Seat sliding device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat sliding device comprising a lower rail, an upper rail, a lever member, a locking member, a biasing member, and an operating member. The upper rail includes a shaft member, and the lever member includes a support portion that engages with the shaft member. Each of the left and right support portions has a surface that contacts the shaft member at a point in the vertical direction, biased by a biasing member. Of the pair of left and right support portions, the surface of one support portion that contacts the shaft member is formed as an arcuate surface having a radius slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member, while the surface of the other support portion that contacts the shaft member is formed as a flat surface that extends longitudinally relative to the upper rail.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle seat. Background Art

[0002] In a seat sliding device for a vehicle, an upper rail fixed to the seat is configured to slidably move on a lower rail fixed to the vehicle body. A locking tooth (locking portion) of a locking member attached to the upper rail engages with a locking groove (locked portion) in the lower rail to lock the seat. The seat sliding device includes a lever member for operating the locking portion in a lock-release direction. The front portion of the lever member is biased upward from its rotational center by a biasing member. An operating member is connected to the front end of the lever member, and the lever member is configured to rotate together with the operating member by lifting the operating member upward.

[0003] In JP2013-18400A, the shaft member is axially supported in shaft mounting holes provided on the left and right side walls of the upper rail. The shaft member is then inserted into shaft mounting holes provided on the left and right side walls of the lever member, thereby rotatably supporting the lever member relative to the upper rail. Each of the four shaft mounting holes is concentrically formed. However, due to variations in the concentricity of the four shaft mounting holes, displacement in the four shaft mounting holes may occur in the vertical or forward and backward directions. In this case, when the shaft mounting holes deviate, particularly relative to the vehicle's front-to-back direction, the lever member's sidewalls are pushed against and contact the inner surface of the opposing upper rail's sidewalls, which may cause abnormal noise. Furthermore, if the shaft mounting holes deviate significantly, when the lever member rotates in the lock release direction and the locking portion moves away from the guide claws (guide portions) provided on the side walls of the upper rail, the lever member may deviate increasingly to the left and right, potentially preventing the seat from being locked again.

[0004] Meanwhile, JP2014-83890A discloses a structure in which shaft mounting holes on both left and right side walls of an upper rail are made long in the vehicle front-rear direction, and wedges are provided to restrict movement of a shaft member in the front-rear direction. Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, in the structure of JP2014-83890A, there is still the fact that the wedge restricts the movement of the shaft member in the front-rear direction, so applying the structure of JP2014-83890A to the shaft mounting hole of JP2013-18400A does not solve the above-mentioned problem in JP2013-18400A.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to suppress rattling noise of an upper rail in the front-rear direction of a vehicle when a seat is locked.

[0007] A seat sliding device according to the present invention includes: a lower rail extending in the vehicle front-rear direction; an upper rail configured to move longitudinally relative to the lower rail; a lever member rotatably supported relative to the upper rail about an axis extending in the left-right direction; a locking member disposed at a rear end of the lever member and including a locking portion configured to be movable between a locked position in which the locking portion engages a locked portion formed in the lower rail and a lock release position in which the locking portion is spaced apart from the locked portion; a biasing member configured to bias the locking portion toward the locked position; and an operating member connected to a front end of the lever member. The upper rail includes a shaft member disposed across both left and right side walls of the upper rail. The lever member includes a pair of left and right side walls extending longitudinally relative to the upper rail on the inner sides of the left and right side walls of the upper rail; and a support portion disposed in the pair of left and right side walls and engaging with the shaft member. Each of the left and right support portions has a surface that contacts the shaft member at a point in the vertical direction due to being biased by a biasing member. The surface of one of the left and right support portions that contacts the shaft member is formed as an arcuate surface having a radius slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member, while the surface of the other support portion that contacts the shaft member is formed as a flat surface that extends longitudinally relative to the upper rail.

[0008] The present invention makes it possible to suppress rattling sounds of the upper rail in the vehicle front-rear direction when the seat is locked. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 It is an exploded perspective view of a seat sliding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper rail is assembled to the lower rail together with the lever member and the biasing member.

[0011] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a seat slide device including lower guide balls and upper guide balls disposed between an upper rail and a lower rail.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the lower guide rail.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the upper guide rail.

[0014] Figure 6It is a perspective view of the locking member.

[0015] Figure 7 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the lever component.

[0016] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the biasing member.

[0017] Figure 9 It is a perspective view showing a state where the biasing member is assembled to the lever member.

