Slide lock device and method for assembling slide device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a slide lock device capable of restricting movement of a slider relative to a rail in the longitudinal direction of the rail when a lock member is in a lock position, and a method for assembling a slide device including the slide lock device. [Solution] A slide lock device 30 of a slide device 1 comprising a rail 11 extending in a front-rear direction and including a plurality of locking holes 15 arranged in the front-rear direction, and a slider 12 slidably supported on the rail, the slide lock device 30 comprising a casing 31 coupled to the slider and lock members 32 each supported rotatably between a release position and a lock position in the casing, each of the lock members having at least one projection 32B that engages with the locking hole when in the lock position and separates from the locking hole when in the release position, and the projection having a wedge portion 32E with a front-rear width that increases along a rotation direction from the lock position to the release position.

Description

Slide lock device and method for assembling slide device

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide lock device and a method for assembling a slide device.

[0002] A slide device that supports a vehicle seat so that it can slide along the floor is known. Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2005-102666) discloses a slide lock device that includes a rail, a slider slidably supported on the rail, and a lock device that fixes the position of the slider relative to the rail. The slide lock device includes a casing coupled to the slider, a pair of locking members supported on the casing so as to be displaceable between an unlocked position and a locked position, a biasing member that biases the locking members to the locked position, and an operating member displaceably supported on the casing and abutting against the locking members. The operating member is driven by a lever operated by a user to move the locking members from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0003] The rail of Patent Document 1 is provided with a plurality of slots arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, and when the locking portion is in the locked position, it projects into the slots, thereby fixing the position of the slider relative to the rail.

[0004] International Publication No. 2021 / 125343

[0005] Due to variations in the size of the locking member and slot during manufacturing, a gap may occur between the wall surface of the slot and the locking member even when the locking member is in the locked position, causing the slider to wobble. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a slide locking device that can more reliably restrict longitudinal movement of the slider when the locking member is in the locked position, regardless of variations during manufacturing.

[0006] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a slide locking device that can restrict longitudinal movement of a slider relative to a rail when a locking member is in a locked position, and a method for assembling a slide device that includes the slide locking device.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is a slide lock device (30) for a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in the front-to-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) lined up in the front-to-rear direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, the slide lock device having a casing (31) connected to the slider, and locking members (32) each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the locking members each having at least one protrusion (32B) that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and the protrusion is provided with a wedge portion (32E) whose front-to-rear width increases along the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0008] According to this aspect, when the locking member is in the locked position, the locking member abuts against the wall surface that defines the longitudinal edge of the locking hole. This prevents the slider from rattling relative to the rail when the locking member is in the locked position. This makes it possible to provide a slide locking device that can reliably restrict movement of the slider in the longitudinal direction of the rail when the locking member is in the locked position.

[0009] In the above aspect, preferably, the wall surfaces defining the front and rear edges of the locking hole are parallel to each other.

[0010] According to this aspect, when the locking member is in the locked position, the locking member can be more reliably brought into contact with the wall surface that defines the edge portion in the longitudinal direction of the locking hole.

[0011] In the above aspect, preferably, the device further comprises a biasing member (33) that biases the locking member to the locked position, and an operating member (34) that is displaceably supported on the casing, engages with the locking member, and displaces the locking member to the released position.

[0012] According to this aspect, the locking member can be smoothly displaced between the locked position and the released position by the operating member.

[0013] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a method for assembling a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in a front-to-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) lined up in the front-to-rear direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, wherein the slide device includes a slide lock device (30) having a casing (31) coupled to the slider and locking members (32) each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and each of the locking members has at least one protrusion (32B) that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and the protrusion is provided with a wedge portion (32E) whose front-to-rear width increases along the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the assembly method includes the steps of attaching the locking member to the casing and assembling the slide lock device, attaching the casing to the slider, and attaching the slider to the rail.

[0014] According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a method for assembling a slide locking device that can restrict longitudinal movement of the rail relative to the rail when the locking member is in the locked position.

[0015] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a slide lock device (30) for a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in the front-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, the slide lock device having a casing (31) coupled to the slider, and a first locking member (32F) and a second locking member (32G) each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the first locking member and the second locking member each having at least one protrusion (32B, 54, 58) that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and when the first locking member and the second locking member are each in the locked position, the protrusion of the first locking member abuts against a front wall surface that defines a front edge of the locking hole, and the protrusion of the second locking member abuts against a rear wall surface that defines a rear edge of the locking hole.

[0016] According to this aspect, when the first locking member and the second locking member are in their respective locked positions, the first locking member abuts against the front wall surface of the locking hole, and the second locking member abuts against the rear wall surface of the locking hole, thereby providing a slide locking device that can restrict movement of the slider relative to the rail in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) of the rail.

[0017] In the above aspect, preferably, the locking mechanism includes a first cam mechanism (50A) provided on a front surface of the convex portion of the first locking member and on the front wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, and guiding the first locking member rearward, a second cam mechanism (50B) provided on a rear surface of the convex portion of the second locking member and on the rear wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, and guiding the second locking member forward, and a connecting mechanism (52) connecting the first locking member and the second locking member in the front-to-rear direction.

[0018] According to this aspect, the first cam mechanism, the second cam mechanism, and the connecting mechanism can guide the first locking member so that it abuts against the front wall surface of the locking hole, and can guide the second locking member so that it abuts against the rear wall surface of the locking hole.

[0019] In the above aspect, preferably, the first cam mechanism includes a first inclined surface (54A) provided on the front surface of the convex portion of the first locking member and inclined forward along the rotation direction from the locked position to the released position, and the second cam mechanism includes a second inclined surface (58A) provided on the rear surface of the convex portion of the second locking member and inclined backward along the rotation direction from the locked position to the released position.

[0020] According to this aspect, the first cam mechanism and the second cam mechanism can be configured with a simple structure.

[0021] In the above aspect, preferably, the wall surfaces defining the front and rear edges of the locking hole are parallel to each other.

[0022] According to this aspect, the first locking member can be more reliably brought into contact with the front wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, and the second locking member can be more reliably brought into contact with the rear wall surface of the corresponding locking hole.

[0023] In the above aspect, preferably, the locking mechanism includes an operating member (34) for displacing each of the first locking member and the second locking member to the release position.

[0024] According to this aspect, the first locking member and the second locking member can be displaced between the locked position and the unlocked position by the operating member.

[0025] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a method for assembling a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in the front-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, wherein the slide device includes a slide lock device (30) having a casing (31) coupled to the slider, and a first locking member (32F) and a second locking member (32G) respectively supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and the first locking member and the second locking member each engage with the locking hole when in the locked position. and has at least one protrusion (32B, 54, 58) that disengages from the locking hole when in the released position, and when the first locking member and the second locking member are respectively in the locked position, the protrusion of the first locking member abuts on a front wall surface that defines a front edge of the locking hole, and the protrusion of the second locking member abuts on a rear wall surface that defines a rear edge of the locking hole, and the assembly method includes the steps of attaching the first locking member and the second locking member to the casing to assemble the slide locking device, attaching the casing to the slider, and attaching the slider to the rail.

[0026] According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a method for assembling a slide locking device that can restrict longitudinal movement of the rail relative to the rail when the locking member is in the locked position.

[0027] A conventional slide rail includes a rail disposed on the floor of a vehicle and a slider slidably supported on the rail and connected to the seat body. The slider has a pair of left and right side walls and an upper wall connecting the upper ends of the side walls, and is generally U-shaped in cross section.

[0028] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-119613 discloses a resin protector provided at the end of a slider. The protector is disposed so as to cover the end faces of the side walls and the end faces of the top wall (also called open faces) and seal the end of the slider.

[0029] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-67137 discloses a cap arranged to seal the end of a slider. The left and right side walls of the slider are provided with locking holes near the rear ends thereof, and the cap is provided with locking pawls that engage with the locking holes.

[0030] The cap is further provided with a deformation prevention portion for preventing deformation of the rail. The deformation prevention portion extends toward the center of the slider in the longitudinal direction and is located in the space formed between the left and right side walls and below the top wall.

[0031] During a vehicle collision, a load may be applied to the seat body, lifting it off the floor. At this time, the slider deforms so that the left and right side walls approach each other. The deformation prevention part is located between the left and right side walls and serves to prevent the left and right side walls of the slider from deforming so as to approach each other.

[0032] The caps (reinforcing members) in JP 2015-67137 A are engaged with the left and right side walls of the slider, so if the left and right side walls move due to deformation of the slider, the locking claws of the caps may separate from the locking holes in the left and right side walls, causing the caps to come off the slider.

[0033] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a slide rail that prevents the reinforcing members from coming off the slider when the left and right side walls of the slider move, and a method for manufacturing the slide rail that can prevent the reinforcing members from coming off the slider when the left and right side walls of the slider move.

[0034] One aspect for solving the above problem is a slide rail (101) having a rail (111) provided on a floor (103), a slider (112) that slidably engages with the rail and supports the seat body, and a reinforcing member (180) that prevents deformation of the slider, wherein the slider has a pair of left and right side walls (126) and an upper wall (125) that connects the upper ends of the side walls, and the reinforcing member is positioned between the pair of left and right side walls and below the upper wall, and is directly connected to the upper wall at its upper end.

[0035] According to this aspect, since the reinforcing member is connected to the upper wall, it is possible to prevent the reinforcing member from coming off the slider when the left and right side walls of the slider move, compared to when the reinforcing member is engaged with the left and right side walls.

[0036] In the above aspect, preferably, the reinforcing member comprises a pair of left and right vertical walls (182) arranged inside the side wall, and a horizontal wall (184) extending in the left-right direction and connecting the vertical walls, and the vertical width of the horizontal walls is smaller than the vertical width of the vertical walls.

