Seat slide device

Abstract

To enable only an operation handle to turn with respect to a lock release lever in both directions of a lock releasing direction and an anti-lock releasing direction.SOLUTION: A front-side upper support surface 157a and a rear-side upper support surface 158a which oppose to an upper surface 169b1 of a rear end part of an operation handle 133 are provided, with an interval in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, in a lock releasing lever 131, and further a front-side lower support surface 147c is provided to be positioned below the front-side upper support surface 157a. In an upper rail 105, a rear-side lower support surface 148a is provided to be positioned below the rear-side upper support surface 158a. A clearance C1 is formed between the front-side lower support surface 147c and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end part of the operation handle 133, and a clearance C2 is formed between the rear-side lower support surface 148a and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end part of the operation handle 133.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat slide device for use in a vehicle seat. [Background technology]

[0002] A seat slide device for a vehicle has an upper rail fixed to a seat that is slidably mounted on a lower rail fixed to a vehicle body, and is locked by engaging a locking tooth (locking portion) of a locking member attached to the upper rail with a locking groove (locked portion) of the lower rail. The seat slide device of Patent Documents 1 and 2 includes an unlocking lever that operates the locking portion in an unlocking direction, and a portion of the unlocking lever forward of its rotation center is urged upward by a urging member. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, the unlocking lever is urged so that the rear end of the unlocking lever comes into contact with the locking portion with no clearance (gap, space) between them.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, the biasing member is provided between the unlocking lever and an operating handle inserted into the front end of the unlocking lever. Also, the rear end connection part of the operating handle is supported so as to be swingable around a left-right axis different from the rotation center of the unlocking lever, and the operating handle is prevented from coming off in the axial direction with respect to the unlocking lever.

[0004] On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, the above-mentioned biasing member is provided on the upper rail. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-126184 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-052401 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The biasing member of Patent Document 1 biases in a direction that constantly maintains the state in which the lower supported part is supported by the lower supporting part, and the state in which the upper supported part is supported by the upper supporting part. Therefore, when the operating handle is operated in the unlocking direction from the standby position, the unlocking lever immediately starts to push the lock part in the unlocking direction. While the operating stroke of the operating handle can be reduced, the time from when the operating handle starts moving to when the lock is released is shortened, so that the operator may feel that the lock is released earlier than he or she expects.

[0007] In addition, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the operating handle is a rigid body that connects the left and right seat slide devices, the unlocking lever may rotate in the unlocking direction in the standby state due to a vertical phase difference between the left and right seat slide devices (deformation due to misalignment of the mounting positions or collision, etc.). For this reason, a clearance is provided between the operating handle and the unlocking lever in the counter unlocking direction (the direction opposite to the unlocking direction) from the standby position of the operating handle. This prevents the unlocking lever from rotating even if the operating handle moves downward within the range of the clearance due to a load pushing the operating handle downward.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to enable, with a simpler structure, to rotate only the operating handle relative to the unlock lever in both the unlocking direction and the anti-unlocking direction relative to the standby position of the operating handle in a non-operated state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The seat slide device according to the present invention includes a lower rail extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, an upper rail moving relatively along the longitudinal direction of the lower rail, a locking member attached to the upper rail and including a locking part biased in a locking direction to engage with a locked part formed on the lower rail, an unlocking lever supported rotatably about an axis in the lateral direction relative to the upper rail and moving the locking part from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to an unlocking operation, an operating handle connected to a front end of the unlocking lever, and a biasing member biasing the front end of the unlocking lever in the unlocking direction with a biasing force weaker than the biasing force biasing the locking part in the locking direction. A front upper support surface and a rear upper support surface facing an upper end surface of the operating handle are provided at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on the front end of the unlocking lever, and a front lower support surface facing a lower end surface of the operating handle is provided below the front upper support surface. A rear lower support surface facing a lower end surface of the operating handle is provided below the rear upper support surface on the upper rail. The biasing member has one end fixed to the upper rail and the other end engaging from below with the underside of the end of the operating handle at a position between the front upper support surface and the rear upper support surface to bias the operating handle upward. Clearances in the vertical direction are provided between the front lower support surface provided on the unlock lever and the underside of the end of the operating handle, and between the rear lower support surface provided on the upper rail and the underside of the end of the operating handle. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, with a simpler structure, it is possible to rotate only the operating handle relative to the unlocking lever in both the unlocking direction and the anti-unlocking direction with respect to the standby position of the operating handle in a non-operated state. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a seat slide device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]1 is a cross-sectional view of a seat slide device including a lower guide ball and an upper guide ball disposed between an upper rail and a lower rail. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9A] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the operating handle. [Figure 9B] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the operating handle as viewed from below. [Figure 10] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lock member is attached to the lock release lever, together with an operating handle. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a main portion of a seat slide device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 12] 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a main portion of the seat slide device, showing a state in which the operating handle is operated in an unlocking direction. FIG. [Figure 13] 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a main portion of the seat slide device, illustrating a state in which a load is applied to the operating handle in a direction opposite to the unlocking direction; FIG. [Figure 14] 12 is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 of a seat slide device according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 10 of a seat slide device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] 12 is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 of a seat slide device according to a third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 10 of a seat slide device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] [First embodiment] A seat slide device 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a manual type that manually adjusts a vehicle seat in the front-rear direction. The seat slide device 101 includes a lower rail 103 that is installed on the floor surface of the vehicle and extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and an upper rail 105 that is installed on the back surface of a seat cushion (not shown) and assembled along the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 103 so as to be relatively movable within the lower rail 103. The lower rail 103 and the upper rail 105 form a rail body 106, and a pair of rail bodies 106 are provided on the left and right. In the following description (including the second and third embodiments), "front" refers to the front side of the vehicle FR on the left side in Fig. 1, "rear" refers to the rear side of the vehicle RR on the right side in Fig. 1, and "left and right" refers to the left and right direction when the front of the vehicle is seen from the rear of the vehicle.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, the lower rail 103 has a lower bottom wall 103a having a rectangular plate shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A pair of left and right lower outer walls 103b rise from both ends of the lower bottom wall 103a in the vehicle width direction so as to be slightly inclined outwardly upward from the lower bottom wall 103a. A lower inclined wall 103c is formed between the lower ends of the pair of left and right lower outer walls 103b and the lower bottom wall 103a. A pair of left and right lower upper walls 103d are provided from the upper ends of the pair of left and right lower outer walls 103b, which extend parallel to the lower bottom wall 103a in directions approaching each other.

