Seat Slider Rail Retainer for Gap-Free Bolt Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat slider devices for vehicles often result in an unnecessary gap between the lower rail and the vehicle body due to the placement of a retaining ring, which compromises the secure fixation of the bolt and washer.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a retainer system within the lower rail, comprising a resin spacer and retaining ring, or a U-shaped retainer, that temporarily holds the bolt and washer in place, eliminating the need for additional components and ensuring a firm connection between the rail and the vehicle body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a toothed retaining ring is used to temporarily retain the bolt from below the bottom plate, then the bolt can be retained during assembly, but an unnecessary gap is created between the bottom plate and the vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining function is extracted from the bottom plate assembly and transferred to a dedicated retainer component that is disposed inside the lower rail. This allows the bottom plate to be firmly attached to the vehicle body without any gap, while the retainer separately provides the temporary bolt retention function during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A retainer component acts as an intermediary element disposed inside the lower rail to temporarily retain the bolt. This mediator provides the retention function without interfering with the firm attachment between the bottom plate and vehicle body, eliminating the gap issue while maintaining bolt retention capability.
2Device complexity
If the retaining ring is provided on the inner surface of the thin washer alone, then the structure is simple, but the bolt may detach from the washer together with the retaining ring
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: the retaining ring provides bolt retention, the spacer provides structural support and positioning, and the resin rod connects these elements. This merged structure prevents bolt detachment while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer uses composite construction with a resin spacer and resin retaining ring connected by a resin rod. This composite structure provides both the necessary mechanical strength for retention and the design simplicity required for easy assembly.
3Reliability
If additional members are used to retain the bolt and washer, then the bolt can be securely retained, but the attachment structure becomes more complex and may create gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer disposed inside the lower rail serves multiple functions: it temporarily retains the bolt during assembly, holds the washer in place, and does not interfere with the firm attachment of the bottom plate to the vehicle body. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat slider device may include an upper rail; a lower rail slidably holding the upper rail; a bolt fixing the lower rail to a vehicle body; a washer through which the bolt passes; and a retainer retaining the bolt to the lower rail before the lower rail is fixed to the vehicle body with the bolt. The lower rail may include a bottom plate; a pair of outer vertical plates extending upward respectively from ends of the bottom plate; a pair of upper plates horizontally extending respectively from upper ends of the outer vertical plates to an inside of the lower rail; and a pair of inner vertical plates extending downward respectively from inner ends of the upper plates. The retainer may be arranged in the lower rail and configured to retain the bolt with the bolt through the washer and the through hole.