[0037] According to this aspect, the reinforcing member can be made lightweight.

[0038] In the above aspect, preferably, the horizontal wall is located lower than the upper ends of the vertical walls.

[0039] When the seat body moves away from the floor, the lower portions of the side walls move closer to each other. According to this aspect, when the left and right side walls move closer to each other, the horizontal walls can more effectively resist the movement of the side walls than when the horizontal walls are arranged to connect the upper ends of the vertical walls.

[0040] In the above aspect, preferably, the horizontal wall connects the lower ends of the vertical walls.

[0041] According to this aspect, when the left and right side walls move toward each other, the horizontal walls can better resist movement of the side walls than when the horizontal walls are arranged to connect the upper ends of the vertical walls.

[0042] In the above aspect, preferably, each of the vertical walls is joined at its upper end to the lower surface of the upper wall.

[0043] According to this aspect, the vertical wall can be joined to the upper wall with a simple configuration.

[0044] In the above aspect, preferably, the reinforcing member comprises a pair of left and right vertical walls (182) each positioned inside the side wall, and a horizontal wall (184) extending in the left-right direction and connecting the vertical walls, and each of the vertical walls is fastened at its upper end to the upper wall by a fastening member (190).

[0045] According to this aspect, the vertical wall can be joined to the upper wall with a simple configuration.

[0046] In the above aspect, preferably, the slider includes a first piece (112A) that constitutes the lower half of the upper wall and one of the side walls, and a second piece (112B) that constitutes the upper half of the upper wall and the other side wall, and the first piece and the second piece are overlapped and fastened together to the reinforcing member by the fastening member.

[0047] According to this aspect, the first piece and the second piece can be more firmly joined together.

[0048] In the above aspect, the seat main body is preferably connected to the slider between the two fastening members when viewed in the front-rear direction.

[0049] According to this aspect, the seat body can be connected to the slider in a stable position.

[0050] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing the slide rail, which includes the steps of joining the reinforcing member to the upper wall of the slider and engaging the slider with the rail.

[0051] According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a simple method for manufacturing a slide rail that can prevent the reinforcing member from coming off the slider when the left and right side walls of the slider move.

[0052] One aspect of the present invention is a slide lock device (30) for a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in the fore-and-aft direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) aligned in the fore-and-aft direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, the slide lock device having a casing (31) coupled to the slider, and locking members (32) each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the locking members each having at least one protrusion (32B) that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and the protrusion is provided with a wedge portion (32E) whose fore-and-aft width increases along the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0053] According to this aspect, when the locking member is in the locked position, the locking member abuts against the wall surface that defines the longitudinal edge of the locking hole. This prevents the slider from rattling relative to the rail when the locking member is in the locked position. This makes it possible to provide a slide locking device that can reliably restrict movement of the slider in the longitudinal direction of the rail when the locking member is in the locked position.

[0054] In the above aspect, preferably, the wall surfaces defining the front and rear edges of the locking hole are parallel to each other.

[0055] According to this aspect, when the locking member is in the locked position, the locking member can be more reliably brought into contact with the wall surface that defines the edge portion in the longitudinal direction of the locking hole.

[0056] In the above aspect, preferably, the device further comprises a biasing member (33) that biases the locking member to the locked position, and an operating member (34) that is displaceably supported on the casing, engages with the locking member, and displaces the locking member to the released position.

[0057] According to this aspect, the locking member can be smoothly displaced between the locked position and the released position by the operating member.

[0058] One aspect of the present invention is a method for assembling a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in the front-to-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) lined up in the front-to-rear direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, wherein the slide device includes a slide lock device (30) having a casing (31) coupled to the slider and locking members (32) each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and each of the locking members has at least one protrusion (32B) that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and the protrusion is provided with a wedge portion (32E) whose front-to-rear width increases along the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the assembly method includes the steps of attaching the locking member to the casing and assembling the slide lock device, attaching the casing to the slider, and attaching the slider to the rail.

[0059] According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a method for assembling a slide locking device that can restrict longitudinal movement of the rail relative to the rail when the locking member is in the locked position.

[0060] One aspect of the present invention is a slide lock device (30) for a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in the front-to-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, the slide lock device (30) having a casing (31) coupled to the slider, and a first locking member (32F) and a second locking member (32G) each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the first locking member and the second locking member each having at least one protrusion (32B, 54, 58) that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and when the first locking member and the second locking member are each in the locked position, the protrusion of the first locking member abuts against a front wall surface that defines the front edge of the locking hole, and the protrusion of the second locking member abuts against a rear wall surface that defines the rear edge of the locking hole.

[0061] According to this aspect, when the first locking member and the second locking member are in their respective locked positions, the first locking member abuts against the front wall surface of the locking hole, and the second locking member abuts against the rear wall surface of the locking hole, thereby providing a slide locking device that can restrict movement of the slider relative to the rail in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) of the rail.

[0062] In the above aspect, preferably, the locking mechanism includes a first cam mechanism (50A) provided on a front surface of the convex portion of the first locking member and on the front wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, and guiding the first locking member rearward, a second cam mechanism (50B) provided on a rear surface of the convex portion of the second locking member and on the rear wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, and guiding the second locking member forward, and a connecting mechanism (52) connecting the first locking member and the second locking member in the front-to-rear direction.

[0063] According to this aspect, the first cam mechanism, the second cam mechanism, and the connecting mechanism can guide the first locking member so that it abuts against the front wall surface of the locking hole, and can guide the second locking member so that it abuts against the rear wall surface of the locking hole.

[0064] In the above aspect, preferably, the first cam mechanism includes a first inclined surface (54A) provided on the front surface of the convex portion of the first locking member and inclined forward along the rotation direction from the locked position to the released position, and the second cam mechanism includes a second inclined surface (58A) provided on the rear surface of the convex portion of the second locking member and inclined backward along the rotation direction from the locked position to the released position.

[0065] According to this aspect, the first cam mechanism and the second cam mechanism can be configured with a simple structure.

[0066] In the above aspect, preferably, the wall surfaces defining the front and rear edges of the locking hole are parallel to each other.

[0067] According to this aspect, the first locking member can be more reliably brought into contact with the front wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, and the second locking member can be more reliably brought into contact with the rear wall surface of the corresponding locking hole.

[0068] In the above aspect, preferably, the locking mechanism includes an operating member (34) for displacing each of the first locking member and the second locking member to the release position.

[0069] According to this aspect, the first locking member and the second locking member can be displaced between the locked position and the unlocked position by the operating member.

[0070] One aspect of the present invention is a method for assembling a slide device (1) having a rail (11) extending in the front-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes (15) arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and a slider (12) slidably supported on the rail, wherein the slide device includes a slide lock device (30) having a casing (31) coupled to the slider, and a first locking member (32F) and a second locking member (32G) respectively supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and the first locking member and the second locking member each engage with the locking hole when in the locked position, and The slide locking device has at least one protrusion (32B, 54, 58) that disengages from the locking hole when in an unlocked position, and when the first locking member and the second locking member are each in the locked position, the protrusion of the first locking member abuts against a front wall surface that defines a front edge of the locking hole, and the protrusion of the second locking member abuts against a rear wall surface that defines a rear edge of the locking hole, and the assembly method includes the steps of attaching the first locking member and the second locking member to the casing to assemble the slide locking device, attaching the casing to the slider, and attaching the slider to the rail.

[0071] According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a method for assembling a slide locking device that can restrict longitudinal movement of the rail relative to the rail when the locking member is in the locked position.

[0072] One aspect is a slide rail (101) having a rail (111) provided on a floor (103), a slider (112) that slidably engages with the rail and supports the seat body, and a reinforcing member (180) that prevents deformation of the slider, wherein the slider has a pair of left and right side walls (126) and an upper wall (125) that connects the upper ends of the side walls, and the reinforcing member is positioned between the pair of left and right side walls and below the upper wall, and is directly connected to the upper wall at its upper end.

[0073] According to this aspect, since the reinforcing member is connected to the upper wall, it is possible to prevent the reinforcing member from coming off the slider when the left and right side walls of the slider move, compared to when the reinforcing member is engaged with the left and right side walls.

[0074] In the above aspect, preferably, the reinforcing member comprises a pair of left and right vertical walls (182) arranged inside the side wall, and a horizontal wall (184) extending in the left-right direction and connecting the vertical walls, and the vertical width of the horizontal walls is smaller than the vertical width of the vertical walls.

[0075] According to this aspect, the reinforcing member can be made lightweight.

[0076] In the above aspect, preferably, the horizontal wall is located lower than the upper ends of the vertical walls.

[0077] When the seat body moves away from the floor, the lower portions of the side walls move closer to each other. According to this aspect, when the left and right side walls move closer to each other, the horizontal walls can more effectively resist the movement of the side walls than when the horizontal walls are arranged to connect the upper ends of the vertical walls.

[0078] In the above aspect, preferably, the horizontal wall connects the lower ends of the vertical walls.

[0079] According to this aspect, when the left and right side walls move toward each other, the horizontal walls can better resist movement of the side walls than when the horizontal walls are arranged to connect the upper ends of the vertical walls.

[0080] In the above aspect, preferably, each of the vertical walls is joined at its upper end to the lower surface of the upper wall.

[0081] According to this aspect, the vertical wall can be joined to the upper wall with a simple configuration.

[0082] In the above aspect, preferably, the reinforcing member comprises a pair of left and right vertical walls (182) each positioned inside the side wall, and a horizontal wall (184) extending in the left-right direction and connecting the vertical walls, and each of the vertical walls is fastened at its upper end to the upper wall by a fastening member (190).

[0083] According to this aspect, the vertical wall can be joined to the upper wall with a simple configuration.

