). On the other hand, the U-shaped groove 36b has a larger clearance with respect to the rear end locking portion 53 than the V-shaped groove 36a (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

When the integrated upper rail 30, the lock release lever 40, and the lock spring 50 are assembled by being inserted into the lower rail 21 from the front end opening or the rear end opening of the lower rail 21, as shown in FIG. The locked wall 33 enters a space formed between the outer wall portion 23 and the inner wall portion 25 (the locked wall 33 is not shown in FIG. 3), and is further rotatably supported by a retainer 55 disposed in the space. Since the plurality of bearing balls 56 are rotatably contacted with the outer surface of the rising wall 32 and the inner surface of the outer wall portion 23, the upper rail 30 (and the lock release lever 40 and the lock spring 50) slide in the front-rear direction with respect to the lower rail 21. It becomes possible. That is, the upper rail 30 has a front end position where the front end surfaces of the left and right locked walls 33 abut against the front end stopper 29a, and a rear end position where the rear end surfaces of the left and right locked walls 33 abut against the rear end stopper 29b (positions in FIG. 1). ).
When the lock release lever 40 is located at the lock position in FIG. 9, the spring pressing piece 44 comes into contact with the upper surface of the lock spring 50 from above, and the lock portions 51F and 51R correspond to each other as shown by the solid line in FIG. Since the forward / backward movement restricting grooves 34a and 34b and the lock groove 28 are engaged from below, the sliding of the upper rail 30 with respect to the lower rail 21 is restricted. On the other hand, when the lock release lever 40 is rotated to the unlock position in FIG. 10 and the spring pressing piece 44 moves downward, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 8, each lock portion 51F pressed by the spring pressing piece 44, 51R escapes downward from the locking groove 28 that has been engaged while remaining in the longitudinal movement restricting grooves 34a and 34b, so that the upper rail 30 can slide with respect to the lower rail 21.

  The pair of left and right rail units 20 assembled as described above basically have a common configuration except that the right lower rail 21 is shorter than the left lower rail 21. A seat cushion of a seat (not shown) is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail 30 after the units 20 are parallel to each other and the front and rear positions of the units 20 are aligned (the sliding position of the upper rail 30 with respect to the lower rail 21 is also matched). Further, the lower rail 21 of each rail unit 20 is fixed to the vehicle floor via the bracket 15.

  The loop handle 60 is connected to the lock release lever 40 of the pair of left and right rail units 20. The metal loop handle 60 includes an operation portion 61 extending in the left-right direction, a pair of inclined portions extending while being inclined outward from the left and right end portions of the operation portion 61, and downward from the left and right end portions of each inclined portion. An extending downward portion 61a and a pair of rear end connecting portions (connecting portions) 62 and 63 extending rearward from the lower ends of the left and right downward portions 61a are provided. As shown in FIG. 17, the rear end connecting portions 62 and 63 each have a square cylindrical cross-sectional shape.

  The loop handle 60 is locked by inserting the left and right rear end connecting portions 62 and 63 into the inner space (the space surrounded by the pair of side walls 41 and the upper wall 42) from the front end of the unlocking lever 40 from the front. It is connected to the front end of the release lever 40. The loop handle 60 connected to the lock release lever 40 can transmit the upward rotational force to the lock release lever 40 via the rear end connection portions 62 and 63.

Next, the operation of the slide rail device 10 will be described.
In a locked state where no external force is applied to the loop handle 60, the lock release lever 40 is positioned at the lock position, and the lock portions 51F and 51R of the lock spring 50 are positioned within the lock groove 28 of the lower rail 21, so that the upper rail 30 The sliding operation in the front-rear direction with respect to the lower rail 21 is restricted. At this time, the back and forth rattling between the lock spring 50 and the lower rail 21 does not occur due to the engagement between the lock portions 51F and 51R and the lock groove 28. Further, since the rear end locking portion 53 of the lock spring 50 is engaged with the V-shaped groove 36a of the rear locking piece 36L formed in the upper rail 30 in a state where the back and forth movement is restricted, the lock spring 50 and the upper rail There is no back-and-forth chatter between 30 and 30. Therefore, in the locked state, even if a moving force in the front-rear direction is applied to the upper rail 30 due to the load due to the seating, the upper rail 30 and the lower rail 21 move back and forth with respect to the lock spring 50, and the rear end locking portion 53 and the rear locking No abnormal noise occurs between the pieces 36 or between the lock portions 51F and 51R and the lock groove 28.