[0018] Figure 10 is a rear view of the lever member and the biasing member as viewed from the rear.

[0019] Figure 11A This is a perspective view of a portion of the operating member as viewed from below.

[0020] Figure 11B It is a rear view of the rear end of the operating member as viewed from the rear.

[0021] Figure 12 is a plan view of the lever member and the biasing member as viewed from above.

[0022] Figure 13A It is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the seat slide device, showing one supporting portion.

[0023] Figure 13B It is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the seat slide device, showing another supporting portion.

[0024] Figure 14 It is an enlarged side sectional view of the main part of the seat slide device.

[0025] Figure 15 It is an enlarged side sectional view of a main portion of the seat slide apparatus, showing a state in which the operating member is operated in the lock release direction.

[0026] Figure 16 It is an enlarged side sectional view of a main portion of the seat slide apparatus, showing a state in which a load in the anti-lock release direction acts on the operating member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] [First embodiment]

[0029] Figures 1 to 3The seat sliding device 101 shown in the first embodiment of the present invention is a manual seat sliding device for manually adjusting the position of a vehicle seat in the front-rear direction. The seat sliding device 101 includes a lower guide rail 103 and an upper guide rail 105, the lower guide rail 103 being installed on the floor surface of the vehicle and extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the upper guide rail 105 being installed on the back of the seating portion (not shown) of the seat and being assembled so as to be able to move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the lower guide rail 103 within the lower guide rail 103. The lower guide rail 103 and the upper guide rail 105 form a guide rail body 106, and a pair of left and right guide rail bodies 106 are provided. Note that in the following description (including other embodiments), "front" refers to the front FR side of the vehicle, that is, Figure 1 The left side in the figure is the rear RR side of the vehicle, i.e. Figure 1 The right side in “left and right” refers to the left and right directions when viewed from the rear of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the lower guide rail 103 includes a rectangular plate-shaped lower bottom wall 103a extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A pair of left and right lower outer walls 103b rise from both end edges of the lower bottom wall 103a in the vehicle width direction, slightly tilted outward from the lower bottom wall 103a in an upward direction. Lower inclined walls 103c are formed between the lower bottom wall 103a and the lower ends of the respective left and right lower outer walls 103b. A pair of left and right lower upper walls 103d extending parallel to the lower bottom wall 103a are provided in a direction approaching each other from the upper end edges of the respective left and right lower outer walls 103b.

[0031] A pair of left and right lower inner walls 103e are provided so as to hang downward from the inner end edges of the corresponding left and right lower upper walls 103d toward the lower bottom wall 103a. Note that the gap between the lower inner walls 103e, which are arranged in parallel and face each other, is provided to be large enough to allow the upper guide rail 105 accommodated in the lower guide rail 103 to move.

[0032] The upper guide rail 105 includes an upper top wall 105a having a rectangular plate shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A pair of left and right upper side walls 105b extend downward from both end edges of the upper top wall 105a in the vehicle width direction. Upper lower inclined walls 105c extend obliquely outward and upward from the lower end edges of the respective left and right upper side walls 105b. Upper upper inclined walls 105e extend obliquely upward from the upper end edges of the respective left and right upper lower inclined walls 105c toward the lower upper wall 103d via bent portions 105d.

[0033] A lower guide ball 107 is rotatably provided between a lower arcuate portion 103f of the lower guide rail 103 and an upper lower inclined wall 105c of the upper guide rail 105, and the lower arcuate portion 103f is formed between the lower bottom wall 103a and the lower inclined wall 103c of the lower guide rail 103. An upper guide ball 109 is rotatably provided between an upper arcuate portion 103g of the lower guide rail 103 and an upper upper inclined wall 105e of the upper guide rail 105, and the upper arcuate portion 103g is formed between the lower outer wall 103b and the lower upper wall 103d of the lower guide rail 103.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the lower guide ball 107 and the upper guide ball 109 are rotatably supported on Figure 3 Each ball retainer 111 supports a total of four balls, which are two lower guide balls 107 and two upper guide balls 109. The ball retainer 111 supporting the lower guide balls 107 and the upper guide balls 109 is provided in a housing portion 113 (enclosed by the lower outer wall 103b, the lower inclined wall 103c, the lower upper wall 103d and the lower inner wall 103e). Figure 3 ) at two positions on the front and rear sides, and are provided at a total of four positions in a pair of left and right guide rail bodies 106.

