Slide mechanism

Abstract

To obtain a sliding mechanism that can suppress an increase in the number of parts. [Solution] The sliding mechanism comprises a flap base 12, a flap 14 slidably mounted on the flap base 12, a locking portion 16 supported by the flap, a biasing member 18 that biases the locking portion 16 toward the flap base 12, and a strap 20 connected to the locking portion 16. A flap claw 14D that engages with a part of the locking portion 16 to prevent the locking portion 16 from falling off the flap 14 is integrally formed with the flap 14.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide mechanism. [Background Art]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a seat provided with an ottoman device. The ottoman device described in this document includes a moving mechanism that moves the position of a leg support portion that supports a user's legs within a range between a storage position and a use position. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-217936 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] Incidentally, from the viewpoint of, for example, suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost, it is desirable to be able to suppress an increase in the number of components of a slide mechanism such as the moving mechanism.

[0005] An object of the present invention, in consideration of the above facts, is to obtain a slide mechanism that can suppress an increase in the number of components. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] The sliding mechanism of the first embodiment comprises a flap base, a flap slidably provided with respect to the flap base, a locking portion supported by the flap and which restricts the sliding of the flap relative to the flap base when engaged with the flap base, and allows the sliding of the flap relative to the flap base when not engaged with the flap base, a biasing member provided between the flap and the locking portion and which biases the locking portion toward the flap base, and a strap connected to the locking portion and which is displaced toward the opposite side of the flap base together with the locking portion when pulled in the opposite direction to the direction in which the biasing member biases the locking portion, wherein a fall prevention portion is integrally formed with the flap and which engages with a part of the locking portion to prevent the locking portion from falling off the flap.

[0007] In the first embodiment of the sliding mechanism, when the locking portion is engaged with the flap base by the biasing force of the biasing member, the sliding of the flap relative to the flap base is restricted. Furthermore, when the strap is pulled in the direction opposite to the direction in which the biasing member biases the locking portion, the strap is displaced together with the locking portion toward the opposite side of the flap base. When the locking portion is not engaged with the flap base, the sliding of the flap relative to the flap base is permitted. Here, a detachment prevention portion, which engages with a part of the locking portion to prevent the locking portion from falling off the flap, is formed integrally with the flap. In this configuration, compared to a configuration in which the detachment prevention portion is separate from the flap, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts constituting the sliding mechanism.

[0008] The slide mechanism of the second embodiment is the slide mechanism of the first embodiment, wherein the flap comprises a flap body and a flap flange portion extending in the sliding direction of the flap, and the dimensions of the lock portion and the distance between the flap flange portion and the fall prevention portion are set so that the lock portion can be inserted between the flap body and the fall prevention portion through the gap between the flap flange portion and the fall prevention portion.

[0009] In the second embodiment of the sliding mechanism, the locking part can be assembled to the flap by inserting the locking part between the flap body and the anti-detachment part through the gap between the flap flange and the anti-detachment part. This configuration makes it easier to assemble the locking part to the flap compared to, for example, a configuration in which the locking part is assembled to the flap while deforming a part of the flap.

[0010] The third embodiment of the slide mechanism is the slide mechanism of the second embodiment, wherein the biasing member is a compression coil spring compressed between the locking portion and the flap flange portion, and the dimension of the biasing member in the compression direction when the biasing member is most compressed is set to be larger than the distance between the flap flange portion and the fall prevention portion.

[0011] In the third embodiment of the sliding mechanism, the dimension of the biasing member in the compression direction when the biasing member is most compressed is set to be larger than the distance between the flap flange portion and the fall prevention portion. In this configuration, compared to the configuration in which the dimension of the biasing member in the compression direction when the biasing member is most compressed is set outside the above range, it is possible to suppress the lock portion from coming out from between the flap flange portion and the fall prevention portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The slide mechanism according to the present invention has the excellent effect of suppressing an increase in the number of parts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing the slide device of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a bottom view showing the sliding mechanism. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the slide device cut along line 3-3. [Figure 4]This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 3, illustrating the assembly procedure of the slide device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 4, showing the process of assembling the locking mechanism to the flap. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 4, showing the process of assembling the biasing member between the flap and the locking part. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 4, showing the state in which the biasing member is most compressed. [Figure 8] This is a bottom view showing the slide device of the third embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a bottom view showing the slide device of the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] (First Embodiment) A slide device 10 of a first embodiment having the slide mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the figures, arrow FR indicates the front side of the slide device 10, arrow UP indicates the upper side of the slide device 10, arrow RH indicates the right side of the slide device 10, and arrow LH indicates the left side of the slide device 10. Furthermore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, when the directions of front / back, up / down, and left / right are indicated, they refer to the front / back direction of the slide device 10, the up / down direction of the slide device 10, and the left / right direction of the slide device 10. Note that each direction of the slide device 10 is defined for explanatory purposes and does not limit the orientation in which the slide device 10 is used.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sliding device 10 of this embodiment comprises a flap base 12, a flap 14 slidably mounted relative to the flap base 12 in the front-rear direction, and a locking portion 16 supported by the flap. The sliding device 10 also comprises a biasing member 18 provided between the flap 14 and the locking portion 16, and a strap 20 connected to the locking portion 16.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flap base 12 is formed using a resin material as an example. The flap base 12 includes a base plate portion 12A extending in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction with the up-down direction as the thickness direction, and a protruding portion 12B protruding upward from a left-side portion of the base plate portion 12A. The protruding portion 12B is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction. On the left side of the protruding portion 12B, a plurality of base-side engaging teeth 12C are formed along the front-rear direction.

