Slide device

Abstract

To provide a slide device capable of suppressing lock release at the time of deformation of a fixed rail.SOLUTION: A slide device includes a movable rail, a fixed rail, a lock member which is displaceable between a lock position that regulates slide and a lock release position that permits the slide, and a lever for displacing the lock member to the lock release position from the lock position. The lever has a release part which is brought into contact with the lock member in the movable rail, and an operation part which is connected to the release part and extends in a direction crossing the slide direction of the movable rail. The operation part has a cylindrical narrowed part whose axial direction crosses the slide direction. The narrowed part has at least three recesses which are aligned in the circumferential direction, and are recessed to the radial inside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a slide device.

Background Art

[0002] A slide device for a seat installed in a vehicle such as an automobile has a fixed rail fixed to the floor of the vehicle and a movable rail slidable with respect to the fixed rail. The slide device is provided with a lock member for locking the slide of the movable rail.

[0003] The unlocking of the lock member is performed by operating a lever that displaces the lock member (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). The lever has a certain rigidity to receive an operation input from the seated person.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a slide device, when deformation of the floor surface occurs such that one end (for example, the rear end) of the fixed rail is lifted in a vehicle, it is difficult for a lever with high rigidity to deform. On the other hand, a lock member disposed inside the fixed rail moves relative to the lever together with the fixed rail. As a result, there is a possibility that the lock by the lock member is released.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a slide device capable of suppressing unlocking when the fixed rail is deformed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is a slide device (1) including a movable rail (2) configured to be attached to a sheet (11), a fixed rail (3) slidably supporting the movable rail (2), a lock member (4) held by the movable rail (2) and displaceable between a lock position that restricts sliding of the movable rail (2) relative to the fixed rail (3) by engagement with the fixed rail (3) and an unlock position that allows sliding of the movable rail (2) relative to the fixed rail (3), and a lever (5) configured to displace the lock member (4) from the lock position to the unlock position.

[0008] The lever (5) has a release portion (51A) configured to contact the lock member (4) within the movable rail (2), and an operation portion (52) connected to the release portion (51A) and extending in a direction intersecting the sliding direction of the movable rail (2). The operation portion (52) has a cylindrical throttle portion (525A) whose axial direction intersects the sliding direction. The throttle portion (525A) has at least three recesses (526A - 526D) arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and recessed radially inward.

[0009] According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily locally twist and deform the throttle portion (525A) while maintaining the rigidity of the lever (5). Therefore, when the fixed rail (3) is deformed, the throttle portion (525A) is deformed, so that the relative position between the release portion (51A) and the lock member (4) can be maintained. As a result, unlocking during deformation of the fixed rail (3) is suppressed.

[0010] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the throttle portion (525A) may have a first convex portion (527A) provided between at least three recesses (526A - 526D) and protruding upward, and a second convex portion (527B) provided between at least three recesses (526A - 526D) and protruding downward. According to such a configuration, the vertical rigidity of the throttle portion (525A) can be increased, so that the strength against the lifting input of the lever (5) can be ensured.

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure is that the throttle portion (525A) is provided between at least three recesses (526A - 526D), and has a third convex portion (527C) that protrudes in a first direction parallel to the sliding direction, and a fourth convex portion (527D) that is provided between at least three recesses (526A - 526D) and protrudes in a second direction opposite to the first direction. According to such a configuration, the rigidity of the throttle portion (525A) in the sliding direction can be increased, so that the strength against the pushing input in the sliding direction of the lever (5) can be ensured.

[0012] One aspect of the present disclosure is that the operation portion (52) may have a grip portion (521) that extends in a direction intersecting the sliding direction, and a connecting portion (522A) that extends in a direction intersecting the sliding direction and is arranged offset from the grip portion (521) in the sliding direction at a position closer to the release portion (51A) than the grip portion (521). The throttle portion (525A) may be provided on the connecting portion (522A). According to such a configuration, the throttle portion (525A) can be set at a position where the seated person does not touch it when operating the lever (5), so that the operability of the lever (5) is improved.

