JPH115467A - Seat slide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure a space between an upper rail and a cap without increasing the dimension of cross section of a rail by installing a cap in an end of a lower rail, and reducing the thickness of a right and a left bent parts of the lower rail, which are to be engaged with an upper cover part of the cap. SOLUTION: A cap 30 is fitted in a rear end of a lower rail 10 from a direction expressed with an arrow B, and claws 37, 38 are fitted in notches 13A, 13A for fixation of the cap 30 to the lower rail 10. In ordinary, an opposite space between the upper rail 20 and the cap 30 in the vertical direction is set at a space C more than the predetermined value so as to avoid the interference between the upper rail 20 and the cap 30 as a lower opposite member when a seat load is applied, but since thickness of a rear part 13C of the lower rail 10 is reduced by the thickness WC of the cap 30, height HA of upper cover parts 36, 36 of the cap 30 can be reduced by the thickness WC in the direction for enlarging the opposite space between the upper rail 20 and the cap 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat slide device for a vehicle or the like, and more particularly to a seat slide device having a cap at an end of a lower rail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this kind of seat slide device,
The one shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is known.

In such a seat slide device, an upper rail 70 to which a seat is attached is slidably guided by a lower rail 60 installed on the floor via a bracket 51, and a cap 80 is attached to an end of the lower rail 60.
Is attached. The lower rail 60 has a substantially U-shaped cross section by a bottom portion 61 and left and right side portions 62, 62, and further includes left and right bent portions 63, 63 extending outward from upper ends of the left and right side portions 62, 62. Is formed. The upper rail 70 has a substantially C-shaped cross section, and as shown in FIG.
Is slidably guided in Upper rail 70
Is locked at an arbitrary moving position by a lock mechanism (not shown).

[0004] The cap 80 covers the end of the lower rail 60, thereby avoiding deterioration in appearance due to the end of the lower rail 60 being exposed. This cap 8
The left and right upper cover portions 81 and 81 are formed on the lower rail 60 so as to fit with the left and right bent portions 63 and 63 of the lower rail 60. The cap 80 is prevented from falling off at the end of the lower rail 60 when the claws 81A, 81A formed inside the upper cover portions 81, 81 fit into the notches 63A, 63A on the lower rail 60 side.

[0005]

By the way, in order to avoid interference between the upper rail 70 when a seat load is applied and the cap 80 as a lower opposing member, as shown in FIG. In addition, it is necessary to set the vertical opposing interval to a predetermined interval C or more.

In the above-mentioned conventional seat slide apparatus, the height H of the upper rail 70 is increased by the thickness of the cap 80 in order to secure the interval C as compared with the case where the cap 80 is not mounted. Was. That is, FIG.
As in the comparative example of (b), the distance C is set between the upper rail 70 and the lower rail 60 as the lower facing member.
When the cap 80 is attached, the distance between the upper rail 70 and the cap 80 as the lower opposing member becomes smaller than the interval C by the thickness of the cap 80 by attaching the cap 80. I will. Therefore, when the cap 80 is mounted, in order to secure a space C between the upper rail 70 and the cap 80, FIG.
As described above, it is necessary to make the height H of the upper rail 70 larger than the height H0 of FIG. 8B by the thickness of the cap 80.

However, increasing the height H of the upper rail 70 in this manner increases the cross-sectional shape of the upper rail 70, thereby increasing the size, weight, and cost of the entire seat slide device. In addition, there is a problem that the degree of freedom of the in-vehicle layout of the seat is restricted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a seat slide device which can secure a space required for preventing interference between an upper rail and a cap without increasing the cross-sectional shape of the rail. .

[0009]

A seat slide device according to the present invention has a right and left fold extending outwardly from upper ends of the left and right side portions, the cross section being substantially U-shaped by a bottom portion and left and right side portions. In a seat slide device including a lower rail formed with a curved portion and an upper rail to which a seat is attached and slidably guided by the lower rail, an end of the lower rail covers an end of the lower rail, and A cap formed with an upper cover portion that fits with the left and right bent portions of the lower rail is attached, and the left and right bent portions of the lower rail that fit with the upper cover portion of the cap are the upper cover portion of the cap. It is characterized in that it is made thinner in a direction to increase the distance between the upper rail and the upper rail.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire seat slide device of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes brackets 1, 2
Is a lower rail mounted on the floor of the car body via
As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom portion 11 and the left and right side portions 12, 12 form a substantially U-shaped cross section. In addition, the side portions 12, 12 have bent portions 13, 1 extending outward.
3 are formed. Notches 13A, 13A for attaching a cap 30, which will be described later, are provided at positions near the rear ends of the bent portions 13, 13 (positions on the right end side in FIG. 1).
Are formed. Also, inclined surfaces 13B, 13B are formed at the rear ends of the bent portions 13, 13, respectively.

