JPH10297425A - Shock absorbing structure for seat slide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To absorb the horizontal input component of shock energy by forming a tubular body capable of pivotally supporting a drive shaft and capable of being plastically deformed integrally with the support piece of a base bracket, and keeping the taper face of a tapered die larger in diameter than the tubular body abutting with the facing end edge of the tubular body. SOLUTION: A tubular body 34 is formed integrally with the support piece 32 of a base bracket 30, and a cylindrical tapered die 36 larger in diameter than the tubular body 34 and having a taper face 36a at one end is integrally fixed around a drive shaft 28 while its taper face 36 a is kept in contact with the facing end edge 34a at the position adjacent to a latch 16. The tapered die 36 gradually absorbs the horizontal input component of the shock energy at the time of a collision while the tubular body 34 is elastically deformed in the diameter expanding direction. A shock absorbing element constituted of the tubular body 34 and die 36 is assembled in a latch type lock mechanism 18. The shock energy can be absorbed without setting an eye point high.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an impact absorbing structure of a seat slide device for absorbing impact energy at the time of a collision and protecting a occupant from the impact.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, impact energy caused by a forward collision (front collision) or a rear collision (rear collision) is absorbed by a shock absorbing element, and the impact energy applied to a seated person is reduced to reduce the impact energy. 2. Description of the Related Art A so-called shock-absorbing sheet for protecting a occupant is widely provided as a seat for a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0003] As a shock absorbing element in such a shock absorbing sheet, for example, there is provided a combination of a plastically deformable pipe and a locking member fixed to a support rod inserted through the pipe. A configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-005923 is known.

[0004] In the seat provided with this known shock absorbing element, a sliding guide rail fixed to the lower surface of the seat frame is slidably mounted on the upper rail of the upper rail of the seat slide device, and is mounted on the upper rail. Connection of one end,
A fixed support rod is inserted into the seat frame. A locking member having a tapered surface at one end is fixed to the support rod, and a pipe material fixed to the seat frame and having a diameter smaller than the base diameter of the locking member rotates around the support rod on the tapered surface side of the support. It is arranged in.

According to such a configuration, the locking member moves the pipe in the radially expanding direction under the sliding of the sliding guide rail with respect to the upper rail of the seat slide device in response to the input of an impact at the time of a collision. Since the vehicle travels while being plastically deformed, the horizontal force component of the impact energy at the time of the collision is absorbed by the resistance at the time of the plastic deformation, thereby protecting the occupant from the impact energy.

[0006]

A known shock absorbing element capable of absorbing a horizontal input component of shock energy is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-005923.
Usually, it is often arranged outside the seat slide device, particularly between the seat slide device and the seat.

However, in the arrangement of the shock absorbing element between the seat slide device and the seat, the arrangement space is liable to be restricted in the height direction. Then, by securing a space for the shock absorbing element between the seat slide device and the seat, the height of the seat itself naturally rises, thereby making the seat thinner, lowering the eye point, etc. However, there is a possibility that the recent demand for sheets cannot be sufficiently satisfied.

There is also known a configuration in which a shock absorbing element is provided outside the seat slide device. However, in such a configuration, the size of the seat slide device is increased, so that the configuration is inevitably complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an impact absorbing structure of a seat slide device capable of absorbing a horizontal input component of impact energy without increasing an eye point height.

[0010]

According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of a pair of front and rear support pieces of a base bracket is provided.
A substantially cylindrical type formed integrally with a cylindrical body capable of supporting the drive shaft and being plastically deformable, having a tapered surface at one end, and having a base diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body. Is fixed integrally around the drive shaft at a position adjacent to the latch between the support pieces, with the tapered surface abutting the opposite edge of the cylindrical body.

When a load caused by an impact at the time of a collision is input from the seat to the upper rail when the latch-type lock mechanism is locked, the base bracket fixed to the upper rail is engaged with the lower rail by the latch-type lock mechanism. In the case of collision, the sliding is performed in the corresponding direction with respect to the held drive shaft, and the resistance generated by the progress of the tapered die in the cylindrical body accompanied by the plastic deformation of the cylindrical body is applied to the upper rail. Can absorb shock energy.

[0012]

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

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, in the shock absorbing structure 10 of the seat slide device according to the present invention, the seat slide device 12 is provided with a series of lock holes 14 on the lower rail side. , Upper rail side latch 16
And a latch-type lock mechanism 18 having a combination of the above.