  When the unlocking lever 40 is positioned at the locking position, if the passenger grasps the operating portion 61 with his hand and rotates the entire loop handle 60 upward, the unlocking lever 40 moves upward together with the rear end connecting portions 62 and 63. Rotate to. Then, the unlocking lever 40 located at the locked position rotates to the unlocked position (see FIG. 10), and the lock portions 51F and 51R escape downward from the lock groove 28 of the lower rail 21, so that the sliding with respect to the lower rail 21 is restricted. The upper rail 30 thus made can slide with respect to the lower rail 21. During this unlocking operation, the rear end locking portion 53 is pressed against the front and rear support surfaces 36 c of the V-shaped groove 36 a by a partial force of the biasing force generated by the elastic deformation of the lock spring 50, and the rear end engagement with the upper rail 30. The front-rear position and the vertical position of the stop 53 are determined.

  In the slide rail device 10 described above, the lock spring 50 constituting the slide lock mechanism can be accurately supported with respect to the upper rail 30, and the lock release operation by the lock spring 50 can be performed reliably. Details will be described. In the following description, of the pair of left and right rail units 20, the right (left side when viewed from the front) rail unit 20 is defined as the outer side, and the left (right side when viewed from the front) rail unit 20 is defined as the inner side.

  As described above, the rear end engaging portion 53 of the lock spring 50 is engaged with the front and rear support surfaces 36c of the V-shaped groove 36a formed in the left rear engaging piece 36L of the upper rail 30, whereby the rear end The front-rear position and the vertical position of the locking part 53 are determined, and the back-and-forth of the lock spring 50 relative to the upper rail 30 is restricted (FIG. 14). The rear end locking portion 53 is further inserted into the U-shaped groove 36b of the rear locking piece 36R on the right side of the upper rail 30, but the U-shaped groove 36b is wider in the front-rear direction than the V-shaped groove 36a. Further, since it is formed deeply in the downward direction, the clearance with respect to the rear end locking portion 53 is larger than that of the V-shaped groove 36a (FIGS. 15 and 16). In other words, of the pair of left and right rear locking pieces 36L and 36R of the upper rail 30, the rear locking piece 36L having the V-shaped groove 36a serves as a reference support portion that suppresses rattling of the rear end locking portion 53, and is U-shaped. The rear locking piece 36R having the groove 36b serves as a support portion having a relief function for supporting the rear end locking portion 53 with a margin that does not interfere with the support by the rear locking piece 36L. 11 to 13 and FIG. 17 and subsequent figures, the side (left side) on which the rear locking piece 36L is provided in each rail unit 20 is the “reference side” and the side on which the rear locking piece 36R is provided (right side). ) As the “escape side”.

  As described above, the left and right rear locking pieces 36 of the individual upper rails 30 are asymmetrical, so that the rear end locking portion 53 of the lock spring 50 is reliably moved on the rear locking piece 36L (V-shaped groove 36a) side. While being regulated, the precision error of the component can be absorbed by the clearance on the rear locking piece 36R (U-shaped groove 36b) side. As a result, the assembling workability of the lock spring 50 is improved while suppressing the rattling of the lock spring 50 in the upper rail 30.