[0035] like Figure 14 As shown, in the assembled state of the guide rail body 106, the lever member 131 is rotatably supported by the shaft member 115 on the upper side wall 105b on the front side of the upper guide rail 105. The shaft member 115 extends between the left and right upper side walls 105b, spanning the left and right upper side walls 105b of the upper guide rail 105. The locking member 117 is provided at the rear end of the lever member 131 from the rotation center (the shaft member 115). At the same time, the operating member 133 is connected to the front end of the lever member 131 from the rotation center (the shaft member 115).

[0036] like Figure 6 As shown, the locking member 117 is a flat plate with a convex shape, and two rectangular holes 125a are formed in the front-to-back direction near each of the left and right edges of the locking member 117. The portions of the locking member 117 adjacent to the respective holes 125a in the front-to-back direction form locking teeth 125b, which are locking portions that protrude leftward and rightward. The locking teeth 125b are formed at three locations on each of the left and right sides. The ends of the locking teeth 125b formed at the three locations on each of the left and right sides are configured to be connected to each other via corresponding connecting portions 125c extending in the front-to-back direction.

[0037] In this embodiment, among the three locking teeth 125b at the right side in the vehicle width direction, the frontmost locking tooth 125b forms a main locking tooth 125m, which is formed to be wider in the front-rear direction than the other locking teeth 125b. The main locking tooth 125m is only one of the multiple locking teeth provided on each of the left and right sides (six positions).

[0038] A front fixing hole 117a, an upper protrusion 117b protruding upward from the locking member 117, a lower protrusion 117c protruding downward from the locking member 117, and a rear fixing hole 117d are provided in this order from front to back at the left-right center of the locking member 117. The upper protrusion 117b is formed by protruding a portion of the locking member 117 downward, and the lower protrusion 117c is formed by cutting the locking member 117 and making it bulge downward.

[0039] like Figure 5 As shown, locking tooth receiving recesses 129 are formed near the approximately front-to-back center of the upper rail 105, extending from the left and right upper side walls 105b to the left and right upper lower inclined walls 105c. These recesses are formed at three locations on each of the left and right sides in the front-to-back direction. When the rail body 106 is assembled, the three locking teeth 125b of the locking member 117 are inserted from below into the three locking tooth receiving recesses 129. At this point, the protrusions 126 positioned between the locking tooth receiving recesses 129 are inserted into the holes 125a of the locking member 117. To prevent interference between the upper rail 105 and the portion surrounding the connecting portion 125c of the locking member 117, an opening 128 continuous with the lower portion of the locking tooth receiving recesses 129 and a notch opening 130 formed in the upper upper inclined wall 105e are provided on each of the left and right sides of the upper rail 105.

[0040] In addition, the left and right upper side walls 105b of the upper guide rail 105 are provided with support holes 105f through which the shaft member 115 is inserted, and locking portions 105g for engaging with the biasing member 132 to be described later. In the upper side walls 105b, the engaging portions 105g are provided on the rear side of the lever member 131 from the rotation center (the shaft member 115). The engaging portions 105g are formed by cutting the upper side walls 105b and making them protrude toward the inside.

[0041] In addition, if Figure 4As shown, multiple locking grooves 127 are provided in the lower rail 103 in the front-to-back direction, except for positions near the front and rear portions of the left and right lower inner walls 103e. These locking grooves are locked portions. The locking member 117 is locked to the lower rail 103 by inserting the locking teeth 125b of the locking member 117 into the locking grooves 127 from below, with the locking teeth 125b positioned in the locking tooth receiving recesses 129. This prevents the upper rail 105, to which the locking member 117 is attached, from moving in the front-to-back direction relative to the lower rail 103.

[0042] The biasing member 132 generates an upward elastic force in a state where the locking member 117 is attached to the upper rail 105, and thus the locking teeth 125b can be kept inserted in the locking groove 127. In this state, the locking member 117 is operated in the lock release direction (upward). Figure 1 The illustrated operating member 133 causes the locking member 117 to be pushed downwards via the lever member 131 , whereby the locking is released. The operating member 133 is inserted into the upper rail 105 from the front side and is arranged to interlock with the lever member 131 .

[0043] like Figure 7 As shown, the lever member 131 includes left and right side walls 147 and a lower wall 134, wherein the left and right side walls 147 extend in the longitudinal direction relative to the upper guide rail 105 and face each other with a predetermined gap in the left and right directions, and the lower wall 134 connects the lower ends of the left and right side walls 147 to each other in the area except the end portions of the front sides of the left and right side walls 147.

