A U-shaped guide rail

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of U-shaped guide rail, including first guide rail part and second guide rail part, both are detachably connected by first connecting structure, jointly form the guide channel for accommodating roller shutter door;Further include at least one width adjusting member, detachably connect between first guide rail part and second guide rail part by second connecting structure, for adjusting the width of guide channel, width adjusting member is extended along guide rail length direction setting.The guide rail structure is simple, dismounting is convenient, can flexibly adjust guide channel width, adapts different thickness roller shutter door, improves universality and installation stability, suitable for interior space of special vehicle etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive parts technology, and more specifically, to a U-shaped guide rail. Background Technology

[0002] In special vehicles, retractable partition curtains or roller shutters are often used to flexibly separate the driving and living areas. The stable operation of these roller shutters highly depends on the guide rails installed on both sides. Currently, the industry commonly uses fixed-section guide rails manufactured using a one-piece molding process. Once produced, the width of the guide grooves in these rails is fixed and has no adjustability.

[0003] This inherent structural defect leads to significant application limitations. First, it cannot accommodate roller shutter door panels of varying thicknesses. When the thickness of the roller shutter door panel exceeds the width of the guide rail, the panel will not be able to be installed smoothly or will jam during operation; conversely, if the door panel is too thin, excessive gaps will be created within the guide rail, causing the roller shutter door to shake and make abnormal noises while the vehicle is in motion, severely affecting the sealing performance and user experience of the partition. Second, to accommodate specific roller shutter doors, car manufacturers or modification shops must customize guide rails to specific specifications for different projects. This not only increases the management costs and inventory pressure of parts but also limits the trend towards universal and modular design, raising overall manufacturing costs.

[0004] Therefore, existing fixed roller shutter door guide rails are no longer sufficient to meet the growing demands of modern vehicle interiors for flexibility, adaptability, and economy. Developing an adjustable width guide rail that is simple in structure, easy to adjust, and compatible with roller shutter doors of various thicknesses has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in this field. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application mainly addresses the problems of existing fixed cross-section guide rails being unable to adapt to roller shutter doors of different thicknesses, high component management costs, and poor versatility. To overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, this application provides a U-shaped guide rail.

[0006] This application provides a U-shaped guide rail, comprising: A first guide rail section and a second guide rail section are detachably connected to each other via a first connecting structure to jointly form a guide channel for accommodating a roller shutter door. At least one width adjustment member is provided, which is detachably connected between the first guide rail and the second guide rail via a second connecting structure, for adjusting the width of the guide channel; The width adjustment component extends along the length of the guide rail.