However, since a large clearance is provided on the side of the rear locking piece 36R having the U-shaped groove 36b, the rear end locking portion 53 of the lock spring 50 is behind the reference side engaged with the rear locking piece 36L. There is a possibility that an inclination that lowers the escape side engaged with the locking piece 36R is generated. In particular, when the lock spring 50 is pressed downward with a force biased toward the escape side, such an inclination is likely to occur.
More specifically, the outer side and inner side upper rails 30 can have a common specification, so that the cost can be reduced. In that case, the outer side upper rails 30 and the inner side upper rails 30 are provided on the slide rail device 10. The rear locking pieces 36L and 36R are asymmetrical with respect to the center S in the width direction (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 11, in the outer rail 30 on the outer side, the rear locking piece 36L (reference side) having the V-shaped groove 36a is located on the side close to the center S in the width direction of the seat, and the rear having the U-shaped groove 36b. The locking piece 36R (release side) is located on the side far from the center S in the width direction of the sheet. On the contrary, in the upper rail 30 on the inner side, the rear locking piece 36L (reference side) having the V-shaped groove 36a is located on the side far from the center S in the width direction of the seat, and the rear locking piece having the U-shaped groove 36b. 36R (relief side) is located on the side close to the center S in the width direction of the sheet. When the unlocking operation is performed by rotating the loop handle 60 upward, due to the bending of the loop handle 60, the pair of left and right rear end connecting portions 62 and 63 has an insertion axis X (see FIG. 17) A moment (twisting force) about the center acts. This moment acts symmetrically at the pair of left and right rear end connecting portions 62 and 63. That is, when the slide rail device 10 is viewed from the front as shown in FIG. 17, a moment in the clockwise direction acts on the rear end connecting portion 62 inserted into the inner rail unit 20 and is inserted into the outer rail unit 20. The counterclockwise moment acts on the rear end connecting portion 63 to be applied. As a result, at the time of unlocking, the loop handle 60 is rotated upward while twisting the left and right rear end connecting portions 62 and 63 symmetrically.

  FIGS. 17 to 19 show an embodiment in which the lock spring 50 is prevented from being tilted on both the inner side and the outer side with respect to such a twisting operation of the loop handle 60. FIGS. The comparative example which has not taken the inclination prevention measure with respect to the outer side lock spring 50 is shown.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17 (A), in the locked state, the rail unit 20 on the inner side has three surfaces (a pair of side walls 41 and a front end portion of the lock release lever 40 having a U-shaped cross section). The upper wall 42) is in a fitting relationship in which three surfaces of the rear end connecting portion 62 having a rectangular tube shape of the loop handle 60 overlap. When the unlocking operation is performed by rotating the loop handle 60 upward from the locked state shown in FIGS. 17 (A), 18 (A), and 19 (A), as shown in FIG. 17 (B), the inner side The rear end connecting portion 62 moves upward while being twisted clockwise around the insertion axis X as viewed from the front. As a result of the twisting operation, the inner side rear end connecting portion 62 having a rectangular tube shape comes into a state in which a plurality of corner portions (or the vicinity of the corner portions) abut against the inner surface of the front end portion of the lock release lever 40. Of these, the upper corner portion on the escape side of the rear end connection portion 62 presses the upper wall 42 of the inner side lock release lever 40 from below as an applied point G1 (FIGS. 17A and 17B). . The upper corner on the reference side of the rear end connection portion 62 and the vicinity of the lower corner on the escape side abut on the pair of side walls 41 of the unlocking lever 40 in accordance with the twist of the rear end connection portion 62 and move in the left-right direction. The support points G2 and G3 (FIG. 17B) are received. At the force application point G1 and the support points G2 and G3, the rear end connection portion 62 and the lock release lever 40 are in line contact in the direction along the insertion axis X.

  The force application point G1 is located on the escape side with respect to the center in the width direction of the inner side lock release lever 40 (insertion axis X of the rear end connecting portion 62), and the upper wall 42 is moved upward at the force application point G1. When pressed, a moment is applied to the lock release lever 40 to tilt it clockwise in FIG. 17 about the insertion axis X. This moment assists the force of pushing the lock spring 50 downward by the reference-side spring pressing piece 44 of the pair of spring pressing pieces 44 of the lock release lever 40. The insertion portion into the V-shaped groove 36a located on the side is pressed downward (that is, the direction in which the V-shaped groove 36a is narrowed) to engage the front and rear support surfaces 36c, while the rear end locking portion 53 and the U-shaped groove A clearance as shown in FIG. 15 is secured between the bottom portion of 36b and the rear end locking portion 53 does not advance further to the bottom side of the U-shaped groove 36b. Therefore, neither the inner-side lock spring 50 nor the inner-side lock release lever 40 that presses the lock spring 50 is tilted, and the left and right lock portions 51F and 51R and the left and right spring-pressing pieces 44 are kept horizontal. While moving in the unlocking direction (FIG. 18B, FIG. 19B). That is, on the inner side, the front end portion of the lock release lever 40 is pressed upward at the applied force point G1 at a position where the rear end connection portion 62 is biased to the escape side, so that the lock spring 50 is connected to the lock spring 50 via the lock release lever 40. On the other hand, a force that strongly presses the reference side downward acts, and the inclination of the lock spring 50 to the escape side is not caused.

