Slide lock structure in a slide rail device for a vehicle seat

Abstract

To obtain a sure lock state of high mechanical strength with a simple structure in a slide lock structure in a slide rail device.SOLUTION: This slide lock structure is provided with: a casing 50; right and left lock members 56, comprising cam faces 66 provided outside right and left and engagement protrusions 58 projecting outward right and left and provided in the casing 20 so as to be displaced in longitudinal directions between an engagement position where the engagement protrusions 58 plunge into slots 40 of a rail 24 and a release position where the engagement protrusions 58 have withdrawn out of the slots 40; a compression coil spring 68 which energizes the right and left lock members 56 toward the engagement position; and an operation member 86, provided in the casing 50 so as to be displaceable and comprising matching cam faces 94 sliding on the cam faces 66 so as to displace the right and left lock members 56 to the release position against the spring force of the compression spring 68 by displacing longitudinally.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide lock structure in a slide rail device.

Background Art

[0002] As a slide lock structure in a slide rail device used in an automobile seat device or the like, there is known a structure in which a locking claw of a lever rotatably provided on a slider engages with a rack tooth or a recess formed in a lower rail to be in a locked state (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is difficult for a conventional slide lock structure to achieve both a simple structure and a reliable locked state with high mechanical strength.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to obtain a reliable locked state with high mechanical strength with a simple structure in the slide lock structure in the slide rail device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The slide lock structure according to the present invention includes a first side wall (36) and a second side wall (36) that are spaced apart in the left-right direction and face each other, have a groove-shaped cross section, and extend in the longitudinal direction. A linear rail (24) is provided on each of the first side wall and the second side wall with a plurality of slots (40) provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, and a slider (26) that is slidably engaged with the rail. The slide lock structure (10) in the slide rail device (14) includes a casing (50) attached to the slider and including a portion located between the first side wall and the second side wall, a cam surface (66) provided on the left and right outer sides, and at least one engaging protrusion (58) protruding outward in the left and right directions. The at least one engaging protrusion is displaceable in the left-right direction between an engaging position where it protrudes into one of the slots and a release position where the at least one engaging protrusion is disengaged from any of the slots. The slide lock structure further includes first and second lock members (56) provided on the casing, a first biasing member (68) that biases the first and second lock members toward the engaging position, and an operation member (86) that is displaceably provided on the casing and has a corresponding cam surface (94) slidably disposed on the cam surface to displace each of the first and second lock members against the spring force of the first biasing member to the release position by displacing in a predetermined direction.

[0007] According to this configuration, a reliable locked state with high mechanical strength can be obtained with a simple structure. Further, the slide lock structure is handled as one cartridge, improving the assemblability of the slide lock structure to the slide rail device.

[0008] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably further includes a second biasing member (92) that biases the operating member upward with respect to the casing. The operating member is displaceable downward against the spring force of the second biasing member, and includes at least one inclined outer surface whose cam surface is inclined outward from the upper side to the lower side. By including at least one inclined inner surface whose corresponding cam surface is inclined outward from the upper side to the lower side, when the operating member moves downward, each of the first lock member and the second lock member is displaced to the release position against the spring force of the first biasing member.

[0009] According to this configuration, the first lock member and the second lock member are reliably displaced to the release position with a simple structure.

[0010] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably includes a plurality of engaging protrusions provided at intervals that are an integral multiple of the interval between adjacent slots in the longitudinal direction for the at least one engaging protrusion of the first lock member and the second lock member.

[0011] According to this configuration, the plurality of engaging protrusions enter the corresponding slots, and a highly reliable locked state is obtained.

[0012] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably includes two cam surfaces each provided for the first lock member and the second lock member at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and four corresponding cam surfaces of the operating member are provided in the front, rear, left, and right directions to correspond to each cam surface.

[0013] According to this configuration, the first lock member and the second lock member are reliably displaced to the release position by the cam surfaces and the corresponding cam surfaces.