[0015] A pair of left and right lower inner walls 103e are provided that hang down from inner end edges of the pair of left and right lower top walls 103d toward the lower bottom wall 103a. The distance between the parallel opposing lower inner walls 103e is set so that the upper rail 105 housed in the lower rail 103 can move.

[0016] The upper rail 105 includes an upper top wall 105a having a rectangular plate shape extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. A pair of left and right upper side walls 105b hang down from both ends of the upper top wall 105a in the vehicle width direction. Upper lower inclined walls 105c rise up obliquely outward from the lower ends of both upper side walls 105b. Upper upper inclined walls 105e rise up obliquely upward from the upper ends of both upper lower inclined walls 105c via bent portions 105d toward the lower upper wall 103d.

[0017] A lower guide ball 107 is rollably disposed between a lower arc portion 103f between the lower bottom wall 103a and the lower inclined wall 103c of the lower rail 103, and an upper lower inclined wall 105c of the upper rail 105. An upper guide ball 109 is rollably disposed between an upper arc portion 103g between the lower outer side wall 103b and the lower upper wall 103d of the lower rail 103, and an upper upper inclined wall 105e of the upper rail 105.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, the lower guide balls 107 and the upper guide balls 109 are rotatably supported by a ball retainer 111, which is omitted in Fig. 2. The ball retainer 111 supports two lower guide balls 107 and two upper guide balls 109, a total of four. The ball retainers 111 supporting the lower guide balls 107 and the upper guide balls 109 are disposed in two locations, one at the front and one at the back, within a housing section 113 (Fig. 2) surrounded by the lower outer wall 103b, the lower inclined wall 103c, the lower upper wall 103d, and the lower inner wall 103e, for a total of four locations with respect to the pair of left and right rail bodies 106.

[0019] When the rail body 106 is assembled, a locking member 117 is fixed to the upper top wall 105a on the front side of the upper rail 105 by a fixing member 115 such as a rivet or a fixing pin. The locking member 117 is made of a plate-shaped spring member. The locking member 117 has a fixing portion 119 as a base fixed by the fixing member 115, and a fixing hole 119a into which the fixing member 115 is inserted. Meanwhile, the upper top wall 105a of the upper rail 105 has a peripheral portion of the upper fixing hole 105f recessed downward from the other portion of the upper top wall 105a. This sets the head of the fixing member 115 not to protrude beyond the other top surface of the upper top wall 105a of the upper rail 105.

[0020] Fig. 7 shows the fixing member 115 before attachment. As shown in Fig. 11, which is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a main part, the fixing member 115 includes an insertion shaft portion 115a inserted from below into the fixing hole 119a and the upper fixing hole 105f, a second insertion shaft portion 115e formed at the lower part of the insertion shaft portion 115a and having a larger diameter than the insertion shaft portion 115a into which the biasing member side fixing hole 134a described later is inserted, a large diameter portion 115b formed at the lower part of the second insertion shaft portion 115e and having a larger diameter than the second insertion shaft portion 115e, and a flange portion 115c formed at the lower part of the large diameter portion 115b on the opposite side to the insertion shaft portion 115a. The flange portion 115c constitutes a protrusion that protrudes toward the side.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 11, the flange portion 115c is located below support protrusions 147e provided on left and right side walls 147 of the lock release lever 131 shown in Fig. 8, which will be described later. As shown in Fig. 8, the support protrusions 147e are located slightly forward of the center position in the front-rear direction, and are formed by cutting and raising inward from the side walls 147 that are part of the lock release lever 131.