20 to 22, in the rail unit 20 on the inner side, the structure of the connection portion between the rear end connection portion 62 of the loop handle 60 and the lock release lever 40 and the way of transmitting the force of the lock release operation are as described above. This is common with the embodiment.
In this comparative example, the inner side rear end connecting portion 62 and the outer side rear end connecting portion 63 ′ of the loop handle 60 are configured symmetrically with respect to the center S in the width direction of the slide rail device 10. In the state, on the outer side as well as on the inner side, the rectangular tube-shaped rear end connection is made with respect to the three surfaces (the pair of side walls 41 and the upper wall 42) of the front end portion of the unlocking lever 40 ′ having a U-shaped cross section. The three surfaces of the portion 63 ′ are in a fitting relationship in which they overlap (FIG. 20A). Then, when the unlocking operation of the loop handle 60 is performed from the locked state of FIG. 20A, as shown in FIG. 20B, the rear end connecting portion 63 ′ of the outer side is inserted into the insertion axis X as viewed from the front. It moves upward while twisting counterclockwise around the center. In the outer rail unit 20, the upper corner portion on the reference side of the rear end connection portion 63 ′ having a rectangular tube shape is the force release point G4 ′ (FIGS. 20A and 20B), and the lock release lever. The upper wall 42 of 40 ′ is pressed from below. A support point G5 ′ that receives the support in the left-right direction by contacting the pair of side walls 41 of the lock release lever 40 in the vicinity of the upper corner on the escape side of the rear end connection portion 63 ′ and the lower corner on the reference side. G6 ′ (FIG. 20B). The force application point G4 ′ is located on the reference side with respect to the center in the width direction of the outer side unlocking lever 40 ′ (insertion axis X of the rear end connecting portion 63 ′). When 42 is pressed upward, a moment is applied to the lock release lever 40 ′ in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 20 about the insertion axis X. This moment is an assist of a force that pushes the lock spring 50 ′ downward by the spring pressing piece 44 on the escape side of the pair of spring pressing pieces 44 of the lock release lever 40 ′. That is, in the rear end locking portion 53 of the lock spring 50 ′, it acts as a force in the inclination promoting direction for displacing the portion inserted into the U-shaped groove 36 b downward (the bottom of the U-shaped groove 36 b). As the clearance of the rear end locking portion 53 with respect to the groove 36b, an inclination to lower the escape side is generated in the lock release lever 40 ′ and the lock spring 50 ′ (FIGS. 21B and 22B). That is, on the outer side, the front end portion of the lock release lever 40 ′ is pressed upward at the applied force point G4 ′ at the position where the rear end connection portion 63 ′ is biased toward the reference side, thereby passing through the lock release lever 40 ′. Thus, a downward pressing force biased toward the relief side acts on the lock spring 50 ′, and this pressing force serves as a force for promoting the inclination by the U-shaped groove 36b in the lock spring 50 ′. When the lock spring 50 'is tilted in the direction of lowering the relief side, the reference side becomes relatively high. Therefore, when the lock spring 50' moves in the unlocking direction (downward) in the tilted state, the lock portion 51F on the side that has been tilted and increased , 51R delays the timing of releasing the engagement with the lock groove 28, or increases the amount of operation for unlocking.