[0014] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably has each cam surface of the first lock member and the second lock member provided on the bottom surfaces of two groove portions (64) formed between the adjacent engagement protrusions, and the corresponding cam surface is provided on the inner end surfaces of two plate-like portions (88) that are movably fitted in the vertical direction in each groove portion.

[0015] According to this configuration, the posture of the plate-like portion, and thus the posture of the corresponding cam surface, is stabilized, and the displacement of the first lock member and the second lock member to the release position by the cam surface and the corresponding cam surface is surely performed.

[0016] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably has the first lock member and the second lock member provided with inner surfaces (56A) facing each other in the left-right direction, and the first biasing member includes a compression coil spring (68) disposed between the inner surfaces of the first lock member and the second lock member adjacent to each plate-like portion from the outside or inside in the front-rear direction.

[0017] According to this configuration, the spring biasing of the first lock member and the second lock member by the compression coil spring is stabilized, and thus the posture of the plate-like portion is stabilized.

[0018] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably has the operating member provided with a rod-shaped portion (96) protruding so as to be pressed from the outside at the longitudinal intermediate portion between the two plate-like portions.

[0019] According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the action of an eccentric load in the longitudinal direction of the operating member during pressing, and the vertical movement of the operating member is smoothly performed.

[0020] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably has the second biasing member including a compression coil spring (92) provided between the casing and the intermediate portion of the operating member.

[0021] According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the spring force of the compression coil spring from acting as an eccentric load in the longitudinal direction of the operation member, and the vertical movement of the operation member is smoothly performed.

[0022] The slide lock structure according to the present embodiment preferably further includes a protrusion (61) formed at the bottom of the first lock member and the second lock member, and a recess (62) formed in the casing, into which the protrusion is slidably fitted in the left-right direction and guides the linear movement of the first lock member and the second lock member in the left-right direction.

[0023] According to this configuration, the certainty of the linear movement of the first lock member and the second lock member in the left-right direction is improved.

[0024] The slide lock structure according to the present embodiment preferably further includes restricting portions (72, 74) that restrict the outward movement of the first lock member and the second lock member in the left-right direction with respect to the casing.

[0025] According to this configuration, the first lock member, the second lock member, and the compression coil spring can be assembled into the casing with good workability as one sub-assembly.

[0026] The slide lock structure according to the present embodiment preferably includes a pair of restricting plates (74) detachably held with respect to the casing at the front-rear positions of the first lock member and the second lock member, elongated holes (72) provided in each restricting plate and extending in the left-right direction, and four protrusions (72) protruding in the longitudinal direction from the longitudinal end faces of the first lock member and the second lock member and received in the corresponding elongated holes.

[0027] According to this configuration, the restricting portion is composed of a small number of parts, and including the restricting plate, the first lock member, the second lock member, and the compression coil spring can be assembled into the casing with good workability as one sub-assembly.

[0028] The slide lock structure according to this embodiment preferably has the slot forming part of a threaded groove, and the engaging projection forming part of a male thread engageable with the threaded groove.

[0029] According to this configuration, it becomes possible to use the rail in combination as the rail of an electric slide rail device using an electric motor-driven male screw member or worm that engages with the slit.

Effect of the Invention

[0030] According to the slide lock structure of the present invention, a locked state with high mechanical strength can be obtained with a simple structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0032] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an example in which the slide lock structure 10 according to this embodiment is applied to a slide rail device 14 for front - rear sliding of a seat device 12 of an automobile.

[0034] The seat device 12 is disposed on the floor panel 16 of the automobile. The seat device 12 has a base member 18, a seat cushion 20 attached on the base member 18 and supporting the buttocks of the occupant, and a seat back 22 extending upward from the rear part of the seat cushion 20 and supporting the back of the occupant.

[0035] Two slide rail devices 14 are provided in parallel at positions corresponding to both left and right sides of the seat device 12. Each slide rail device 14 has a linear rail 24 fixed to the lower surface of the floor panel 16 and extending in the front - rear direction, and a slider 26 slidably engaged with the rail 24 in the front - rear direction.