[0007] Compared with existing technologies, the U-shaped guide rail proposed in this application has the following advantages: A guide channel is formed by a detachably connected first guide rail section and a second guide rail section. Combined with a detachable width adjustment component, the width of the guide channel can be flexibly adjusted to adapt to roller shutters of different thicknesses, solving the problems of running jams caused by excessively thick door panels and shaking and abnormal noises caused by excessively thin door panels in traditional fixed-section guide rails. The first and second guide rail sections and the width adjustment component all adopt a detachable connection design, facilitating installation, disassembly, and maintenance, and reducing subsequent maintenance costs. There is no need to customize dedicated guide rails for roller shutters of different thicknesses, reducing the management costs and inventory pressure of parts, aligning with the trend of universal and modular design in vehicle interiors, and effectively reducing overall manufacturing costs. The width adjustment component extends along the length of the guide rail, ensuring that the width of the guide channel is uniform throughout the entire length range, providing a reliable guarantee for the stable operation of the roller shutter.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the first connecting structure includes a first latching protrusion and a first latching groove. The first latching protrusion is disposed at the lower part of the first guide rail portion and extends along the length direction of the first guide rail portion. The first latching groove is disposed at the lower part of the second guide rail portion and extends along the length direction of the second guide rail portion. The first latching protrusion and the first latching groove engage with each other. The first latching protrusion and the first latching groove extend along the length direction of the guide rail portion and engage with each other, ensuring that the connecting surface between the first guide rail portion and the second guide rail portion extends through the entire length of the guide rail. This provides strong connection stability, prevents localized loosening, and can withstand repeated friction and impact during the operation of the roller shutter door. The latching first connecting structure requires no additional fasteners, making the assembly process simple and quick, eliminating the need for complex tools, significantly improving guide rail assembly efficiency, and reducing assembly labor costs.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the first latching protrusion includes a connecting segment and a latching head made of elastic material. One end of the connecting segment is fixed to the first guide rail portion, and the other end of the connecting segment is fixed to the latching head. The outer diameter of the latching head is larger than the outer diameter of the connecting segment. The first slot has an opening that leads into the interior of the first slot, and the size of the opening is smaller than the internal size of the first slot. The outer diameter of the latching head is larger than the outer diameter of the connecting segment, and the opening size of the first slot is smaller than the internal size. After latching, the latching head is confined within the slot, forming a stable limiting structure. This effectively prevents the first guide rail portion from detaching after connecting with the second guide rail portion, improving the stability of the guide rail. The connecting segment is made of elastic material, allowing it to deform during assembly, facilitating the latching head to pass through the slot opening and enter the slot. During disassembly, slight force can deform the connecting segment, separating the latching protrusion from the slot, balancing connection strength and ease of assembly / disassembly.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the second connecting structure includes a second latching protrusion and a second latching groove disposed on both sides of the width adjusting member. Both the second latching protrusion and the second latching groove extend along the length direction of the width adjusting member. The second latching protrusion is configured to engage with the first latching groove, and the second latching groove is configured to engage with the first latching protrusion. The second latching protrusion and the second latching groove of the second connecting structure are respectively adapted to the first latching groove and the first latching protrusion of the first connecting structure, achieving the versatility of the connecting structure. This eliminates the need to design a completely new connecting structure for the width adjusting member, reducing design and manufacturing costs. With the help of the latching second connecting structure, the number of width adjusting members can be quickly increased or decreased, enabling flexible adjustment of the guide channel width and meeting diverse usage needs.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the first and second guide rail portions are provided with a plurality of weakened portions spaced apart along their length. These weakened portions are configured to allow the guide rails to bend and adjust. The weakened portions enable the guide rails to bend and adjust, overcoming the limitation of traditional one-piece molded guide rails being unable to bend. The installation curvature of the guide rails can be adjusted according to the partition layout requirements of the driving area and living area of ​​special vehicles, adapting to the spatial structure of different vehicles. The same guide rail can be applied to installation paths with different curvatures through bending adjustment, eliminating the need to customize curved guide rails for different installation scenarios, further enhancing the versatility of the guide rails and reducing customization costs.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the weakening portion is formed in grooves on the first and second guide rail portions, with the grooves on the first and second guide rail portions being opposite to each other. The weakening portion uses a groove structure, which simplifies the manufacturing process, requires no complex equipment or technology, and reduces the difficulty and cost of guide rail production. The opposite arrangement of the grooves on the first and second guide rail portions reduces the concentration of force on one side during bending, extending the service life of the guide rails.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first guide rail, the second guide rail, and the width adjustment component are all made of flexible engineering plastic. The flexible engineering plastic material gives the guide rail excellent flexibility, complementing the bending function of the weakened portion, making guide rail bending adjustment easier and ensuring stable maintenance of the set shape. Compared to traditional metal guide rails, flexible engineering plastic is lighter, aligning with the trend of lightweight automotive component design and reducing the overall vehicle load; simultaneously, engineering plastic possesses excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance, resisting friction during roller shutter operation and the corrosive effects of the complex environment inside the vehicle, extending its service life.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the flexible engineering plastic is ABS, PC, or nylon. ABS, PC, and nylon are all cost-effective engineering plastics, readily available, and with moderate processing costs. While ensuring excellent guide rail performance, they can effectively control raw material costs and enhance product market competitiveness. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this application; Figure 2 A cross-section of this application Figure 1 ; Figure 3 A cross-section of this application Figure 2 ; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Exploded view; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first guide rail section; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the second guide rail section; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. First guide rail section; 2. Second guide rail section; 3. First connecting structure; 31. First locking protrusion; 311. Connecting section; 312. Locking head; 32. First locking groove; 4. Width adjustment component; 5. Second connecting structure; 51. Second locking protrusion; 52. Second locking groove; 6. Groove. Detailed Implementation

[0016] First, those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely used to explain the technical principles of the embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific application scenarios.

[0017] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0018] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0019] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] See Figures 1 to 6 This application discloses a U-shaped guide rail, including: a first guide rail part 1, a second guide rail part 2, and at least one width adjusting member 4.

[0021] The first guide rail section 1 and the second guide rail section 2 are the main structural components of the U-shaped guide rail. Their structures are compatible, together forming a guide channel for accommodating the roller shutter door. The initial width of the guide channel is formed by connecting the two sections, meeting the installation and operation requirements of basic roller shutter door specifications. The first guide rail section 1 and the second guide rail section 2 are detachably connected via the first connecting structure 3. During assembly, the connecting ends of the two sections are aligned and matched to ensure that the sidewalls of the guide channel are flat after connection, minimizing impact on the smooth sliding of the roller shutter door.