  As described above, in the outer side and inner side rail units 20 in the comparative example, the left and right rear end connecting portions 62 and 63 ′ of the loop handle 60 are applied at the application points G 1 and G 4 ′ during the unlocking operation, respectively. , 40 ′, a moment in the direction of relatively increasing the portion facing the center S in the width direction of the sheet acts on the lock release levers 40, 40 ′ and the lock springs 50, 50 ′. As described above, in the rail unit 20 on the inner side, this moment acts in a direction that prevents the lock spring 50 from being inclined by the U-shaped groove 36b, so that a stable unlocking operation can be performed. On the other hand, in the rail unit 20 on the outer side of the comparative example, this moment acts in a direction that promotes the inclination of the lock spring 50 'by the U-shaped groove 36b, so the clearance of the rear end locking portion 53 with respect to the U-shaped groove 36b. As a result, the lock spring 50 'is excessively pushed in, and the lock spring 50' and the lock release lever 40 'are inclined. Then, the response of the unlocking operation of the lock spring 50 ′ to the unlocking operation may be deteriorated. If the rear locking piece 36L and the rear locking piece 36R of the outer-side upper rail 30 are interchanged (that is, the inner-side upper rail 30 and the outer-side upper rail 30 are configured symmetrically with respect to the center S in the width direction of the seat). As in the case of the inner rail unit 20, the inclination of the lock spring 50 'can be suppressed by the outer rail unit 20 using the V-shaped groove 36a. However, the upper rail 30 is shared by the outer side and the inner side. The merit is not obtained.

In the slide rail device 10 of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the outer side unlock release lever 40 and the lock spring 50 are inclined by the shape setting of the operating force transmission portion from the loop handle 60 to the lock release lever 40. It is preventing.
As shown in FIG. 17A, the rear end connection portion 63 of the outer-side loop handle 60 has an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape that is asymmetric with the inner-side rear end connection portion 62 in the locked state. Specifically, when the cross-sectional shape of the inner-side rear-end connecting portion 62 is used as a reference, the outer-side rear-end connecting portion 63 is twisted clockwise around the insertion axis X when viewed from the front in a free state. It has a different shape. As shown in FIG. 17A, in the locked state, the inner side has a rectangular tube shape with respect to the three surfaces (the pair of side walls 41 and the upper wall 42) of the front end portion of the unlocking lever 40 having a U-shaped cross section. Although the three surfaces of the rear end connection portion 62 are in an overlapping relationship, the outer side is not in a relationship where the front end portion and the rear end connection portion 63 of the lock release lever 40 overlap each other like the inner side, Line contact is made in the direction along the insertion axis X at the force point G4 and the support points G5 and G6. At the force application point G4, the upper corner portion on the escape side of the rear end connecting portion 63 in the shape of a rectangular tube is in contact with the upper wall 42 of the lock release lever 40 from below. At the support point G5, the upper corner on the reference side of the rear end connecting portion 63 is in contact with the reference side wall 41 of the lock release lever 40, and at the support point G6, the escape side of the rear end connecting portion 63 is on the escape side. The vicinity of the lower corner is in contact with the side wall 41 on the escape side of the lock release lever 40. The support point G5 is located above the insertion axis X of the rear end connection part 63, and the support point G6 is located below the insertion axis X of the rear end connection part 63. The abutment point G4, the support point G5, and the support point G6 are in contact with each other, whereby the outer side rear end connection portion 63 and the lock release lever 40 are connected without rattling.

  When the unlocking operation is performed by rotating the loop handle 60 upward from the locked state shown in FIG. 17A, the outer side rear end connecting portion 63 moves upward while the insertion shaft is viewed from the front. Try to twist counterclockwise around X. Here, the force applying point G4, the supporting point G5, and the supporting point G6 are all inserted into the insertion axis X without transmitting the counterclockwise moment of the rear end connecting portion 63 to the upper wall 42 or each side wall 41 of the lock release lever 40. Therefore, only the rear end connecting portion 63 rotates counterclockwise without pressing the lock release lever 40 counterclockwise (FIG. 17B). .

  Further, the upward movement force of the rear end connection portion 63 during the unlocking operation is hardly transmitted to the unlock lever 40 on the side wall 41 (support point G5, support point G6) extending in the vertical direction, and is directed in the horizontal direction. It is transmitted to the lock release lever 40 through the upper wall 42 (force point G4). Since the force point G4 is located on the escape side with respect to the center in the width direction of the outer side unlocking lever 40 (insertion axis X of the rear end connecting portion 63), when the force point G4 is pressed upward, A moment is applied to the lock release lever 40 so as to tilt the insertion axis X in the clockwise direction in FIG. Similar to the inner side, this moment assists the force of pushing the lock spring 50 downward by the reference side spring pressing piece 44 of the pair of spring pressing pieces 44 of the unlocking lever 40, and the rear end locking portion of the lock spring 50 53 is pressed against the front and back support surfaces 36c of the V-shaped groove 36a, and a clearance as shown in FIG. 15 is secured between the rear end locking portion 53 and the bottom of the U-shaped groove 36b, and the inclination of the lock spring 50 is increased. It is prevented.