[0036] Each slider 26 is fixed to the bottom of the base member 18. Thereby, the seat device 12 is movable in the front - rear direction by the slide rail device 14.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the rail 24 includes a bottom wall 30, left and right outer walls 32 that stand up from the left and right edge portions of the bottom wall 30, left and right upper walls 34 that extend from the upper ends of the respective outer walls 32 in directions approaching each other, and left and right inner walls (first side wall and second side wall) 36 that hang down from the inner ends of the respective upper walls 34. It has a groove-shaped cross section with an upper opening and extends linearly in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). The opening 39 defined by the left and right inner walls 36 is vertically aligned with the slit 17 formed in the floor panel 16 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0038] The left and right inner walls 36 form a first side wall and a second side wall that are spaced apart in the left-right direction and face each other. Each inner wall 36 has a protruding portion 38 that protrudes in a direction approaching each other. A plurality of slots 40 are formed in each protruding portion 38 at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, in other words, with a predetermined pitch P. Each slot 40 has a vertically long shape and extends vertically with a predetermined inclination angle forming a lead angle α (see FIG. 9). Thus, the slot group formed by the plurality of slots 40 forms a part of a female thread groove, in other words, a series of tooth portions of a worm wheel developed in a planar shape.

[0039] The slide lock structure 10 releasably locks the slider 26 to the rail 24 at an arbitrary position in the front-rear direction. In other words, the slide lock structure 10 fixes the seat device 12, which is the object to be slide-locked, at an arbitrary position in the front-rear direction on the floor panel 16.

[0040] Next, the details of the slide lock structure 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8. The slide lock structure 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped casing 50 that includes a lower case 52 and an upper case 54 and is long in the front-rear direction. The casing 50 is fixed to the slider 26 (see FIG. 1), and most of its vertical direction is located between the left and right inner walls 36.

[0041] The casing 50 receives a pair of left and right lock members (first lock member and second lock member) 56 in a manner that they cannot be displaced in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction, but can be displaced only in the left-right direction.

[0042] Each locking member 56 has a plurality of engaging protrusions 58 that protrude outwardly to the left and right on the outer walls in the left - right direction. Each engaging protrusion 58 is provided at an interval of the pitch P of adjacent slots 40 or an integral multiple of the same interval in the front - rear direction (longitudinal direction), and extends in the vertical direction while being inclined at the same angle as the lead angle α. Each engaging protrusion 58 can protrude outwardly to the left and right from an opening 51 (see FIG. 5) formed in the left and right side walls of the casing 50. Each locking member 56 is displaceable between an engaging position where the engaging protrusion 58 enters any corresponding slot 40 and a release position where the engaging protrusion 58 disengages from any of the slots 40.

[0043] Each locking member 56 has a rectangular protrusion 61 (see FIG. 8) that protrudes downward from the middle portion (1 / 2 position) in the front - rear direction of the bottom wall. The lower case 52 has a recess 62 (see FIG. 7) at the bottom that slidably receives the corresponding protrusion 61 in the left - right direction. By the slidable engagement between the protrusion 61 and the recess 62, the displacement of each locking member 56 in the left - right direction between the engaging position and the release position is linearly guided. Thereby, the certainty of the linear movement of the left and right locking members 56 in the left - right direction is improved.

[0044] Each locking member 56 has groove portions 64 that are open outwardly to the left and right at two positions separated in the front - rear direction on the outer wall in the left - right direction and between adjacent engaging protrusions 58. The bottom surface of each groove portion 64 is a cam surface 66 (see FIG. 4). In other words, two cam surfaces 66 of the left and right locking members 56 are provided separately in the longitudinal direction. More specifically, each cam surface 66 is provided on the bottom surfaces of two groove portions 64 formed between adjacent engaging protrusions 58 and includes at least one inclined outer surface that is inclined outwardly from the upper side to the lower side. The two cam surfaces 66 at the front and rear positions of each locking member 56 form a left - right symmetric pair, respectively.