[0044] A pair of left and right recessed grooves 147a (supporting portions) are formed at the upper end of the side wall 147 on the front side from the middle position in the front-rear direction of the lever member 131. Of the pair of left and right recessed grooves 147a, the bottom surface of the right recessed groove 147a is formed into a semicircular arc surface having a radius slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 115 (see FIG. Figure 13A ), the bottom surface of the left concave groove 147a is formed as a flat surface extending in the vehicle front-rear direction (see Figure 13B ). The recessed grooves 147a engage with the shaft member 115 from below, and the lever member 131 is biased upward at the respective front and rear ends to maintain the state in which the recessed grooves 147a engage with the shaft member 115. Therefore, the bottom surfaces of the left and right pair of recessed grooves 147a contact the shaft member 115 at one point in the up-down direction. Here, the radius of the aforementioned arcuate surface is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 115 so that the engagement with the shaft member 115 does not become a press fit due to the change in size.

[0045] Although not shown, in another embodiment, one of the pair of left and right support portions may be formed as a circular hole, and the other support portion may be formed as an elongated hole extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0046] At the lower wall 134 at the rear end of the lever member 131, a front protrusion 134a protruding downward from the lower wall 134, a positioning hole 134b, and a rear protrusion 134c protruding downward from the lower wall 134 are provided in this order from front to back. The front protrusion 134a and the rear protrusion 134c are formed by cutting the lower wall 134 and making the lower wall 134 bulge downward.

[0047] The front protrusion 134a and the rear protrusion 134c of the lever member 131 are respectively inserted into the front fixing hole 117a and the rear fixing hole 117d of the locking member 117, and the upper protrusion 117b of the locking member 117 is inserted into the positioning hole 134b of the lever member 131 by press fitting. In this state, the locking member 117 is fixed to the rear end of the lever member 131 by surrounding the front protrusion 134a and the rear protrusion 134c with stakes (see Figure 9 and Figure 10 ).

[0048] The lower ends of the front ends of the lever members 131, facing opposite sides, are connected to each other via a front lower wall 147b, which serves as a front lower support portion extending in the left-right direction. The upper surface of the front lower wall 147b forms a front lower support surface 147c. At the upper ends of the front ends of the two side walls 147, front upper protrusions 157 are formed as front upper support portions extending in the left-right direction from the two side walls 147, bent toward the opposing sides. The distal ends of the left and right front upper protrusions 157 are separated from each other, forming a gap therebetween. The lower surface of the front upper protrusions 157 forms a front upper support surface 157a.

[0049] At the upper portions of the two side walls 147 (which are positioned behind the front upper protrusion 157 and in front of the recessed groove 147a), a rear upper protrusion 158 is formed as a rear upper support portion extending from the two side walls 147 in the left-right direction in a manner bent toward opposite sides facing each other. The lower surface of the rear upper protrusion 158 forms a rear upper support surface 158a. In other words, a pair of upper support surfaces (front upper support surface 157a and rear upper support surface 158a) facing the upper surface 169b1 of the rear end of the operating member 133 are provided at the front end of the lever member 131. Here, a gap is provided between the pair of upper support surfaces in the vehicle front-to-rear direction. In addition, a front lower support surface 147c facing the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating member 133 is provided below the front upper support surface 157a of the front end of the lever member 131.

[0050] The front end of the lever member 131 is formed into a substantially square cross section by the front upper support surface 157 a , the front lower support surface 147 c and the two side walls 147 , and the rear end of the operating member 133 is inserted inside the front end of the lever member 131 .

[0051] In addition, movement preventing protrusions 147d are formed on both side walls 147 so as to protrude from both side walls 147 toward both sides facing each other. The movement preventing protrusions 147d are positioned behind the rear upper protrusion 158 and in front of the recessed groove 147a. The movement preventing protrusions 147d are formed by making a portion of the two side walls 147 protrude inward.

[0052] In addition, a pair of left and right recesses 147e are provided on the two side walls 147, which are positioned behind the recessed groove 147a and in front of the front protrusion 134a, and are formed with a narrow portion 147f, and the gap between the two side walls 147 of the narrow portion 147f is narrower than the gap between the front ends and the gap between the rear ends.

