Connector for rail unit and slide fastener

Abstract

The present invention facilitates work for connecting a connector to a slider body and a moving body of a rail unit and preliminary work for servicing the rail unit or the like.　A connector (6) connects a rail unit (1) and a slide fastener (5). The rail unit includes: a base body (2) with the X direction as a guiding direction, with respect to which an object is disposed at a distance in the Z direction; and a moving body (3) that is guided in the X direction with respect to the base body and is for attaching the object. The slide fastener includes: a pair of stringers (51) facing each other on both sides of the moving body in the Y direction, between the object and the base body; and a slider body (52) for opening and closing the pair of stringers in the X direction. The connector is provided with a slider connecting member (7) connected to the slider body and a moving body connecting member (8) connected to the moving body as separate components. Of the slider connecting member and the moving body connecting member, one is a socket (8) and the other is a plug (7) that is detachable by being inserted into and removed from the socket.

Description

Connector between rail unit and slide fastener

[0001] The rail unit includes a base body having a first direction as a guide direction, on which an object is placed while being spaced apart in a second direction relative to the first direction, and a movable body guided reciprocally in the first direction relative to the base body and for attaching the object. The slide fastener has a third direction intersecting the second direction as viewed from the first direction, and includes a pair of fastener stringers facing each other on both sides of the movable body in the third direction between the object and the base body, and a slider body that opens and closes the pair of fastener stringers in the first direction. The present invention relates to a connector for connecting the movable body and the slider body. The object is, for example, an automobile seat of a vehicle.

[0002] A connector for connecting a rail unit and a slide fastener is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, the connector is called a connecting member and is made up of a single part.

[0003] International Publication No. 2019 / 224998

[0004] Since the connector is a single component, it is connected to both the slider body and the moving body. In this case, the worker must connect the connector to the slider body first, then the moving body, or the moving body first, then the slider body. Furthermore, the worker may need to remove the connector from the slider body or the moving body before performing maintenance on the rail unit or slide fastener, for example. Therefore, it is desirable that the work of connecting the connector and the preparatory work for maintaining the rail unit, etc., be easy. However, the worker may not always be able to attach or detach the connector in a location or posture that is convenient for the work.

[0005] The present invention was created in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to facilitate the work of connecting the connector to the slider body and the moving body, and the preliminary work for preparing the rail unit, etc.

[0006] The connector of the present invention connects a rail unit and a slide fastener. The rail unit includes a base body having a first direction as a guide direction, on which an object is placed while being spaced apart in a second direction relative to the first direction, and a movable body that is guided reciprocally in the first direction relative to the base body and for attaching the object. The slide fastener includes a pair of fastener stringers that face each other on both sides of the movable body in the third direction between the object and the base body, with a third direction intersecting the second direction as viewed from the first direction, and a slider body that opens and closes the pair of fastener stringers in the first direction. The connector includes a slider connecting member that connects to the slider body and a movable body connecting member that connects to the movable body as separate components. The connector is characterized in that one of the slider connecting member and the movable body connecting member is a socket, and the other is a plug that can be inserted into and removed from the socket.

[0007] The connector does not matter in which direction the operator operates to remove the plug from the socket. In consideration of ease of operation, it is desirable that one of the slider connecting member and the movable body connecting member has an operating portion that allows the plug to be removed from the socket by operating it in the third direction.

[0008] The movable body coupling member may be attached to the movable body in any manner, for example, so as not to be able to swing. However, in consideration of the ease of attaching and detaching the plug and socket, it is preferable that the movable body coupling member be attached to the movable body so as to be able to swing about the third direction.

[0009] To reduce the installation space of the connector, it is desirable that the movable body and the movable body connecting member be configured as follows: The movable body has a pair of side walls at its end in the first direction that face each other in the third direction, and the side walls have bearings on both inner surfaces that face each other in the third direction. The movable body connecting member has a pair of legs that are inserted between the pair of side walls and face each other in the third direction, and a pair of shafts that protrude from the pair of legs in the third direction and are rotatably supported by the pair of bearings.

[0010] To facilitate insertion of a plug into a socket, it is desirable to have the plug include an insertion portion that is inserted into the socket. The socket include a housing portion that houses the insertion portion so that it can be inserted and removed in a first direction, and the housing portion includes a rear portion that houses the tip of the insertion portion and an entrance portion that houses the base of the insertion portion. The dimension of the entrance portion in the second direction is made wider than the dimension of the rear portion in the second direction.

[0011] In order to stabilize the connection between the plug and socket even when the dimension of the inlet portion in the second direction is wider than the dimension of the innermost portion in the second direction, it is desirable that the insertion portion comprises a pair of arms that face each other in the third direction and are elastically deformable in the third direction, and a protrusion that protrudes from the base of each arm in at least one direction in the second direction.

[0012] Any configuration may be used to connect the slider body and the slider connecting member. A specific example is as follows: the slider body includes a first vane and a second vane facing each other in the second direction, a connecting post connecting the first vane and the second vane, a main element path extending in a rearward direction, which is one of the first directions, relative to the connecting post, and a pair of branch paths branching from the main element path on both sides of the connecting post in a third direction. Furthermore, the slider connecting member includes a holding portion that holds at least one of the first vane side and the second vane side relative to the connecting post, and a post cover portion that covers the connecting post from a forward direction, which is the other of the first directions, and extends from the holding portion in the second direction.

[0013] If a foreign object is placed on the side of the fastener stringer that faces the object in the second direction (the side opposite the base body), the foreign object may interfere with the opening and closing of the fastener stringer. To prevent such a situation as much as possible, it is desirable to take the following measures: The post cover part should protrude beyond the connecting post in at least one direction in the third direction.