[0045] The left and right lock members 56 are provided with inner surfaces 56A facing each other in the left-right direction. Compression coil springs 68 forming first biasing members are provided at two positions in the front-rear direction between the left and right inner surfaces 56A. Each compression coil spring 68 is adjacent to the corresponding groove portion 60 from the outside in the front-rear direction. In other words, it is adjacent to a plate-like member 88 to be described later that fits into the corresponding groove portion 60 from the outside in the front-rear direction, and is located near the front and rear ends of the lock member 56, and spring-biases the left and right lock members 56 toward the engagement position.

[0046] Since each compression coil spring 68 is arranged adjacent to each plate-like member 88, the spring biasing of the lock member 56 by the compression coil spring 68 is stabilized, and thus the posture of the plate-like member 88 is stabilized.

[0047] Each lock member 56 has a retainer recess 57 (see FIG. 8) that opens to the inner surface 56A and receives the end portion of each compression coil spring 68. The lower case 52 has a spring support base 70 (see FIG. 7) including an arcuate upper surface that supports the intermediate portion of each compression coil spring 68 at the bottom.

[0048] Each lock member 56 has a protrusion 72 that protrudes outward in the front-rear direction from the end surface in the front-rear direction. A pair of front-rear regulating plates 74 are arranged at the front and rear positions of the left and right lock members 56. Each regulating plate 74 has a long hole 76 that is long in the left-right direction. Each long hole 76 slidably receives the corresponding protrusion 72 in the left-right direction. Each regulating plate 74 has a tongue piece portion 78 that protrudes downward. Each tongue piece portion 78 is inserted into an engagement groove 80 formed in the bottom of the lower case 52 so as to be freely inserted and removed in the vertical direction.

[0049] Thereby, the regulating plate 74 is detachably held with respect to the casing 50, and forms a regulating portion that cooperates with the protrusion 72 to regulate the outward and inward movement of the left and right lock members 56 with respect to the casing 50 in the left-right direction. By regulating the left-right movement of the left and right lock members 56 by this regulating portion, the engagement position and the release position of each lock member 56 are defined.

[0050] The regulating plate 74 connects the left and right locking members 56 which are spring-biased in a direction away from each other by the compression coil spring 68, and acts so that the left and right locking members 56 and the compression coil spring 68 can be easily handled as one assembly. That is, the left and right locking members 56, the compression coil spring 68, and the regulating plate 74 can be assembled to the lower case 52 with good workability as one sub-assembly.

[0051] An operating member 86 is provided in the casing 50 so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction. The operating member 86 is constituted by an assembly of two plate-like members 88 spaced apart in the front-rear direction and parallel to each other and an intermediate connecting member 90 connecting the two plate-like members 88 to each other.

[0052] A compression coil spring 92 (see FIG. 5), which forms a second biasing member, is provided between the central portion of the intermediate connecting member 90 forming the intermediate portion of the operating member 86 and a retainer recess 82 provided at the bottom of the lower case 52. The compression coil spring 92 biases the operating member 86 upward with respect to the casing 50. According to this spring arrangement, since the spring force of the compression coil spring 92 acts on the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate connecting member 90, it is suppressed that the spring force of the compression coil spring 92 acts as an eccentric load in the longitudinal direction of the operating member 86, and the vertical movement of the operating member 86 is smoothly performed.

[0053] Each plate-like member 88 includes a connecting portion 88A with the intermediate connecting member 90 provided at the central portion in the left-right direction, an arm portion 88B extending outward in the left and right directions from the connecting portion 88A, and a hanging portion 88C extending downward from the free end of each arm portion 88B, and has a left-right symmetric shape. The left and right arm portions 88B and the hanging portions 88C are slidably fitted in the corresponding groove portions 64 of the left and right locking members 56 in the vertical direction.