[0022] The width adjusting component 4 is a long strip extending along the length of the guide rail. Its number can be flexibly increased or decreased according to the actual thickness requirements of the roller shutter door. When the roller shutter door thickness exceeds the initial width of the guide channel, the width adjusting component 4 is increased; when the roller shutter door thickness is less, the width adjusting component 4 is decreased. The width adjusting component 4 is detachably connected between the first guide rail section 1 and the second guide rail section 2 via the second connecting structure 5. After installation, both ends of the width adjusting component 4 are aligned with both ends of the guide rail section, ensuring that the guide channel has a uniform width throughout its entire length, thus guaranteeing stable operation of the roller shutter door.

[0023] In this embodiment, the first connecting structure 3 includes a first latching protrusion 31 and a first latching groove 32. The first latching protrusion 31 is integrally formed on the lower part of the first guide rail portion 1, extending along the length direction of the first guide rail portion 1. Its structure is consistent with the material of the first guide rail portion 1 to ensure connection strength. The cross-sectional shape of the first latching protrusion 31 is adapted to the first latching groove 32 to facilitate tight engagement. The first latching groove 32 is formed on the lower part of the second guide rail portion 2, also extending along the length direction of the second guide rail portion 2. The length of the groove matches the length of the second guide rail portion 2. The internal shape of the groove matches the external shape of the first latching protrusion 31, ensuring that there is no relative sliding between the two in the width direction of the guide channel after engagement. During assembly, the first latching protrusion 31 of the first guide rail portion 1 is aligned with the first latching groove 32 of the second guide rail portion 2, and smoothly pushed in along the length direction of the guide rail, so that the first latching protrusion 31 is completely embedded in the first latching groove 32. After the connection is completed, the connecting surfaces of the first guide rail part 1 and the second guide rail part 2 fit tightly together, extending through the entire length of the guide rail, effectively improving the connection stability and enabling it to withstand repeated friction and impact during the operation of the roller shutter door.

[0024] In this embodiment, the first card protrusion 31 includes a connecting section 311 and a card head 312 made of elastic material; one end of the connecting section 311 is fixed to the first guide rail 1, and the other end of the connecting section 311 is fixed to the card head 312; the first card groove 32 is provided with an opening that leads into the interior of the first card groove 32, and the size of the opening is smaller than the internal size of the first card groove 32.

[0025] In this embodiment, the second connecting structure 5 includes a second latching protrusion 51 and a second latching groove 52 that can interlock and match. The second latching protrusion 51 and the second latching groove 52 are integrally formed on the left and right sides of the width adjusting member 4, respectively. Both extend along the length of the width adjusting member 4, and their extension length is consistent with the length of the width adjusting member 4, ensuring a complete connection. The size and shape of the second latching protrusion 51 are adapted to the first latching groove 32 of the first guide rail portion 1, and it can be directly embedded into the first latching groove 32 to achieve a snap-fit ​​fixation without the need for an additional adaptation structure. The size and shape of the second latching groove 52 are matched to the first latching protrusion 31 of the second guide rail portion 2, and it can tightly wrap around the first latching protrusion 31 to achieve a stable connection. Through this adaptation design, the number of width adjusting members 4 can be quickly increased or decreased, and the width of the guide channel can be flexibly adjusted.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first guide rail section 1 and the second guide rail section 2 are provided with a plurality of weakened sections spaced apart along their length direction, the spacing of which is set according to the bending requirements of the guide rail. The weakened sections reduce the local structural strength of the guide rail, allowing the guide rail to bend along the location of the weakened section when an external force is applied; during bending adjustment, the installation curvature of the guide rail can be adjusted according to the partition layout requirements of the driving area and living area of ​​special vehicles, adapting to the spatial structure of different vehicles.

[0027] In this embodiment, the weakening part adopts a groove 6 structure. The groove 6 is formed on the side wall of the first guide rail part 1 and the second guide rail part 2. The shape of the groove 6 can be rectangular, arc-shaped, or trapezoidal to reduce stress concentration. The groove 6 on the first guide rail part 1 corresponds one-to-one with the groove 6 on the second guide rail part 2. This arrangement ensures that the force is evenly distributed on both sides when the guide rail is bent, avoiding damage to the guide rail due to stress concentration on one side, and effectively extending the service life of the guide rail.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first guide rail 1, the second guide rail 2, and the width adjustment component 4 are all made of flexible engineering plastic. This type of material combines good flexibility and structural strength, meeting the mechanical requirements of guide rail bending adjustment and daily use. The flexibility of the flexible engineering plastic complements the bending function of the weakened part, making the guide rail easier and less strenuous to bend, and it can stably maintain the set shape after bending without self-bounced deformation. The flexible engineering plastic can be any one of ABS, PC, or nylon.