  As a result, the lock release lever 40 and the lock spring 50 on the outer side maintain the left and right lock portions 51F and 51R and the left and right spring pressing pieces 44 horizontally without causing an inclination associated with the twisting operation of the rear end connection portion 63. While moving in the unlocking direction (FIGS. 18B and 19B), the unlocking operation is accurately performed at the same timing as the inner side. In the unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 17B, the outer side rear end connection portion 63 and the inner side rear end connection portion 62 have substantially the same cross-sectional shapes (inclination direction and inclination magnitude). The positional relationship between the inner side force point G1 and the support points G2 and G3 and the outer side force point G4 and the support points G5 and G6 have the same positional relationship.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the connection portion between the outer-side rear end connection portion 63 and the lock release lever 40 is in the same direction as the twisting operation of the rear end connection portion 63 at the time of unlocking (the direction in which the escape side is lowered). The position of the applied force point G4 is set so that the moment in the direction of lowering the reference side is applied to the lock release lever 40 without causing the tilt of the lock release lever 40 to be reversed. This prevents the outer lock release lever 40 and the lock spring 50 from being inclined, and makes the inner and outer rail units 20 coincide with each other in unlocking timing, thereby obtaining good unlocking operability. Further, when the lock spring 50 is deformed downward upon unlocking, the rear end locking portion 53 is pressed against the front and rear support surfaces 36c of the V-shaped groove 36a, so that the lock spring 50 against the upper rail 30 is bent on the outer side as well as the inner side. No stickiness occurs.

  According to the above embodiment, the shape (inclination) of the inner side rear end connection portion 62 and the outer side rear end connection portion 63 of the loop handle 60 in the locked state is different, and the applied force point G1 at a position biased toward the escape side. , G4 can push the lock release lever 40 in the unlock position direction, and the tilt prevention effect of the lock release lever 40 and the lock spring 50 on both the left and right sides can be obtained. Only the loop handle 60 has a difference in shape between the inner side and the outer side, and the upper rail 30, the lock release lever 40, the lock spring 50, etc. can be made to have common specifications on the inner side and the outer side. Therefore, the production cost reduction effect of the entire slide rail device is high. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer side (right side) lower rail 21 is shorter than the inner side (left side) lower rail 21, but the left and right lower rails 21 are used as a common specification so that the entire rail unit 20 can be shared. Is also possible.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications.
For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the rear end locking portion 53 of the lock spring 50 is supported by the V-shaped groove 36a and the U-shaped groove 36b. However, the reference support portion that restricts the forward and backward movement and inclination of the lock spring 50 is used as the V-shaped groove. The relief support part that supports the lock spring 50 with a clearance larger than that of the reference support part may be a form other than the U-shaped groove. Further, the support of the lock spring 50 in the upper rail 30 can be performed by a configuration other than the cut-and-raised portion such as the rear locking piece 36 and the front locking piece 37.