[0084] In the above aspect, preferably, the slider includes a first piece (112A) that constitutes the lower half of the upper wall and one of the side walls, and a second piece (112B) that constitutes the upper half of the upper wall and the other side wall, and the first piece and the second piece are overlapped and fastened together to the reinforcing member by the fastening member.

[0085] According to this aspect, the first piece and the second piece can be more firmly joined together.

[0086] In the above aspect, the seat main body is preferably connected to the slider between the two fastening members when viewed in the front-rear direction.

[0087] According to this aspect, the seat body can be connected to the slider in a stable position.

[0088] In one aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing the slide rail includes the steps of: joining the reinforcing member to the upper wall of the slider; and engaging the slider with the rail.

[0089] According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a simple method for manufacturing a slide rail that can prevent the reinforcing member from coming off the slider when the left and right side walls of the slider move.

[0090] FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a vehicle seat; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electric slide rail according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an electric slide rail according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a rail; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a slide locking device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a slide locking device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an inner surface (lower surface) of an upper casing member; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a slide locking device showing the upper casing member omitted; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a slide device according to the first embodiment in a locked state; 17A and 17B are perspective views of the electric slide rail; 17C are perspective views of the electric slide rail (XV-XV cross-sectional view of FIG. 17A); 17D are perspective views of the slider with a portion cut away; 17E are perspective views of the electric slide rail; 17F are perspective views of the screw assembly with the first bracket omitted; 17G are perspective views of the screw assembly with the first bracket and outer case omitted; 17H are perspective views of the reinforcing member;

[0091] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A slide device has a rail and a slider that is slidable relative to the rail. The rail is coupled to a first structure, and the slider is coupled to a second structure. The slide device moves the second structure relative to the first structure as the slider moves relative to the rail. The slide device is provided, for example, between a floor and a seat of a vehicle and moves the seat relative to the floor. Furthermore, an electric slide rail is provided between a base and a work holder and moves the work holder relative to the base.

[0092] 1 , a slide device 1 is provided between a floor 2 of a vehicle and a vehicle seat 3. The vehicle seat 3 has a seat cushion 5 that supports the buttocks of an occupant, and a seat back 6 that extends upward from the rear of the seat cushion 5 and supports the back of the occupant. The slide device 1 is provided between the floor 2 and the seat cushion 5 and supports the seat cushion 5 so that it can slide relative to the floor 2. A cover 7 is provided on one side of the seat cushion 5 to hide the gap between the seat cushion 5 and the floor 2.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 2 , the slide device 1 has left and right rails 11 extending in the front-rear direction, and left and right sliders 12 slidably supported on the rails 11. The extending direction of the rails 11 is defined as the front-rear direction. The extending direction of the rails 11 may or may not coincide with the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In other words, the extending direction of the rails 11 does not limit the mounting direction on the vehicle. In this embodiment, the extending direction of the rails 11 coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the slider 12 is provided above the rails 11. Therefore, the rails 11 may be referred to as lower rails, and the sliders 12 may be referred to as upper rails.

[0094] In the following description, the rail 11 is provided so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In addition, the description will be made by defining the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions based on the direction of the vehicle, but the descriptions of the directions are for convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not limited to these descriptions of directions.

[0095] 3 and 4, the rail 11 has a groove-shaped cross section. In detail, the rail 11 has a rail bottom wall 11A with faces facing up and down, left and right rail outer walls 11B extending upward from left and right edges of the rail bottom wall 11A with faces facing left and right, left and right rail upper walls 11C extending toward each other from the upper ends of the left and right rail outer walls 11B with faces facing up and down, and left and right rail inner walls 11D extending downward from the inner ends of the left and right rail upper walls 11C with faces facing left and right.

[0096] The rail bottom wall 11A, left and right rail outer walls 11B, left and right rail top walls 11C, and left and right rail inner walls 11D each extend in the front-to-rear direction. The left and right rail outer walls 11B and the left and right rail inner walls 11D extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to the rail bottom wall 11A. The lower ends of the left and right rail inner walls 11D are spaced apart from the rail bottom wall 11A. The rail 11 has a rail opening 11E at its upper portion extending in the front-to-rear direction. The rail opening 11E is defined by the left and right rail inner walls 11D. The rail 11 may be formed by press-forming a metal plate. The left and right edge portions of the rail bottom wall 11A may have upwardly raised steps 11F. The left and right steps 11F extend in the front-to-rear direction and have flat upper surfaces.

[0097] Each of the left and right rail inner walls 11D has a protrusion 11G that protrudes toward each other and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The cross section of the left and right protrusions 11G may be arc-shaped or trapezoidal. Each protrusion 11G may be located in the middle of the corresponding rail inner wall 11D in the up-down direction. The upper and lower ends of the left and right rail inner walls 11D are located outward from the protrusions 11G to the left and right.

[0098] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the rail 11 has a plurality of locking holes 15 arranged in the direction in which the rail 11 extends, i.e., in the front-to-rear direction. The locking holes 15 are formed in the protrusions 11G of the corresponding rail inner side walls 11D. The locking holes 15 extend parallel to one another. The locking holes 15 extend vertically. It is preferable that the locking holes 15 are inclined forward or backward.

[0099] In this embodiment, the wall surfaces defining the front and rear edges of each locking hole 15 are parallel to each other.

[0100] Left and right rail grooves 17 are formed in the floor 2 and are recessed downward. The rails 11 are preferably disposed in the corresponding rail grooves 17.

[0101] 3, the slider 12 is disposed at the opening edge of the rail opening 11E and has a plate-shaped slider upper wall 12A with its surfaces facing up and down, left and right slider inner walls 12B extending downward from the left and right side edges of the slider upper wall 12A toward the rail bottom wall 11A, left and right slider lower walls 12C extending outward to the left and right from the lower ends of the left and right slider inner walls 12B, respectively, and left and right slider outer walls 12D extending upward from the left and right outer ends of the left and right slider lower walls 12C. The slider upper wall 12A, the left and right slider inner walls 12B, the left and right slider lower walls 12C, and the left and right slider outer walls 12D extend in the front-to-rear direction.

[0102] The slider 12 may be formed by fastening together a plurality of press-formed or roll-formed metal plates. In another embodiment, the slider 12 may be formed from a single press-formed or roll-formed metal plate. The front-to-rear length of the slider 12 is set shorter than the front-to-rear length of the rail 11. The slider 12 is connected to the seat cushion 5 at the slider upper wall 12A.

[0103] The slider upper wall 12A may be positioned higher than the left and right rail upper walls 11C or lower than the left and right rail upper walls 11C. The left and right slider inner walls 12B face left and right and face each other at a distance. The left and right slider inner walls 12B are positioned between the left and right rail inner walls 11D. Each slider inner wall 12B faces the corresponding rail inner wall 11D on the left and right with a gap between them. Each slider lower wall 12C extends left and right, passing between the rail bottom wall 11A and the lower end of the corresponding rail inner wall 11D on the left and right. The outer wall of each slider 12 is positioned between the corresponding rail outer wall 11B and rail inner wall 11D on the left and right. A plurality of wheels 18 are rotatably supported on the outer surface of each slider outer wall 12D in the left-right direction. Each wheel 18 has a rotation axis that rotates in the left-right direction and is in contact with the rail bottom wall 11A. In this embodiment, each wheel 18 is in contact with the upper surface of the step 11F of the rail bottom wall 11A. The slider 12 is able to smoothly slide along the rail 11 by contacting the rail 11 via the wheels 18. With the above configuration, the slider 12 is received in the rail 11 and slidably engages with the rail 11. In other embodiments, the slider 12 may be supported on the rail 11 via a ball or roller bearing.

[0104] The left and right slider inner walls 12B are formed with recesses 12E that are recessed toward each other and extend in the front-to-rear direction. A protrusion is formed on the rear side of the recesses 12E of the slider inner walls 12B. The cross section of the left and right recesses 12E as viewed from the front-to-rear direction may be formed in an arc shape or a trapezoid shape. Each recess 12E may be located in the middle of the corresponding slider inner wall 12B in the up-down direction. Each recess 12E is located in a position facing the protrusion 11G of the corresponding rail 11 on the left and right.

[0105] The slider 12 is formed into a groove shape that opens toward the rail bottom wall 11A, i.e., downward, by a slider upper wall 12A and left and right slider inner walls 12B. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a slide locking device 30 is supported on the underside of the slider upper wall 12A.

[0106] 5 to 10, the slide locking device 30 includes a casing 31 coupled to the slider 12, at least one locking member 32 rotatably supported on the casing 31 between an unlocked position and a locked position, a biasing member 33 that biases the locking member 32 to the locked position, and an operating member 34 that is displaceably supported on the casing 31 and abuts against the locking member 32. In this embodiment, a pair of the locking member 32 and the biasing member 33 is provided on each side.

[0107] The casing 31 may be formed by combining multiple casing members 31A, 31B. In this embodiment, the casing 31 includes a lower casing member 31A and an upper casing member 31B that are coupled to each other. The left and right locking members 32 are rotatably supported between the lower casing member 31A and the upper casing member 31B. The casing 31 is coupled to the bottom surface of the slider upper wall 12A and disposed between the pair of slider inner walls 12B. This allows the slide locking device 30 to be disposed in a space-efficient manner within the slider 12. A slider opening 12F is formed in the portion of the pair of slider inner walls 12B facing the casing 31.

[0108] The pair of locking members 32 are arranged parallel to each other. Each locking member 32 has a shaft 32A extending in the front-rear direction. That is, the rotation axis of each locking member 32 extends in the front-rear direction. The front and rear ends of the shaft 32A are rotatably supported by the casing 31. Each locking member 32 has at least one protrusion 32B protruding radially from the shaft 32A. In this embodiment, multiple protrusions 32B protrude radially from the shaft 32A to one side.