[0017] The flap 14 is formed using a resin material as an example, so that each portion described later is integrally formed. The flap 14 includes a flap main body portion 14A extending in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction with the up-down direction as the thickness direction, and a first flange portion 14B serving as a flap flange portion that bends and extends downward from a left-side end portion of the flap main body portion 14A. The flap 14 also includes a pair of second flange portions 14C each bending and extending downward from both end portions of the flap main body portion 14A in the front-rear direction. Left-side end portions of the pair of second flange portions 14C are respectively connected to a front end and a rear end of the first flange portion 14B. The flap 14 further includes a flap claw 14D serving as a drop-off prevention portion that protrudes rearward from a left-side portion and a lower-side end portion of the front second flange portion 14C. In addition, the flap 14 includes a flap claw 14D serving as a drop-off prevention portion that protrudes forward from a left-side portion and a lower-side end portion of the rear second flange portion 14C. The flap claw 14D protruding from the front second flange portion 14C and the flap claw 14D protruding from the rear second flange portion 14C have the same configuration as each other. The flap claw 14D includes a flap claw main body 14D1 disposed spaced apart from the flap main body portion 14A in the up-down direction, and a restriction portion 14D2 protruding upward from a right-side end portion of the flap claw main body 14D1. The flap 14 described above is engaged with the flap base 12 from the upper side, and is thereby supported by the flap base 12 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.

[0018] As one example, the lock portion 16 is formed of a resin material into a block shape with the longitudinal direction extending in the front-rear direction. More specifically, the lock portion 16 includes: a lock portion main body 16A formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the longitudinal direction extending in the front-rear direction; and a protruding portion 16B that protrudes rightward from an upper portion of the lock portion main body 16A. A plurality of lock portion-side engaging teeth 16C are formed along the front-rear direction on the right side of the front portion and the right side of the rear portion of the protruding portion 16B. In the present embodiment, an engagement hole 16D with which a biasing member 18 described below engages is formed in the lock portion main body 16A. The lock portion 16 described above is disposed along the lower surface of the flap main body portion 14A of the flap 14. Further, the front end portion and the rear end portion of the lock portion 16 are engaged with flap claws 14D of the flap 14. More specifically, the front end portion and the rear end portion of the lock portion main body 16A of the lock portion 16 face the flap main body portion 14A of the flap claw 14D in the vertical direction, and face the restricting portion 14D2 of the flap claw 14D in the left-right direction. In addition to this, the front end portion and the rear end portion of the protruding portion 16B of the lock portion 16 face the restricting portion 14D2 of the flap claw 14D in the vertical direction. This state is the completed assembly state of the lock portion 16 to the flap 14. In this state, falling of the lock portion 16 from the flap 14 is prevented by the flap claws 14D.

[0019] The biasing member 18 is a compression coil spring used in a state compressed in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, two biasing members 18 disposed spaced apart in the front-rear direction are provided between the lock portion 16 and the first flange portion 14B of the flap 14. Thus, the lock portion 16 is biased rightward by the two biasing members 18.

[0020] As one example, the strap 20 is formed in a belt shape using synthetic fiber. One end portion of this strap 20 is fixed to a central portion in the front-rear direction of the lock portion 16. Further, the strap 20 extends outward (to the left side) of the flap 14.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, in the slide device 10 described above, the locking portion 16 is biased to the right by the biasing force of the biasing member 18. As a result, the locking portion side engaging teeth 16C of the locking portion 16 engage with the base side engaging teeth 12C of the flap base 12, and the locking portion side engaging teeth 16C and the base side engaging teeth 12C are meshed together. When the locking portion side engaging teeth 16C and the base side engaging teeth 12C are meshed together, the sliding of the flap 14 relative to the flap base 12 is restricted.

[0022] When the strap 20 is pulled to the left, the strap 20 is displaced to the left along with the locking part 16, causing the locking part-side engaging teeth 16C and the base-side engaging teeth 12C to separate (become unengaged). In this separated state, the flap 14 is allowed to slide relative to the flap base 12.

[0023] In this embodiment, the flap claw 14D, which prevents the locking portion 16 from falling off the flap 14, is formed integrally with the flap 14. This configuration suppresses an increase in the number of parts constituting the sliding device 10 compared to a configuration in which the flap claw 14D is separate from the flap 14.