[0014] To facilitate the operation of connecting the slider body to the slider connecting member, it is desirable to have the following: the holding portion comprises a first holding portion and a second holding portion arranged on both sides of the column cover in the second direction, with the first holding portion holding the first blade side and the second holding portion holding the second blade side. An opening into which the slider body can be inserted is formed between the first holding portion and the second holding portion. Furthermore, the column cover is made of a plate that can elastically deform to widen the opening.

[0015] The connector of the present invention is composed of two parts, a detachable plug and socket, so the plug and socket can be connected separately to the slider body and the movable body, or they can be detached while connected to the slider body and the movable body. As a result, the work of connecting the connector to the slider body and the movable body and the preparatory work for setting up the rail unit, etc., are facilitated.

[0016] When the connector of the present invention allows the plug to be removed from the socket by operating the operating portion in the third direction, the pair of fastener stringers do not interfere with the operation, making it easy to attach and detach the plug and socket.

[0017] When the connecting member for a movable body is attached to the movable body so as to be swingable around the third direction, the connecting device of the present invention allows the connecting member for a movable body to swing, facilitating the attachment and detachment of the plug and socket.

[0018] In the connecting device of the present invention, when the movable body has a pair of side walls facing each other in a third direction and the connecting member for the movable body has a pair of legs, by inserting the pair of legs between the pair of side walls, the shaft portions protruding from the legs are supported by the bearing portions of the side walls, so that the pair of legs are accommodated between the pair of side walls, thereby reducing the installation space of the connecting device.

[0019] In the connector of the present invention, when the plug has an insertion portion and the socket has a storage portion, the entrance portion of the storage portion is wider in the second direction than the inner portion, making it easier to insert the tip of the insertion portion into the entrance portion of the storage portion.

[0020] In the connector of the present invention, when the insertion portion comprises a pair of arms and a protrusion protruding from the base of the arms in at least one second direction, the base of the insertion portion is longer in the second direction than the arms by the length of the protrusion, so that even if the entrance portion is wider in the second direction than the back portion, the insertion portion is stable inside the accommodating portion, and as a result, the connection state of the plug and socket is stable.

[0021] In the connecting device of the present invention, when the pillar cover portion that covers the connecting pillar of the slider body protrudes further than the connecting pillar in at least one of the third directions, the edge of the fastener stringer comes into contact with the pillar cover portion. Therefore, if the fastener stringer is configured to be held so that it cannot be displaced outward in the third direction, the edge of the fastener stringer becomes more likely to displace toward the object, and foreign objects placed on the edge move away from the edge, preventing the foreign objects from interfering with the opening and closing of the fastener stringer.

[0022] When the connector of the present invention comprises a first holding portion that holds the first wing side and a second holding portion that holds the second wing side, an opening is formed between the first holding portion and the second holding portion, and the pillar cover portion is a plate that can elastically deform to widen the opening, so that when the slider body is inserted through the opening, the pillar cover portion elastically deforms to widen the opening and then returns to its original state, facilitating the operation of connecting the slider body to the slider connecting member.

[0023] 1 is a perspective view showing a movement guide device of a first embodiment of the present invention; 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a movement guide device of the first embodiment; 3 is a cross-sectional view mainly showing a rail unit of the movement guide device of the first embodiment; 4 is a cross-sectional view mainly showing a closed state of a slide fastener of the movement guide device of the first embodiment; 5 is a cross-sectional view mainly showing the relationship between a connector and a tape of the movement guide device of the first embodiment; 6 is a left side view, a right side view, and a cross-sectional view taken along lines F-F and G-G of FIG. 6, showing the socket; 7 is a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view showing a plug of the connector; 8 is a left side view, a right side view, and a cross-sectional view taken along lines F-F and G-G of FIG. 8, showing the plug; 9 is a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view showing the connected state of the connector; 10 is a cross-sectional view of the movement guide device of the first embodiment; and 11 is a cross-sectional view of the movement guide device of the first embodiment. 11(C) and 11(D) are bottom views showing the connected state of the connector, and cross-sectional views taken along line DD in FIG.

[0024] The object to be moved by the travel guide device of the first embodiment of the present invention is a car seat. As shown in Figure 1, the travel guide device includes a rail unit 1 that guides the object so that it can move in a linear direction. The rail unit 1 includes a rail member 2 as a base fixed to the floor as part of the car body, and a slide member 3 as a moving body.

[0025] The slide member 3 is guided reciprocally in a linear direction relative to the rail member 2. In FIG. 1 , a first direction X, a second direction Y, and a third direction Z are perpendicular to one another. Hereinafter, the first direction will be referred to as the X direction, the second direction as the Y direction, and the third direction as the Z direction. The X direction is a linear direction in which an object is reciprocated and is a direction in which the object is guided, i.e., a guiding direction. In the following description, the X direction may be referred to as the front-to-back direction. The Z direction may be referred to as the up-to-down direction. Furthermore, the inside of the Y direction is the side where, based on two points spaced apart in the Y direction, the distance between the two points becomes closer, and the outside of the Y direction is the side where, based on two points spaced apart in the Y direction, the distance between the two points becomes greater.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3 , the rail member 2 includes a lower piece 21, a pair of side pieces 22 extending upward from both Y-direction edges of the lower piece 21, a pair of upper piece pieces 23 bending from the upper edges of the pair of side pieces 22 so as to approach the inside in the Y direction, and a pair of inner piece pieces 24 extending downward from the inner edges of the pair of upper piece pieces 23. The lower piece 21, the pair of side pieces 22, the pair of upper piece pieces 23, and the pair of inner piece pieces 24 all extend over the entire length of the rail member 2 in the X direction. The lower piece 21, the pair of side pieces 22, the pair of upper piece pieces 23, and the pair of inner piece pieces 24 cooperate to form a guide groove 26 inside the rail member 2. The guide groove 26 opens to the outside of the rail member 2 between the pair of upper piece pieces 23. In other words, an opening 27 is formed between the pair of upper piece pieces 23.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3 , the slide member 3 includes an outer portion 31 that is spaced upward from the rail member 2 and serves as a mounting portion for attaching a seat; an inner portion 32 that is spaced downward from the outer portion 31 and serves as a guided portion that is guided in the X direction relative to the rail member 2; and a middle portion 33 that serves as a joint that joins the outer portion 31 and the inner portion 32 in the Z direction. In this embodiment, the slide member 3 is configured by combining multiple components. Specifically, the slide member 3 includes a slide member main body 30A that is guided so as to be reciprocable in the X direction relative to the rail member 2, and a roller 30B fixed to the slide member main body 30A. The roller 30B is in contact with the rail member 2 and rotates in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the slide member main body 30A. The slide member 3 is not limited to a configuration that includes the roller 30B, and may have any configuration that allows reciprocating movement in the X direction relative to the rail member 2.