[0029] The beneficial effects of this application include: 1. Flexible Width Adaptation: The detachable first guide rail 1, second guide rail 2, and width adjustment component 4 allow for the addition or reduction of the number of adjustment components as needed, flexibly adjusting the width of the guide channel to adapt to roller shutter doors of different thicknesses. This solves the problems of running jamming caused by excessively thick door panels in traditional fixed cross-section guide rails, as well as shaking and abnormal noise caused by excessively thin door panels, thus improving the user experience.

[0030] II. Convenient disassembly and maintenance: The first guide rail 1 and the second guide rail 2 are connected by the first snap-fit ​​protrusion 31 and the first snap-fit ​​groove 32. The width adjustment part 4 is installed with the help of the matching second connection structure 5. No additional fasteners are required. Assembly and disassembly are simple and quick, which greatly reduces the cost of installation and subsequent maintenance and improves assembly efficiency.

[0031] Third, it is highly versatile and low-cost: the connection structure is universal, eliminating the need to design a completely new structure for the adjustment parts, thus reducing design and manufacturing costs; the guide rail can be adjusted by bending the weakened part to adapt to the spatial layout and installation curvature of different vehicles, eliminating the need for customized guide rails, reducing parts management costs and inventory pressure, and conforming to the trend of universal and modular design of vehicle interiors.

[0032] IV. Stable operation and long service life: The width adjustment part 4 extends along the length of the guide rail to ensure uniform width of the guide channel and support the stable operation of the roller shutter door; the weakening part adopts the oppositely set groove 6 to avoid the concentration of force on one side when bending; the material is made of flexible engineering plastic, which has both flexibility and wear resistance and corrosion resistance, which not only meets the trend of lightweighting, but also resists friction and complex environmental erosion, extending the service life of the guide rail.

[0033] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the terms "inner" and "outer" and other terms indicating direction or positional relationship are based on the direction or positional relationship shown in the drawings. This is only for the convenience of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or component must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0034] In the description of this application, the references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "in this embodiment," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0035] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A U-shaped guide rail, characterized in that, include: A first guide rail section and a second guide rail section are detachably connected to each other via a first connecting structure to jointly form a guide channel for accommodating a roller shutter door. At least one width adjustment member is provided, which is detachably connected between the first guide rail and the second guide rail via a second connecting structure, for adjusting the width of the guide channel; The width adjustment component extends along the length of the guide rail.

2. The U-shaped guide rail according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting structure includes a first latching protrusion and a first latching groove. The first latching protrusion is disposed at the lower part of the first guide rail and extends along the length direction of the first guide rail. The first latching groove is disposed at the lower part of the second guide rail and extends along the length direction of the second guide rail. The first latching protrusion and the first latching groove engage with each other.

3. The U-shaped guide rail according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first card protrusion includes a connecting section and a card head made of elastic material. One end of the connecting section is fixed to the first guide rail, and the other end of the connecting section is fixed to the card head. The outer diameter of the card head is larger than the outer diameter of the connecting section. The first card groove is provided with an opening that leads into the interior of the first card groove. The size of the opening is smaller than the internal size of the first card groove.

4. The U-shaped guide rail according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second connection structure includes a second latching protrusion and a second latching groove disposed on both sides of the width adjusting member. Both the second latching protrusion and the second latching groove extend along the length direction of the width adjusting member. The second latching protrusion is configured to engage with the first latching groove, and the second latching groove is configured to engage with the first latching protrusion.

5. The U-shaped guide rail according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first guide rail and the second guide rail are provided with a plurality of weakening portions spaced apart along their length direction, and the weakening portions are configured to allow the guide rail to be bent and adjusted.

6. The U-shaped guide rail according to claim 5, characterized in that, The weakening portion is formed in the grooves on the first guide rail portion and the second guide rail portion, and the grooves on the first guide rail portion and the second guide rail portion are arranged opposite to each other.

7. The U-shaped guide rail according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first guide rail, the second guide rail, and the width adjustment component are all made of flexible engineering plastic.

8. The U-shaped guide rail according to claim 7, characterized in that, The flexible engineering plastic is ABS, PC, or nylon.

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