[0013] Note that the reference signs in each of the above parentheses are an example showing the correspondence with the specific configurations and the like described in the embodiments to be described later, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations and the like indicated by the reference signs in the above parentheses.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First Embodiment] [1-1. Configuration] The vehicle seat 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a seat 11 and a slide device 1.

[0016] The seat 11 of the present embodiment is used as a seat for a passenger car. In the following description and in each drawing, the directions mean the directions in a state where the seat 11 is assembled to a vehicle (that is, a passenger car). Also, in the present embodiment, the seat width direction coincides with the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the front of the seat coincides with the front of the vehicle.

[0017] The slide device 1 is disposed between the seat 11 and the floor F of the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slide device 1 includes a movable rail 2, a fixed rail 3, a lock member 4, and a lever 5.

[0018] Note that the slide device 1 has two movable rails 2, fixed rails 3, and lock members 4 arranged side by side in the seat width direction. However, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the illustration of the right movable rail 2, fixed rail 3, and lock member 4 is omitted.

[0019] <Movable Rail> The movable rail 2 is a so-called upper rail and is attached to the seat 11. The movable rail 2 extends in the seat front-rear direction and is configured to be slidable in the seat front-rear direction with respect to the fixed rail 3.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the movable rail 2 has a first folded-back wall 21 and a second folded-back wall 22 that are sandwiched in the seat width direction by the fixed rail 3. Openings 23 through which the lock member 4 is inserted are provided in the first folded-back wall 21 and the second folded-back wall 22.

[0021] <Fixed Rail> The fixed rail 3 is a so-called lower rail. The fixed rail 3 extends in the front-rear direction of the seat and slidably supports the movable rail 2 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0022] The fixed rail 3 has a first side wall 31 and a second side wall 32 that sandwich the first folding wall 21 and the second folding wall 22 of the movable rail 2, respectively. A plurality of claws 33 engageable with the locking member 4 are provided on the first side wall 31 and the second side wall 32, respectively. The plurality of claws 33 project downward from the ends of the first side wall 31 and the second side wall 32.

[0023] The fixed rail 3 may be fixed to the floor F of the vehicle. Also, so that the seat 11 can be folded, the fixed rail 3 may be configured such that, for example, the rear end of the seat is detachably attached to the floor F of the vehicle.

[0024] <Locking member> The locking member 4 is held by the movable rail 2 and slides inside the fixed rail 3 together with the movable rail 2.

[0025] The locking member 4 is displaceable between a locked position that restricts the sliding of the movable rail 2 relative to the fixed rail 3 by engagement with the fixed rail 3 and an unlocked position that allows the sliding of the movable rail 2 relative to the fixed rail 3.

[0026] The locking member 4 has an engagement plate 41, a first spring 42, and a second spring 43.

[0027] The engagement plate 41 has a plurality of holes through which the plurality of claws 33 of the fixed rail 3 can be inserted from above. The engagement plate 41 projects outward in the rail width direction from the openings 23 of the first folding wall 21 and the second folding wall 22 of the movable rail 2. Here, the "rail width direction" means a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the sliding direction of the movable rail 2. In this embodiment, the rail width direction coincides with the seat width direction.

[0028] When the locking member 4 is in the locked position, the engaging plate 41 engages with a plurality of claws 33 of the fixed rail 3. Thereby, the sliding of the movable rail 2 is restricted. On the other hand, when the locking member 4 is in the unlocked position, the engaging plate 41 is positioned below the plurality of claws 33 and does not engage with the plurality of claws 33.

[0029] The first spring 42 is attached to the engaging plate 41 and is disposed behind the seat of the engaging plate 41. The second spring 43 is attached to the engaging plate 41 and is disposed in front of the seat of the engaging plate 41. The first spring 42 and the second spring 43 are accommodated between the first folding wall 21 and the second folding wall 22 of the movable rail 2.

[0030] The first spring 42 and the second spring 43 are compressed in the vertical direction by the top wall of the movable rail 2 and the bottom wall of the fixed rail 3, and apply an upward biasing force to the engaging plate 41. That is, the locking member 4 is biased from the unlocked position toward the locked position.