[0054] Each lower vertical portion 88C has a corresponding cam surface 94 on its inner end face that corresponds to each cam surface 66. Four corresponding cam surfaces 94 are provided in the front, rear, left, and right directions to correspond to each cam surface 66 in one operating member 86. Each corresponding cam surface 94 slopes outward from the upper side to the lower side and includes at least one inclined inner surface that can be in sliding contact with the corresponding cam surface 66, and they are paired left and right and are symmetrical.

[0055] When the operating member 86 moves downward against the compression coil spring 92, each corresponding cam surface 94 abuts against the corresponding cam surface 66 and slides downward with respect to the corresponding cam surface 66, converting the vertical displacement into a lateral displacement, and displacing the left and right locking members 56 simultaneously to the release position against the spring force of the compression coil springs 68.

[0056] As described above, each plate-like member 88 is slidably fitted into the corresponding groove portion 64, and the vertical movement with respect to the locking member 56 is guided by the wall surface defining the groove portion 64, so that rattling against the locking member 56 is suppressed and the posture with respect to the locking member 56 is stabilized. As a result, the posture of the corresponding cam surface 94 is stabilized, and the displacement of the locking member 56 to the release position by the cam surface 66 and the corresponding cam surface 94 is performed smoothly and reliably.

[0057] Also, the cam surfaces 66 of the left and right locking members 56 are provided in two each, separated in the longitudinal direction, and since the corresponding cam surfaces 94 of the operating member 86 are provided in four in the front, rear, left, and right directions to correspond to each cam surface 66, the displacement of the locking member 56 to the release position is performed smoothly and reliably.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4, the operating member 86 is defined in the raised position by spring biasing by the inclined upper surface 88D provided at the base of the arm portion 88B of each plate-like member 88 abutting against the inclined lower surface 54C of the upper case 54 located at the end of the slit 54A formed in the upper case 54 corresponding to each plate-like member 88. Incidentally, a part of each arm portion 88B and each lower vertical portion 88C enters the corresponding slit 54A when the operating member 86 is in the raised position.

[0059] The operating member 86 includes a rod-shaped portion 96 protruding from the longitudinal intermediate portion between the two plate-shaped members 88, that is, the central portion of the intermediate connecting member 90. The rod-shaped portion 96 penetrates through the through hole 54B formed in the upper case 54 and protrudes above the casing 50 so that it can be pressed downward from the outside.

[0060] The slide lock structure 10 configured as described above is handled as one cartridge, improving the assemblability of the slide lock structure with respect to the slide rail device. That is, one of the items that makes the slide lock structure 10 unique to the conventional product is that all geometries are packaged so as to be arranged within the rail 24 and are not arranged on the rail 24. Further, the slide lock structure 10 can obtain a locked state by the left and right lock members 56 sliding in the lateral direction, and operates without the need for a fulcrum to rotate to obtain the locked state. As a result, the slide lock structure 10 is miniaturized with a simple structure and encapsulated under the seat device 12.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface of the rod-shaped portion 96 is in contact with the end portion of the operation lever 28 rotatably attached to the base member 18 by the horizontal pivot 27. The rod-shaped portion 96 is pressed downward when the operation lever 28 rotates clockwise about the horizontal pivot 27.

[0062] In the steady state where the rod-shaped portion 96 is not pressed downward, as shown in FIG. 4, the operating member 86 is in the raised position by the spring force of the compression coil spring 92, and the left and right corresponding cam surfaces 94 are spaced upward from the corresponding cam surfaces 66 of the left and right lock members 56.

[0063] Therefore, the left and right locking members 56 are positioned at the engagement positions by the spring force of the compression coil springs 68. As a result, all the engaging protrusions 58 of the left and right locking members 56 project into the corresponding left and right slots 40, and the slider 26 together with the casing 50 is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction of the rail 24, entering a locked state. Thereby, the seat device 12 is fixed at an arbitrary position in the front-rear direction on the floor panel 16.