[0028] The inner portion 32 is housed in the guide groove 26 of the rail member 2, and is configured to be movable in the X direction while being restricted from movement in the Y and Z directions. A dimension 33W in the Y direction of the middle portion 33 is shorter than a dimension 31W in the Y direction of the outer portion 31. The outer portion 31 will be described later.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, in addition to the rail unit 1, the movement guide device includes a pair of side covers 4 arranged at intervals on both sides in the Y direction of the middle portion 33 (opening 27), a slide fastener 5 that can be opened and closed while covering both sides in the X direction of the slide member 3 and the space between the pair of side covers 4, and a pair of connectors 6 that separately connect the slide fastener 5 to both ends of the outer portion 31 in the X direction.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3 , the side cover 4 is substantially T-shaped when viewed from the X direction. The side cover 4 has a cover body piece 41 extending in the Y direction and a lower piece 42 extending downward from the lower surface of the cover body piece 41 (the surface facing the rail member 2). Both the cover body piece 41 and the lower piece 42 are plate-shaped. The cover body piece 41 covers the outer surface (upper surface) of the rail member 2 from one side in the Y direction relative to the opening 27 of the rail member 2. The lower piece 42 covers the outer surface (outer surface in the Y direction) of the side piece 22 of the rail member 2. The pair of side covers 4 are arranged symmetrically on both sides in the Y direction relative to the opening 27. An opening 44 is also formed between the pair of side covers 4 in the Y direction. The openings 44 of the pair of side covers 4 communicate with the opening 27 of the rail member 2 and with the external space on the opposite side of the rail member 2 in the Z direction.

[0031] An inner edge 411 in the Y direction of the cover body piece 41 is disposed along the opening 27 of the rail member 2. A slit 43 penetrating in the X direction is formed on the inner surface in the Y direction of the cover body piece 41 (the surface facing the middle portion 33). The slit 43 will be described later.

[0032] In addition to the rail member 2 , slide member 3 , pair of side covers 4 , slide fastener 5 and connector 6 , the movement guide device also includes fixing members 9 that fix the pair of side covers 4 to the rail member 2 .

[0033] In this embodiment, the fixing members 9 are fixed to, for example, both ends in the X direction of the rail member 2. The side cover 4 is held in place by sandwiching the lower piece 42 of the first side cover 4 in the Y direction between the fixing members 9 and the side piece portions 22 of the rail member 2.

[0034] The fixing member 9 has a portion (not shown) that is fixed to the end of the rail member 2 in the X direction, as well as a pair of fixing pieces 91 that are arranged on both outer sides in the Y direction relative to the rail member 2. The fixing pieces 91 extend in the Z direction from below the lower piece 42 to reach the underside of the cover main body piece 41. An upper edge 911 of the fixing piece 91 protrudes inward in the Y direction below the edge 911.

[0035] A lower edge 421 of the lower piece 42 bulges outward in the Y direction above the edge 421. The fixing piece 91 is fixed to the rail member 2 by sandwiching the lower piece 42 between the edge 911 and the side piece 22 above the edge 421 of the lower piece 42.

[0036] 1 and 2, the slide fastener 5 includes a pair of stringers 51 that face each other in the Y direction with the slide member 3 at the center, and a pair of sliders 52 that are separately disposed on one side and the other side of the slide member 3 in the X direction and that open and close the pair of stringers 51 in the X direction. The pair of sliders 52 open and close in opposite directions. Hereinafter, with respect to the sliders 52, the direction in which the pair of stringers 51 are closed will be referred to as the forward direction, and the direction in which the pair of stringers 51 are opened will be referred to as the rearward direction.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of stringers 51 includes a pair of tapes 511 facing each other in the Y direction, and a pair of element rows 512 attached to the inner edges of the pair of tapes 511 in the Y direction.

[0038] The tape 511 is in a strip shape, with the Z direction being the thickness direction, the Y direction being the width direction, and the X direction being the length direction.

[0039] The element rows 512 are fixed to one of the two surfaces of the tape 511 in the Z direction (the lower surface) facing the rail member 2. When the slide member 3 is moved in one direction in the X direction, one slider 52 meshes the pair of element rows 512 in accordance with the amount of movement of the slide member 3, and the other slider 52 separates the pair of element rows 512 in accordance with the amount of movement of the slide member 3.

[0040] The pair of stringers 51 are fixed to members disposed on both sides of the slide member 3 in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the pair of stringers 51 are fixed to the pair of side covers 4 and disposed so as to cover the openings 44 of the pair of side covers 4. More specifically, the outer edges of the tape 511 in the Y direction are accommodated in the slits 43 of the side covers 4 so as to be sandwiched from the Z direction. The tape 511 cannot be displaced outward in the Y direction.