[0053] like Figure 8 As shown, the biasing member 132 is formed as a pair of elongated rods extending generally parallel to each other and extending in the front-to-rear direction within the upper rail 105 along the upper sidewall 105b of the upper rail 105. The biasing member 132 includes a front biasing member 135, which includes a front acting portion 135a that contacts the front end of the lever member 131 to bias the front end of the lever member 131 upward. Furthermore, the biasing member 132 includes a rear biasing member 136, which includes a rear acting portion 136a that contacts the rear end of the lever member 131 to bias the rear end of the lever member 131 upward. Furthermore, the biasing member 132 includes an intermediate support portion 137 formed between the front acting portion 135a and the rear acting portion 136a and engages with an engagement portion 105g provided on the upper sidewall 105b of the upper rail 105.

[0054] The rear biasing member 136 includes a connecting portion 136b extending from the intermediate support portion 137 to the rear acting portion 136a along the left and right upper side walls 105b. The pair of left and right rear acting portions 136a are connected to each other via the connecting portion 136b located at the rear end of the rear biasing member 136. The connecting portion 136b of the rear biasing member 136 contacts the lower surface of the locking member 117 from below, thereby biasing the locking member 117 upward (toward the locked position). The connecting portion 136b of the rear biasing member 136 is positioned between the lower protrusion 117c and the rear protrusion 134c, thereby limiting the range of movement of the rear biasing member 136 (biasing member 132) in the front-to-rear direction.

[0055] The rear end of the rear biasing member 136 (rear action portion 136a, connecting portion 136b) is positioned below the lever member 131 and the locking member 117, and the middle portion (middle support portion 137) extends above the lever member 131 through the recess 147e (between the narrow portion 147f and the upper side wall 105b).

[0056] At the same time, the front biasing member 135 has a retaining portion 135b at the front end. The retaining portion 135b extends from the intermediate support portion 137 along the left and right upper side walls 105b to the front acting portion 135a, and is folded downward to engage with the engagement hole 133a provided in the lower surface of the operating member 133. The front acting portion 135a of the front biasing member 135 contacts the operating member 133 from below, and the front acting portion 135a biases the front end of the lever member 131 upward via the operating member 133.

[0057] The front biasing member 135 extends forward between the two side walls 147 with the rear end (intermediate support portion 137 ) positioned above the lever member 131 and the front end (front acting portion 135 a ) bent inwardly to approach each other.

[0058] In the present embodiment, the front biasing member 135 and the rear biasing member 136 are integrally formed (one member).

[0059] Although not shown, in another embodiment, the front biasing member 135 and the rear biasing member 136 may be separate components (separate members).

[0060] like Figure 1 As shown, the operating member 133 includes a pair of left and right arms 167 provided for the left and right guide rail bodies 106, respectively, and a handle 168 extending in the vehicle width direction to connect the left and right arms 167 to each other. The left and right arms 167 extend in the front-to-rear direction and have rear ends that are inserted from the front ends into the left and right upper rails 105, respectively. When a passenger operates the operating member 133, the passenger grasps the handle 168.

[0061] like Figure 14 As shown, the rear end of the arm 167 is inserted between the left and right side walls 147 of the lever member 131. The arm 167 is formed by a cylindrical member including the handle 168 as a whole, and the rear end of the arm 167 is a connecting end 169, which serves as a rear connecting portion formed by die-forming the cylindrical member.

[0062] like Figure 11A and Figure 11BAs shown, connecting end 169 includes an upper surface 169b1, side surfaces 169b2 extending downward from the left and right ends of upper surface 169b1, and a lower surface 169b3 extending inward from the lower ends of the left and right side surfaces 169b2. A pair of left and right recessed portions 171 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are formed in the upper and lower inner surfaces of connecting end 169. Furthermore, engagement hole 133a is formed in lower surface 169b3 of connecting end 169, spanning the left and right recessed portions 171.

[0063] The connecting end 169 of the operating member 133 has protrusions 172 at the top and bottom, and the middle part of the cylindrical member in the left-right direction protrudes inward at the protrusions 172, and a pair of front ends of the biasing member 132 are arranged in a portion (recessed portion 171) with a large gap in the up-down direction in the connecting end 169.

[0064] In a state before the operating member 133 is attached to the lever member 131, the front end (abutment portion) of the biasing member 132 is configured to contact the front upper support surface 157a of the lever member 131. Figure 14 ), the front end (abutment portion) of the biasing member 132 is inserted inside the operating member 133 and contacts the lower surface of the operating member 133 (the inner surface of the upper surface 169b1) from below, thereby biasing the operating member 133 upward.