[0064] In this way, since a locked state is obtained by the plurality of left and right engaging protrusions 58 projecting into the corresponding left and right slots 40, compared with the case where a locked state is obtained by the engagement of a latch claw with one tooth portion of a rack, a simple structure can achieve reliable locking with high mechanical strength without causing deformation of the constituent members.

[0065] The release of this locked state is performed by pressing the rod-shaped portion 96 downward against the spring force of the compression coil spring 92. When the rod-shaped portion 96 is pressed downward, the operating member 86 is displaced downward. As a result, the four corresponding cam surfaces 94 of the operating member 86 in the front, rear, left, and right directions come into contact with the corresponding cam surfaces 66 all at once and slide and displace downward with respect to the cam surfaces 66, so that the left and right locking members 56 are displaced to the release positions all at once, that is, in a left-right symmetric state, against the spring force of the compression coil springs 68. Thereby, the displacement of the left and right locking members 56 to the release positions is surely performed with a simple structure.

[0066] When both of the left and right locking members 56 are positioned at the release positions, all the left and right engaging protrusions 58 are surely disengaged from the corresponding slots 40, and the locked state is surely released. In the unlocked state, the slider 26 together with the casing 50 can move freely in the longitudinal direction of the rail 24, and the position of the seat device 12 in the front-rear direction can be changed.

[0067] A slot group formed by a plurality of slots 40 in the rail 24 forms a part of a thread groove, in other words, a series of tooth portions of a worm wheel. Thus, the rail 24 can be used in combination as a rail of an electric slide rail device using an electric motor-driven male screw member or a worm that engages with the slot 40, and can be applied to a slide rail device in which an electric type and a manual type are mixed on one rail.

[0068] Next, a method for manufacturing the rail 24 having the slots 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 9(A), first, a strip-shaped flat plate 100 made of steel is prepared as a material for the rail 24. As shown in FIG. 9(B), slits (lower holes) 40 are punched at intervals of a predetermined pitch P along both side edges of the strip-shaped flat plate 100 by a punching press machine (not shown). Each slot 40 is punched obliquely with a predetermined lead angle α in the pitch direction. Each slot 40 may be formed in two hits at every other position in order to reduce the press load.

[0070] Next, the strip-shaped flat plate 100 is bent by a bender machine (not shown) to form the rail 24 having the bent shape shown in FIG. 9(C).

[0071] Next, finishing of the rail 24 is performed using a finishing machine 110 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The finishing of the rail 24 includes pitch correction and lead angle correction of each slot 40.

[0072] The finishing machine 110 includes a base 111, a linear conveyance guide rail 112 provided on the base 111, a workpiece conveyance table 114 slidably engaged with the conveyance guide rail 112 in its longitudinal direction, and a processing head 118 disposed on the base 111 by a gantry frame 116.

[0073] The workpiece conveyance table 114 has the rail 24 positioned and placed thereon by positioning pins 115 at the upper part.

[0074] The machining head 118 includes a substrate 120, four horizontal alignment rollers 122 that are rotatably supported on the substrate 120 in the front, rear, left, and right directions, four rows of left and right vertical alignment rollers 124 that are rotatably supported on the substrate 120 in the front and rear directions, and two finishing cutting tools 126 that are rotatably supported on the substrate 120 in the front and rear directions.

[0075] Each horizontal alignment roller 122 is rotatably abutted against the outer surfaces of the left and right outer side walls 32 of the rail 24 conveyed by the workpiece conveyance table 114, and positions the rail 24 in the left and right directions with respect to the finishing cutting tool 126. The vertical alignment roller 124 is rotatably abutted against the upper surfaces of the left and right upper walls 34 of the same rail 24, and positions (prevents floating) the rail 24 in the up and down directions with respect to the finishing cutting tool 126.

[0076] Each finishing cutting tool 126 is rotatably supported around a horizontal axis extending in the front and rear directions by a bearing mount 128 attached to the lower surface of the substrate 120. The front finishing cutting tool 126 and the rear finishing cutting tool 126 are arranged offset from each other in the left and right directions. The front finishing cutting tool 126 performs finishing cutting on the right slot 40 of the rail 24, and the rear finishing cutting tool 126 performs finishing cutting on the left slot 40 of the rail 24.