[0041] 1 and 2, the slider 52 includes a slider body 53 that can engage with and separate the pair of element rows 512, and a pull-tab attachment portion 54 that protrudes from the slider body 53. In a normal slider, a pull tab is attached to the slider body 52. ​​However, in this embodiment, the slider 52 does not have a pull tab. Therefore, in this embodiment, the slider 52 will hereinafter be referred to as the slider body 52.

[0042] The slider body 53 includes an upper blade 55 as a first blade and a lower blade 56 as a second blade facing each other in the Z direction, a connecting post 57 connecting the upper blade 55 and the lower blade 56, and a flange 58 protruding from both ends in the Y direction of at least one of the upper blade 55 and the lower blade 56 so as to narrow the gap between them. The connecting post 57 extends in the Z direction and is installed between the front portions of the upper blade 55 and the lower blade 56.

[0043] A passage 531 through which the pair of element rows 512 pass is formed inside the slider body 53. The passage 531 is partitioned in the Z direction by the upper blades 55 and the lower blades 56, and is partitioned in the Y direction by flanges 58 that face each other in the Y direction. The passage 531 also includes a main element path 532 that extends rearward, which is one side of the X direction, relative to the connecting pillar 57, and a pair of branch paths 533 that branch off from the main element path 532 on both sides of the connecting pillar 57 in the Y direction. In other words, the pair of branch paths 533 are partitioned on both sides in the Y direction by the connecting pillar 57.

[0044] The pull-tab attachment portion 54 protrudes upward from the upper blade 55 so as to be separated from the lower blade 56. When viewed from the Z direction, the pull-tab attachment portion 54 is located at the middle of the upper blade 55 in the Y direction. The slider body 53 has a through-hole 52h penetrating in the Y direction above the upper blade 55. In this embodiment, the pull-tab attachment portion 54 and the upper blade 55 cooperate to form the through-hole 52h. More specifically, the pull-tab attachment portion 54 is rod-shaped and protrudes upward from the upper blade 55 so as to be separated from the lower blade 56, extends rearward from its upwardly extending tip so as to face the upper blade 55, and extends downward from its rearwardly extending tip so as to approach the upper blade 55.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 , the connector 6 includes a slider connecting member 7 that connects to the slider main body 52 and a movable body connecting member 8 that connects to the slide member 3 (moving body) as separate components. The slider connecting member 7 and the movable body connecting member 8 are detachable and are integrated by attaching them together. One of the slider connecting member 7 and the movable body connecting member 8 is a socket, and the other is a plug. The plug can be attached and detached by inserting and removing it from the socket. In this embodiment, the slider connecting member 7 is the plug 7, and the movable body connecting member 8 is the socket 8. The plug 7 and the socket 8 are made of, for example, synthetic resin.

[0046] The socket 8 includes an outer connecting portion 8a that is swingably connected to the outer portion 31, and an accommodating portion 8b that accommodates the tip of the plug 7 so that it can be inserted and removed. The axis L that forms the center of the swing of the outer connecting portion 8a extends in the Y direction. The socket 8 is formed by joining the outer connecting portion 8a and the accommodating portion 8b in the X direction. The outer connecting portion 8a is located on one side (front side) of the socket 8 in the X direction, and the accommodating portion 8b is located on the other side (rear side) of the socket 8 in the X direction.

[0047] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the outer connecting portion 8a has a pair of legs 80 facing each other in the Y direction, a pair of shafts 81 protruding outward in the Y direction from the pair of legs 80, and a pair of protrusions 82 that are spaced apart from the pair of shafts 81 in the X direction toward the storage portion 8b and protrude outward in the Y direction from the pair of legs 80.

[0048] In the X direction, the leg 80 has a tip 80a and a base 80b. The tip 80a of the leg 80 extends parallel to the X direction. The base 80b of the leg 80 is inclined in the X direction when viewed from the Y direction. More specifically, when viewed from the Y direction, the base 80b of the leg 80 is inclined in the X direction toward the rail member 2 (downward) as it moves from the tip 80a of the leg 80 toward the storage section 8b. The pair of legs 80 are elastically deformable in the Y direction.

[0049] The shaft portion 81 is disk-shaped with the thickness direction in the Y direction. A straight line in the Y direction that passes through the center of the disk is the axis L. A front portion 81a on the outer surface of the shaft portion 81 in the Y direction is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the X direction. The front portion 81a is the portion that faces toward the tip of the leg portion 80 in the X direction. The front portion 81a is inclined so that it faces inward in the Y direction of the leg portion 80 as it faces toward the tip of the leg portion 80. Note that the protrusion portion 82 is longer in the X direction than in the Z direction when viewed from the Y direction.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the outer part 31 is cylindrical and penetrates in the X direction. Spaces 31S are formed at both ends of the outer part 31 in the X direction to accommodate portions of the pair of legs 80. The outer part 31 has a pair of side walls 311 that face each other in the Y direction relative to the space 31S. The pair of legs 80 are inserted between the pair of side walls 311. Bearing holes 312 are provided on both inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 311 that face each other in the Y direction, serving as bearings that rotatably support the shaft part 81. The bearing holes 312 are through-holes that penetrate in the Y direction. The bearing holes 312 are circular when viewed from the Y direction. The diameter of the bearing holes 312 is slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft part 81. The shortest distance in the X direction between the protrusion 82 and the shaft part 81 is slightly longer than the shortest distance in the X direction between the end faces of the pair of side walls 311 and the bearing holes 312. For convenience, this longer distance is referred to as α. When the shaft portion 81 is accommodated in the bearing hole 312, the socket 8 can swing within a range of α around the bearing hole 312, and the swing range of the socket 8 is restricted by the protrusion portion 82 contacting the X-direction end faces of the pair of side walls 311.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the housing portion 8b includes a cylindrical portion 8c penetrating in the X direction, and a closing plate portion 8d that closes one end of the cylindrical portion 8c in the penetrating direction on the outer connecting portion 8a side.