[0065] like Figure 14 As shown, the lever member 131 is rotatably supported by the shaft member 115 on the upper side wall 105b of the upper rail 105, and the biasing member 132 is engaged by the engagement portion 105g to prevent the biasing member 132 from moving downward. Furthermore, rear lower protrusions 148 are formed on the left and right upper side walls 105b of the upper rail 105 at positions forward of the support holes 105f in the vehicle front-rear direction. These rear lower protrusions 148 are rear lower support portions that project from the two upper side walls 105b, bent toward opposite sides. These rear lower protrusions 148 are formed by cutting the upper side walls 105b and causing them to bulge inward.

[0066] The biasing member 132 engages with the lower surface of the rear end of the operating member 133 (the inner surface of the upper surface 169b1) from below at a position below the front upper support surface 157a, thereby biasing the operating member 133 upward. Consequently, the upper surface 169b1 of the operating member 133 contacts the pair of upper support surfaces (the front upper support surface 157a and the rear upper support surface 158a). At this time, a gap C1 is provided in the vertical direction between the front lower support surface 147c provided in the lever member 131 and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating member 133, and a gap C2 is provided in the vertical direction between the rear lower support surface 148a provided in the upper guide rail 105 and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating member 133.

[0067] Next, the operation of the seat slide device 101 constructed as described above will be described.

[0068] Figure 14 The standby state is shown, in which the locking teeth 125b of the locking member 117 engage with the locking groove 127 of the lower guide rail 103 and are locked to the locking groove in the locked position (in the non-operating state in which the operating member 133 is not operated). In this state, the operating member 133 is pressed against a pair of upper support surfaces (front upper support surface 157a and rear upper support surface 158a) by the front end (abutment portion) of the biasing member 132. The pressing force (biasing force) of the front end of the biasing member 132 is greater than the force that causes the operating member 133 to move downward due to its own weight. At the same time, the rotational torque for rotationally biasing the locking member 117 toward the lock release position is less than the rotational torque toward the locked position generated by the pressing force (biasing force) at the rear end of the biasing member 132, thereby maintaining the above-mentioned standby state.

[0069] from Figure 14 In the state shown, when the occupant lifts the handle 168 of the operating member 133, the operating member 133 rotates around the contact point (as a fulcrum) between the front upper support surface 157a and the upper surface 169b1 of the operating member 133, and the rear end of the operating member 133 moves downward by pushing the front end (abutment portion) of the biasing member 132 downward. In this state, when the handle 168 of the operating member 133 is further lifted, the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating member 133 contacts the rear lower support surface 148a provided in the upper guide rail 105, and the operating member 133 rotates around the contact point (as a fulcrum) between the rear lower support surface 148a and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating member 133. As a result, the upper surface 169b1 of the operating member 133 rotates upward and lifts the front upper support surface 157a of the lever member 131, and the lever member 131 rotates the locking portion of the locking member 117 toward the lock release position (see Figure 15).

[0070] Therefore, the lever member 131 presses the Figure 14 103, and the upper rail 105 moves forward and backward relative to the vehicle floor surface on the lower rail 103 side. At this time, the lever member 131 pushes the locking member 117 downward due to the swinging rotation, and the biasing member 132 (rear biasing member 136) elastically deforms downward. As a result, the locking teeth 125b move away from the locking grooves 127 of the lower rail 103, and the lock is released (lock release state). When the lock is released, the seat (not shown) can be moved forward and backward together with the upper rail 105 relative to the vehicle floor surface on the lower rail 103 side, and the occupant's desired seat position can be fixed.

[0071] When the occupant releases his or her hand from the operating member 133 in a state where the seat position is determined, the biasing member 132 (the rear biasing member 136) presses the locking member 117 upward, and the lever member 131 swings and rotates to return to the Figure 14 The standby state shown. At this time, the lever member 131 presses around the shaft member 115 Figure 14 Counterclockwise swing and rotation in.

[0072] exist Figure 14 In the state shown, when a load is applied to the operating member 133 in the anti-lock release direction (downward), the operating member 133 rotates about the contact point (as a fulcrum) between the rear upper support surface 158a and the upper surface 169b1 of the operating member 133, and the operating member 133 can move downward by the amount of the gap C1 between the lower surface 169b3 of the operating member 133 and the front lower support surface 147c (see FIG. Figure 16 At this time, the lever member 131 rotates downward about the interlocking position of the primary locking teeth 125 m, and the lower surfaces of the front end sides of the two side walls 147 come into contact with the rear lower support surface 148 a to prevent the lever member 131 from moving downward, thereby preventing the recessed groove 147 a from moving away from the shaft member 115.