[0022] The upper part of the support protrusion 147e is connected to the side wall 147, and the lower part is cut off from the side wall 147, with the cut lower end surface facing the upper surface of the flange portion 115c. A vertical gap is formed between the lower end surface of the support protrusion 147e and the upper surface of the flange portion 115c. Providing the gap enables the unlocking lever 131 to swing in the front-rear direction with a swing fulcrum portion 151 (see FIG. 10) of the portion where the fixing member 115 of the unlocking lever 131 is provided as a fulcrum.

[0023] The fixed portion 119 of the locking member 117 shown in Fig. 5 extends in the front-rear direction substantially parallel to the upper top wall 105a shown in Fig. 1, and a rearward inclined portion 121 is formed from the rear end of the fixed portion 119, inclining obliquely downward toward the rear. A rearward elastic deformation portion 123 is formed from the rear end of the rearward inclined portion 121, extending rearward substantially parallel to the fixed portion 119. A rear end portion 125 of the rearward elastic deformation portion 123 is wider in the left-right direction than the rearward elastic deformation portion 123, and is rectangular in plan view. The rearward elastic deformation portion 123 constitutes a rearward biasing portion.

[0024] The rear end 125 has two rectangular holes 125a formed along the front-rear direction near both the left and right edge portions. Meanwhile, the portions of the rear end 125 adjacent to each hole 125a in the front-rear direction form lock teeth 125b as locking portions protruding to the left and right sides. The lock teeth 125b are formed in three locations on each of the left and right sides. The three lock teeth 125b on each of the left and right sides are connected at their tip sides by a connection portion 125c extending in the front-rear direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, three locking teeth receiving recesses 129 are formed on each of the left and right sides along the front-rear direction from the left and right upper side walls 105b to the upper lower inclined walls 105c in the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction of the upper rail 105. When the rail body 106 is assembled, the three locking teeth 125b of the locking member 117 are inserted from below into the three locking teeth receiving recesses 129. At this time, the protrusions 126 between the locking teeth receiving recesses 129 are inserted into the holes 125a of the locking member 117. At this time, in order to prevent the vicinity of the connection portion 125c of the rear end portion 125 from interfering with the upper rail 105, an opening 128 continuing to the lower part of the locking teeth receiving recesses 129 and a notched opening 130 formed in the upper upper inclined wall 105e are provided on both the left and right sides of the upper rail 105.

[0026] 3, a plurality of lock grooves 127 are provided as locked portions along the front-rear direction on the left and right lower inner walls 103e of the lower rail 103 except for the front and rear portions. When the lock teeth 125b of the locking member 117 are positioned in the lock teeth receiving recesses 129 and enter the lock grooves 127 from below, the locking member 117 is locked to the lower rail 103. As a result, the upper rail 105 to which the locking member 117 is attached is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction relative to the lower rail 103.

[0027] When the locking member 117 is attached to the upper rail 105, the rear elastic deformation portion 123 applies an upward elastic force, thereby maintaining a state in which the locking teeth 125b are engaged with the locking groove 127. From this state, by operating the operating handle 133 shown in FIG. 1 in the unlocking direction (upward), the rear end portion 125 of the locking member 117 is pushed downward via the lock release lever 131, and the lock is released. The operating handle 133 is inserted into the upper rail 105 from the front and is arranged so as to be interlocked with the lock release lever 131.

[0028] 5, the locking member 117 has bearing protrusions 119b as supported parts that protrude laterally from both the left and right side parts at positions corresponding to the fixing holes 119a of the fixing part 119. The bearing protrusions 119b protrude laterally with the same thickness as the plate thickness of the locking member 117 including the fixing part 119, and are rectangular in plan view.

[0029] 11, a biasing member 132 is fixed to the lower surface of the upper top wall 105a of the upper rail 105 by a fixing member 115 together with a leaf spring constituting the locking member 117. This biasing member 132 has a base 134 fixed to the lower surface of the upper top wall 105a, a folded-back portion 135 in the middle extending rearward from the base 134 and folded back forward midway, and a tip portion 136 extending forward passing below the fixing member 115, forming a substantially U-shape. Similar to the locking member 117, the biasing member 132 is formed of a plate-shaped spring member.

[0030] 6, the base 134 of the urging member 132 is provided with a fixing hole (urging member side fixing hole) 134a into which the second insertion shaft portion 115e of the fixed member 115 is inserted. The base 134 of the urging member 132 is also provided with a notched opening 134b that is continuous with the urging member side fixing hole 134a toward the front of the vehicle and through which the insertion shaft portion 115a of the fixed member 115 can pass. The tip portion 136 of the urging member 132 extends forward from the tip (lower end) of the folded-back portion 135 approximately parallel to the base 134. The tip portion 136 of the urging member 132 constitutes a forward urging portion.

[0031] A pressing protrusion 145 that is curved so as to be convex upward is formed at the tip (lower end) of the urging member 132. As shown in Fig. 11, the pressing protrusion 145 enters from below and engages with a concave groove 137 (shown in Fig. 9B) that is provided on the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end portion of the operating handle 133. The tip portion 136 of the urging member 132 presses the operating handle 133 upward via the pressing protrusion 145. The pressing force of the urging member 132 against the operating handle 133 is set to be weaker than the pressing force against the lock groove 127 by the lock teeth 125b of the rear elastic deformation portion 123.

