JPH1178627A - Seat sliding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seat sliding device which can easily and certainly prevent an upper rail from deformation with respect to a lower rail using a simple structure without bringing about cost-up by means of effective utilization of an end cap which is in standardized equipment in the recent tendency. SOLUTION: An end cap 40 mounted at the end of a lower rail 20 is furnished with a filling part 42 to fill in the vertical direction the gap generated between the up-and-down opposing flange faces 23 and 33 of rails 20 and 30, and the load applied upward facing to the end of the upper rail 30 is transmitted through the filling part 42 to the lower rail 20 side in the position on the rail end side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combination of a lower rail fixed to a vehicle body and an upper rail slidably fitted to the lower rail to support a seat, and the upper and lower surfaces of each rail facing each other. The present invention relates to a seat slide device in which a rolling member that is in rolling contact with each surface portion is interposed in a gap generated therebetween.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of seat slide device, for example, the one shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 is generally known. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper rail 2 is slidably combined with the lower rail 1 in the longitudinal direction (usually the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body), and supports a seat (not shown) on the front and rear end sides of the upper rail 2. Mounting hole 2 for
a is provided, and a seat is fixed at such a portion.

The front and rear ends between the rails 1 and 2 are shown in FIG.
The rolling member 3 as shown in FIG. Rolling member 3
Is formed by processing a steel plate into a shape along the width direction with respect to the gap between the rails 1 and 2 so that a pair of balls 3a are rollably fitted before and after the pair, and a roller 3b is inserted between the balls 3a. It is fitted so that it can roll.

[0004] However, in the seat slide device, as shown in FIG.
Is located on the front end side with respect to the lower rail 1, an upward load is input to the upper rail 2 as indicated by an arrow F in the drawing. At this time, the engagement of the upper rail 2 with the lower rail 1 is achieved by the ball 3a on the front side of the rolling member 3.
, And the upper rail 2 may be deformed upward with respect to the lower rail 1.

As shown in FIG. 12, if the upper rail 2 is located at the rearmost position with respect to the lower rail 1 when the vehicle body collides, the upper rail 2 faces upward with respect to the upper rail 2 as shown by an arrow F in the figure. Of the rolling member 3
And the upper rail 2 may be deformed upward in the same manner as described above.

A seat slide device as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 has been proposed as a prior art which can eliminate the above-mentioned fear without particularly increasing the rigidity of the upper rail 2 itself. That is, a bead 4 protruding on both sides is provided at the front and rear ends of the lower rail 1, and the bead 4 is
Lower rail 1 in the gap between each rail 1 and 2 even at normal time
Is set so as to be close to the inner wall of the lower end and to be engaged with the lower rail 1 side immediately upon collision to transmit the load.

[0007]

However, FIG.
In the conventional seat slide device shown in FIG. 14, the distance from the input point of the upward load to the fulcrum where the rails 1 and 2 first engage in the vertical direction (the portion where the bead 4 exists) can be shortened. The setting of the bead 4 on the lower rail 1 has to be processed after the rolling member 3 has been assembled between the rails 1 and 2, thus increasing the number of assembling steps.

Further, since considerable precision is required for the processing of the bead 4, it takes a long time to bead processing.
There is also a problem that the cost is increased. Furthermore,
Processing of the bead 4 may cause deterioration of the lower rail 1. By the way, as shown in FIG. 15, recently, in order to improve the safety of the seat slide device, the lower rail 1
The standard equipment for attaching the end cap 5 to the terminal is progressing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. As standardization of end caps is progressing, this end cap is effectively used to increase costs. It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat slide device that can easily and reliably prevent deformation of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail with a simple structure.

[0010]

The gist of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object lies in the following items. [1] A combination of a lower rail (20) fixed to the vehicle body and an upper rail (30) slidably fitted to the lower rail (20) to support a seat,
In the seat slide device (10) comprising a rolling member (50) rotatably contacting each surface portion in a gap generated between the vertically opposed surfaces of (0, 30), the lower rail ( 20) The flange surface portions (23) provided on both sides along the longitudinal direction are provided with the upper rail (30).
Is disposed at a position overlapping with the flange surface portion (33) provided on both sides along the longitudinal direction with a gap therebetween, and an end cap (40) is attached to one end of each of the rails (20, 30). With the end cap (4
0), a filling portion (42) for vertically filling a gap formed between the flange surface portions (23, 33) is provided, and a load applied upward to a terminal side of the upper rail (30) is applied to the end cap (30). 40. The seat slide device (10), wherein transmission is performed to the lower rail (20) side at a position closer to the rail end than the rolling member (50) through the filling portion (42) of the seat slide device (10). ).