The seat slide device 12 slidably incorporates, for example, an upper rail 20 to which a seat is fixed to a lower rail 22 to be fixed to a floor or the like via rolling elements such as steel balls 24 and rollers 26. It is formed with. Then, for example, a latch-type lock mechanism 18 having a combination of a series of lock holes 14 drilled in the side surface of the lower rail 22 and latches 16 on the upper rail side that can be inserted and engaged in the lock holes, an upper The slide of the rail 20 can be regulated.

The basic structure of the latch type lock mechanism 18 of this type of seat slide device is known as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 07-054028 and the like. Since it is not the gist of the invention, the detailed description here is omitted.

In this type of latch type lock mechanism 18, a drive shaft 28 to which the latch 16 is fixed is pivotally supported via a pair of front and rear support pieces 32, 33 of a base bracket 30, and the base rail is attached to the upper rail 20. Due to the fixing of the bracket, a drive shaft, ie a latch, is provided on the upper rail side.

The support pieces 32, 33 of the base bracket
Are provided apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the seat, and the latch 16 is arranged between the support pieces.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1A and 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, of the support pieces 32, 33 of the base bracket, for example, the front side (left side in the figure) ) Is formed integrally with a cylindrical body 34 by curling of a corresponding portion, and has a tapered surface 36a at one end, and a base portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body. A cylindrical tapered die 36 having a diameter is integrally fixed around the drive shaft 28 at a position adjacent to the latch 16 with a tapered surface abutting against the opposite edge 34a of the cylindrical body. .

That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, the combination of the cylindrical body (supporting piece) 32 and the tapered die 36 is configured as a shock absorbing element. Incorporated.

In this embodiment, the support piece 33 on the rear side of the base bracket 30 is also embodied as a structure integrally having the same cylindrical body as the front side by curling the corresponding portion. I have. But,
The support piece 33 on the rear side only needs to hold the drive shaft 28 in a rotatable manner, and is not limited to a cylindrical body. For example, the support piece 33 may have a substantially U shape.

For example, when the latch 16 is inserted into the lock hole 14 and is engaged with the lock hole 14, that is, the latched lock mechanism 18 is locked, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 1A and 1B, When a collision (back collision) occurs, the seat tries to move to the rear of the seat together with the upper rail 20 due to the inertial force caused by the impact (see the arrow in FIG. 1A). At this time, the drive shaft on the upper rail side
28 is held against the lower rail 22 under the lock of the latch-type lock mechanism 18, so that the upper rail 20
The base bracket 30 without the drive shaft
And slide backward with respect to the lower rail.

Since the cylindrical body 34 adjacent to the tapered surface 36a of the tapered die supports the drive shaft 28, its diameter is naturally smaller than the base diameter of the tapered die 36. I have. Therefore, when the upper rail 20, that is, the base bracket 30 moves rearward with respect to the drive shaft 28, as shown in FIG. 3, a tapered die 36 fixed integrally to the drive shaft becomes a cylindrical member of the base bracket. The body 34 advances in the cylindrical body while being plastically deformed in the radial direction.

At this time, the cylindrical body formed by the tapered die 36
Due to the plastic deformation of 34, a resistance to the progress of the tapered die is generated, and this resistance is applied to the upper rail 20, so that the upper rail 20 is restricted from sliding with respect to the lower rail 22 due to the resistance. The horizontal input component of the impact energy at that time is gradually absorbed.

Then, the base bracket 30, that is, the upper rail 20 is further moved rearward with respect to the drive shaft 28, and the cylindrical body 34 of the base bracket is engaged with the latch 16, so that the upper rail with respect to the lower rail 22 is moved. The slide is prevented, whereby the operation of absorbing the impact energy at the time of the rear collision is completed by the impact absorbing element composed of the cylindrical body and the tapered die 36.

As described above, in the shock absorbing structure 10 of the seat slide device of the present invention, the shock absorbing element, which is a combination of the plastically deformable cylindrical body 34 and the tapered die 36, is provided with the latch type lock mechanism 18 And is provided in the seat slide device 12 via the. Therefore, the horizontal input component of the energy of the impact generated at the time of the rear collision can be reliably absorbed, and the damage to the occupant can be reduced by suppressing the input of the excessive impact energy to the occupant.

Further, in such a combination of the cylindrical body 34 and the tapered die 36, the impact energy can be absorbed over the entire moving range between the cylindrical body and the tapered die. The absorption capacity is increased, and the protection effect of the occupant is reliably improved.

