Slide rail device for seat

• US 5,575,449 A
• Filed: 10/05/1994
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Akiyama, Masami, Shinbori, Hideo, Takayama, Takuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US08/318,294
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 248/429, 248/430, 248/298, 297/344.1, 297/470, 297/473, 280/804
• US Class Current: 248/429
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0705 omega-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/072 Complex cross-section, e.g. obtained by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0732 Attachment of seat frame to the slide, e.g. eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0747 the opening of the cross section being oriented in a direction different from the vertical, e.g. transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/075 roller-less
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A slide rail device for a seat, of the type mounted laterally of a seat cushion frame, which comprises an upper rail member fixed to the lateral side of the seat cushion frame, a lower rail member fixed to a floor, a seat belt anchor provided between the upper and lower rail members, and an engagement element. When a great degree of inwardly slant upward pulling force is applied via the seat belt anchor to the upper rail member, the engagement element effects an engagement action in response to at least one of upward and inward component forces composed by such inwardly slant upward pulling force, so that an intensive stress produced between the upper and lower rail members may be dispersed to the engagement element. Further, the upper and lower rail members are formed from a lightweight material with a reinforcing element to have a lightweight yet robust structure.

Claims

1. A slide rail device for a seat, of such a type mounted laterally of a seat cushion frame which forms a part of said seat, comprising:

a lower rail means to be fixed to a floor, said lower rail means including an upper guide groove and a lower guide groove;

an upper rail means to be fixed to a lateral side of said seat cushion frame, said upper rail means being slidably assembled with said lower rail means such as to be slidable along said lower rail means;

said upper rail means including an upper guide means and a lower guide means which are respectively slidably fitted in said upper and lower guide grooves of said lower rail means via slider means;

a seat belt anchor means disposed between said upper rail means and said seat cushion frame; and

at least two engagement means which are so arranged between said upper and lower rail means that each of said at least two engagement means to effect an engagement action responsive to an inwardly slant upward force being applied through said seat belt anchor means to said upper rail means in a slant direction inwardly of the seat, whereby said engagement action disperses a stress produced by said inward slant upward force in said upper and lower guide means of said upper rail means, said at least two engagement means including;

(a) a first engagement means disposed at a point laterally away from said seat frame, said first engagement means being to effect an engagement action in response to at least one of an upward component force and an inward component force composed by said inwardly slant upward force; and

(b) a second engagement means disposed at a point laterally toward said seat frame and away from said first engagement means said second engagement means being to effect an engagement action only in response to said upward component force.

2. The slide rail device according to claim 1, wherein

said first engagement means comprises:

an inwardly projected engagement section which is integrally formed with said upper rail means in a vicinity of said upper guide means, such as to be projected in a direction inwardly of said upper rail means;

an outwardly projected engagement section which is integrally formed with said lower rail means in vicinity of said upper guide means, such as to be projected in a direction outwardly of said lower rail means;

both said inwardly and outwardly projected engagement sections being to be engaged with each other for said engagement action in response to said at least one of upward and inward component forces;

and wherein,

said second engagement means is disposed at a lower point relative to said first engagement means and comprises;

an outwardly projected engagement section which is integrally formed with said lower rail means such as to be projected outwardly thereof; and

an inwardly projected engagement section which is integrally formed with said upper rail means such as to be projected inwardly threof;

both said outwardly and inwardly engagement sections being engaged with each other for said engagement action only in response to said upward component force.

3. The slide rail device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two engagement means further include a third engagement means in addition to said first and second engagement means, and wherein said third engagement means is so defined between said upper and lower rail means as to be disposed at a inward side of said upper guide means of said upper rail means and laterally away from said seat frame, said third engagement means being to effect an engagement action only in response to said upward component force.

4. The slide rail device according to claim 3, wherein said third engagement means comprises:

an outwardly projected engagement section which is integrally formed with said upper rail means in a vicinity of said upper guide means, such as to be projected outwardly of said upper rail means; and

an inwardly projected engagement section which is integrally formed with said lower rail means in vicinity of said upper guide means, such as to be projected inwardly of said upper rail means, and wherein both said outwardly and inwardly projected engagement sections are to be engaged with each other only in response to said upward component force.

5. The slide rail device according to claim 1, wherein said lower rail means includes a base end portion of a generally tubular shape having a hollow therein, said base end portion to be fixed to said floor.

6. The slide rail device according to claim 1, wherein both said upper and lower rail means are formed by an extrusion molding from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminium alloy, magnesium alloy and fiber reinforced plastics.

7. A side rail device for a seat, of such a type mounted laterally of a seat cushion frame which forms a part of said seat, comprising

a lower rail means formed from a lightweight material, said lower rail means to be fixed to a floor and including an upper guide groove and a lower guide groove;

an upper rail means formed from a lightweight material, said upper rail means to be fixed to a lateral side of said seat cushion frame and being slidably assembled with said lower rail means such as to be slidable along said lower rail means;

said upper rail means including an upper guide means and a lower guide means which are respectively slidably fitted in said upper and lower guide grooves of said lower rail means via slider means;

a seat belt anchor means disposed between said upper rail means and said seat cushion frame;

at least two engagement means which are so arranged integrally between said upper and lower rail means that each of said at least two engagement means effect an engagement action responsive to an inwardly slant upward force being applied through said seat belt anchor means to said upper rail means in a slant direction inwardly of the seat, whereby said engagement action disperses a stress produced by said inward slant upward force in said upper and lower guide means of said upper rail means, said at least two engagement means including;

(a) a first engagement means disposed at a point laterally away from said seat frame, said first engagement means being to effect an engagement action in response to at least one of an upward component force and an inward component force composed by said inwardly slant upward force; and

(b) a second engagement means disposed at a point laterally toward said seat frame and from said first engagement means said second engagement means being to effect an engagement action only in response to said upward component force,

a reinforcing means which is provided at a point where said upper rail means is fixed via said seat belt anchor to the lateral side of said cushion frame and also provided at a base portion of said lower rail mans fixed to said floor.

8. The slide rail device according to claim 7, wherein both said upper and lower rail means are formed by an extrusion molding from said lightweight material, and wherein said lightweight material is a material selected from the group consisting of aluminium alloy, magnesium alloy and fiber reinforced plastics.

9. The slide rail device according to claim 7, wherein said reinforcing means comprises a hard steel plate and at least two bolts, and wherein all said upper rail means, seat belt anchor and seat cushion frame are fixed firmly together by means of said hard steel plate and at least two bolts, with said hard steel plate being juxtaposed with said upper rail means.

10. The slide rail device according to claim 7, wherein said base portion of said lower rail means is fixed to a leg member to be fixed said floor, such that one end of said leg member is fixed to said base portion of said lower rail means while another end of the same leg member is to be fixed to said floor, wherein said reinforcing means comprises:

a generally tubular configuration of said base portion of said lower rail means having a hollow defined therein;

a hard steel plate; and

at least two bolts, and wherein said generally tubular configuration of said lower rail means base portion is fixed to said one end of said leg member by means of said hard steel plate and bolts, with said hard steel plate placed in said hollow of said lower rail means base portion.