VEHICULAR SLIDE RAIL DEVICE

• US 20150048603A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Shiroki Corporation (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Zaiki, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,045,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0722 Constructive details
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0818 inside the rail
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0881 Activation of the latches by the control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A vehicle slide rail device is provided, which can reduce the possibility of the lock mechanism provided between the upper rail and the lower rail unintentionally lock-releasing when the cushion airbag is inflated.

As a solution, the lock-release lever 40 is provided with a lock-release contacting portion 46, which is positioned away from a press portion 65 of the lock operational lever when the lock operational lever is positioned at a lock-allowing position and which receives a force from the press portion for rotating the lock release lever toward the unlocking position when the lock operational lever rotates from the lock-allowing position toward the lock-release position. When the upper rail 30 is deformed downwardly due to pressure by the inflating of a cushion airbag 80, the lock release lever moves downwardly together with a downwardly deforming portion of the upper rail and the lock-release contacting portion moves in a direction to closely approach the press portion of the lock operational lever.

Claims

1. A slide rail device of a vehicle, comprising:

a lower rail which extends in a forward/rearward direction and is immovable relative to a floor of the vehicle;

an upper rail which supports a seat and is supported by said lower rail to be slideable in said forward/rearward direction;

a lock mechanism which restricts or releases restriction of a sliding movement of said upper rail;

a lock release lever which is interconnected with said lock mechanism, and which is upwardly and downwardly rotatable relative to said upper rail between a locked position, at which the restriction of sliding via said lock mechanism is allowed, and an unlocked position, at which said restriction of sliding is released;

a lock operational lever, a rear portion of which is upwardly/downwardly rotatably connected to a front portion of said lock release lever, said lock operational lever being rotatable between a lock-allowing position, in which said lock release lever is positioned at said locked position, and a lock-release position, in which said lock release lever is moved to said unlocked position;

a biaser, provided between said lock release lever and said lock operational lever, said biaser rotatably biasing said lock operational lever toward said lock-allowing position with respect to said lock release lever; and

a cushion airbag, attached to said seat, said cushion airbag inflating when a front portion of said vehicle collides with another object, other than said vehicle,

wherein said lock operational lever rotates to said lock-release position by a front portion of said lock operational lever moving upward, relative to said rear portion thereof, when positioned at said lock-allowing position,

wherein said lock-release lever is provided with a lock-release contacting portion, which is positioned away from a press portion of said lock operational lever when said lock operational lever is positioned at said lock-allowing position and which receives a force from said press portion for rotating said lock release lever 40 toward said unlocking position of said lock release lever when said lock operational lever rotates from said lock-allowing position toward said lock-release position, and

wherein, when said upper rail is deformed downwardly due to pressure by the inflating of said cushion airbag, said lock release lever moves downwardly together with a downwardly deforming portion of said upper rail and said lock-release contacting portion moves in a direction to closely approach said press portion of said lock operational lever.

2. The slide rail device of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said upper rail is formed in a channel shape, and

wherein said lock mechanism and said lock release lever are provided in an internal space within said upper rail.