At the bent portions 13, 13, the cap 30
Are thinned by being crushed from above with reference to the lower surface thereof. In FIG. 4, WA is the thickness of the rear end portions 13C, 13C, WB is the thickness of the other portions, and the difference between them (WA−
WB) is substantially equal to the thickness WC of the cap 30 described later.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an upper rail on which a bottom portion of a seat (not shown) is mounted, and an intermediate portion 2 thereof.
The left and right side portions 22, 22 are curved in a U-shape, and are formed to have a substantially C-shaped cross section as a whole. These rails 1
0, 20 means that the latter side 22, 22 is the former side 12,
12 and the bent portions 13, 13 are slidably fitted along the longitudinal direction thereof so as to surround them.

The ball 3 is placed in a space surrounded by the side portions 12 and 12 of the lower rail 10 and the bent portions 13 and 13 and the side portions 22 and 22 of the upper rail 20 (see FIG. 6A).
Are rotatably interposed, and the bottom 11 of the lower rail 10
A roller 4 (see FIG. 6A) is rotatably interposed between the surface of the upper rail 20 and the intermediate portion 21 facing the intermediate rail 21. The ball 3 and the roller 4
It is held by a retainer (not shown) that is movable between 20.

The bracket 5 and the curved portions 6A, 6B of the bracket 6 are provided on one side 22 of the upper rail 20.
As a result, the operating rod 7 is supported so as to be rotatable about the axis thereof in the directions of arrows A1 and A2. A handle 7A is bent at one end of the operating rod 7, and a latch plate 8 is welded to the other end. A not-shown claw portion is formed at the tip of the latch plate 8.
On one side 12 of the lower rail 10, a plurality of lock holes 12 </ b> A that can be fitted with the claw portions of the latch plate 8 are formed at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 10. Normally, the operating rod 7 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A1 by the elastic restoring force of the torsion bar 9, and the claw portion of the latch plate 8 is fitted into the lock hole 12A opposed thereto, and both the rails 10, The sheet is locked because the relative movement 20 is impossible. When adjusting the position of the seat, the operating rod 7 is moved by the handle 7A to the arrow A2.
It is sufficient that the claw portion of the latch plate 8 is temporarily disengaged from the lock hole 12A by rotating in the direction.

The cap 30 of this embodiment is formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin, and is fitted to the rear end of the lower rail 10 in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIGS. The cap 30 itself has a shape which does not hinder the sliding of the upper rail 20 as described later.

4 and 5, reference numeral 31 denotes a cap 30.
A lower end surface cover portion, which is an end surface of the bottom portion 11 of the lower rail 10, an end surface of a substantially lower half of the side portions 12, 12,
The lower rail 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular plane so as to cover the opening on the rear end side surrounded by these end faces. Reference numerals 32, 32 denote left and right upper end surface covers, which are formed in a substantially L-shaped plane so as to cover substantially upper half end surfaces of the side portions 12, 12 of the lower rail 10 and end surfaces of the bent portions 13, 13. ing. 32A, 32A are punched holes for forming claws 37, 37 described later.

On the back surface of the lower end surface cover portion 31, a lower side surface portion 33 which is in contact with the inner surface of the bottom portion 11 of the lower rail 10 is formed so as to protrude. Also, on the back surfaces of the lower end surface cover portion 31 and the upper end surface cover portions 32, 32, left and right side surface portions 34, 34 contacting the inner surfaces of the side portions 12, 12 of the lower rail 10.
Are protruded, and a wall portion 35 extending in the horizontal direction is formed between them.

The rear end portions 1 of the bent portions 13, 13 of the lower rail 10 are provided on the back surfaces of the upper end surface cover portions 32, 32.
Left and right upper cover portions 36, 36 having a U-shaped cross section that are in contact with the upper surface, side surfaces, and lower surface thereof so as to fit with 3C, 13C.
Are protruded. These upper cover parts 36, 3
6, the notch 1 on the side of the lower rail 10 described above.
Claws 37, 37 to be fitted with 3A, 13A are formed, and ends of the claws 37, 37 on the back surface side of the cap 30 are inclined surfaces 37A, 37A.