[0109] 6 and 7, the plurality of protrusions 32B may extend in a spiral shape centered on the rotation axis of the locking member 32. The plurality of protrusions 32B may be formed intermittently. The plurality of protrusions 32B may be arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. The casing 31 may have a spiral groove 31C that slidably receives the plurality of protrusions 32B.

[0110] 6 and 8, each locking member 32 has an arm portion 32C that protrudes from the shaft portion 32A in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the locking member 32. When viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the arm portion 32C extends from the shaft portion 32A in a direction opposite to the protrusion portion 32B.

[0111] Casing openings 31D are formed on the left and right sides of the casing 31. The locking member 32 rotates between a locked position in which the multiple protrusions 32B pass through the casing openings 31D and protrude outward from the casing 31, and an unlocked position in which the multiple protrusions 32B are positioned within the casing 31. When the locking member 32 is in the unlocked position, the multiple protrusions 32B are positioned above the shaft 32A. When each of the locking members 32 is in the locked position, the pair of arm portions 32C extend toward each other, i.e., laterally from the shaft 32A toward the center of the casing 31. The locked position of the locking member 32 is preferably determined by at least one of the multiple protrusions 32B abutting against the casing 31.

[0112] 6, the right locking member 32 is displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position by rotating clockwise (rightward) when viewed from the front, and the left locking member 32 is displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position by rotating counterclockwise (leftward) when viewed from the front.

[0113] One of the plurality of protrusions 32B (hereinafter referred to as the reference protrusion 32D) is provided with a wedge portion 32E. Each wedge portion 32E is tapered. Each wedge portion 32E is configured so that its front-to-rear width increases along the direction of rotation of the locking member 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0114] Specifically, one wedge portion 32E is provided on each of the left and right locking members 32. The wedge portions 32E provided on the left and right locking members 32 are each configured so that their front-to-rear width increases along the direction of rotation of the locking member 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0115] 5 and 6, the front and rear surfaces of the wedge portion 32E of the right locking member 32 are spaced apart in the rotation direction (clockwise in front view) from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the wedge portion 32E of the right locking member 32 is tapered (wedge-shaped) in side view. The front and rear surfaces of the wedge portion 32E of the right locking member 32 are inclined in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position so as to approach the wall surfaces that define the front and rear edges of the opposing locking holes 15, respectively.

[0116] The wedge portion 32E of the left locking member 32 has a front and rear surface that are spaced apart in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position, forming a tapered (wedge-shaped) shape in side view. The front and rear surfaces of the wedge portion 32E of the left locking member 32 are inclined in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position (counterclockwise in front view) so as to approach the wall surfaces that define the front and rear edges of the opposing locking holes 15, respectively.

[0117] Each of the biasing members 33 is provided between the casing 31 and the corresponding locking member 32, and biases the locking member 32 toward the locked position. The biasing members 33 may be, for example, torsion coil springs. The biasing members 33 may be supported by the shaft portions 32A of the locking members 32.

[0118] The operating member 34 has a fan-shaped main body 34A with its surfaces facing left and right, and a pressing portion 34B provided at the lower end of the main body 34A. The operating member 34 is disposed in the left-right center of the casing 31. A support shaft 34C protruding in the left-right direction is provided at the rear end of the main body 34A. The support shaft 34C is disposed at the center of the fan-shaped main body 34A when viewed left and right. The support shaft 34C is rotatably supported on the casing 31, so that the operating member 34 is supported on the casing 31 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending left and right. The upper end of the main body 34A passes through an insertion hole 35 formed in the upper casing member 31B and protrudes above the casing 31. An operating hole 36 penetrating vertically is formed in the slider upper wall 12A of the slider 12. The upper end of the main body 34A of the operating member 34 passes through the operating hole 36 and protrudes above the slider 12. The pressing portion 34B is disposed inside the casing 31. The left-right width of the pressing portion 34B is formed to be larger than the left-right width of the operating portion. When the locking member 32 is in the locked position, the operating member 34 is in the initial position. At this time, the pressing portion 34B is disposed above the left and right arm portions 32C and abuts against the arm portions 32C. The operating member 34 may be biased to the initial position by a biasing member 37.

[0119] An operating lever 41 is rotatably provided on each of the left and right sliders 12. The operating lever 41 has a lever center 41A extending in the left-right direction below the front of the seat cushion 5, and left and right lever side portions 41B extending rearward from the left and right ends of the lever center 41A. The intermediate portions of the left and right lever side portions 41B in the front-rear direction are supported on the corresponding slider 12 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 41C extending in the left-right direction. The rear ends of the left and right lever side portions 41B abut from above against the upper end of the operating portion. The rear ends of the left and right lever side portions 41B may be biased upward by a biasing member 33 (not shown).

[0120] 9, when the operating member 34 is in the initial position, the left and right locking members 32 are in the locked position. When the left and right locking members 32 are in the locked position, the multiple protrusions 32B pass through the casing opening 31D and the slider opening 12F and protrude into the corresponding locking holes 15 of the rail 11 and are locked in the locking holes 15. This restricts movement of the slider 12 relative to the rail 11.

[0121] The wedge portion 32E is configured so that its front-to-rear width increases along the rotation direction of the locking member 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position. The wedge portion 32E is inclined in the rotation direction of the locking member 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position so that its front surface approaches the front wall surface of the locking hole 15 into which the reference protrusion 32D protrudes, and its rear surface approaches the rear wall surface of the locking hole 15 into which the reference protrusion 32D protrudes.

[0122] When the left and right locking members 32 are in the locked position, the front surface of each wedge portion 32E abuts against the front wall surface that defines the locking hole 15, and the rear surface of each wedge portion 32E abuts against the rear wall surface that defines the locking hole 15. This prevents gaps from being formed between the wedge portions 32E and the front and rear wall surfaces that define the corresponding locking holes 15. Therefore, when the locking members 32 are in the locked position, movement of the slider 12 in the front-to-rear direction relative to the rail 11 is restricted, preventing rattling of the slider 12.

[0123] In order to more reliably prevent rattling of the slider 12, when the left and right locking members 32 are in the locked position, it is preferable that the front surface of the wedge portion 32E be in pressure contact with the front wall surface that defines the locking hole 15, and the rear surface of the wedge portion 32E be in pressure contact with the rear wall surface that defines the locking hole 15. Note that the wedge portion 32E may be provided on only one of the left and right locking members 32.

[0124] Furthermore, although both the front and rear surfaces of the wedge portion 32E are configured to be inclined so as to approach the front and rear wall surfaces of the corresponding locking hole 15 in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position, the wedge portion 32E may be configured so that its front-to-rear width increases in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position. For example, either the front or rear surface of the wedge portion 32E may be configured to be inclined so as to approach the opposing wall surface of the locking hole 15 in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0125] When the user pulls the lever center portion 41A of the operating lever 41 upward, the rear ends of the left and right lever side portions 41B push the upper end of the main body portion 34A downward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10 , the operating member 34 rotates and moves downward, moving from the initial position to the post-operation position. At this time, the pressing portion 34B of the operating member 34 presses the locking member 32, moving the locking member 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position. Specifically, the pressing portion 34B of the operating member 34 presses the left and right arm portions 32C downward, causing the left and right locking members 32 to rotate from the locked position to the unlocked position. This causes the multiple protrusions 32B to disengage from the locking holes 15 of the rail 11 and move into the casing 31. This allows the slider 12 to move relative to the rail 11.

[0126] The operating member 34 presses the arm portion 32C in a first direction parallel to a tangential direction centered on the rotation axis of the locking member 32, and when the locking member 32 reaches the release position, the arm portion 32C and the operating member 34 do not overlap in the first direction. In this embodiment, the first direction is the up-down direction. According to this configuration, even if an excessive load is applied to the operating member 34, the load is not transmitted to the arm portion 32C. Therefore, damage to the locking member 32 is prevented.

[0127] When the locking member 32 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, at least one of the protrusions 32B slides along the spiral groove 31C, allowing the locking member 32 to rotate smoothly from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0128] In the slide lock device 30, the lock member 32 is rotatably supported by the casing 31, so that when the lock member 32 is pressed by the operating member 34, the lock member 32 can move smoothly from the locked position to the unlocked position. This makes it possible to provide a slide lock device 30 that can operate smoothly.

[0129] When the locking member 32 is in the locked position, the plurality of protrusions 32B protrude from the casing 31, and when the locking member 32 is in the released position, the plurality of protrusions 32B are located inside the casing 31, thereby making it possible to reduce the gap between the casing 31 and the rail 11.

[0130] The pair of locking members 32 are arranged parallel to each other, and the operating member 34 abuts against each of the pair of arm portions 32C, so that the locking members 32 can engage with the rail 11 with good stability.

[0131] The assembly method for the slide device 1 described above includes the steps of assembling the slide locking device 30 by attaching the locking member 32, the biasing member 33, and the operating member 34 to the casing 31, attaching the casing 31 to the slider 12, and attaching the slider 12 to the rail 11. According to this aspect, the slide locking device 30 can be assembled efficiently inside the slider 12. The assembly steps for the slide locking device 30 also include the steps of attaching the biasing member 33 to the locking member 32, supporting the locking member 32 with the biasing member 33 attached and the operating member 34 on one of the multiple casing 31 members, and connecting the multiple casing 31 members to each other. The multiple casing 31 members include a lower casing member 31A and an upper casing member 31B.