[0031] <Lever> The lever 5 is a so-called loop handle configured to displace the locking member 4 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the lever 5 has a first release portion 51A, a second release portion 51B, an operation portion 52, a first rising portion 53A, and a second rising portion 53B. The lever 5 is formed by processing a single metal pipe. That is, the first release portion 51A, the second release portion 51B, the operation portion 52, the first rising portion 53A, and the second rising portion 53B are integrated.

[0033] <Release portion> The first release portion 51A is configured to contact the locking member 4 within the movable rail 2. The first release portion 51A has a rectangular cross-section perpendicular to the central axis. The first release portion 51A extends parallel to the sliding direction.

[0034] The first release portion 51A is held by the movable rail 2 when the second spring 43 of the locking member 4 engages with the groove 511 provided on the lower surface. Therefore, the first release portion 51A slides inside the fixed rail 3 together with the movable rail 2.

[0035] Further, the first release portion 51A has an end portion 512 disposed so as to overlap the engagement plate 41 of the locking member 4 from above within the movable rail 2. The end portion 512 is swingable in the vertical direction within the movable rail 2 and is configured to push down the engagement plate 41 by swinging downward.

[0036] The second release portion 51B is configured to contact the locking member 4 within the movable rail 2 on the right side (not shown). The configuration of the second release portion 51B is the same as that of the first release portion 51A. The second release portion 51B is displaced in synchronization with the first release portion 51A.

[0037] <Operating portion> The operating portion 52 is connected to the first release portion 51A and the second release portion 51B via the first rising portion 53A and the second rising portion 53B, and is a cylindrical portion extending in a direction intersecting the sliding direction of the movable rail 2 (specifically, the seat width direction).

[0038] The operating portion 52 includes a gripping portion 521, a first connecting portion 522A, a second connecting portion 522B, a first auxiliary connecting portion 524A, a second auxiliary connecting portion 524B, a first throttling portion 525A, and a second throttling portion 525B. The operating portion 52 is a cylindrical pipe having a constant inner diameter and outer diameter except for the first throttling portion 525A and the second throttling portion 525B.

[0039] The gripping portion 521 extends in the seat width direction. The gripping portion 521 is located at the frontmost position of the operating portion 52 in the seat and is the portion that the seated person grips when performing a sliding operation on the vehicle seat 10.

[0040] The first connecting portion 522A extends in the sheet width direction (i.e., parallel to the gripping portion 521), and is arranged offset from the gripping portion 521 in the slide direction (i.e., the sheet front-rear direction) at a position closer to the first releasing portion 51A than the gripping portion 521.

[0041] Specifically, the first connecting portion 522A is located behind and to the left of the gripping portion 521 in the sheet. Also, the length of the first connecting portion 522A along the axial direction is smaller than the length of the gripping portion 521 along the axial direction.

[0042] The end portion of the first connecting portion 522A on the outer side in the sheet width direction (i.e., the left side) is connected to the first rising portion 53A. The end portion of the first connecting portion 522A on the inner side in the sheet width direction (i.e., the right side) is connected to the first auxiliary connecting portion 524A.

[0043] The first auxiliary connecting portion 524A connects the first connecting portion 522A and the gripping portion 521. The first auxiliary connecting portion 524A extends from the left rear to the right front. The first connecting portion 522A is connected to the left end of the gripping portion 521 via the first auxiliary connecting portion 524A.

[0044] The second connecting portion 522B is arranged symmetrically with the first connecting portion 522A in the sheet width direction with the gripping portion 521 interposed therebetween. The second auxiliary connecting portion 524B connects the second connecting portion 522B and the right end of the gripping portion 521.

[0045] The first throttle portion 525A is a cylindrical portion provided on the first connecting portion 522A. The first throttle portion 525A is a portion where the inner diameter (i.e., the cross-sectional area of the internal space) is smaller than other portions of the operation portion 52. The axial direction of the first throttle portion 525A is parallel to the sheet width direction. The axial length of the first throttle portion 525A is smaller than the axial length of the entire first connecting portion 522A.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the first throttle portion 525A has the first recess 526A, the second recess 526B, the third recess 526C, the fourth recess 526D, the first protrusion 527A, the second protrusion 527B, the third protrusion 527C, and the fourth protrusion 527D.