[2] The seat slide device (10) according to [1], wherein the end cap (40) is formed of a synthetic resin, and a high-rigidity material (42a) is embedded in the filling portion (42). ).

Next, the operation based on the above-mentioned solution will be described. According to the seat slide device (10) described in [1], the end cap (40) is attached to one of the terminals of each of the rails (20, 30) for improving safety. Of the flange surface portions (23, 23) facing up and down of each rail (20, 30) by the filling portion (42).
33) The gap created between them is compensated as much as possible.

Accordingly, the load applied upward to the terminal side of the upper rail (30) is immediately transmitted to the lower rail (20) side via the filling portion (42) of the end cap (40), The load is distributed appropriately.

Conventionally, the distance from the input point of the upward load on the terminal side of the upper rail (30) to the fulcrum where each rail (20, 30) engages through the filling portion (42) is determined from the load input point to the fulcrum. Rolling member (5
0). To that extent, the moment of deformation is reduced by the leverage principle, and when an upward load is input, it is possible to suppress the local upward deformation of the upper rail (30).

As described above, when an upward load is applied to the upper rail (30) by the end cap (40), the engagement point serving as a fulcrum for suppressing the deformation is other than the point where the rolling member (50) exists. Can be newly generated on the rail end side, and the moment associated with the deformation can be reduced, and the local upward deformation of the upper rail (30) with respect to the lower rail (20) can be effectively prevented with a simple structure. .

The seat slide device (10) according to [2].
According to this, by molding the end cap (40) with a synthetic resin, a certain degree of rigidity and elasticity can be obtained, and the filling portion (42) has a high rigidity material (4
Since 2a) is buried, sufficient strength can be maintained when a load is transmitted.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various embodiments representing the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a seat slide device 10 includes a lower rail 20 fixed to a vehicle body floor via leg members 11 and 12, and a longitudinal direction with respect to the lower rail 20 (in the present embodiment, the front and rear of the vehicle body). (Coincides with the direction) so as to be slidably fitted and combined with an upper rail 30 for supporting the seat.

As shown in FIG. 1, an end cap 40 is attached to a terminal of the lower rail 20. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a rolling member 50 that is in rolling contact with each surface portion is interposed in a gap generated between the surface portions of the rails 20 and 30 that are vertically opposed. Here, the rolling members 50 are arranged on the front end side and the rear end side of the rail unit, respectively. End cap 40 and rolling member 50
Will be described later in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower rail 20 is formed in a groove-like cross section opened upward, and has a bottom portion 21 and both side walls 22,22. Further, flange surface portions 23, 23 bent outward are formed on the upper edge side of both side wall portions 22, 22.

On the other hand, the upper rail 30 is formed in a groove-shaped cross section opened downward so as to cover the lower rail 20 from above, and has a ceiling portion 31 and both side wall portions 32 and 3.
And 2. In addition, on the lower edge side of both side wall portions 32, 32, a flange surface portion 3 bent toward the inside thereof is provided.
3, 33 are formed.

The two rails 2 are arranged so that the opening of the upper rail 30 covers the opening of the lower rail 20 from above.
0 and 30 are combined. And each rail 2
Between the surface portions 0 and 30 facing each other at a predetermined distance from each other,
A gap extending in the longitudinal direction is formed. Lower rail 2
The zero flange surface portion 23 is disposed at a position overlapping with the flange surface portion 33 of the upper rail 30 with a gap therebetween on the upper side.

The end cap 40 which forms the basis of the present invention
Is mounted on the terminal of the lower rail 20, and is formed mainly of a synthetic resin. End cap 40
Is composed of a base portion 41 provided inside the lower rail 20 and filling portions 42 provided on both sides thereof. A cover portion 41 a having a size for concealing all terminals of the lower rail 20 is integrally formed at the tip of the base portion 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, between the both side surfaces of the base portion 41 and the two filling portions 42, mounting grooves 43 for fitting the upper edge side of the side wall portion 22 and the flange surface portion 23 at the end of the lower rail 20 are formed. Is formed. This mounting groove 4
A locking claw 43a that resiliently engages with a locking notch 23a provided in the flange surface portion 23 is formed inside the upper end of 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the filling portion 42 is formed in a size and shape that vertically fills a gap formed between the flange surface portions 23 and 33 of the rails 20 and 30. Although the end cap 40 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin,
In the filling portion 42, for example, an iron piece 42a is embedded as a highly rigid material.