[0132] Second Embodiment A slide locking device 30 according to a second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, instead of a wedge portion 32E, a cam mechanism 50 and a connecting mechanism 52 are provided between the casing 31 (also referred to as a housing) and the locking member 32. The other configurations are generally similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore, description of the other configurations will be omitted.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 11 , the slide lock device 30 according to the second embodiment includes a pair of left and right locking members 32, similar to the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, each locking member 32 is rotatably supported about a rotation axis extending forward and backward and is configured to be displaceable between an unlocked position and a locked position. As in the first embodiment, the right locking member 32 (also referred to as the first locking member 32F) is displaced to the locked position by rotating clockwise (right-handed) from the unlocked position when viewed from the front. The left locking member 32 (also referred to as the second locking member 32G) is displaced to the locked position by rotating counterclockwise (left-handed) from the unlocked position when viewed from the front.

[0134] As in the first embodiment, the left and right locking members 32 each have a protrusion 32B. The protrusion 32B engages by projecting into the locking hole 15 when the locking member 32 is in the locked position, and disengages from the locking hole 15 when the locking member 32 is in the unlocked position. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the left and right locking members 32 are provided with a plurality of protrusions 32B lined up in the front-to-rear direction. As in the first embodiment, each of the protrusions 32B extends in a spiral shape centered on the rotation axis of the locking member 32.

[0135] 11, the casing 31 may be provided with an operating member 34 that engages with the left and right locking members 32 and displaces each of them from the unlocked position to the locked position, similar to the first embodiment. In addition, biasing members 33, 37 that bias the left and right locking members 32 to the locked position may be provided between the casing 31 and the casing 31, respectively.

[0136] The cam mechanism 50 guides the left and right locking members 32 to move toward each other when they move from the unlocked position to the locked position. The cam mechanism 50 is provided between the right locking member 32 and the rail 11, and between the left locking member 32 and the rail 11.

[0137] Hereinafter, the cam mechanism 50 provided between the right-side locking member 32 and the rail 11 will be referred to as the first cam mechanism 50A, and the cam mechanism 50 provided between the left-side locking member 32 and the rail 11 will be referred to as the second cam mechanism 50B.

[0138] The first cam mechanism 50A is provided between one of the protrusions 32B (hereinafter referred to as the first reference protrusion 54) provided on the right-side locking member 32 and the locking hole 15 (hereinafter referred to as the first locking hole 56) into which the first reference protrusion 54 protrudes.

[0139] The first cam mechanism 50A includes a first inclined surface 54A provided on the front surface of the first reference protrusion 54. The first inclined surface 54A is inclined forward in the counterclockwise direction, i.e., in the rotation direction of the right locking member 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position. As a result, the first inclined surface 54A is inclined so as to approach the front wall surface that defines the front edge of the first locking hole 56 in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the right locking member 32 rotates with the first inclined surface 54A in contact with the front wall surface that defines the front edge of the first locking hole 56, the right locking member 32 is guided to move rearward.

[0140] The second cam mechanism 50B is provided between one of the protrusions 32B (hereinafter referred to as the second reference protrusion 58) provided on the left locking member 32 and the locking hole 15 (hereinafter referred to as the second locking hole 60) into which the second reference protrusion 58 protrudes.

[0141] The second cam mechanism 50B includes a second inclined surface 58A provided on the rear surface of the second reference protrusion 58. The second inclined surface 58A is inclined rearward in the clockwise direction, i.e., in the rotation direction of the left locking member 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position. As a result, the second inclined surface 58A is inclined so as to approach the rear wall surface that defines the rear edge of the locking hole 15 in the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the left locking member 32 rotates with the second inclined surface 58A in contact with the rear wall surface that defines the rear edge of the second locking hole 60, the left locking member 32 is guided to move forward.

[0142] In this way, the first cam mechanism 50A guides the right locking member 32 to move rearward, and the second cam mechanism 50B guides the left locking member 32 to move forward. Therefore, the first cam mechanism 50A and the second cam mechanism 50B guide the left and right locking members 32 to move in directions approaching each other.

[0143] The coupling mechanism 52 couples (also referred to as connecting) the left and right locking members 32 in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the coupling mechanism 52 includes a first coupling mechanism 52A provided between the casing 31 and the right locking member 32, and a second coupling mechanism 52B provided between the casing 31 and the left locking member 32, and the left and right locking members 32 are coupled via the casing 31.

[0144] The first coupling mechanism 52A includes a first recess 62 provided in the casing 31 and a protrusion 32B (hereinafter referred to as a first engaging protrusion 64) provided in the right locking member 32 and received in the first recess 62. In this embodiment, the first recess 62 is provided in a left portion of the right locking member 32 of the casing 31, and the first engaging protrusion 64 is located at the frontmost of the protrusions 32B provided on the right locking member 32. The first engaging protrusion 64 preferably extends from the right side surface to the left side surface of the right locking member 32 when the right locking member 32 is in the locked position so as to be received in the first recess 62.

[0145] The second coupling mechanism 52B includes a second recess 66 provided in the casing 31 and a protrusion 32B (hereinafter referred to as a second engaging protrusion 68) provided in the left locking member 32 and received in the second recess 66. In this embodiment, the second recess 66 is provided in a right portion of the left locking member 32 of the casing 31, and the second engaging protrusion 68 is located at the rearmost of the protrusions 32B provided on the left locking member 32. The second engaging protrusion 68 preferably extends from the left side surface to the right side surface of the left locking member 32 when the left locking member 32 is in the locked position so as to be received in the second recess 66.

[0146] When the right locking member 32 moves rearward, the first engaging protrusion 64 abuts against the rear wall surface of the first recess 62, pushing the casing 31 rearward. This pushes the left locking member 32 rearward. When the left locking member 32 moves forward, the second engaging protrusion 68 abuts against the front wall surface of the second recess 66, pushing the casing 31 forward. This pushes the right locking member 32 forward.

[0147] Next, the operation and effects of the slide lock device 30 configured as above will be described.

[0148] When the right locking member 32 rotates from the unlocked position toward the locked position and the first inclined surface 54A abuts against the front wall surface of the first locking hole 56, the right locking member 32 moves rearward, guided by the first inclined surface 54A and the front wall surface. The rearward movement of the right locking member 32 pushes the casing 31 rearward. The rearward movement of the casing 31 also pushes the left locking member 32 rearward. As a result, the second inclined surface 58A of the second reference protrusion 58 provided on the left locking member 32 abuts against the rear wall surface of the second locking hole 60.

[0149] When the left locking member 32 rotates from the unlocked position toward the locked position and the second inclined surface 58A abuts against the rear wall surface of the second locking hole 60, the left locking member 32 moves forward, guided by the second inclined surface 58A and the rear wall surface. The forward movement of the left locking member 32 pushes the casing 31 forward. The forward movement of the casing 31 also pushes the right locking member 32 forward. As a result, the first inclined surface 54A of the first reference protrusion 54 provided on the right locking member 32 abuts against the front wall surface of the first locking hole 56.

[0150] By the time the left and right locking members 32 reach their respective locked positions, the first inclined surface 54A of the first reference protrusion 54 abuts against the front wall surface of the first locking hole 56, and the second inclined surface 58A of the second reference protrusion 58 abuts against the rear wall surface of the second locking hole 60.

[0151] Before the left and right locking members 32 reach their respective locked positions, the first inclined surface 54A of the first reference protrusion 54 abuts against the front wall surface of the first locking hole 56, and the second inclined surface 58A of the second reference protrusion 58 abuts against the rear wall surface of the second locking hole 60. Therefore, when the left and right locking members 32 are in their respective locked positions, no gap is created between the locking members 32 and the wall surface defining the locking hole 15, preventing rattling of the locking members 32 relative to the rail 11 when in the locked position. This makes it possible to provide a slide locking device 30 that can reliably restrict movement of the slider 12 relative to the rail 11 in the longitudinal direction of the rail 11.

[0152] Furthermore, when the first inclined surface 54A and the second inclined surface 58A abut against the wall surfaces that define the corresponding locking holes 15, the right locking member 32 pushes the casing 31 rearward, and the left locking member 32 pushes the casing 31 forward. As a result, as shown by the arrows in Figure 11, the right locking member 32 and the left locking member 32 each push the casing 31 in opposite directions (more specifically, in opposing directions).

[0153] When the left and right locking members 32 are in their respective locked positions, it is preferable that the right locking member 32 is pushed forward by the left locking member 32, with the first inclined surface 54A being in pressure contact with the front wall surface of the first locking hole 56. Similarly, it is preferable that the left locking member 32 is pushed rearward by the right locking member 32, with the second inclined surface 58A being in pressure contact with the rear wall surface of the second locking hole 60.

[0154] The assembly method of the slide device 1 according to the second embodiment may be the same as that of the first embodiment. Specifically, the assembly method of the slide device 1 includes the steps of attaching the left and right locking members 32, the biasing member 33, and the operating member 34 to the casing 31 to assemble the slide locking device 30, attaching the casing 31 to the slider 12, and attaching the slider 12 to the rail 11. According to this aspect, it is possible to provide the slide device 1 including the slide locking device 30 that is prevented from rattling, and to assemble the slide locking device 30 inside the slider 12 with high work efficiency.

[0155] (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The electric slide rail has a rail and a slider that is slidable relative to the rail. The rail is coupled to a first structure, and the slider is coupled to a second structure. The electric slide rail moves the second structure relative to the first structure as the slider moves relative to the rail. The electric slide rail is provided, for example, between a floor and a seat of a vehicle and moves the seat relative to the floor. The electric slide rail is also provided between a base and a work holder and moves the work holder relative to the base.

[0156] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electric slide rail 101 and a vehicle seat 102 equipped with the electric slide rail 101 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 13 , the vehicle seat 102 has at least one electric slide rail 101 on its lower portion and is connected to a floor 103 of the vehicle at the electric slide rail 101. The vehicle seat 102 has a seat cushion 105 that supports the buttocks of an occupant, and a seat back 106 that extends upward from the rear of the seat cushion 105 and supports the back of the occupant. The electric slide rail 101 is provided between the floor 103 and the seat cushion 105 and supports the seat cushion 105 so that it can slide relative to the floor 103. The vehicle seat 102 preferably has a pair of electric slide rails 101.