[0024] (Second Embodiment) A slide device 22 of a second embodiment having the slide mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. In the slide device 22 of the second embodiment, members and parts corresponding to the slide device 10 of the first embodiment described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals as the members and parts corresponding to the slide device 10 of the first embodiment, and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, in the slide device 22 of the present embodiment, the interval M between the first flange portion 14B of the flap 14 and the flap claw 14D is set to a dimension equal to or larger than the dimension L of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the lock portion 16 in the left-right direction. In this setting, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lock portion 16 can be assembled to the flap 14 by inserting the lock portion 14 between the first flange portion 14B and the flap claw 14D into the space between the flap main body portion 14A and the flap claw 14D. With this configuration, the work of assembling the lock portion 16 to the flap 14 can be facilitated compared to a configuration in which the lock portion 16 is assembled to the flap 14 while deforming a part of the flap 14. The biasing member 18 is assembled between the lock portion 16 and the flap 14 after the lock portion 16 is assembled to the flap 14. In a state where the assembly of the lock portion 16 to the flap 14 is completed, the biasing member 18 is compressed from the natural length N to P.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 7, when a strap 20 (not shown, see FIG. 2) is pulled to the left, the lock portion 16 moves to the left, and the biasing member 18 is further compressed. The dimension O of the biasing member 18 in the compression direction when the biasing member 18 is in the most compressed state (a state where it cannot be compressed any further) is set to be larger than the interval M between the first flange portion 14B of the flap 14 and the flap claw 14D. That is, the relationship of each dimension described above is set to satisfy the following formula 1. With this setting, compared to a configuration set outside the range of this setting, the lock portion 16 can be suppressed from slipping out from between the first flange portion 14B and the flap claw 14D. L≦M<O<P≦N ···Formula 1

[0027] (Third Embodiment) A slide device 24 of a third embodiment having the slide mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In the slide device 24 of the third embodiment, members and portions corresponding to those of the slide device 10 of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals as the members and portions corresponding to those of the slide device 10 of the first embodiment, and description thereof may be omitted.

[0028] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, in the sliding device 24 of this embodiment, guide members 26 are provided on both sides of the strap 20 in the front-rear direction. These guide members 26 are supported by the flap 14. As shown in Figure 8, when the strap 20 is wrapped around the front guide member 26 and the strap 20 is pulled forward, the locking portion 16 is displaced to the left, and the locking portion side engaging teeth 16C and the base side engaging teeth 12C are separated. Also, the force pulling the strap 20 forward causes the flap 14 to slide forward relative to the flap base 12.

[0029] In contrast, as shown in Figure 9, when the strap 20 is wrapped around the rear guide member 26 and the strap 20 is pulled towards the rear, the locking portion 16 is displaced to the left, and the locking portion side engaging teeth 16C and the base side engaging teeth 12C are separated. Also, the force pulling the strap 20 towards the rear causes the flap 14 to slide towards the rear relative to the flap base 12.

[0030] Thus, in the sliding device 24 of this embodiment, the restriction on the sliding of the flap 14 and the sliding of the flap 14 can be achieved in a single action by pulling the strap 20.

[0031] Furthermore, the sliding mechanism of the present invention described above can be used as a mechanism for adjusting the dimensions of a part of a vehicle seat. This structure can be applied not only to the flap 14, but also to cushion extensions, seat back side supports, and other parts of a vehicle seat for dimension adjustment.

[0032] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above, and can be implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 12 Flap Base 14 Flap 14A Flap body 14B First flange section (flap flange section) 14D Flap claw (anti-detachment part) 16 Locking mechanism 18. Biasing member 20 straps

Claims

1. Flap base and, A flap slidably mounted on the aforementioned flap base, A locking portion that, when supported by the flap and engaged with the flap base, restricts the sliding of the flap relative to the flap base, and when not engaged with the flap base, allows the sliding of the flap relative to the flap base, A biasing member is provided between the flap and the locking portion, and biases the locking portion toward the flap base side. A strap connected to the locking portion, which is displaced together with the locking portion toward the opposite side of the flap base when pulled in the opposite direction to the direction in which the biasing member biases the locking portion, Equipped with, A sliding mechanism comprising a slip-prevention part, which engages with a part of the locking part to prevent the locking part from falling off the flap, and which is integrally formed with the flap.

2. The flap comprises a flap body and a flap flange portion extending in the sliding direction of the flap. The slide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the locking portion and the distance between the flap flange portion and the anti-detachment portion are set such that the locking portion can be inserted between the flap flange portion and the anti-detachment portion and the flap body portion and the anti-detachment portion.

3. The biasing member is a compression coil spring that is compressed between the locking portion and the flap flange portion. The slide mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the dimension of the biasing member in the compression direction when the biasing member is in its most compressed state is set to be larger than the distance between the flap flange portion and the fall prevention portion.

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