With the filling portion 42, a load applied upward to the terminal side of the upper rail 30 is applied to the rolling member 5
The transmission is set to be transmitted to the lower rail 20 at a position closer to the rail end than 0. At the front and rear ends of the ceiling portion 31 of the upper rail 30, mounting holes 31a and 31b for supporting a seat (not shown) are provided. That is, the input point of the upward load on the terminal side of the upper rail 30 is substantially at the center of each of the mounting holes 31a and 31b.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Is a bracket 51 machined into the gap between the rails 20 and 30 in a shape along the width direction, and balls 52a and 52b which are rollably fitted in front and rear pairs, and between the balls 52a and 52b. It consists of a roller 53 fitted so as to be rollable so as to be positioned (see FIG. 10). Rolling member 50
Is a member for eliminating backlash of the upper rail 30 with respect to the lower rail 20 and improving slidability.

A roller 53 of the rolling member 50 is in rolling contact with the bottom portion 21 of the lower rail 20 and the ceiling portion 31 of the upper rail 30 within the gap. On the other hand, rolling member 5
0 of each of the balls 52a, 52b are opposed to the upper and lower flange surfaces 23, 33 of each of the rails 20, 30 within the gap.
Rollable contact.

Next, the operation will be described. In order to assemble the seat slide device 10, first, when the lower rail 20 is fitted so as to cover the upper rail 30, a rolling member 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided inside a gap formed therebetween. After the rails 20 and 30 have been fitted, the end cap 40 may be attached to the end of the lower rail 20 as shown in FIG.

The end cap 40 can be mounted by pressing the end of the lower rail 20 into the mounting groove 43 of the end cap 40, and the locking claw 43a of the end cap 40 and the locking notch of the lower rail 20 are provided. By engaging with the seat slide device 23a, the seat slide device 10 can be mounted with one touch, and can be assembled very easily and quickly as the entire seat slide device 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the edge of the end of the lower rail 20 is concealed by the end cap 40 and the safety is improved. However, the filling portion 42 of the end cap 40 opposes the upper and lower rails 20 and 30 vertically. The gap generated between the flange surface portions 23 and 33 is compensated as much as possible.
Here, the filling portion 42 is not tightly joined to the inner wall of the upper rail 30, and it goes without saying that there is a gap (play) so as not to impair the smooth slidability of the upper rail 30 with respect to the lower rail 20.

Since the gap between the flange surface portions 23 and 33 is filled as much as possible by the filling portion 42 of the end cap 40, the load applied upward to the terminal side of the upper rail 30 is reduced via the filling portion 42.
Immediately transmitted to the zero side, the load is appropriately dispersed.

The distance from the input point of the upward load to the upper rail 30 to the fulcrum at which the rails 20 and 30 are engaged via the filling portion 42 is the rolling point which has conventionally been the fulcrum from the load input point. It becomes shorter than the distance to the member 50. As a result, the moment is also reduced by the leverage principle, and it is possible to suppress local upward deformation of the upper rail 30 when an upward load is applied. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail.

First, as shown in FIG.
In the case where the rear collision occurs when 0 is located at the frontmost position with respect to the lower rail 20, the upper rail 2 as shown by the arrow F in the drawing.
, An upward load is input.

Here, the distance (L2) from the input point of the upward load (the center of the mounting hole 31a) to the upper rail 30 to the fulcrum where the filling portion 42 is located has conventionally been the fulcrum from the load input point. It is much shorter than the distance (L1) of the rolling member 50 to the ball 52a. As a result, according to the leverage principle, in the present invention, the moment applied to the deformation of the upper rail 30 is smaller than that of the conventional art (L1).
× F> L2 × F).

Next, as shown in FIG.
When the front collision occurs at the rearmost position with respect to the lower rail 20, the distance (L4) from the input point (the center of the mounting hole 31b) of the upward load to the upper rail 30 to the fulcrum where the filling portion 42 is located is The distance (L3) between the rolling member 50 and the ball 52b, which is a conventional fulcrum, is much shorter.
Therefore, at the time of a front collision, as in the case of the rear collision, in the present invention, the moment applied to the deformation of the upper rail 30 is smaller than that of the prior art (L3 × F> L4 × F).

Further, by molding the end cap 40 with a synthetic resin, a certain degree of rigidity and elasticity can be obtained.
Since 2a is buried, sufficient strength can be maintained during load transmission. Furthermore, while the fulcrum in the prior art is a point contact with the balls 52a and 52b of the rolling member 50, in the present embodiment, the fulcrum is a surface contact on the lower surface of the filling portion 42. The contact area is enlarged, and the strength can be improved.