[0157] Hereinafter, the portion of the vehicle seat 102 that slides relative to the floor 103 as the electric slide rails 101 are driven will be referred to as the seat body 107. The seat body 107 includes a seat cushion 105 and a seat back 106. The seat body 107 may further include a headrest provided on the upper part of the seat back 106 and an ottoman provided in front of the seat cushion 105.

[0158] As shown in FIG. 14 , the electric slide rail 101 has a rail 111 extending in the front-rear direction and a slider 112 slidably engaged with the rail 111. The extending direction of the rail 111 is defined as the front-rear direction. The extending direction of the rail 111 may or may not coincide with the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In other words, the extending direction of the rail 111 does not limit the mounting direction on the vehicle. In this embodiment, the extending direction of the rail 111 coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the slider 112 is provided above the rail 111. Therefore, the rail 111 may be referred to as a lower rail, and the slider 112 may be referred to as an upper rail.

[0159] 15 and 16 , the rail 111 has a groove-shaped cross section. In detail, the rail 111 has a rail bottom wall 114 with surfaces facing up and down, left and right rail outer walls 115 that extend upward from left and right edges of the rail bottom wall 114 and have surfaces facing left and right, left and right rail upper walls 116 that extend toward each other from the upper ends of the left and right rail outer walls 115 and have surfaces facing up and down, and left and right rail inner walls 117 that extend downward from the inner ends of the left and right rail upper walls 116 and have surfaces facing left and right.

[0160] The rail bottom wall 114, left and right rail outer walls 115, left and right rail upper walls 116, and left and right rail inner walls 117 each extend in the front-to-rear direction. The left and right rail outer walls 115 and the left and right rail inner walls 117 extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to the rail bottom wall 114. The lower ends of the left and right rail inner walls 117 are spaced apart from the rail bottom wall 114. The rail 111 has a rail opening 119 at its upper portion extending in the front-to-rear direction. The rail opening 119 is defined by the left and right rail inner walls 117. The rail 111 may be formed by press-forming a metal plate. The left and right edge portions of the rail bottom wall 114 may have upwardly protruding steps 121. The left and right steps 121 extend in the front-to-rear direction and have flat upper surfaces.

[0161] Each of the left and right rail inner walls 117 has a protrusion 122 that protrudes toward each other and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The cross section of the left and right protrusions 122 may be arc-shaped or trapezoidal. Each protrusion 122 may be located in the middle of the corresponding rail inner wall 117 in the up-down direction. The upper and lower ends of the left and right rail inner walls 117 are located outward from the protrusions 122 to the left and right.

[0162] 15 , the slider 112 is disposed at the opening edge of the rail opening 119 and includes a plate-shaped base portion 125 with its surfaces facing up and down, left and right slider inner walls 126 extending downward from the left and right side edges of the base portion 125 toward the rail bottom wall 114, left and right slider lower walls 127 extending outward to the left and right from the lower ends of the left and right slider inner walls 126, respectively, and left and right slider outer walls 128 extending upward from the left and right outer ends of the left and right slider lower walls 127. The left and right slider inner walls 126 correspond to the third and fourth side walls in the claims. The base portion 125, the left and right slider inner walls 126, the left and right slider lower walls 127, and the left and right slider outer walls 128 extend forward and backward.

[0163] The slider 112 may be formed by fastening together a number of pressed or rolled metal plates.

[0164] In this embodiment, the slider 112 is composed of a first piece 112A and a second piece 112B. The first piece 112A constitutes a base portion 125 (more specifically, the lower half of the base portion 125), a left slider inner wall 126, a left slider lower wall 127, and a left slider outer wall 128. The second piece 112B constitutes the base portion 125 (more specifically, the upper half of the base portion 125), a right slider inner wall 126, a right slider lower wall 127, and a right slider outer wall 128.

[0165] The slider 112 is formed by overlapping and fastening the first piece 112A and the second piece 112B to each other at their respective base portions 125. In another embodiment, the slider 112 may be formed from a single metal plate that is press-formed or roll-formed. The front-to-rear length of the slider 112 is set shorter than the front-to-rear length of the rail 111. The slider 112 is connected to the seat cushion 105 at the base portion 125.

[0166] The base portion 125 may be disposed above or below the left and right rail upper walls 116. The left and right slider inner walls 126 face left and right and face each other at a distance. The left and right slider inner walls 126 are disposed between the left and right rail inner walls 117. Each slider inner wall 126 faces the corresponding rail inner wall 117 on the left and right with a gap between them. Each slider lower wall 127 extends left and right, passing between the rail bottom wall 114 and the lower end of the corresponding rail inner wall 117 on the left and right. The outer wall of each slider 112 is disposed between the corresponding rail outer wall 115 and rail inner wall 117 on the left and right. A plurality of wheels 131 are rotatably supported on the outer surface of each slider outer wall 128 in the left-right direction. Each wheel 131 has a rotation axis that rotates in the left-right direction and is in contact with the rail bottom wall 114. In this embodiment, each wheel 131 is in contact with the upper surface of the step portion 121 of the rail bottom wall 114. The slider 112 is able to smoothly slide along the rail 111 by contacting the rail 111 via the wheels 131. With the above configuration, the slider 112 is received in the rail 111 and slidably engages with the rail 111. In other embodiments, the slider 112 may be supported by the rail 111 via a ball or roller bearing.

[0167] The left and right slider inner walls 126 are formed with recesses 133 that are recessed toward each other and extend in the front-to-rear direction. A protrusion is formed on the rear side of the recesses 133 of the slider inner walls 126. The cross section of the left and right recesses 133 as viewed from the front-to-rear direction may be formed in an arc shape or a trapezoid shape. Each recess 133 may be located in the middle of the corresponding slider inner wall 126 in the up-down direction. Each recess 133 is located in a position facing the protrusion 122 of the corresponding rail 111 on the left and right.

[0168] The slider 112 is formed by a base portion 125 and left and right slider inner walls 126 into a groove shape that opens toward the rail bottom wall 114, i.e., downward. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, a screw assembly 135 and an electric motor 136 are supported on the underside of the base portion 125. The screw assembly 135 includes screw members 138 and 139 that are supported on the slider 112 so as to be rotatable in the front-to-rear direction. The electric motor 136 is supported on the slider 112 and rotates the screw members 138 and 139.

[0169] As shown in FIG. 20 , in this embodiment, the screw members 138 and 139 include a first screw member 138 and a second screw member 139. In other embodiments, the screw assembly 135 may include a single screw member. The first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139 have threads 138A and 139A on the outer circumferential surfaces of their longitudinally intermediate portions. The number of threads 138A and 139A may be determined based on the size of the electric slide rail 101 and the required strength of the electric slide rail 101 in the longitudinal direction. For example, the number of threads 138A and 139A may be increased to increase the required strength. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 , the screw assembly 135 includes a gear case 141 that rotatably supports the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139, and a first bracket 142 that supports the gear case 141 on the slider 112.

[0170] 19 and 20 , the gear case 141 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box that is long in the front-to-rear direction. The gear case 141 rotatably supports a first screw member 138, a second screw member 139, and a drive shaft 143 that is connected to a rotating shaft 136A of the electric motor 136. The first screw member 138, the second screw member 139, and the drive shaft 143 each extend in the front-to-rear direction and are arranged parallel to one another in the gear case 141. The gear case 141 has a box-shaped outer case 141A that forms an outer shell, and a front support member 141B and a rear support member 141C that are supported at the front and rear ends of the outer case 141A. The front support member 141B and the rear support member 141C are provided with a pair of front and rear first bearing portions 145 that rotatably support the front and rear ends of the first screw member 138, a pair of front and rear second bearing portions 146 that rotatably support the front and rear ends of the second screw member 139, and a pair of front and rear third bearing portions 147 that rotatably support the drive shaft 143.

[0171] The first screw member 138 is disposed along the left side of the gear case 141, and the second screw member 139 is disposed along the right side of the gear case 141. The drive shaft 143 is disposed below the intermediate portion between the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139. The drive shaft 143 has a drive gear 143A within the gear case 141. The first screw member 138 has a first gear 138B that meshes with the drive gear 143A. The second screw member 139 has a second gear 139B that meshes with the drive gear 143A. The drive gear 143A, the first gear 138B, and the second gear 139B may each be a spur gear. When the drive shaft 143 rotates, the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139 rotate in the same direction. The first gear 138B and the second gear 139B may be symmetrical.

[0172] 17 and 18 , the gear case 141 has a case opening 148 that is an opening for laterally exposing the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139. The thread 138A of the first screw member 138 passes through the case opening 148 formed on the left side of the gear case 141 and protrudes leftward. Similarly, the thread 139A of the second screw member 139 passes through the case opening 148 formed on the right side of the gear case 141 and protrudes rightward. The case opening 148 is formed in the outer case 141A.

[0173] The first bracket 142 extends longitudinally and has a first coupling portion 142A at its front end and a second coupling portion 142B at its rear end. The first bracket 142 is coupled to the underside of the base portion 125 of the slider 112 at the first coupling portion 142A and the second coupling portion 142B. The first bracket 142 has a support portion 142C extending from the first coupling portion 142A to the second coupling portion 142B. The first bracket 142 may be an integrated metal member including the first coupling portion 142A, the second coupling portion 142B, and the support portion 142C. The support portion 142C has a portion located below the first coupling portion 142A and the second coupling portion 142B. The support portion 142C allows the first bracket 142 to cooperate with the base portion 125 to form a closed structure. The gear case 141 is disposed between the base portion 125 and the support portion 142C of the slider 112. The first bracket 142 is formed by bending a metal plate. The first connecting portion 142A extends forward from the front portion of the gear case 141, and the second connecting portion 142B extends rearward from the rear portion of the gear case 141. The first connecting portion 142A and the second connecting portion 142B may be fastened to the base portion 125 by fastening members such as screws or rivets. The distance between the fastening points of the first connecting portion 142A and the second connecting portion 142B is set to be longer than the front-to-rear length of the gear case 141.