  The slide lock mechanism of the illustrated embodiment is a type in which the lock spring 50 having the lock portions 51F and 51R maintains the locked state by its urging force, but the lock member having the lock portion and the lock member in the lock direction The present invention can also be applied to a slide lock mechanism of a type in which the urging means for urging is separately provided. In this case, in place of the lock spring 50 of the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is applied to a support structure for a lock member that is a separate body from the urging means, thereby preventing rattling of the lock member and good assembling performance. Both can be achieved.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the rear end connection portions 62 and 63 of the loop handle 60 have a rectangular tube-like cross-sectional shape, and the front end portion of the unlocking lever 40 to which the rear end connection portions 62 and 63 are connected is a downward U-shape. However, these cross-sectional shapes may be different. If at least the connection portion between the loop handle 60 and the lock release lever 40 includes a non-circular cross-sectional shape, a moment in the tilt direction acts on the lock release lever 40 and the lock spring 50 due to bending of the loop handle 60 when the lock is released. . Therefore, even when the loop handle 60 and the lock release lever 40 are connected in a non-circular cross-sectional shape other than the combination of the square tube and the U-shaped cross section, the unlocking is performed by controlling the way the moment is transmitted from the loop handle 60. The structure of the present invention that prevents the lever 40 and the lock spring 50 from tilting is effective.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Slide rail apparatus 20 Rail unit 21 Lower rail 27 Locking tooth 28 Locking groove 30 Upper rail 31 Base part 32 Standing wall 33 Locked wall 34a 34b Front-rear movement control groove 36 (36L 36R) Backward locking piece (support part)
36a V-shaped groove (reference support part, width gradually changing groove)
36b U-shaped groove (relief support, relief groove)
36c Support surface 36d Flank 37 Front locking piece 40 Unlocking lever 41 Side wall 42 Upper wall 43 Rotating contact projection 44 Spring pressing piece 45 Spring hooking groove 47 Inner force 50 Lock spring (lock member)
51F Locking part 51R Locking part 52 Front end locking piece 53 Rear end locking part 55 Retainer 56 Bearing ball 60 Loop handle (operation member)
61 Operation part 62 63 Rear end connection part (connection part)
G1 G4 Force point G2 G3 G5 G6 Support point P Contact part S Center in the width direction of the slide rail device Insertion shaft of the rear end connection part

Claims (5)

A lower rail that extends in the front-rear direction and includes a plurality of vertically extending lock grooves formed side by side in the front-rear direction and is immovable with respect to the vehicle floor surface;
An upper rail supported by the lower rail as being slidable in the front-rear direction;
A lock state that restricts sliding of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail, and a slide lock mechanism that is in an unlocked state that allows sliding;
In a vehicle slide rail device comprising:
The slide lock mechanism is
A lock portion that engages and disengages with the lock groove; and a supported portion that engages with a support portion provided in the upper rail, and the lock portion is displaced in the vertical direction with the supported portion as a fulcrum. A lock member biased in a direction to be engaged with and disengaged from the groove and to engage the lock portion with the lock groove;
The support portion includes a pair of support portions provided at different positions in the width direction of the upper rail,
One of the pair of support parts is a reference support part that determines the front-rear position and the vertical position of the supported part with respect to the upper rail by contacting the supported part,
The other of the pair of support portions is a relief support portion with which the supported portion is engaged with a clearance larger than that of the reference support portion. The vehicle slide rail device according to claim 1,
The reference support portion is a width-gradient groove having a pair of support surfaces that gradually narrow the distance between each other, and when the lock member operates in the unlocking direction, the supported portion is changed to the width-gradient groove. The pressing force acts in the direction that the width of
The slide rail device for a vehicle, wherein the escape support portion is an escape groove having a groove width and depth larger than the width gradually changing groove. The vehicle slide rail device according to claim 1 or 2,
A lock position that is supported by the upper rail and allows the lock portion of the lock member to engage with the lock groove, and an unlock position that presses the lock member in a direction in which the lock portion escapes from the lock groove. An unlocking lever that can rotate between
An operating member having a non-circular cross-section connecting portion connected to the unlocking lever, and transmitting an operating force toward the unlocking position with respect to the unlocking lever while performing a twisting operation about the axis of the connecting portion; ,
With
Regardless of the twisting direction of the connecting portion when the lock is released, the attachment point that transmits the operating force in the unlock position direction from the connecting portion of the operating member to the unlocking lever is the reference support with respect to the axis. Positioned closer to the relief support than the relief,
A vehicle slide rail that generates a moment in the unlocking lever that increases the pressing force on the side of the reference support portion with respect to the locking member by pressing the unlocking lever toward the unlocking position at the force applied point. apparatus. The vehicle slide rail device according to claim 3,
A pair of lower rails and a pair of upper rails are provided apart from each other in the left-right direction of the seat, the lock release lever and the lock member are supported on each of the pair of upper rails, and the operation member is a pair of left and right unlocks. A pair of left and right connecting parts connected to the lever;
The pair of upper rails has a common left and right positional relationship between the reference support portion and the escape support portion,
The pair of connection portions of the operation member has a modified cross-sectional shape in which the contact shape with respect to the pair of left and right unlocking levers is different in the locked state. 5. The vehicle slide rail device according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is a lock spring that urges the lock portion in a direction to engage the lock groove by its urging force. Rail device.

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