In the shock absorbing structure 10 of the present invention, a shock absorbing element as a combination of the cylindrical body 34 and the tapered die 36 is incorporated in the latch type lock mechanism 18 so as to be mounted on the seat slide device 12. Since the seat slide device is provided, a seat slide device capable of absorbing impact energy can be configured without providing a predetermined arrangement space between the seat slide device and the seat. Accordingly, the seat slide device 12 capable of responding to the demand for a thinner seat and a lower eyepoint position can be easily provided without increasing the height of the seat, that is, the height of the eyepoint of the occupant. it can.

Further, since it is sufficient to incorporate the tubular body 34 and the tapered die 36 into the latch type lock mechanism 18, the structure is not complicated and the size of the seat slide device 12 is not increased.

By the way, as can be seen from FIG. 1 (A), the tapered die 36 has a tapered surface 36a having a cylindrical body 34.
Only abuts the opposite edge 34a of the
The rotation of the drive shaft 28 with respect to the cylindrical body, that is, the base bracket 30, can be obtained without changing from the related art. In other words, the latch can be easily engaged with or disengaged from the lock hole 14 of the lower rail in association with the integral rotation of the drive shaft 28 and the latch 16, thereby impairing the original function of the latch lock mechanism 18. Without the shock absorbing structure of the present invention
10 can be configured (see the solid line and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 (B)).

It should be noted that reference numeral 38 in FIGS.
Indicates a lock spring for biasing the latch 16 in the locking (engaging) direction with the locking hole 14. This lock spring 38
For example, it is formed as a torsion spring that can be wound around the drive shaft 28, and each terminal is locked to the drive shaft and the base bracket 30, respectively, so that a biasing force in a corresponding direction can be applied to the drive shaft.

Here, since the shock absorbing structure 10 of the present invention is configured to be incorporated in the latch type lock mechanism 18 of the seat slide device, it can be configured independently of the seat side.
That is, it is possible to combine this shock absorbing structure 10 with a conventionally known fuse mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-132767, etc., and absorb a horizontal input component under this shock absorbing structure, If the impact energy acting on the occupant's chest or waist can be absorbed while the seatback is tilted backward, the occupant can be more reliably protected.

In the embodiment of the present invention,
A cylindrical body is provided only on the support piece 32 on the front side (left side in the figure) of the pair of support pieces 32, 33 of the base bracket 30, and the tapered die 36 is arranged and fixed on the corresponding side. However, conversely, a cylindrical body is provided on the support piece 33 on the rear side, and a tapered die is provided on the rear side (right side in the figure) of the latch 16 correspondingly. Alternatively, a tapered surface 36a may be arranged and fixed on the tape.

In such a configuration, an impact absorbing structure 10 capable of absorbing the impact energy at the time of a forward collision (front collision) is obtained.

The present invention is not limited to either one. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a tubular body 34 is integrally provided on both the support pieces 32, 33 on the front side and the rear side by curling or the like. The tapered dies 36 may be arranged and fixed on the front side and the rear side of the latch 16 in the corresponding directions.

According to such a configuration, the shock absorbing structure 10 capable of coping with both a rear collision and a front collision can be easily secured without increasing the size of the seat slide device 12 and complicating the configuration.

In this case, since the impact energy at the time of a rear collision and the impact energy at the time of a front collision are individually absorbed by the respective front and rear side shock absorbing elements, the cylindrical body 34 and tapered die
It is also possible to individually adjust the resistance generated between the front and rear by changing the taper angle and the base diameter of the tapered die.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the form in which the support pieces 32 of the base bracket 30 and the like are partially curled is embodied as the tubular body 34, but the tubular body is tapered. The present invention is not limited to this, as long as it is in a form that allows plastic deformation by the attached die 36. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the pipe body 40 having a diameter smaller than the base diameter of the tapered die 36 may be integrally fixed to the support piece 32 as a cylindrical body.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the tapered die is integrally fixed to the drive shaft is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The attaching die 136 may be provided rotatably with respect to the drive shaft 28.

As shown in FIG. 6, in a shock absorbing structure 110 of a seat slide device according to another embodiment of the present invention, for example, a tapered die 136 having a tapered surface 136a at one end is provided on the corresponding side of the latch 16. , Drive shaft 28
Are arranged so as to be rotatable around. Then, as can be seen from FIG. 7 in addition to FIG.
A support piece 132 on the front side is bent into a substantially U-shape, and a plastically deformable cylindrical body 42 is disposed and held between a pair of end plates 44 inside the support piece 132.

Here, as can be seen from FIG. 6, the cylindrical body 42 has a large diameter portion on which the tapered die 136 can be mounted.
42a and a small-diameter part 42 smaller than the base diameter of the tapered die.
The tapered die is preliminarily inserted into the large-diameter portion with a tapered surface 136a disposed on the small-diameter end side.