[0032] Further, a pair of locking projections 138 are provided on the left and right sides of tip end 136 of biasing member 132 at positions rearward of pressing projection 145. A slit 139 is provided on the underside of the rear end of operating handle 133 shown in Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B, and locking projections 138 engage with slit 139 as shown in Fig. 11. Further, locking projection 138 is formed so as to protrude upward beyond pressing projection 145 which presses the underside of the rear end of operating handle 133.

[0033] 8, the unlocking lever 131 has left and right side walls 147 and an upper wall 149 connecting the upper ends of the left and right side walls 147 in an area near the rear ends of the left and right side walls 147. The locking member 117 is disposed between the left and right side walls 147 of the unlocking lever 131, except for a portion near the rear. The biasing member 132 is disposed between the left and right side walls 147 of the unlocking lever 131. In other words, the unlocking lever 131 is provided at a position where it overlaps with the locking member 117 and the biasing member 132 in the longitudinal direction and the up-down direction of the upper rail 105.

[0034] A recess 147a is formed as a support portion at the upper end of the side wall 147 forward of the intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the unlocking lever 131. The recess 147a is located above the support protrusion 147e and has an arc-shaped concave curved surface with an open upper portion. The recess 147a is disposed below the left and right bearing protrusions 119b of the locking member 117, and the lower portions of the bearing protrusions 119b are engaged with the recess 147a. The bearing protrusions 119b of the locking member 117 and the recess 147a of the unlocking lever 131 form a swing fulcrum portion 151 when the unlocking lever 131 and the operating handle 133 swing up and down together. The swing fulcrum portion 151 coincides with the portion of the locking member 117 fixed to the upper rail 105 in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The unlocking lever 131 has a release pressing portion 153 extending rearward from the upper wall 149. A curved convex portion 153a that protrudes downwardly is formed at the lower portion of the rear end side of the unlocking pressing portion 153. The curved convex portion 153a abuts against the upper surface of the rear end portion 125 of the rear elastic deformation portion 123 of the locking member 117. The upper wall 149 is formed with a stopper projection 149a that is cut and raised upward. The stopper projection 149a serves as a stopper that abuts against the upper top wall 105a of the upper rail 105 when the unlocking lever 131 and the operating handle 133 swing and rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 11 around the swing fulcrum portion 151 as a fulcrum.

[0036] The upper ends of the front ends of the unlocking levers 131 are connected to each other by a front upper wall 157. The lower surface of the front upper wall 157 forms a front upper support surface 157a. Front lower protrusions 147b are formed at the lower front ends of both left and right side walls 147, protruding in a curved manner from both side walls 147 toward the opposing sides. The tips of the left and right front lower protrusions 147b are spaced apart from each other, and a gap is formed between them. The upper surfaces of the front lower protrusions 147b form a front lower support surface 147c.

[0037] A rear upper wall 158 is formed on the upper part of both side walls 147 behind the front upper wall 157 and in front of the recess 147a. The lower surface of the rear upper wall 158 constitutes a rear upper support surface 158a. That is, a pair of upper support surfaces (front upper support surface 157a, rear upper support surface 158a) facing the upper surface 169b1 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 are provided at the front end of the unlocking lever 131 at a distance in the vehicle front-rear direction. Furthermore, a front lower support surface 147c facing the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 is provided at the front end of the unlocking lever 131 below the front upper support surface 157a.

[0038] 1, the operating handle 133 includes a pair of left and right arm portions 167 provided corresponding to the pair of left and right rail bodies 106, and a grip portion 168 connecting the pair of left and right arm portions 167 and extending in the vehicle width direction. The pair of left and right arm portions 167 extend in the front-rear direction, and are inserted from their front ends into the respective left and right upper rails 105. The grip portion 168 is gripped by the occupant when operating the operating handle 133.

[0039] 10, the rear end of the arm portion 167 is inserted between the left and right side walls 147 of the lock release lever 131. The entire arm portion 167, including the grip portion 168, is made of a cylindrical member, and the rear end described above serves as a connection end portion 169 serving as a rear connection portion shaped by pressing the cylindrical member.

[0040] As shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the connection end 169 has a generally rectangular cross section including an upper surface 169b1, side surfaces 169b2 extending downward from both left and right ends of the upper surface 169b1, and a lower surface 169b3 provided from the lower ends of the left and right side surfaces 169b2 toward the left and right inner sides. The lower surface 169b3 of the connection end 169 is provided with a recessed groove 137 extending along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The lower surface 169b3 of the connection end 169 also has the above-mentioned slit 139 and a lower tapered surface 171 provided at the rear end of the connection end 169 and inclined upward.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 11, the left and right upper side walls 105b of the upper rail 105 are provided with rear lower protrusions 148 that protrude from the left and right upper side walls 105b in a curved manner toward the opposing sides at positions in front of the upper fixing holes 105f in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a substantially U-shaped slit 149b is formed around the rear lower protrusions 148. The tips of the left and right rear lower protrusions 148 are spaced apart from each other, and a gap is formed between them. The upper surface of the rear lower protrusion 148 constitutes a rear lower support surface 148a. That is, the upper rail 105 is provided with the rear lower support surface 148a that faces the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 and is positioned below the rear upper support surface 158a. In addition, the left-right width of the tip 136 of the urging member 132 shown in Figure 6 is formed narrower than the gap between the pair of left and right rear lower protrusions 148 so that it can pass between the pair of left and right rear lower protrusions 148 that constitute the rear lower support surface 148a.