[0052] The closure plate 8d supports a pair of legs 80. A through hole 8h is formed in the closure plate 8d, penetrating in the X direction. The through hole 8h is located in the center of the closure plate 8d when viewed from the X direction.

[0053] The cylindrical portion 8c has a rectangular cylindrical shape when viewed from the X direction. The inner surface of the cylindrical portion 8c has a rectangular shape parallel to the Y and Z directions. The cylindrical portion 8c includes a pair of side plate portions 84 facing each other in the Y direction, an upper plate portion 85 and a lower plate portion 86 facing each other in the Z direction, a pair of hanging portions 87 hanging downward from the inner surface (lower surface) of the upper plate portion 85 at a distance in the Y direction, and a pair of raised portions 88 raised upward from the inner surface (upper surface) of the lower plate portion 86 at a distance in the Y direction. The pair of side plate portions 84 are continuous with the pair of legs 80 in the X direction and support the pair of legs 80.

[0054] One end of the cylindrical portion 8c in the X direction is a closed end closed by a closing plate portion 8d, and the other end of the cylindrical portion 8c in the X direction is an open end that opens to the outside. In the internal space of the cylindrical portion 8c, the part on the closed end side in the X direction is referred to as a depth portion 8e, and the part on the open end side is referred to as an inlet portion 8f.

[0055] A portion 851 of the upper plate portion 85 corresponding to the rear portion 8e is a plate perpendicular to the Z direction. A portion 852 of the upper plate portion 85 corresponding to the entrance portion 8f is located above the portion 851 corresponding to the rear portion 8e. More specifically, the portion 852 corresponding to the entrance portion 8f includes an inclined plate 853 and an end plate 854. The inclined plate 853 is inclined upward in the X direction from the portion 852 corresponding to the rear portion 8e toward the opening edge. The end plate 854 extends from the inclined plate 853 toward the opening edge and is perpendicular to the Z direction. The lower plate portion 86 is a plate perpendicular to the Z direction. Therefore, the Z-direction dimension H1 of the entrance portion 8f is wider than the Z-direction dimension H2 of the rear portion 8e.

[0056] When viewed from the Z direction, the portion 852 corresponding to the entrance portion 8f is wider outward in the Y direction than the portion 851 corresponding to the rear portion 8e. When viewed from the Z direction, the portion 851 corresponding to the rear portion 8e extends parallel to the X direction. When viewed from the Z direction, the inclined plate 853 is inclined relative to the X direction, extending outward on both sides in the Y direction so as to widen its Y-direction dimension toward the opening end. When viewed from the Z direction, the end plate 854 extends parallel to the X direction. When viewed from the Z direction, the lower plate portion 86 has the same shape as the upper plate portion 85. Therefore, the Y-direction dimension W1 of the entrance portion 8f is wider than the Y-direction dimension W2 of the rear portion 8e.

[0057] 8 and 9, the plug 7 has a slider connecting portion 7a that connects to the slider main body 52 and an insertion portion 7b that is inserted into the accommodation portion 8b of the socket 8. The slider connecting portion 7a of the plug 7 is located on one side (rear side) in the X direction, and the insertion portion 7b is located on the other side (front side) in the X direction.

[0058] The insertion portion 7b includes a pair of arms 70 extending in the X direction and facing each other in the Y direction, a protrusion 71 protruding in both directions in the Z direction from the X-direction tip of the pair of arms 70, and a protrusion 72 protruding in both directions in the Z direction from the base of the pair of arms 70.

[0059] The pair of arms 70 are elastically deformable in the X direction. A through hole 70h is formed in the arm 70, penetrating in the Z direction. The arm 70 includes an inner arm piece 701 and an outer arm piece 702 that extend in the X direction and face each other in the Y direction, and an arm tip piece 703 that joins the X-direction tips of the inner arm piece 701 and the outer arm piece 702. The pair of inner arm pieces 701 are positioned inside the pair of outer arm pieces 702 in the Y direction. The inner arm piece 701 and the outer arm piece 702 are supported by the slider connecting portion 7a. The outer arm piece 702 is parallel to the X direction. When viewed from the Z direction, the inner arm piece 701 is bent in a V-shape so as to narrow the distance between it and the outer arm piece 702 in the Y direction. In other words, the distance between the inner arm piece 701 and the outer arm piece 702 in the Y direction is narrowest at the bending point of the V. The pair of arms 70 are easily elastically deformed to approach each other in the Y direction due to the V-shaped bent shape of the inner arm pieces 701 .

[0060] 7 and 11 , in order to accommodate the convex portion 71 in the rear portion 8e, gaps 8s are formed between the hanging portion 87 and the closure plate portion 8d in the X direction, and between the raised portion 88 and the closure plate portion 8d in the X direction. These gaps 8s are recesses 8s in which the convex portion 71 is accommodated. That is, recesses 8s are formed in the rear portion 8e on the side of the closure plate portion 8d relative to the hanging portion 87 and on the side of the closure plate portion 8d relative to the raised portion 88. The lower recesses 8s are through holes that penetrate the lower plate portion 86 in the Z direction. The convex portion 71 and the recesses 8s cooperate to form a stopper that maintains the connection between the plug 7 and the socket 8 so that the plug 7 does not come out of the socket 8.

[0061] Between the pair of hanging portions 87 facing each other in the Y direction and between the pair of raised portions 88, a space 71s through which the convex portion 71 passes is formed when the pair of arm portions 70 elastically deform so as to approach each other in the Y direction. Between the hanging portions 87 and the raised portions 88 facing each other in the Z direction, a space 70s through which the arm portion 70 passes is formed.