[0047] The first recess 526A, the second recess 526B, the third recess 526C, and the fourth recess 526D are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the first throttle portion 525A. The first recess 526A, the second recess 526B, the third recess 526C, and the fourth recess 526D are each recessed inward in the radial direction. That is, the four recesses 526A - 526D are formed by crushing the first connecting portion 522A inward in the radial direction.

[0048] The first protrusion 527A, the second protrusion 527B, the third protrusion 527C, and the fourth protrusion 527D are arranged between the four recesses 526A - 526D and are also arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the first throttle portion 525A. The four protrusions 527A - 527D are each constituted by a portion where the wall of the pipe constituting the first connecting portion 522A is bent into a U shape.

[0049] The first protrusion 527A protrudes upward. The first protrusion 527A is sandwiched between the first recess 526A and the fourth recess 526D. The distance from the central axis of the first throttle portion 525A to the tip of the first protrusion 527A coincides with the outer radius of the first connecting portion 522A.

[0050] The second protrusion 527B protrudes downward. The second protrusion 527B is sandwiched between the second recess 526B and the third recess 526C. The distance from the central axis of the first throttle portion 525A to the tip of the second protrusion 527B coincides with the outer radius of the first connecting portion 522A.

[0051] The third protrusion 527C protrudes forward of the sheet. The third protrusion 527C is sandwiched between the third recess 526C and the fourth recess 526D. The distance from the central axis of the first throttle portion 525A to the tip of the third protrusion 527C is smaller than the outer radius of the first connecting portion 522A.

[0052] The fourth convex portion 527D protrudes rearward of the seat. The fourth convex portion 527D is sandwiched between the first concave portion 526A and the second concave portion 526B. The distance from the central axis of the first throttle portion 525A to the tip of the fourth convex portion 527D is smaller than the outer radius of the first connecting portion 522A.

[0053] The second throttle portion 525B shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the second connecting portion 522B. The structure of the second throttle portion 525B is the same as that of the first throttle portion 525A.

[0054] <Rising portion> The first rising portion 53A is a cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction. The first rising portion 53A connects the left end of the first connecting portion 522A and the first release portion 51A.

[0055] The second rising portion 53B is arranged symmetrically with the first rising portion 53A in the seat width direction with the gripping portion 521 interposed therebetween. The second rising portion 53B connects the right end of the second connecting portion 522B and the second release portion 51B.

[0056] <Lever operation> When the seated person pulls the gripping portion 521 of the lever 5 upward in the initial position, the end portion 512 of the first release portion 51A swings downward. As a result, the engagement plate 41 of the lock member 4 is pushed down by the first release portion 51A, and the engagement with the fixed rail 3 is released. That is, the lock member 4 is displaced to the unlock position. The same applies to the second release portion 51B.

[0057] In a state where the lock member 4 is in the unlock position (that is, a state where the gripping portion 521 is lifted), the seated person can slide the seat 11 to an arbitrary position. After sliding to an arbitrary position, when the gripping portion 521 is returned to the initial position, the engagement plate 41 moves upward by the biasing force and engages with the fixed rail 3. That is, the lock member 4 is displaced to the lock position, and the sliding is restricted.

[0058] [1-2. Effect] According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) While maintaining the rigidity of the lever 5, the first constriction portion 525A can be easily locally twisted and deformed. Therefore, when the fixed rail 3 is deformed, the first constriction portion 525A is deformed, so that the relative position between the first release portion 51A and the lock member 4 can be maintained. The same applies to the second constriction portion 525B. As a result, the release of the lock when the fixed rail 3 is deformed is suppressed.

[0059] (1b) The first convex portion 527A and the second convex portion 527B can increase the vertical rigidity of the first constriction portion 525A and the second constriction portion 525B, so that the strength against the lifting input of the lever 5 can be ensured.

[0060] (1c) The third convex portion 527C and the fourth convex portion 527D can increase the sliding rigidity of the first constriction portion 525A and the second constriction portion 525B, so that the strength against the pushing input of the lever 5 in the sliding direction can be ensured.

[0061] (1d) Since the first constriction portion 525A and the second constriction portion 525B are provided on the first connecting portion 522A or the second connecting portion 522B, the first constriction portion 525A and the second constriction portion 525B can be set at positions where the seated person does not touch during the operation of the lever 5, so that the operability of the lever 5 is improved.