A tubular spacer 46 is disposed around the drive shaft 28 between the latch 16 and the tapered die 136 so as to be rotatable with respect to the drive shaft.

For example, in the locked state of the latch type lock mechanism 18 shown in FIG. 6, when a collision (rear collision) from the rear of the automobile occurs, for example, the seat, that is, the upper rail 20 Slides rearward with respect to the lower rail 22 and the drive shaft 28 with the base bracket 130 (see arrow).

Here, in another embodiment of the present invention, since the tapered die 136 is supported by the latch 16 via the tubular spacer 46, the upper rail 20, that is, the base When the bracket 30 moves rearward, the tapered die moves inside the small-diameter portion 42b of the stepped pipe (cylindrical body) while plastically deforming in the diameter increasing direction.

Also in this configuration, the tapered die 136
Due to the plastic deformation of the stepped pipe body 42, a resistance to the progression of the tapered die is generated, and this resistance is applied to the upper rail 20, so that due to this resistance,
Due to the regulation of the sliding of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail 22, the horizontal input component of the impact energy at the time of a rear collision is gradually absorbed.

That is, also in the shock absorbing structure 110, since the impact energy at the time of a rear collision can be appropriately absorbed, the effect of protecting the occupant can be improved to reduce the damage to the occupant. The same effect as described above can be obtained from this configuration.

Also in this shock absorbing structure 110, the shock absorbing element, which is a combination of the stepped pipe body 42 and the tapered die 136, has the latch type locking mechanism 18.
Therefore, an increase in the size of the seat slide device 12 and an increase in the eye point can be reliably prevented.

Here, in another embodiment of the present invention, a tapered die 136 is provided rotatably with respect to the drive shaft 28. That is, since the rotation of the latch 16 at the time of locking and unlocking of the latch-type lock mechanism 18 can be obtained without the rotation of the tapered die 136, the tapered surface 136a of the tapered die is stepped when the latch is rotated. There is no wear due to friction with the attached pipe body 42.

Therefore, damage to the tapered surface 136a of the tapered die can be reliably prevented, and the progress of the tapered die 136 with respect to the stepped pipe body 42, that is, the reliability of the operation of the shock absorbing element is further improved. I do.

The supporting piece 133 on the rear side of the base bracket only needs to hold the drive shaft 28 in a rotatable manner. Nor. Further, if the shock absorbing element composed of the combination of the stepped pipe body 42 and the tapered die 136 is provided on both the front side and the rear side of the latch 16, as in the first embodiment, a rear collision, An impact absorbing structure capable of coping with both frontal collisions is obtained.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the seat slide device 12 mounted on an automobile is exemplified.
Although the present invention is suitable for automobiles, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a seat slide device mounted on a seat of another vehicle such as a train.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are intended to explain the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way, and may be modified or modified within the technical scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that all are included in the present invention.

[0052]

As described above, according to the shock absorbing structure of the seat slide device according to the present invention, the shock absorbing element which is a combination of a plastically deformable cylindrical body and a tapered die is provided with a latch-type locking mechanism. And is provided in the seat slide device via the. Therefore, the horizontal input component of the energy of the impact generated in the event of a car collision can be reliably absorbed,
By suppressing the input of excessive impact energy to the occupant,
Damage to the occupant can be reduced.

Further, in such a combination of the cylindrical body and the tapered die, the impact energy can be absorbed over the entire moving range between the cylindrical body and the tapered die. And the protection effect of the occupant is surely improved.

In the shock absorbing structure of the present invention, since the shock absorbing element as a combination of the cylindrical body and the tapered die is provided in the seat slide device as a form incorporated in the latch type locking mechanism, A seat slide device capable of absorbing impact energy can be configured without providing a predetermined arrangement space between the slide device and the seat. Therefore, it is possible to easily provide a seat slide device capable of responding to a demand for a thinner seat and a lower eyepoint position without increasing the height of the seat, that is, the height of the eyepoint of the occupant. .

Further, since it is sufficient to incorporate the cylindrical body and the tapered die into the latch-type lock mechanism, the configuration does not become complicated and the seat slide device does not become large.

Further, if the tapered die is provided rotatably with respect to the drive shaft, the rotation of the latch at the time of locking and unlocking of the latch type locking mechanism can be obtained without the rotation of the tapered die. Therefore, the tapered surface of the tapered die does not wear due to friction with the cylindrical body when the latch rotates. Therefore, damage to the tapered surface of the tapered die can be reliably prevented, whereby the operation reliability of the shock absorbing element is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a shock absorbing structure of a seat slide device according to an embodiment of the present invention in an initial state, and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the front view.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an impact absorbing structure of the seat slide device shown in FIG.