[0062] 6 and 10, windows 84a are formed in the pair of side plate portions 84. The windows 84a are formed closer to the center than both ends in the X direction of the side plate portions 84. The windows 84a penetrate the side plate portions 84 in the Y direction.

[0063] 10 , outer surfaces 70a in the Y direction of the pair of arms 70 (outer arm pieces 702) protrude from the window portion 84a to the outside of the housing portion 8b. Because the pair of arms 70 can be elastically deformed so as to approach each other in the Y direction, they can be operated to narrow the pair of arms 70 in the Y direction. That is, in this embodiment, the outer surfaces 70a in the Y direction of the pair of arms 70 are operating portions 70a that allow the plug 7 to be removed from the socket 8.

[0064] 8 and 9 , the slider connecting portion 7a includes a pair of holding portions 73, 74 that separately hold the upper blade 55 side and the lower blade 56 side of the slider body 52 relative to the connecting post 57. The holding portion 73 that holds the upper blade 55 side will be referred to hereinafter as the first holding portion 73. The holding portion 74 that holds the lower blade 56 side will be referred to hereinafter as the second holding portion 74. In addition to the first holding portion 73 and the second holding portion 74, the slider connecting portion 7a also includes a post cover portion 75 that connects the first holding portion 73 and the second holding portion 74 and covers the connecting post 57 from the front in the X direction. The first holding portion 73 and the second holding portion 74 are located on both sides of the post cover portion 75 in the Z direction.

[0065] A through hole 73h penetrating in the Z direction is formed in the first holding portion 73. When viewed from the Z direction, the through hole 73h is slightly larger than the shape of the slider body 52 and becomes smaller while gradually approaching the shape of the slider body 52 as it moves toward the second holding portion 74 (downward). The first holding portion 73 includes a joining plate portion 77 that joins the pair of arms 70, and a frame portion 78 that cooperates with the joining plate portion 77 to surround the side of the slider body 52 that faces the upper blade 55 relative to the connecting post 57.

[0066] The frame portion 78 includes an upper frame portion 781 and a lower frame portion 782 that are continuous vertically. When viewed from the Z direction, the upper frame portion 781 and the joining plate portion 77 cooperate to form an arc shape that opens rearward. When viewed from the Z direction, the lower frame portion 782 and the joining plate portion 77 cooperate to form an annular shape.

[0067] The upper surface of the second holding portion 74 is recessed with a fitting hole 74h that fits into the portion (front portion) of the lower blade 56 that faces the connecting post 57. The front portion of the lower blade 56 is shaped so that it protrudes in both directions in the Y direction relative to the rear portion of the lower blade 56 (see FIG. 1). The fitting hole 74h opens toward the opposite side (rearward) from the post cover portion 75 in the X direction. The front portion of the lower blade 56 fits into the fitting hole 74h, and the rear portion of the lower blade 56 protrudes through the fitting hole 74h. When the lower blade 56 is fitted into the fitting hole 74h, the pull tab attachment portion 54 of the slider body 52 is accommodated in the through hole 73h of the first holding portion 73 (see FIG. 2). There is a slight gap between the rear end of the pull tab attachment portion 54 and the through hole 73h. Therefore, even if the slider body 52 attempts to move rearward relative to the slider connecting portion 7a, it will collide with the through hole 73h, and the slider body 52 will not come off the slider connecting portion 7a.

[0068] An opening 79 into which the slider body 52 can be inserted is formed between the first holding portion 73 and the second holding portion 74 on the side opposite to the column cover portion 75. The opening 79 is always open in the Z direction. The dimension of the opening 79 in the Z direction is shorter than the dimension of the slider body 52 in the Z direction.

[0069] When the slider body 52 is housed in the housing portion 8b, the pillar cover portion 75 protrudes in both directions in the Y direction relative to the connecting pillar 57 (see FIG. 5). The pillar cover portion 75 is a plate whose thickness direction is in the X direction. The pillar cover portion 75 has a through hole 75h that penetrates in the X direction. The through hole 75h extends in the Z direction from the first holding portion 73 to the second holding portion 74. The pillar cover portion 75 can elastically deform to a state that widens the opening 79 when the slider body 52 is inserted into the opening 79, and returns the opening 79 to its original state after insertion. The through hole 75h makes the pillar cover portion 75 prone to elastic deformation.

[0070] To couple the plug 7 and socket 8 with the coupler 6 of the first embodiment, the insertion portion 7b of the plug 7 is inserted into the accommodation portion 8b of the socket 8. Then, the protrusions 71 facing in the Y direction are guided by the hanging portions 87 and the raised portions 88, the pair of arms 70 elastically deform, the tips of the pair of arms 70 move closer to each other in the Y direction, and the protrusions 71 are accommodated in the recesses 8s at the innermost portion 8e of the accommodation portion 8b, thereby coupling the plug 7 and the socket 8. To separate the coupler 6 into the plug 7 and the socket 8, the plug 7 and the socket 8 are pulled apart in the X direction while the Y-direction outer surfaces 70a of the pair of arms 70, i.e., the pair of operating portions 70a, are pressed closer to each other in the Y direction. Then, the protrusions 71 are released from the recesses 8s, and the protrusions 71 facing each other in the Y direction pass between the pair of hanging portions 87 and the pair of raised portions 88 and come out of the accommodation portion 8b, separating the plug 7 and the socket 8.

[0071] The connector 6 of the first embodiment is composed of two parts, a detachable plug 7 and a detachable socket 8, so that the plug 7 and the socket 8 can be connected separately to the slider body 52 and the outer part 31, and the plug 7 and the socket 8 can be detached while connected to the slider body 52 and the outer part 31. As a result, the work of connecting the connector 6 to the slider body 52 and the slide member 3 and the preparatory work for preparing the rail unit 1, etc., are facilitated.