[0042] The biasing member 132 engages with the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 from below at a position (intermediate position) between the front upper support surface 157a and the rear upper support surface 158a, and biases the operating handle 133 upward. As a result, the upper surface 169b1 of the operating handle 133 contacts the pair of upper support surfaces (the front upper support surface 157a and the rear upper support surface 158a). At this time, vertical clearances C1 and C2 are provided between the front lower support surface 147c provided on the lock release lever 131 and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133, and between the rear lower support surface 148a provided on the upper rail 105 and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133, respectively.

[0043] Next, the operation of the seat slide device 101 configured as above will be described.

[0044] 11 shows a standby state (a non-operating state in which the operating handle 133 is not being operated) in which the lock teeth 125b of the locking member 117 are engaged with the locking groove 127 of the lower rail 103 and locked. In this state, the operating handle 133 is pressed against a pair of upper support surfaces (front upper support surface 157a, rear upper support surface 158a) by the pressing protrusion 145 of the biasing member 132. The pressing force (biasing force) of the biasing member 132 is greater than the force with which the operating handle 133 tends to move downward due to its own weight and is smaller than the force biasing the locking member 117 in the locking direction, so the above-mentioned standby state is maintained.

[0045] 11, when the occupant lifts up the grip portion 168 of the operating handle 133, the operating handle 133 rotates around the fulcrum at the contact point between the front upper support surface 157a and the upper surface 169b1 of the operating handle 133, and the rear end of the operating handle 133 moves downward by pressing down the pressing protrusion 145 of the biasing member 132. When the grip portion 168 of the operating handle 133 is further lifted from that state, the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end portion of the operating handle 133 abuts against the rear lower support surface 148a provided on the upper rail 105, and the operating handle 133 rotates around the fulcrum at the contact point between the rear lower support surface 148a and the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end portion of the operating handle 133. As a result, the upper surface 169b1 of the operating handle 133 rotates so as to lift the front upper support surface 157a of the unlocking lever 131 upward, and the unlocking lever 131 rotates the locking portion of the locking member 117 in the unlocking direction (see FIG. 12).

[0046] As a result, the unlock lever 131 swings and rotates clockwise in FIG. 11 around the swing fulcrum 151. At this time, the unlock lever 131 swings and rotates such that the curved convex portion 153a of the rear release pressing portion 153 presses downward the rear end portion 125 corresponding to the periphery of the lock portion of the lock member 117, and the rear elastic deformation portion 123 elastically deforms downward. That is, the release pressing portion 153 can press the periphery of the lock tooth 125b of the lock member 117. As a result, the lock tooth 125b is disengaged from the lock groove 127 of the lower rail 103, and the lock is released. By releasing the lock, the seat (not shown) can be moved forward and backward together with the upper rail 105 relative to the floor surface of the vehicle on the lower rail 103 side, and the seat position desired by the occupant can be secured.

[0047] When the occupant releases the operating handle 133 after the seat position has been determined, the rear elastic deformation portion 123 of the locking member 117 presses the release pressing portion 153 upward, causing the lock release lever 131 to swing and rotate, returning to the standby state shown in Fig. 11. At this time, the lock release lever 131 swings and rotates counterclockwise in Fig. 11 around the swing fulcrum portion 151.

[0048] In the state of FIG. 11, when a load acts on the operating handle 133 in the direction opposite to the unlocking direction (downward), the operating handle 133 rotates around the contact point between the rear upper support surface 158a and the upper surface 169b1 of the operating handle 133 as a fulcrum, and the operating handle 133 can move downward by the clearance C1 between the lower surface 169b3 of the operating handle 133 and the front lower support surface 147c (see FIG. 13). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lock release lever 131 can move downward until the support protrusion 147e of the lock release lever 131 contacts the flange portion 115c of the fixed member 115. This reduces the impact in the direction of pushing the operating handle 133 downward. In addition, even if a phase difference occurs between the left and right rail bodies 106 with respect to the operating handle 133, which is a rigid body, this phase difference can be absorbed, and the lock release lever 131 of one rail body 106 can be prevented from rotating in the unlocking direction due to the phase difference.