[0174] A second bracket 151 is provided behind the first bracket 142 to support the electric motor 136 on the base portion 125 of the slider 112. The second bracket 151 has a connecting portion 151A that is connected to the base portion 125 and a support portion 151B that extends downward from the connecting portion 151A to the side opposite the base portion 125. The support portion 151B is perpendicular to the connecting portion 151A, and the second bracket 151 is formed in an L-shape. The electric motor 136 is connected to the support portion 151B at one end thereof. In this embodiment, the electric motor 136 is disposed below the connecting portion 151A, and the second bracket 151 cantilevers the end of the electric motor 136 that is closest to the screw members 138 and 139.

[0175] The rear end of the drive shaft 143 protrudes rearward from the rear support member 141C of the gear case 141 and extends rearward through a through-hole formed in the first bracket 142. The rotating shaft 136A of the electric motor 136 is connected to the rear end of the drive shaft 143. The rotating shaft 136A and the drive shaft 143 may be connected by a coupling. The rotating shaft 136A and the drive shaft 143 may also have mating portions that mesh with each other. The rotating shaft 136A of the electric motor 136 and the drive shaft 143 are arranged on the same straight line. The electric motor 136 is cylindrical and extends forward and backward.

[0176] A reducer 140 may be provided between the rotating shaft 136A of the electric motor 136 and the drive shaft 143. The reducer 140 may be, for example, a planetary gear mechanism. The reducer 140 may be provided on the surface of the support portion 151B of the second bracket 151 that faces away from the electric motor 136. In another embodiment, the reducer 140 may be supported on the rear end surface of the gear case 141. The reducer 140 is an optional component and can be omitted.

[0177] The screw assembly 135, the electric motor 136, the first bracket 142, and the second bracket 151 are disposed below the base portion 125 and between the left and right slider inner walls 126. The left and right slider inner walls 126 have slider openings 155 that are openings at positions corresponding to the screw assemblies 135. The slider openings 155 are formed in the recesses 133 of the slider inner walls 126. A left portion of the threads 138A of the first screw member 138 passes through the left case opening 148 of the gear case 141 and the slider opening 155 in the left slider inner wall 126, and protrudes to the left of the left slider inner wall 126. Similarly, the right portion of the thread 139A of the second screw member 139 passes through the right case opening 148 of the gear case 141 and the slider opening 155 of the right slider inner wall 126 and protrudes to the right of the right slider inner wall 126.

[0178] As shown in Figure 14, the rail 111 is formed with thread engagement portions 157, 158 that extend in the front-rear direction and engage with the screw members 138, 139. The thread engagement portions 157, 158 include a first thread engagement portion 157 formed on the left rail inner wall 117 and that engages with the thread 138A of the first screw member 138, and a second thread engagement portion 158 formed on the right rail inner wall 117 and that engages with the thread 139A of the second screw member 139. The first thread engagement portion 157 and the second thread engagement portion 158 are formed on the corresponding protrusions 122 of the rail inner wall 117. The first thread engagement portion 157 and the second thread engagement portion 158 include a plurality of engagement holes 159 formed in the protrusions 122 aligned in the front-rear direction. The first screw member 138 moves forward and backward relative to the first screw engagement portion 157 by engaging with the multiple engagement holes 159 of the first screw engagement portion 157 at the left portion of the thread 138A of the first screw member 138 and rotating in the front-to-back direction. Similarly, the second screw member 139 moves forward and backward relative to the second screw engagement portion 158 by engaging with the multiple engagement holes 159 of the second screw engagement portion 158 at the right portion of the thread 139A of the second screw member 139 and rotating in the front-to-back direction.

[0179] The electric slide rail 101 is controlled by a control device 166. The control device 166 is provided on, for example, the floor 103. The control device 166 is an electronic control device and is connected to a power source 168 and an operation switch 167. The operation switch 167 has a button corresponding to forward movement and a button corresponding to reverse movement. The control device 166 controls the direction and amount of rotation of the electric motor 136 based on a signal from the operation switch 167. This allows the operator to operate the electric slide rail 101 by operating the operation switch 167, thereby moving the vehicle seat 102 forward or backward relative to the floor 103.

[0180] Each rail 111 of the left and right electric slide rails 101 is coupled to the vehicle floor 103 via a bracket or directly. Each rail 111 may be received in a rail groove 104 formed in the floor 103. The upper surface of the rail upper wall 116 of the rail 111 may be disposed flush with the upper surface of the floor 103. By disposing the rail 111 in the rail groove 104, it is possible to prevent the rail 111 from protruding from the floor 103. Each slider 112 of the left and right electric slide rails 101 is coupled to the seat cushion 105. The sliders 112 of the left and right electric slide rails 101 may be connected to each other by a connecting member.

[0181] The rotation of the electric motor 136 is transmitted to the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139 via the rotation shaft 136A, the drive shaft 143, the drive gear 143A, and the first gear 138B or the second gear 139B. As a result, the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139 rotate in the same direction. When the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139 rotate, the first screw member 138 and the second screw member 139 move back and forth relative to the first screw engagement portion 157 and the second screw engagement portion 158, and the slider 112 moves back and forth relative to the rail 111.

[0182] 17 , a connecting hole 172 that penetrates vertically is provided in the center in the left-right direction of the base portion 125. In this embodiment, one connecting hole 172 is provided in the front portion and one in the rear portion of the base portion 125. The connecting hole 172 penetrates the first piece 112A and the second piece 112B that constitute the slider 112.

[0183] A bracket (not shown) is fixed to the base portion 125 by a connecting member 174 that passes through the connecting hole 172. The seat body 107 is fixed to the bracket and thereby connected to the slider 112. For example, the connecting member 174 may be formed of a bolt, and a nut that connects to the bolt may be fixed to the bracket by welding or the like.

[0184] The inventors of the present application have found through repeated collision experiments and the like that in the event of a frontal or rear collision of the vehicle, at least one of the front and rear portions of the seat body 107 may be lifted in a direction away from the floor 103. The inventors of the present application further conducted a detailed investigation into the deformation of the slider 112 that may occur when the seat body 107 is lifted.

[0185] Fig. 21 shows an example of a cross section of the slider 112 that has been deformed when at least one of the front end and the rear end of the seat body 107 is lifted from the floor 103. By studying the deformation of the slider 112 shown in Fig. 21, the inventors of the present application have found that when the front end and / or the rear end of the seat body 107 is lifted from the floor 103 (see the hollow arrows), a load (see the black arrows) is applied to each of the left and right slider inner walls 126, causing the lower end portions of the slider inner walls 126 to deform so as to approach each other.

[0186] Therefore, in order to prevent such deformation of the slider 112 (upper rail), a reinforcing member 180 is provided on the slider 112 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.

[0187] The reinforcing member 180 is a resin member that is provided at the front end portion and / or the rear end portion of the slider 112 in order to reinforce the slider 112. The reinforcing member 180 is housed between the pair of left and right slider inner walls 126 and in the space S below the base portion 125.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 22, the reinforcing member 180 has a pair of left and right vertical walls 182 and a horizontal wall 184 that extends in the left-right direction and connects the left and right vertical walls 182 together.

[0189] The vertical walls 182 are each shaped like a plate having a surface facing in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 23, the left vertical wall 182 is disposed along the right side surface of the left slider inner wall 126, and the right vertical wall 182 is disposed along the left side surface of the right slider inner wall 126. In this embodiment, the left vertical wall 182 abuts against the lower half of the left slider inner wall 126, and the right vertical wall 182 abuts against the lower half of the right slider inner wall 126.

[0190] The upper surfaces of the left vertical wall 182 and the right vertical wall 182 abut against the lower surface of the base portion 125. As shown in Figure 22, the upper surfaces of the left vertical wall 182 and the right vertical wall 182 each have a screw hole 186 extending downward.

[0191] 23 , the base portion 125 has through holes 188 at positions that overlap the screw holes 186 of the vertical walls 182 in the vertical direction. The left and right vertical walls 182 and the base portion 125 are fastened to each other by screws 190 (also referred to as fastening members) that pass through the through holes 188, and the left and right vertical walls 182 are each joined to the underside of the base portion 125. As a result, the upper end of the reinforcing member 180 is directly joined to the base portion 125 and is supported by the base portion 125.

[0192] The through-holes 188 pass through the first piece 112A and the second piece 112B. The first piece 112A and the second piece 112B are overlapped and fastened together to the reinforcing member 180 with screws 190. This allows the first piece 112A and the second piece 112B to be joined together more firmly.

[0193] The through holes 188 are located on the left and right outer sides of the connecting hole 172 in a front view. In this embodiment, the screws 190 are also located on the left and right outer sides of the connecting member 174. The seat body 107 is connected to the slider 112 between the two screws 190 in a front-to-rear view (also referred to as a front view). In this way, the seat body 107 can be connected to the slider 112 in a more stable position in the center of the slider 112 in the left and right direction, compared to when the seat body 107 is connected to the slider 112 on the left and right outer sides of the two screws 190.

[0194] Each of the vertical walls 182 extends toward the center of the slider 112. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 22, a step 192 recessed downward is provided in a portion of the upper surface of each vertical wall 182 closer to the center of the slider 112 than the screw hole 186.

[0195] The horizontal wall 184 is shaped like a plate having a surface facing up and down. As shown in Figure 23, the width of the horizontal wall 184 in the up and down direction is smaller than the width of the vertical wall 182 in the up and down direction.