[0072] The connector 6 of the first embodiment is configured so that the plug 7 can be removed from the socket 8 by operating the operating part 70a by bringing the pair of arms 70 closer together in the Y direction, so that the pair of stringers 51 do not get in the way of the operation, making it easy to attach and detach the plug 7 and socket 8.

[0073] When connecting the socket 8 to the outer part 31, the coupler 6 of the first embodiment has an inclined surface at the front 81a of the shaft 81, which makes it easy to insert the socket 8 between the pair of side walls 311. When the coupler 6 of the first embodiment connects the socket 8 to the outer part 31, the socket 8 becomes swingable around the Y direction (axis L) relative to the outer part 31, facilitating the attachment and detachment of the plug 7 and socket 8. Furthermore, the protrusion 82 restricts the swinging of the socket 8, which stabilizes the position of the socket 8 relative to the outer part 31. Furthermore, the socket 8 can be easily removed from the outer part 31 by pushing the pair of shafts 81 inward in the Y direction.

[0074] When the connector 6 of the first embodiment is connected to the outer part 31, the pair of legs 80 are inserted between the pair of side walls 311, and the shaft part 81 is supported by the bearing hole 312 of the side wall 311, so that the pair of legs 80 are accommodated between the pair of side walls 311, thereby reducing the installation space of the connector 6.

[0075] In the coupler 6 of the first embodiment, the entrance 8f of the accommodation portion 8b is wider in the second direction than the innermost portion 8e, making it easier to insert the tip of the insertion portion 7b into the entrance 8f. Moreover, because the portion 852 of the upper plate portion 85 corresponding to the entrance 8f is located higher than the portion 851 corresponding to the innermost portion 8e, the insertion portion 7b can be inserted into the entrance 8f with the tip of the insertion portion 7b facing the portion 852 corresponding to the entrance 8f.

[0076] In the first embodiment of the connector 6, the base of the insertion portion 7b is longer in the Z direction than the arm portion 70 by the length of the protrusion 72, so even though the entrance portion 8f is wider in the Z direction than the innermost portion 8e, the insertion portion 7b is stable inside the accommodating portion 8b, and as a result, the connection state between the plug 7 and the socket 8 is stable.

[0077] As shown in Fig. 5 , in the movement guide device of the first embodiment, the stringer 51 is held so as not to be displaced outward in the Y direction, and the element row 512 is housed inside the slider main body 52, so that the pair of tapes 511 bend upward between the element row 512 and the side cover 4. The connector 6 of the first embodiment is configured such that the column cover portion 75 covering the connecting column 57 of the slider main body 52 protrudes in both directions in the Y direction beyond the connecting column 57. This causes the opposing edges of the pair of stringers 51 to come into contact with the column cover portion 75, making it easier for the opposing edges of the pair of stringers 51 to be displaced toward the object, i.e., upward. As shown in Fig. 3 , the opposing edges of the pair of tapes 511 bend and curve upward relative to the side cover 4, so that foreign matter, such as sand, resting on the edges moves from the edges, preventing the sand from interfering with the opening and closing of the stringer 51. The dotted lines in Figure 2 indicate the positions of the opposing edges of the tape 511, and these edges are located higher than the side cover 4 on the inside in the X direction relative to the pair of connectors 6 (the pair of column cover parts 75).

[0078] The connector 6 of the first embodiment has an opening 79 formed between the first holding portion 73 and the second holding portion 74, and the pillar cover portion 75 is a plate that can elastically deform to expand the opening 79. Therefore, when the slider body 52 is inserted through the opening 79, the pillar cover portion 75 elastically deforms to expand the opening 79 and then returns to its original state, facilitating the operation of connecting the slider body 52 to the plug 7.

[0079] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the outer connecting portion 8a of the connector 6 is part of the socket 8, and the slider connecting portion 7a is part of the plug 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The outer connecting portion 8a may be part of the plug 7, and the slider connecting portion 7a may be part of the socket 8. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the operating portion 70a is part of the plug 7, i.e., the pair of arms 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The operating portion 70a may be part of the socket 8. When the operating portion 70a is part of the socket 8, for example, the pair of operating portions 70a may be disposed on both outer sides of the pair of arms 70 in the Y direction in the present embodiment, and the bases of the pair of operating portions 70a may be joined to the accommodation portion 8b or the bases of the pair of legs 80. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the holding portion includes a first holding portion 73 and a second holding portion 74. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The holding portion may include only the first holding portion 73 or the second holding portion 74. When the holding portion is configured to include only the first holding portion 73, the first holding portion 73 is configured to hold the slider body 52 at a portion above the connecting post 57, and the post cover portion 75 is configured to extend downward from the first holding portion 73. When the holding portion is configured to include only the second holding portion 74, the second holding portion 74 is configured to hold the lower blade 56, and the post cover portion 75 is configured to extend upward from the second holding portion 74. In this embodiment, the Y direction and the Z direction are orthogonal when viewed from the X direction, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be intersecting.