[0062] [2. Other Embodiments] As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. Needless to say, the present disclosure can take various forms without being limited to the above embodiments.

[0063] (2a) In the slide device of the above embodiment, the constriction portion does not necessarily have all the convex portions protruding in the upward, downward, first direction parallel to the sliding direction (front of the seat in the above embodiment), and the second direction opposite to the first direction (rear of the seat in the above embodiment). Further, the constriction portion may have three or five or more convex portions. That is, the constriction portion may have three or five or more concave portions.

[0064] (2b) In the slide device of the above embodiment, the throttle portion does not necessarily have to be provided in the connecting portion. For example, the throttle portion may be provided in the gripping portion.

[0065] (2c) In the slide device of the above embodiment, the operation portion does not necessarily have to be entirely cylindrical. For example, the operation portion may include a portion other than a cylindrical shape such as a plate shape or a cylindrical shape (i.e., a solid rod shape).

[0066] (2d) The slide device of the above embodiment can also be applied to seats used in automobiles other than passenger cars, and seats used in vehicles such as railway vehicles, ships, and airplanes other than automobiles. Further, the slide device of the above embodiment can also be applied to seats used in buildings other than vehicles.

[0067] (2d) The functions of one component in the above embodiment may be distributed among a plurality of components, or the functions of a plurality of components may be integrated into one component. Also, a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added to, replaced with, etc., the configuration of other above embodiments. Note that all aspects included in the technical idea specified from the language described in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0068] 1... Slide device, 2... Movable rail, 3... Fixed rail, 4... Locking member, 5... Lever, 10... Vehicle seat, 11... Seat, 21, 22... Folding wall, 23... Opening, 31, 32... Side walls, 33... Claws, 41... Engagement plate, 42... First spring, 43... Second spring, 51A... First release portion, 51B... Second release portion, 52... Operation portion, 53A... First rising portion, 53B... Second rising portion, 511... Groove, 512... End portion, 521... Gripping portion, 522A... First connecting portion, 522B... Second connecting portion, 524A... First auxiliary connecting portion, 524B... Second auxiliary connecting portion, 525A... First throttle portion, 525B…Second throttle part, 526A…First recess, 526B…Second recess, 526C…Third recess, 526D…Fourth recess, 527A…First protrusion, 527B…Second protrusion, 527C…Third protrusion, 527D…Fourth protrusion.

Claims

1. A movable rail configured to be attached to a sheet, A fixed rail that slidably supports the movable rail, A lock member that is held by the movable rail and is displaceable between a lock position that restricts the sliding of the movable rail relative to the fixed rail by engagement with the fixed rail and an unlocked position that allows the sliding of the movable rail relative to the fixed rail, A lever configured to displace the lock member from the lock position to the unlocked position, comprising The lever has a release portion configured to contact the lock member within the movable rail, and an operation portion that is connected to the release portion and extends in a direction intersecting the sliding direction of the movable rail, having The operation portion has a cylindrical throttle portion whose axial direction intersects the sliding direction, The throttle portion has at least four recesses that are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and are recessed radially inward, and at least four convex portions that are symmetrically arranged in a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction of the throttle portion, a slide device.

2. The slide device according to claim 1, The throttle portion has a first convex portion that is provided between two adjacent ones of the at least four recesses and protrudes upward, and a second convex portion that is provided between two adjacent ones of the at least four recesses and protrudes downward, a slide device.

3. The slide device according to claim 1 or claim 2, The throttle portion has a third convex portion that is provided between two adjacent ones of the at least four recesses and protrudes in a first direction parallel to the sliding direction, A fourth convex portion provided between two adjacent ones of the at least four concave portions and protruding in a second direction opposite to the first direction; A slide device having the same.

4. The slide device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein The operation portion Has a gripping portion extending in a direction intersecting the sliding direction; A connecting portion extending in a direction intersecting the sliding direction and disposed offset from the gripping portion in the sliding direction at a position closer to the releasing portion than the gripping portion; And has The throttle portion is provided on the connecting portion, and the slide device.

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