[0196] The horizontal wall 184 connects the left and right vertical walls 182. Specifically, the horizontal wall 184 is located below the upper ends of the vertical walls 182, and connects the left and right vertical walls 182. In this embodiment, the horizontal wall 184 is located below the upper end of the left vertical wall 182 and below the upper end of the right vertical wall 182. Furthermore, the horizontal wall 184 connects the lower end of the left vertical wall 182 and the lower end of the right vertical wall 182. The horizontal wall 184 is provided in a position that is generally aligned in the vertical direction with the lower end portion of the slider inner side wall 126.

[0197] Next, a method for manufacturing the electric slide rail 101 will be described. A worker manufacturing the electric slide rail 101 first prepares the rail 111 and the slider 112, and then connects a bracket for connecting the seat body 107 to the slider 112. The worker then performs a step of slidably engaging the slider 112 with the rail 111. The worker then performs a step of connecting (fastening in this embodiment) the reinforcing member 180 to the base portion 125 of the slider 112, thereby completing the electric slide rail 101. In this way, the electric slide rail 101 can be manufactured using a simple method.

[0198] Next, we will explain the effects of the electric slide rail 101 configured as described above. When at least one of the front and rear portions of the seat body 107 is lifted during a frontal or rear collision of the vehicle, a load is applied to the lower end portions of the left and right slider inner walls 126 so as to move them closer to each other (see arrows), as shown in Figure 21.

[0199] 14 and 23, a reinforcing member 180 is provided between the slider inner walls 126. Therefore, the reinforcing member 180 resists a load applied to the lower ends of the slider inner walls 126 in a direction toward each other, thereby preventing deformation of the slider 112.

[0200] The reinforcing member 180 is connected to the base portion 125 (upper wall) that connects the upper end of the slider inner side wall 126. Therefore, compared to when the reinforcing member 180 is locked to the slider inner side wall 126, when the slider inner side walls 126 move in directions toward each other, the impact on the joint portion between the reinforcing member 180 and the slider 112 can be reduced, and separation of the reinforcing member 180 from the slider 112 can be prevented.

[0201] In this embodiment, the seat body 107 is joined to the base portion 125 at approximately the center in the left-right direction, while the reinforcing member 180 is joined to the left and right edges of the base portion 125. Therefore, compared to when the reinforcing member 180 is joined to the base portion 125 at approximately the center in the left-right direction, it is less susceptible to the influence of movement of the seat body 107, and separation of the reinforcing member 180 from the slider 112 can be more effectively prevented.

[0202] In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 180 is provided with a horizontal wall 184 that connects the lower ends of the left and right vertical walls 182. The horizontal wall 184 is provided at a position that is generally aligned with the lower end portions of the slider inner wall 126, and therefore can effectively resist movement of the lower end portions of the slider inner wall 126 in the direction toward each other. This makes it possible to effectively prevent movement of the lower end portions of the slider inner wall 126.

[0203] Furthermore, the vertical width of the horizontal wall 184 is smaller than that of the left and right vertical walls 182. Therefore, the reinforcing member 180 can be made lighter than when the vertical width of the horizontal wall 184 is equal to that of the left and right vertical walls 182. Furthermore, since the amount of material required to manufacture the reinforcing member 180 can be reduced, the manufacturing cost of the reinforcing member 180 can be reduced.

[0204] Although the description of the specific embodiment has been completed above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified and implemented.

[0205] In the second embodiment, the cam mechanism 50 is configured to push the left and right locking members 32 in opposite directions, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0206] Fig. 12 shows a modified example of the slide locking device 30 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 12, a cam mechanism 50 may be provided between each of the protrusions 32B and the corresponding locking holes 15, and configured to guide the left and right locking members 32 in directions away from each other. In this case, too, the left and right locking members 32 may be linked (connected) in the front-rear direction by a linking mechanism 52, as in the second embodiment.

[0207] 12, the right locking member 32 is guided by the cam mechanism 50 (first cam mechanism 50A) and pushed forward. As a result, similar to the second embodiment, the casing 31 is pushed forward by the right locking member 32, and the second inclined surface 58A of the left locking member 32 abuts against the front wall surface of the second locking hole 60.

[0208] The left locking member 32 is guided by the cam mechanism 50 (second cam mechanism 50B) and pushed rearward. As a result, similar to the second embodiment, the casing 31 is pushed rearward by the left locking member 32, and the first inclined surface 54A of the right locking member 32 abuts against the rear wall surface of the first locking hole 56. As a result, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 12 , the right locking member 32 and the left locking member 32 each push the casing 31 in opposite directions (more specifically, in directions away from each other), resulting in a pulling state between them. As in the second embodiment, when the left and right locking members 32 are in their respective locked positions, no gap is created between the locking members 32 and the wall surfaces that define the front and rear edges of the locking hole 15, preventing rattling of the locking members 32 against the rail 11 when in the locked position.

[0209] In the second embodiment, the first inclined surface 54A is provided on the front surface of the first reference protrusion 54, but in addition to the first inclined surface 54A, an inclined surface that is inclined so as to approach the rear wall surface of the locking hole 15 may also be provided on the rear surface of the first reference protrusion 54, and a wedge portion 32E similar to that in the first embodiment may be formed on the first reference protrusion 54. Similarly, the second inclined surface 58A is provided on the rear surface of the second reference protrusion 58, but in addition to the second inclined surface 58A, an inclined surface that is inclined so as to approach the front wall surface of the locking hole 15 may also be provided on the front surface of the second reference protrusion 58, and a wedge portion 32E similar to that in the first embodiment may also be formed on the second reference protrusion 58.

[0210] In the third embodiment, the electric slide rail 101 is described as an example, but a motor, etc. is not essential. The slide rail according to the present invention may have any configuration as long as it has a rail 111, a slider 112 that is slidable relative to the rail 111, and a reinforcing member 180 provided on the slider 112, and the reinforcing member 180 is directly connected to the base portion 125 (upper wall).

[0211] 1: Slide device 11: Rail 12: Slider 15: Locking hole 30: Slide lock device 31: Casing 32: Lock member 32B: Convex portion 32E: Wedge portion 32F: First lock member 32G: Second lock member 33: Urging member 34: Operating member 50: Cam mechanism 50A: First cam mechanism 50B: Second cam mechanism 52: Connecting mechanism 54A: First inclined surface 58A: Second inclined surface

Claims

1. A slide lock device for a slide device having a rail extending in the front-to-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes lined up in the front-to-rear direction, and a slider slidably supported on the rail, the slide lock device having a casing coupled to the slider, and locking members each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, each of the locking members having at least one protrusion that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and the protrusion is provided with a wedge portion whose front-to-rear width increases along the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position.

2. The slide lock device according to claim 1, wherein the wall surfaces defining the front and rear edges of the locking hole are parallel to each other.

3. A slide lock device as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, comprising: a biasing member that biases the locking member to the locked position; and an operating member that is displaceably supported on the casing, engages with the locking member, and displaces the locking member to the released position.

4. A method for assembling a slide device having a rail extending in the front-to-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes lined up in the front-to-rear direction, and a slider slidably supported on the rail, wherein the slide device includes a slide lock device having a casing coupled to the slider and locking members each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein each of the locking members has at least one protrusion that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and the protrusion is provided with a wedge portion whose front-to-rear width increases along the rotation direction from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the assembly method includes the steps of attaching the locking member to the casing and assembling the slide lock device, attaching the casing to the slider, and attaching the slider to the rail.

5. A slide lock device for a slide device having a rail extending in the front-to-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction, and a slider slidably supported on the rail, the slide lock device comprising: a casing coupled to the slider; and a first locking member and a second locking member each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the first locking member and the second locking member each having at least one protrusion that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and when the first locking member and the second locking member are each in the locked position, the protrusion of the first locking member abuts against a front wall surface that defines the front edge of the locking hole, and the protrusion of the second locking member abuts against a rear wall surface that defines the rear edge of the locking hole.

6. A slide lock device as described in claim 5, comprising: a first cam mechanism provided on the front surface of the convex portion of the first locking member and on the front wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, for guiding the first locking member rearward; a second cam mechanism provided on the rear surface of the convex portion of the second locking member and on the rear wall surface of the corresponding locking hole, for guiding the second locking member forward; and a connecting mechanism for connecting the first locking member and the second locking member in the front-to-rear direction.

7. A slide lock device as described in claim 6, wherein the first cam mechanism includes a first inclined surface provided on the front surface of the convex portion of the first locking member and inclined forward in the direction of rotation from the locked position to the released position, and the second cam mechanism includes a second inclined surface provided on the rear surface of the convex portion of the second locking member and inclined backward in the direction of rotation from the locked position to the released position.

8. A slide locking device according to claim 7, wherein the wall surfaces defining the front and rear edges of the locking hole are parallel to each other.

9. A slide locking device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, further comprising an operating member for displacing each of the first locking member and the second locking member to the release position.

10. A method for assembling a slide device having a rail extending in the front-rear direction and having a plurality of locking holes arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and a slider slidably supported on the rail, wherein the slide device includes a slide lock device having a casing coupled to the slider, and a first locking member and a second locking member each supported on the casing so as to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the first locking member and the second locking member each have at least one protrusion that engages with the locking hole when in the locked position and disengages from the locking hole when in the unlocked position, and when the first locking member and the second locking member are each in the locked position, the protrusion of the first locking member abuts against a front wall surface that defines the front edge of the locking hole, and the protrusion of the second locking member abuts against a rear wall surface that defines the rear edge of the locking hole, and the assembly method comprises the steps of attaching the first locking member and the second locking member to the casing and assembling the slide lock device; A method for assembling a slide device, comprising: attaching the casing to the slider; and attaching the slider to the rail.

Images