[0080] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rail unit 2 Rail member (base) 21 Lower piece portion 22 Side piece portion 23 Upper piece portion 24 Inner piece portion 26 Guide groove 27 Opening 3 Slide member (moving body) 30A Slide member main body 30B Roller 31 Outer portion 31W Dimension in Y direction 31S Space portion 311 Side wall 312 Bearing hole (bearing portion) 32 Inner portion 33 Middle portion 33W Dimension in Y direction 4 Side cover 41 Cover main body piece portion 411 Edge portion 42 Lower piece portion 421 Edge portion 43 Slit 44 Opening 5 Slide fastener 51 Stringer 511 Tape 512 Element row 52 Slider main body 52h Through hole 53 Slider body portion 531 Passage 532 Element main path 533 Branch passage 54 Handle attachment portion 55 Upper wing plate 56 Lower wing plate 57 Connecting pillar 58 Flange 6 Connecting tool 7 Plug 7a Slider connecting portion 7b Insertion portion 70 Arm portion 70a Operation portion 70h Through hole 70s Space portion 701 Inner arm piece 702 Outer arm piece 703 Arm tip piece 71 Convex portion 71s Space portion 72 Protruding portion 73 First holding portion 73h Through hole 74 Second holding portion 74h Fitting hole 75 Pillar cover portion 75h Through hole 77 Joining plate portion 78 Frame portion 781 Upper frame portion 782 Lower frame portion 79 Opening portion 8 Socket 8a Outer connecting portion 8b Storage portion 8c Cylinder portion 8d Closure plate portion 8e Back portion 8f Inlet portion 8h Through hole 8s Recess (gap) 80 Leg portion 80a Tip portion 80b Base portion 81 Shaft portion 81a Front portion 82 Projection portion 84 Side plate portion 84a Window portion 85 Upper plate portion 851 Portion corresponding to the back portion 852 Portion corresponding to the inlet portion 853 Inclined plate 854 End plate 86 Lower plate portion 87 Hanging portion 88 Raised portion 9 Fixing member 91 Fixing piece portion 911 Edge portion L Axis line H1, H2 Dimension in Z direction W1, W2 Dimension in Y direction

Claims

1. A rail unit (1) comprising a base (2) having a first direction (X) as a guiding direction, in which an object is arranged in a state of being relatively separated in a second direction (Z) when viewed from the first direction (X), and a moving body (3) that is guided to reciprocate in the first direction (X) with respect to the base (2) and is for attaching the object, and a third direction (Y) is defined as a direction intersecting the second direction (Z) when viewed from the first direction (X), and a pair of stringers (51) facing each other on both sides in the third direction (Y) with respect to the moving body (3) between the object and the base (2), and a slider body (52) for opening and closing the pair of stringers (51) in the first direction (X), in a connecting member (6) for connecting the slide fastener (5), a slider connecting member (7) connected to the slider body (52) and a moving body connecting member (8) connected to the moving body (3) are provided as separate parts, and one of the slider connecting member (7) and the moving body connecting member (8) is a socket (8), and the other is a plug (7) that is detachable by being inserted into and removed from the socket (8), and the connecting member (6) of the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) is characterized in that.

2. The connecting member (6) of the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the slider connecting member (7) and the moving body connecting member (8) is provided with an operating portion (70a) that enables the plug (7) to be withdrawn from the socket (8) by an operation in the third direction (Y).

3. The connecting member (6) of the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 2, characterized in that the moving body connecting member (8) is connected to the moving body (3) so as to be swingable about the third direction (Y).

4. The moving body (3) includes a pair of side walls (311) facing the third direction (Y) at an end in the first direction (X). The side walls (311) are provided with bearing portions (312) on both inner surfaces facing the third direction (Y). The connecting member (8) for the moving body is inserted between the pair of side walls (311), and includes a pair of leg portions (80) facing the third direction (Y), and a pair of shaft portions (81) protruding from the pair of leg portions (80) in the third direction (Y) and rotatably supported by the pair of bearing portions (312). The connector (6) between the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 3, characterized in that it has the above structure.

5. The plug (7) includes an insertion portion (7b) to be inserted into the socket (8). The socket (8) includes a housing portion (8b) for removably housing the insertion portion (7b) in the first direction (X). The housing portion (8b) includes a rear portion (8e) for housing the tip of the insertion portion (7b), and an entrance portion (8f) for housing the base of the insertion portion (7b). The dimension (H1) of the entrance portion (8f) in the second direction (Z) is wider than the dimension (H2) of the rear portion (8e) in the second direction (Z). The connector (6) between the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 4, characterized in that it has the above structure.

6. The insertion portion (7b) includes a pair of arm portions (70) facing each other in the third direction (Y) and elastically deformable in the third direction (Y), and a protruding portion (72) protruding from the base of each arm portion (70) at least in one of the second directions (Z). The connector (6) between the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 5, characterized in that it has the above structure.

7. The slider body (52) includes a first wing plate (55) and a second wing plate (56) facing each other in the second direction (Z), a connecting column (57) connecting the first wing plate (55) and the second wing plate (56), an element main path (532) extending rearward in the first direction (X), which is one side of the connecting column (57), and a pair of branch paths (533) branching from the element main path (532) on both sides in the third direction (Y) with respect to the connecting column (57). The slider connecting member (7) includes a holding portion (73, 74) for holding at least one of the side of the first wing plate (55) and the side of the second wing plate (56) with respect to the connecting column (57), and a column cover portion (75) that covers the connecting column (57) from the front direction, which is the other side in the first direction (X), and extends in the second direction (Z) from the holding portion (73, 74). The connector (6) between the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that it has the above structure.

8. The connector (6) between the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 7, characterized in that the column cover portion (75) projects at least on one side in the third direction (Y) more than the connecting column (57).

9. The holding portions (73, 74) are a first holding portion (73) and a second holding portion (74) arranged on both sides in the second direction (Z) with respect to the column cover portion (75), including the first holding portion (73) for holding the side of the first wing plate (55) and the second holding portion (74) for holding the side of the second wing plate (56). A mouth portion (79) into which the slider body (52) can be inserted is formed between the first holding portion (73) and the second holding portion (74). The column cover portion (75) is a plate that can be elastically deformed to widen the mouth portion (79). The connector (6) between the rail unit (1) and the slide fastener (5) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it has the above structure.

Images