As described above, due to the end cap, which is being provided as a standard feature in the seat slide device 10, the engagement portions for suppressing the deformation when an upward load is applied to the upper rail 20 are located other than where the rolling member 50 is located. And the moment can be reduced, and the local deformation of the upper rail 30 with respect to the lower rail 20 can be effectively prevented with a simple structure.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the end cap 60 is attached to the terminal of the upper rail 30 instead of the lower rail 20. The same parts as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The end cap 60 is connected to the upper rail 30
It is molded with synthetic resin so that it fits outside of the terminal,
Filling portions 61, 61 are formed on both side ends along the side wall portion 32 and the flange surface portion 33 of the upper rail 30. Each filling portion 61 is provided with an iron piece 62 as a highly rigid material in an almost bare state.

Also in the present embodiment, the gap formed between the upper and lower flange surfaces 23 and 33 of the rails 20 and 30 is filled as much as possible by the filling portion 61 of the end cap 60. Thereby, the load applied upward to the terminal side of the upper rail 30 at the time of the vehicle collision is immediately transmitted to the lower rail 20 side via the filling portion 61, and the load is appropriately dispersed.

As shown in FIG. 8, at the time of a rear collision, the distance (L6) from the load input point (the center of the mounting hole 31a) to the upper rail 30 to the filling portion 61 as a fulcrum is determined from the conventional load input point to the fulcrum. Is significantly shorter than the distance (L5) to the ball 52a, and the deformation of the upper rail 30 can be prevented. Although not shown, the same applies to the case of a front collision.

The lower rail according to the present embodiment is formed in a groove-shaped cross section with the opening facing upward, and the upper rail is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section, and the upper rail is fitted so as to cover the lower rail from above. However, the shape of each rail, the manner of fitting each other, and the specific configuration of the end cap are not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0043]

According to the seat slide device of the present invention, the end cap attached to any one end of each rail is provided with the filling portion for vertically filling the gap formed between the flange surface portions of each rail. Since the load applied upward to the upper rail is transmitted to the lower rail side at the position of the rail end via the filling portion of the end cap, the load applied to the upper rail is appropriately dispersed and deformed compared to the conventional technology. , The deformation of the upper rail can be prevented easily and reliably with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a seat slide device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view showing the seat slide device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where an end cap is attached to a lower rail terminal constituting the seat slide device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining an operation at the time of a rear collision of the seat slide device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view for explaining an operation at the time of a front collision of the seat slide device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a seat slide device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an end view showing a seat slide device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view for explaining an operation at the time of a rear collision of a seat slide device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional seat slide device.

FIG. 10 is an end view showing a conventional seat slide device.

FIG. 11 is a side view for explaining an operation at the time of a rear collision of the conventional seat slide device.

FIG. 12 is a side view for explaining the operation of the conventional seat slide device at the time of a front collision.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a main part of another conventional seat slide device.

FIG. 14 is an end view showing another conventional seat slide device.

FIG. 15 is an end view showing a state in which an end cap is attached to a conventional seat slide device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Seat slide apparatus 20 ... Lower rail 21 ... Bottom part 22 ... Side wall part 23 ... Flange surface part 23a ... Notch for locking 30 ... Upper rail 31 ... Ceiling part 32 ... Side wall part 33 ... Flange surface part 40 ... End cap 41 ... Base part 42 ... filling part 43 ... mounting groove 43a ... locking claw 50 ... rolling member 60 ... end cap 61 ... filling part

Claims (2)

[Claims] A lower rail fixed to a vehicle body is combined with an upper rail slidably fitted to the lower rail to support a seat, and a lower rail is formed in a gap formed between upper and lower facing surfaces of each rail. In a seat slide device including a rolling member interposed rotatably in contact with each surface portion, the flange surface portions provided on both sides along the longitudinal direction of the lower rail are provided along the same longitudinal direction of the upper rail. An end cap is attached to one of the ends of each of the rails, and an end cap is mounted on the end surface of the rail. A filling portion for filling up and down is provided, and a load applied upward to a terminal side of the upper rail is less than a rolling member through the filling portion of the end cap. Seat slide device being characterized in that set so as to transmit to the lower rail side at the Le terminal position. 2. The seat slide device according to claim 1, wherein the end cap is formed of a synthetic resin, and a high-rigidity material is embedded in the filling portion.