[0049] The effects of the seat slide device 101 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0050] (1) The seat slide device 101 includes a lower rail 103 extending along the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, an upper rail 105 moving relatively along the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 103, a locking member 117 attached to the upper rail 105 and having a locking portion (locking teeth 125b) biased in a locking direction to engage with a locked portion formed on the lower rail 103, an unlocking lever 131 supported rotatably about an axis in the left-right direction relative to the upper rail 105 and moving the locking portion from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to an unlocking operation, an operating handle 133 connected to a front end of the unlocking lever 131, and a biasing member 132 biasing the front end of the unlocking lever 131 in the unlocking direction with a biasing force weaker than the biasing force that biases the locking portion in the locking direction. A front upper support surface 157a and a rear upper support surface 158a facing an upper surface 169b1 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 are provided at a distance in the vehicle front-rear direction at the front end of the unlocking lever 131, and further, a front lower support surface 147c facing a lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 is provided below the front upper support surface 157a. A rear lower support surface 148a facing the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 is provided at the upper rail 105 and positioned below the rear upper support surface 158a. One end of the biasing member 132 is fixed to the upper rail 105, and the other end engages with the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 from below at a position (intermediate position) between the front upper support surface 157a and the rear upper support surface 158a to bias the operating handle 133 upward. Vertical clearances C1, C2 are provided between the front lower support surface 147c provided on the lock release lever 131 and the underside surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133, and between the rear lower support surface 148a provided on the upper rail 105 and the underside surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133, respectively.

[0051] In a standby state (a non-operating state in which the operating handle 133 is not operated), the operating handle 133 is urged upward by the urging member 132 and pressed against a pair of upper support surfaces (front upper support surface 157a and rear upper support surface 158a) arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, a lower surface 169b3 of the rear end portion of the operating handle 133 faces, with clearances C1 and C2, a front lower support surface 147c provided on the lock release lever 131 and a rear lower support surface 148a provided on the upper rail 105, which are arranged below the pair of upper support surfaces.

[0052] When the operating handle 133 is lifted in the unlocking direction (upward) from its standby position in a non-operated state, only the operating handle 133 rotates about the contact point between the front upper support surface 157a and the upper surface 169b1 at the rear end of the operating handle 133 as a fulcrum until the lower surface 169b3 at the rear end of the operating handle 133 comes into contact with the rear lower support surface 148a provided on the lower rail 103. Then, when the operating handle 133 is lifted further upward, the operating handle 133 rotates about the contact point with the rear lower support surface 148a provided on the upper rail 105 as a fulcrum, and the upper surface 169b1 at the rear end of the operating handle 133 lifts the front upper support surface 157a of the lock release lever 131 upward, causing the lock release lever 131 to rotate in the unlocking direction. On the other hand, when the operating handle 133 is pushed down in the counter-release direction (downward) from its standby position in a non-operated state, only the operating handle 133 rotates around the contact point between the rear upper support surface 158a and the upper surface 169b1 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 as a fulcrum until the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 comes into contact with the front lower support surface 147c provided on the lock release lever 131.

[0053] Therefore, it is possible to set a range in which only the operating handle 133 can rotate relative to the unlocking lever 131 at the beginning of its movement in both the unlocking direction (upward) and the counter-unlocking direction (downward) from the standby position of the operating handle 133 in a non-operated state.

[0054] Since this structure can be constructed using only the biasing member 132 that biases the unlocking lever 131 in the unlocking direction, the structure is simple and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0055] (2) A fixing member 115 is provided for fixing a leaf spring (locking member 117) that biases the locking portion (locking teeth 125b) in the locking direction to the underside of the upper rail 105. The biasing member 132 has a base 134 fixed to the underside of the upper rail 105 together with the locking member 117 by the fixing member 115, a folded-back portion 135 in the middle extending from the base 134 toward the rear of the vehicle and folded back midway toward the front of the vehicle, and a tip portion 136 extending toward the front of the vehicle by passing below the fixing member 115, forming a substantially U-shaped shape.

[0056] The biasing member 132 can be disposed with a sufficient length from the position of one end of the biasing member 132 fixed by the fixed member 115 to the position of the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 without interfering with the fixed member 115 and the operating handle 133. Moreover, even if the length in the front-rear direction from the fixed member 115 to the pressing point (position of the pressing protrusion 145) of the operating handle 133 is short, the biasing member 132 can be disposed easily. This allows the seat slide device 101 to have a small dimension on the front side from the position of the fixed member 115.

[0057] (3) A concave groove 137 extending along the vehicle front-rear direction is provided on the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133, and the upper rail 105 has a pair of left and right side walls 147. The rear lower support surface 148a is formed in a protrusion (rear lower protrusion 148) protruding inward in the left-right direction from the pair of left and right side walls 147, and a gap is formed between the tips of the pair of left and right protrusions. A fixing hole (biasing member side fixing hole 134a) into which the fixing member 115 is inserted is provided in the base 134 of the biasing member 132, and the left-right width of the tip end 136 of the biasing member 132 is formed narrower than the gap between the pair of left and right protrusions.

[0058] The tip portion 136 of the urging member 132 can pass vertically between a pair of protrusions (rear lower protrusions 148) constituting the rear lower support surface 148a, and can enter a concave groove 137 provided in the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end portion of the operating handle 133. Therefore, even if the tip portion 136 of the urging member 132 moves following the upward rotation of the operating handle 133, it does not interfere with the rear lower support surface 148a. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the tip portion 136 of the urging member 132 so as to largely clear the rear lower support surface 148a, and the urging member 132 can be arranged compactly.