3 is a partially broken front view of the shock absorbing structure of the seat slide device shown in FIG. 1 during a shock absorbing operation.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view of the shock absorbing structure of the seat slide device shown in FIG. 1 in an initial state in a modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shock absorbing structure of the seat slide device shown in FIG. 1 in another modified example of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view, partially broken, of an impact absorbing structure of a seat slide device according to another embodiment of the present invention in an initial state.

7 is a schematic perspective view of the shock absorbing structure of the seat slide device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 110 Shock absorbing structure of seat slide device 12 Seat slide device 14 Lock hole 16 Latch 18 Latch type lock mechanism 20 Upper rail 22 Lower rail 28 Drive shaft 30, 130 Base bracket 32, 132 Supporting piece 34 Cylindrical body 36, 136 Taper Die 36a, 136a Tapered surface 40 Pipe body (cylindrical body) 42 Stepped pipe body (cylindrical body) 42a Large diameter section 42b Small diameter section 46 Tubular spacer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A series of lock holes provided on a lower rail side; and a latch fixed between the support pieces on a drive shaft supported on the upper rail side via a base bracket having a pair of front and rear support pieces. And a latching lock mechanism having a combination of: a seat slide device for restricting a slide of an upper rail on a seat side with respect to a lower rail on a floor surface, wherein at least one of a pair of front and rear support pieces of the base bracket includes: The drive shaft is formed integrally with a cylindrical body capable of supporting and plastically deforming the drive shaft, has a tapered surface at one end, and has a base diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body. A cylindrical tapered die is provided adjacent to the latch between the support pieces by bringing the tapered surface into contact with the opposite edge of the cylindrical body. When the load caused by the impact at the time of collision is input from the seat to the upper rail when the latch type lock mechanism is locked, the base bracket fixed to the upper rail is , Is engaged with the lower rail by a latch type lock mechanism, and is slid in a corresponding direction with respect to the held drive shaft,
A seat slide characterized in that a resistance force generated by the progression of a tapered die in the cylindrical body accompanied by plastic deformation of the cylindrical body is applied to the upper rail so that impact energy at the time of a collision can be absorbed. The shock absorbing structure of the device. 2. A cylindrical body is integrally provided on each of a pair of front and rear support pieces of a base bracket, and a pair of front and rear tapered dies corresponding to the cylindrical body are provided at opposite ends of the cylindrical body. 2. The shock absorbing structure for a seat slide device according to claim 1, wherein the tapered surface is brought into contact with the edge, and is integrally fixed to the drive shaft at a position sandwiching the latch. 3. The shock absorbing structure for a seat slide device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body is formed by partially curling a corresponding support piece of the base bracket. 4. The shock absorbing structure for a seat slide device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body is a pipe body integrally fixed to a corresponding support piece of the base bracket. 5. A latch fixed between the support pieces on a drive shaft pivotally supported on the upper rail side via a base bracket having a pair of front and rear support pieces, and a series of lock holes provided on the lower rail side. And a latching lock mechanism having a combination of: a seat slide device for restricting a slide of an upper rail on a seat side with respect to a lower rail on a floor surface, wherein a tapered die having a tapered surface at one end is provided on a corresponding side of the latch. A step having a large-diameter portion rotatably disposed around the drive shaft and capable of covering the tapered die, and a small-diameter portion smaller in diameter than the base diameter of the tapered die. A plastically deformable cylindrical body serving as a pipe body with at least one of a pair of front and rear support pieces of the base bracket is provided. The tapered die is provided in the gap, the tapered die is arranged with a tapered surface on the small-diameter portion side of the cylindrical body, and is pre-inserted into the large-diameter portion, and the drive shaft is interposed between the latch and the tapered die. Around, a tubular spacer is disposed rotatably with respect to the drive shaft, and when the latch-type locking mechanism is locked, when a load caused by an impact at the time of a collision is input from the seat to the upper rail, the spacer is attached to the upper rail. The fixed base bracket is engaged with the lower rail by the latch type locking mechanism, and is slid in the corresponding direction with respect to the held drive shaft,
A seat slide characterized in that a resistance force generated by the progression of a tapered die in the cylindrical body accompanied by plastic deformation of the cylindrical body is applied to the upper rail so that impact energy at the time of a collision can be absorbed. The shock absorbing structure of the device.