[0073] Next, the operational effects of the seat slide apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0074] (1) The seat sliding device 101 includes: a lower guide rail 103 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; an upper guide rail 105 configured to move in the longitudinal direction relative to the lower guide rail 103; a lever member 131 rotatably supported around an axis in the left-right direction relative to the upper guide rail 105; a locking member 117 provided in the rear end of the lever member 131, the locking member 117 including a locking portion (locking tooth 125b), the locking portion configured to be movable between a locked position and a lock release position, in which the locking portion engages with a locked portion (locking groove 127) formed in the lower guide rail 103 and in which the locking portion is away from the locked portion in the lock release position; a biasing member 132 configured to bias the locking portion toward the locked position; and an operating member 133 connected to the front end of the lever member 131. The upper rail 105 includes a shaft member 115, which is positioned across both left and right side walls (left and right upper side walls 105b) of the upper rail 105. The lever member 131 includes a pair of left and right side walls 147, which extend longitudinally relative to the upper rail 105, inside the left and right side walls of the upper rail 105; and bearing portions (recessed grooves 147a) provided on the left and right side walls 147 and engaging with the shaft member 115. Each of the left and right bearing portions has a surface that contacts the shaft member 115 at a point in the vertical direction, biased by the biasing member 132. Of the left and right bearing portions, the surface in contact with the shaft member 115 in one of the left and right bearing portions is formed as an arcuate surface with a radius slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 115, while the surface in contact with the shaft member 115 in the other bearing portion is formed as a flat surface extending longitudinally relative to the upper rail 105.

[0075] There is a small gap between the curved surface of the support and shaft member 115 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. However, because shaft member 115 is biased so as to be pressed against the bottom surface of the curved surface of the support, this contact point shifts along the curved surface of the support as shaft member 115 moves in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. For this reason, the aforementioned gap prevents any rattling of upper rail 105 from being felt in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0076] Furthermore, because the surface of the other support portion that contacts shaft member 115 is formed as a flat surface extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, shaft member 115 has clearance in the vehicle front-rear direction. Consequently, since side walls 147 having the other support portion can move relative to each other in the vehicle front-rear direction, lever member 131 can be freely positioned between the pair of left and right side walls 147 of upper rail 105. It should be noted that the slight clearance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the one support portion having the curved surface and shaft member 115 does not prevent this movement.

[0077] This makes it possible to suppress the rattling sound of the upper rail 105 when the seat is locked. In addition, due to the change in the concentricity of the shaft mounting hole (the support hole 105f and the recessed groove 147a), the axial displacement of the shaft member 115 in the axial direction is absorbed, thereby preventing the side wall 147 of the lever member 131 from being pressed against the inner surface of the upper side wall 105b of the upper rail 105.

[0078] (2) The lower guide rail 103 includes: a lower bottom wall 103a extending in the vehicle front-rear direction; a pair of left and right lower outer walls 103b extending upward from both end edges in the left-right direction of the lower bottom wall 103a; a lower upper wall 103d extending inward in the left-right direction from the upper end edges of the pair of left and right lower outer walls 103b; a lower inner wall 103e extending downward from the pair of left and right lower upper walls 103d; and a plurality of locking grooves 127 provided in the pair of left and right lower inner walls 103e in the vehicle front-rear direction. Both left and right side walls of the upper guide rail 105 are provided on the left-right inner side of the pair of left and right lower inner walls 103e of the lower guide rail 103 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a plurality of locking teeth 125b are provided in the locking portion of the locking member 117 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the plurality of locking teeth 125b being configured to engage with the left and right locking grooves. The plurality of locking teeth 125b include a main locking tooth 125m formed to have a width greater than that of the other locking teeth 125b in the front-rear direction and arranged in the locking portion so that the main locking tooth 125m is positioned on the side of the side wall 147 where the one support portion is formed.

[0079] The main locking tooth 125m is engaged with the locking groove 127 so that it contacts the locking groove 127 in the vehicle front-rear direction, while the other locking teeth 125b are engaged with the locking groove 127 so that a gap exists between the other locking teeth 125b and the locking groove 127 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The main locking tooth 125m is located on the side of the side wall 147, which has a single support portion and is formed into an arcuate surface. Therefore, when a load is applied to the upper rail 105 in the vehicle front-rear direction in the locked state, the load is applied to the same side wall 147 of the lever member 131, thereby reducing the load generated in the direction in which the lever member 131 is bent in the left-right direction. This prevents the generation of a load that causes the lever member 131 to rotate in the left-right direction and prevents the side wall 147 of the lever member 131 from being pressed against the inner surface of the upper side wall 105b of the upper rail 105.