[0059] Further, the tip 136 of the urging member 132 is configured to pass under the fixed member 115, but the width of the tip 136 of the urging member 132 in the left-right direction is sufficiently narrow. Therefore, when the fixed member 115 is fixed to the upper rail 105, the fixed member 115 can be crimped and fixed using a jig that presses the lower surface of the fixed member 115.

[0060] (4) A slit 139 is provided on the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133, and a locking projection 138 that engages with the slit 139 is provided on the tip end 136 of the urging member 132. The locking projection 138 is formed so as to protrude upward beyond a pressing projection 145 that is provided on the tip end 136 of the urging member 132 and presses the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133.

[0061] The engagement of the locking projection 138 with the slit 139 serves to prevent the operating handle 133 from coming off in the axial direction.

[0062] Furthermore, when the rear end of the operating handle 133 is inserted into the front end of the lock release lever 131, the rear end of the operating handle 133 presses the tip 136 of the urging member 132 downward while being inserted into the front end of the lock release lever 131. Since the locking projection 138 protrudes upward beyond the pressing projection 145, the pressing projection 145 does not engage with the slit 139, and erroneous assembly of the operating handle 133 can be prevented.

[0063] [Second embodiment] Fig. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of a seat slide device according to the second embodiment, corresponding to Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a seat slide device according to the second embodiment, corresponding to Fig. 10.

[0064] The differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0065] In the seat slide device 101A, a locking claw 132a that prevents the operating handle 133 from coming off in the axial direction is provided on the leaf spring (lock member 117). The locking claw 132a that engages with a locking hole 161 provided on an upper surface 169b1 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 is formed on the tip of a forward extension portion 132b that extends forward from a fixed portion 119 of the lock member 117. An upper tapered surface 172 is provided to avoid the locking claw 132a when the operating handle 133 is inserted into the lock release lever 131. The locking claw 132a is formed facing downward.

[0066] The upper portions of the left and right side walls 147 of the unlocking lever 131 are formed with rear upper projections 147f that protrude from the left and right side walls 147 in a curved manner toward the opposing sides. The tips of the left and right rear upper projections 147f are spaced apart from each other, and a gap is formed between them. The lower surface of the rear upper projection 147f constitutes the rear upper support surface 158a. That is, the unlocking lever 131 is provided with the rear upper support surface 158a that faces the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 and is positioned above the rear lower support surface 148a. The width of the front extension 132b of the locking member 117 in the left and right direction is formed narrower than the gap between the pair of left and right rear upper projections 147f so that the front extension 132b can pass between the pair of left and right rear upper projections 147f that constitute the rear upper support surface 158a.

[0067] In the second embodiment, an engagement hole 161 is provided in an upper surface 169b1 of the rear end portion of the operating handle 133. The lock member 117 is formed with a biasing portion (front extension portion 132b) extending toward the front of the vehicle from a fixed position relative to the upper rail 105, and a engagement claw 132a provided at the tip of the front extension portion 132b and engaged with the engagement hole 161. The rear upper support surfaces 158a of the unlocking lever 131 are provided in a pair on the left and right with a gap between them, and the left-right width of the front extension portion 132b is formed narrower than the gap between the pair of left and right rear upper support surfaces 158a.

[0068] The engagement of the locking claw 132a with the locking hole 161 serves to prevent the operating handle 133 from coming off in the axial direction.

[0069] Furthermore, when the unlocking lever 131 rotates in the unlocking direction, the locking claw 132a and the front extension 132b do not interfere with the rear upper support surface 158a of the unlocking lever 131. Therefore, there is no need to form the locking claw 132a so as to clear the rear upper support surface 158a of the unlocking lever 131, and the locking member 117 having the locking claw 132a and the front extension 132b can be arranged compactly.

[0070] [Third embodiment] Fig. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of a seat slide device according to a third embodiment, corresponding to Fig. 11. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a seat slide device according to a third embodiment, corresponding to Fig. 10.

[0071] The differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0072] In the seat slide device 101B, a locking claw 133a that prevents the operating handle 133 from coming off in the axial direction is provided on a base 134 of the urging member 132. The locking claw 133a that engages with a locking hole 161 provided on an upper surface 169b1 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 is formed on the tip of a forward extension portion 133b that extends forward from the base 134 of the urging member 132. An upper tapered surface 172 is provided to avoid the locking claw 133a when the operating handle 133 is inserted into the lock release lever 131. The locking claw 133a is formed facing downward.

[0073] The upper portions of the left and right side walls 147 of the unlocking lever 131 are formed with rear upper projections 147f that protrude from the left and right side walls 147 in a curved manner toward the opposing sides. The tips of the left and right rear upper projections 147f are spaced apart from each other, and a gap is formed between them. The lower surface of the rear upper projection 147f constitutes the rear upper support surface 158a. That is, the unlocking lever 131 is provided with the rear upper support surface 158a that faces the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the operating handle 133 and is positioned above the rear lower support surface 148a. The width of the front extension 133b of the urging member 132 in the left and right direction is formed narrower than the gap between the pair of left and right rear upper projections 147f so that the front extension 133b can pass between the pair of left and right rear upper projections 147f that constitute the rear upper support surface 158a.