The cap 30 thus configured is fitted into the rear end of the lower rail 10 in the direction of arrow B, and is fixed to the rear end of the lower rail 10 by fitting the claws 37, 37 with the notches 13A, 13A. Is done. At that time, nail 3
The inclined surfaces 37A, 37A on the 7, 37 side and the inclined surfaces 13B, 13B on the lower rail 10 abut, and the claws 37, 37 are temporarily provided.
Are displaced outward with elastic deformation of the upper cover portions 36, 36, and then are fitted to the notches 13A, 13A.

Then, the cap 3 mounted in this manner is
In the case of 0, when the upper rail 20 moves forward (to the left in FIG. 1) and the rear end of the lower rail 10 is largely exposed, the appearance of the rear end is improved, and the appearance problem is solved. Will be.

By the way, in order to avoid interference between the upper rail 20 when a seat load is applied and the cap 30 as a lower opposing member, as shown in FIG. The facing interval is set to a predetermined interval C or more. In the case of this example, since the rear end portion 13C of the lower rail 10 is made thinner by the thickness WC of the cap 30, the upper rail 20 and the cap 3
The height HA of the upper cover portions 36, 36 of the cap 30 can be reduced in the direction in which the distance between the upper cover portions 36 and 36 is increased. As a result, a predetermined interval C or more between the upper rail 20 and the cap 30 is ensured without increasing the height HB of the upper rail 20.

FIG. 6 (b) is a comparative example in which a gap C is secured between the upper rail 20 and the lower rail 10 as a lower opposing member. In this comparative example, if the cap 30 is mounted on the rear end portion 13C of the lower rail 10 having the thickness WB, the facing distance between the upper rail 20 and the cap 30 as a lower facing member is Therefore, the gap C is smaller than the gap C by the thickness WC of the cap 30. In order to secure the interval C between the cap 30 and the upper rail 20, the height of the upper rail 20 must be larger than the height HB of FIG. 6B by the thickness WC of the cap 30. .

As is clear from the comparison between FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the case of this embodiment, the rear end portion 13C of the lower rail 10 is made thinner by the thickness WC of the cap 30. Therefore, it is possible to secure a predetermined interval C or more between the upper rail 20 and the cap 30 without increasing the height HB of the upper rail 20. That is, the distance between the upper rail 20 and the cap 30 facing each other is increased by reducing the thickness of the rear end portion 13C of the lower rail 10. The degree to which the rear end portion 13C is made thin is not limited only to the thickness WC of the cap 30, and the rear end portion 13C only needs to be formed to be thin, and the forming method is not specified only to crushing.

[0025]

As described above, according to the seat slide device of the present invention, the left and right folds of the lower rail that fits with the upper cover of the cap are extended in the direction of increasing the facing distance between the upper rail and the upper cover of the cap. By reducing the thickness of the curved portion, it is possible to secure the space required for preventing interference between the upper rail and the cap without increasing the cross-sectional shape of the rail, and as a result, the seat slide device The overall size and weight can be reduced and the price can be reduced, and the degree of freedom of the in-vehicle layout of the seat can be ensured.

Also, the components of the seat slide device are specially changed for the purpose of mounting the cap by crushing the portions of the left and right bent portions of the lower rail that fit with the upper cover portion of the cap thinly by the thickness of the cap. There is no need to do this, and it is possible to cope only by crushing and molding the lower rail.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a rear end portion of a lower rail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a rear end portion of a lower rail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a cap mounting portion in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the cap in FIG.

6A is an explanatory diagram of an opposing interval between an upper rail and a cap in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of an opposing interval between an upper rail and a cap as a comparative example.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a rear end portion of a conventional seat slide device.

8A is an explanatory diagram of an opposing distance between an upper rail and a cap in FIG. 7, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram of an opposing distance between an upper rail and a cap as a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Lower rail 11 Bottom part 12 Side part 13 Bend part 13C Rear end part 20 Upper rail 30 Cap 36 Upper cover part

Claims (2)

[Claims] A seat is mounted on a lower rail which has a substantially U-shaped cross section formed by a bottom portion and left and right side portions and further has left and right bent portions extending outward from upper ends of the left and right side portions. An upper cover that covers an end of the lower rail and that fits into the left and right bent portions of the lower rail at an end of the lower rail. Attach the cap formed with the portion, the portion of the left and right bent portion of the lower rail that fits with the upper cover portion of the cap, in a direction to increase the facing distance between the upper cover portion of the cap and the upper rail. A seat slide device characterized by being thin. 2. The seat slide device according to claim 1, wherein the left and right bent portions of the lower rail where the upper cover portion of the cap fits are thinly crushed by the thickness of the cap. .