[0077] Each finishing cutting tool 126 integrally has a gear 132 described later. Two intermediate gears 136 that are rotatably attached to the substrate 120 by bearing mounts 134 are individually meshed with each gear 132. Two driving gears 140 that are attached to a common driving shaft 138 extending in the front and rear directions are individually meshed with each intermediate gear 136. The driving shaft 138 is connected to an electric motor (not shown) mounted on the substrate 120 and is rotationally driven by the electric motor.

[0078] The two finishing cutting tools 126 in the front and rear directions are rotationally driven in synchronization with each other by the above-described gear example.

[0079] As shown in Fig. 12(A), each finishing cutting tool 126 includes a holder 142 having a male thread shape (worm shape) with the same pitch as the pitch P and the same lead angle as the lead angle α, a central shaft portion 143 integrally provided at the front and rear ends of the holder 142, respectively, and the above-described gear 132 integrally provided on the outer periphery of one of the central shaft portions 143.

[0080] On the outer periphery of the holder 142, concave grooves 146 extending in the axial direction are formed at two positions that are rotationally displaced from each other by 180 degrees around the central axis. A cutting blade 148 formed of a flat plate having a comb tooth shape with the same pitch as the pitch P is detachably attached to each concave groove 146. Each cutting blade 148 is positioned in the axial direction with respect to the holder 142 so as to match the pitch of the holder 142 in the corresponding concave groove 144 with the comb tooth shape pitch.

[0081] With the front and rear two finishing cutting tools 126 being rotationally driven, the rail 24 is conveyed toward the machining head 118 at a predetermined speed by the workpiece conveyance table 114, and the finishing cutting of the slot 40 is performed by the cutting blades 148 of each finishing cutting tool 126.

[0082] As another embodiment, instead of the finishing cutting tool 126, a grinding tool 150 shown in Fig. 12(B) may be attached to the machining head 118, and the finishing of the slot 40 may be performed by grinding. The grinding tool 150 is fired into a male thread shape (worm shape) with the same pitch as the pitch P and the same lead angle as the lead angle α.

[0083] Also, as another embodiment, the punching of the slot 40 may be performed by a roller type punch die 162 having a plurality of punches 160 on its outer peripheral surface and a roller type die 166 having a plurality of dies 164 on its outer peripheral surface, as shown in Fig. 13.

[0084] As described above, the present invention has been explained with respect to its preferred embodiments. However, as can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0085] For example, the left and right engaging protrusions 58 may be one or a plurality other than four. The compression coil spring 68 may be arranged so as to be adjacent to the plate-like member 88 from the inner side in the front-rear direction.

[0086] The slide lock structure 10 according to the present invention is not limited to the application to the slide rail device 14 for the seat device 12, and can be applied to the slide rail device 14 for various devices.