[0074] In the third embodiment, an engagement hole 161 is provided in an upper surface 169b1 of the rear end portion of the operating handle 133. The urging member 132 is formed with an urging portion (front extension portion 133b) extending toward the front of the vehicle from a fixed position relative to the upper rail 105, and a engagement claw 133a provided at the tip of the front extension portion 133b and engaged with the engagement hole 161. The rear upper support surfaces 158a of the lock release lever 131 are provided in a pair on the left and right with a gap between them, and the left-right width of the front extension portion 133b is formed narrower than the gap between the pair of left and right rear upper support surfaces 158a.

[0075] The engagement of the locking claws 133a with the locking holes 161 serves to prevent the operating handle 133 from coming off in the axial direction.

[0076] Furthermore, when the unlocking lever 131 rotates in the unlocking direction, the locking claw 133a and the front extension 133b do not interfere with the rear upper support surface 158a of the unlocking lever 131. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the locking claw 133a so as to clear the rear upper support surface 158a of the unlocking lever 131, and the biasing member 132 having the locking claw 133a and the front extension 133b can be arranged compactly.

[0077] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely examples described to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above embodiments, but also includes various modifications, changes, and alternative technologies that can be easily derived therefrom. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 101, 101A, 101B Seat slide device 103 Lower rail 105 Upper Rail 115 Fixing member 117 Locking member 125b Lock teeth (lock part) 131 Lock release lever 132 Pressing member 132a Locking claw 133 Operating handle 133a Locking claw 134 Base 134a Fixing hole (biasing member side fixing hole) 135 Folded part 136 Tip 137 Groove 138 Locking protrusion 139 Slit 145 Pressing protrusion 147c Lower front support surface 148a Lower rear support surface 157a Front upper support surface 158a Upper rear support surface 169 Connection end 169b1 Top surface 169b3 Bottom surface C1 Clearance C2 Clearance

Claims

1. A lower rail extending along a front-rear direction of the vehicle; an upper rail that moves relatively along a longitudinal direction of the lower rail; a locking member attached to the upper rail and including a locking portion biased in a locking direction to engage with a locked portion formed on the lower rail; an unlocking lever that is supported rotatably about an axis in the left-right direction relative to the upper rail and that moves the locking portion from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to an unlocking operation; An operating handle connected to a front end of the lock release lever; a biasing member that biases the front end of the unlocking lever in an unlocking direction with a biasing force that is weaker than a biasing force that biases the locking portion in a locking direction, A front upper support surface and a rear upper support surface facing the upper surface of the end of the operating handle are provided at a front end of the unlocking lever at a distance in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a front lower support surface facing the lower surface of the end of the operating handle is provided below the front upper support surface, The upper rail is provided with a rear lower support surface facing a lower surface of an end of the operating handle and positioned below the rear upper support surface, the biasing member has one end fixed to the upper rail and the other end engaged with a lower surface of the end of the operating handle from below at a position between the front upper support surface and the rear upper support surface to bias the operating handle upward, a vertical clearance is provided between the front lower support surface provided on the lock release lever and a lower surface of the end of the operating handle, and between the rear lower support surface provided on the upper rail and a lower surface of the end of the operating handle; Seat slide device.

2. a fixing member is provided to fix a leaf spring, which biases the locking portion in a locking direction, to a lower surface of the upper rail; The biasing member has a base portion fixed to the lower surface of the upper rail together with the leaf spring by the fixing member, a folded-back portion in a middle portion extends from the base portion toward the rear of the vehicle and is folded back toward the front of the vehicle midway, and a tip portion extends toward the front of the vehicle by passing below the fixing member, so as to be formed in a substantially U-shape. The seat slide device according to claim 1 .

3. A groove extending along the vehicle front-rear direction is provided on the lower surface of the rear end of the operating handle, The upper rail includes a pair of left and right side walls, The rear lower support surface is formed on a protrusion protruding inward in the left-right direction from the pair of left and right side walls, and a gap is formed between the tips of the pair of left and right protrusions, a fixing hole into which the fixing member is inserted is provided in the base of the biasing member, and a width in the left-right direction of the tip of the biasing member is formed narrower than a gap between the pair of left and right protrusions. The seat slide device according to claim 2 .

4. A slit is provided on a lower surface of an end of the operating handle, and a locking protrusion that engages with the slit is provided on the other end of the biasing member, the locking projection is formed so as to protrude upward from a pressing projection provided at the other end of the urging member and pressing a lower surface of the rear end of the operating handle; The seat slide device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. a locking hole is provided on an upper surface of an end of the operating handle, and a urging portion extending from a fixed position relative to the upper rail toward the front of the vehicle and a locking claw provided at a tip of the urging portion and engaged with the locking hole are formed on the locking member or the urging member, The rear upper support surfaces of the lock release lever are provided in a pair at a distance from each other, and a width of the biasing portion in the left-right direction is formed narrower than a distance between the pair of left-right rear upper support surfaces. The seat slide device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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