[0080] (3) Each of the left and right bearing portions is formed as a concave groove 147a opened on the upper side, and a surface that contacts the shaft member 115 at one point in the up-down direction is formed on the bottom surface of the concave groove 147a.

[0081] Since the shaft member 115 is biased to be pressed against the bottom surface (recessed groove 147a) of the support portion, the support portion can be formed as a recessed groove 147a that is open on the upper side. As a result, there is no element of the lever member 131 above the shaft member 115, which makes it possible to improve the degree of freedom in the use of space in the upper guide rail 105 in the up-down direction.

[0082] In a state where the shaft member 115 is attached to the upper rail 105 , the recessed groove 147 a of the lever member 131 engages with the shaft member 115 from below, which results in good ease of assembly to the lever member 131 .

[0083] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above embodiments, and also includes various modifications, changes, alternative technologies, etc. that can be easily derived therefrom.

[0084] For example, the pair of front ends of the biasing member 132 have the same length, however, they may have different lengths in the longitudinal direction (one front end is long and the other front end is short). In addition, although the retaining portion 135b is provided at the respective front ends of the biasing member 132, it may be provided at only one front end of the biasing member 132.

[0085] Furthermore, the front acting portion 135 a of the biasing member 132 is inserted into the operating member 133 , however, the outer lower surface (lower surface 169 b 3 ) may be biased upward from the lower side.

[0086] In addition, the upper protrusions 157 and 158 are respectively provided at the upper ends of the two side walls 147 , however, they may be provided only at the upper end of one side wall 147 .

[0087] In addition, the lower ends of the front ends of the lever members 131 are connected to each other by the front lower wall 147b, however, the front upper protrusions 157 may be connected to each other. In this case, the lever member 131 has an inverted U-shape with an open lower end, wherein the lower wall 134 connecting the lower ends of the left and right side walls 147 serves as an upper wall connecting its upper ends.

Claims

1. A seat sliding device comprising: a lower guide rail extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; an upper rail configured to move in a longitudinal direction relative to the lower rail; a lever member rotatably supported relative to the upper rail about an axis in the left-right direction; a locking member provided in a rear end of the lever member and including a locking portion configured to be movable between a locking position in which the locking portion engages with a locked portion formed in the lower rail and a lock release position in which the locking portion is spaced away from the locked portion; a biasing member configured to bias the locking portion toward a locked position; as well as an operating member connected to the front end of the lever member, wherein The upper rail includes a shaft member disposed across left and right side walls of the upper rail. The lever member comprises: a pair of left and right side walls, the pair of left and right side walls being located inside the left and right side walls of the upper guide rail and extending relative to the upper guide rail in the longitudinal direction; as well as A support portion is provided on the pair of left and right side walls, the support portion being engaged with the shaft member. Each of the left and right support portions has a surface that contacts the shaft member at one point in the up-down direction by being biased by the biasing member, and In the pair of left and right support parts, the surface in one support part that contacts the shaft member is formed as an arcuate surface with a radius slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member, and the surface in the other support part that contacts the shaft member is formed as a flat surface extending in the longitudinal direction relative to the upper guide rail.

2. The seat sliding device according to claim 1, wherein The lower guide rail includes: a lower bottom wall extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; a pair of left and right lower outer walls extending upward from both end edges in the left-right direction of the lower bottom wall; a lower upper wall extending inward in the left-right direction from the upper end edges of the pair of left and right lower outer walls; a lower inner wall extending downward from the pair of left and right lower upper walls; and a plurality of locking grooves provided in the pair of left and right lower inner walls in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The left and right side walls of the upper guide rail are both arranged on the inner side of the left and right pair of lower inner walls of the lower guide rail in the left and right direction. A plurality of locking teeth are provided in the locking portion of the locking member in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the plurality of locking teeth being configured to engage with the left and right locking grooves, The plurality of locking teeth include a main locking tooth formed to have a width greater than that of the other locking teeth in the front-rear direction, and The main locking tooth is arranged in the locking portion such that the main locking tooth is located close to a side wall in which a support portion is formed.

3. The seat sliding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Each of the left and right support portions is formed as a concave groove opened on an upper side, and a surface that contacts the shaft member at one point in the up-down direction is formed on a bottom surface of the concave groove.

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