[0087] In addition, not all of the components shown in the above embodiments are necessarily essential, and it is possible to appropriately select and discard them as long as the gist of the present invention is not departed from.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0088] 10: Slide lock structure 12: Seat device 14: Slide rail device 16: Floor panel 17: Slit 18: Base member 20: Seat cushion 22: Seat back 24: Rail 26: Slider 27: Horizontal pivot 28: Operating lever 30: Bottom wall 32: Outer wall 34: Upper wall 36: Inner wall (first side wall, second side wall) 38: Protrusion 39: Opening 40: Slot 50: Casing 51: Opening 52: Lower case 54: Upper case 54A: Slit 54B: Through hole 54C: Inclined lower surface 56: Locking member (first locking member, second locking member) 56A: Inner surface 57: Retainer recess 58: Engaging protrusion 60: Groove 61: Protrusion 62: Recess 64: Groove 66: Cam surface 68: Compression coil spring 70: Spring pedestal 72: Protrusion 74: Regulation plate 76: Long hole 78: Tongue piece 80: Engaging groove 82: Retainer recess 86: Operating member 88: Plate-like member (plate-like part) 88A: Connecting part 88B: Arm part 88C: Hanging part 88D: Inclined upper surface 90: Intermediate connecting member 92: Compression coil spring 94: Corresponding cam surface 96: Rod-like part 100: Band-shaped flat plate 110: Finishing machine 111: Base 112: Conveyor guide rail 114: Workpiece conveyor table 115: Positioning pin 116: Portal frame 118: Processing head 120: Substrate 122: Horizontal alignment roller 124: Vertical alignment roller 126: Finishing cutting tool 128: Bearing mount 132: Gear 134: Bearing Mount 136: Intermediate Gear 138: Drive Shaft 140: Driving Gear 142: Holder 143: Central Shaft Portion 144: Concave Groove 148: Cutting Blade 150: Grinding Tool 160: Punch 162: Punch Die 164: Die 166: Die Mold

Claims

1. A slide lock structure for a vehicle seat slide rail device, comprising a first side wall and a second side wall spaced apart in the left - right direction and facing each other, having a groove - shaped cross - section and extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein a plurality of slots are provided in the first side wall at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, and a slider slidably engaged with the rail. A casing attached to the slider and including a portion located between the first side wall and the second side wall. A first locking member provided on the casing, having at least one first engaging protrusion protruding outward in the left - right direction, the at least one first engaging protrusion being displaceable in the left - right direction between an engaging position where the at least one first engaging protrusion penetrates into one of the slots of the first side wall and a release position where the at least one first engaging protrusion disengages from any of the slots of the first side wall. A first biasing member for biasing the first locking member toward the engaging position. An operating member displaceably provided on the casing, which, by displacing in a predetermined direction, displaces the first locking member against the spring force of the first biasing member to the release position. The operating member is a slide lock structure in a vehicle seat slide rail device, including a portion protruding above the upper surface of the casing and above the upper wall of the rail.

2. The slide lock structure for a vehicle seat slide rail device according to Claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the casing protrudes above the upper wall of the rail.

3. The slide lock structure for a vehicle seat slide rail device according to Claim 1, wherein the first locking member has a retainer recess for receiving an end portion of the first biasing member.

4. A plurality of slots are provided in the second side wall at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, it has at least one engaging protrusion protruding outward in the left - right direction, and a second locking member provided on the casing, the at least one engaging protrusion being displaceable in the left - right direction between an engaging position where the at least one engaging protrusion penetrates into one of the slots of the second side wall and a release position where the at least one engaging protrusion disengages from any of the slots of the second side wall. A second biasing member for biasing the second locking member toward the engaging position. The operating member has a contact portion that contacts the first locking member and the second locking member to displace the first locking member and the second locking member to the release position. The contact portion is located at the central portion in the extending direction of the casing rather than the first biasing member and the second biasing member. A slide lock structure in a slide rail device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1. **Claim 5**: The slide lock structure in a slide rail device for a vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member bias both the first locking member and the second locking member. **Claim 6**: The slide rail device for a vehicle seat further includes a third biasing member that biases the operating member in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. The first biasing member, the second biasing member, and the third biasing member include portions arranged at the same position in the vertical direction. The biasing direction of the first biasing member and the second biasing member intersects the biasing direction of the third biasing member. A slide lock structure in a slide rail device for a vehicle seat according to claim 4. **Claim 7**: The slide lock structure in a slide rail device for a vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the second biasing member is arranged at the center in the left - right direction of the casing. **Claim 8**: The first side wall and the second side wall have protrusions protruding in a direction approaching each other, and the slot is formed in the protrusion. A slide lock structure in a slide rail device for a vehicle seat according to claim 4. **Claim 9**: The casing has a recess, and the first locking member includes a protrusion slidably received in the recess to guide displacement between the engagement position and the release position. A slide lock structure in a slide rail device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1.

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