JP2000038063A - Operation lever connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To make it possible to properly connect an operation lever to an operation rod without generating abnormal noise during traveling of a vehicle and preventing a one-sided effect in a locked state. SOLUTION: This is a connection structure of an operation lever 4 which is connected by being externally fitted to a distal end side of a joint lever 3 protruded from a predetermined device for operation, and is slightly more basic than a distal end portion of the joint lever 3. A locking groove 32 extending in the circumferential direction is provided on the peripheral surface on the end side, while the locking groove 32 is provided on the operation lever 4.
And a lever spring 6 which is fitted into the locking groove 32 from the outside through the arc hole 44 in a state where the operation lever 4 is externally fitted to the joint lever 3. An annular body made of an elastic material is interposed in a compressed state between the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the actuator 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the operation lever 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure of an operation lever provided on various devices such as a seat for an automobile and externally fitted to a distal end of an operation rod for performing a predetermined operation on the device. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a slide mechanism for a vehicle seat as shown in FIG. 3 is known. The vehicle seat S includes a seat bottom S1, which is a seat, and a seat bottom S1.
Back S2 as a backrest erected at the rear end of the vehicle
The seat bottom S1 is supported by a pair of widthwise slide rails 1 arranged on the floor F of the vehicle so as to be able to move back and forth. The slide rail 1 includes a lower rail 11 whose front and rear ends are fixed to a floor F, and a lower rail 11
The seat bottom S <b> 1 is movable between the pair of upper rails 12 in a state of being bridged between the pair of upper rails 12.

[0005] Locking means 13 is provided between the lower rail 11 and the upper rail 12 to prevent the movement of the upper rail 12, and the upper rail 12 is locked by operating the operating rod 200. At the same time, the lock is released by the reverse operation of the operation stick 200.

Conventionally, the operating rod 200 is
, And a pair of joint levers (operation rods) 201 connected in the width direction, and an operation lever 202 made of a pipe material externally connected to the distal end of each joint lever 201. 202 are connected to each other by a connection structure as shown in FIG.

That is, a locking groove 203 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the joint lever 201 at the distal end thereof, while a cutout hole 204 corresponding to the locking groove 203 is formed in the operation lever 202. The cut hole 2
A locking spring 205 obtained by bending and forming a wire-shaped spring material into a predetermined shape is mounted on the operation lever 202 with its central portion penetrating into the operation lever 202. When the joint lever 201 is inserted into the operation lever 202, the locking spring 205 is
3, the operation lever 202 is connected to the joint lever 201 in a state where the operation lever 202 is locked.

[0006]

In the conventional operation lever connection structure as described above, the outer diameter of the joint lever 201 is set slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the operation lever 202. Although the operation of inserting the joint lever 201 into the operation lever 202 is facilitated by the operation lever 200, the operation lever 200 formed by connecting the two is formed by the joint lever 201 and the operation lever 2.
Since a gap is formed between the two at the connection portion with 02,
There is a problem that the operation lever 202 vibrates and rattles due to the vibration during the running of the vehicle, and abnormal noise is generated so that a comfortable ride cannot be obtained.

In order to solve this problem, the outer diameter of the joint lever 201 may be set slightly larger than the inner diameter of the operation lever 202, and the joint lever 201 may be pressed into the operation lever 202. This raises a new problem that the assembling operation becomes troublesome and increases the assembling cost,
Since there is no play between the joint lever 201 and the operation lever 202, for example, when the U-shaped operation lever 202 is distorted, the displacement of the left and right joint levers 201 does not match, As a result, there is a problem that the lock state by the lock means 13 may be one-sided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to prevent an abnormal noise from being generated during traveling of a vehicle and to prevent a lock-side one-sided effect from occurring, and to provide an operation rod with the same. An object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure of an operation lever that can appropriately connect the operation lever.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection structure for an operation lever, which is connected by being externally fitted to a distal end of an operation rod protruded from a predetermined device for operation. A connection structure for an operation lever, wherein the operation rod has a locking groove extending in a circumferential direction on a peripheral surface slightly proximal to a distal end portion, while the operation lever corresponds to the locking groove. A notch extending in the circumferential direction, and a locking means that is fitted into the locking groove through the notch from the outside in a state where the operating lever is externally fitted to the operating rod, is provided. An annular body made of an elastic material is interposed between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the operation lever in a compressed state.

According to the connecting structure of the operating lever, the operating lever is fitted to the operating rod, and the locking means is fitted into the locking groove through the cutout hole from the outside, thereby preventing the operating rod from coming off the operating rod. Connected in state. Since the operating lever is connected to the operating rod, an annular body made of an elastic material is interposed in a compressed state between the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the operating rod and the inner peripheral surface of the operating lever. ,
The rattling between the operating lever and the operating rod is eliminated,
As a result, noise caused by rattling between the operation lever and the operation rod, which has conventionally occurred while the vehicle is running, does not occur.

Further, when the operating rod has a U-shape used for a seat slide mechanism, for example, and both ends thereof are connected to a pair of left and right operating rods,
When the operation rod is pressed into the operation lever and the two are integrated, there is no play between the two, but the distortion of the operation lever causes the displacement of the left and right operation rods to be different, which causes There is a disadvantage that the rod is in a one-sided state, but according to the invention described in claim 1,
The occurrence of such inconvenience is suppressed by the elastic deformation of the annular body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connecting structure for an operating lever according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating lever is provided in a radial direction at a position slightly deeper than the position of the cut hole on the inner peripheral surface. The annular body is dimensioned such that the stopper is restricted from moving backward when inserted into the operation lever.

According to the connection structure of the operation lever, since the annular body is inserted into the operation lever in a state where the movement to the back is restricted by the stopper, the annular body is prevented from slipping into the back. Exhibits stable rattling prevention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connecting structure for an operating lever according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating rod is a portion on the distal end side or the proximal end side of the locking groove. At least one has an annular groove extending in the circumferential direction, and the annular body has a width dimension set so as to fit into the annular groove.

According to the connecting structure of the operating lever, the annular body is inserted into the operating lever in a state where the movement toward the back is restricted by the fitting of the operating rod into the annular groove. Is prevented from slipping into the back, and exhibits a stable rattling prevention action.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a connection structure for an operation lever according to the present invention.
Is an exploded perspective view, and (b) is a partially cutaway assembled perspective view. The connection structure shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the sheet S shown in FIG.
This is applied to the connection between the operation lever of the slide mechanism and the joint lever. Therefore, here, sheet S
Description of the slide rail 1 is omitted. Note that, in FIG. 1 and FIG.
And only one of the pair of joint levers 3 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operating rod 2 for operating the lock means 13 (FIG. 3) includes a pair of joint levers (operating rods) 3 in the width direction and an operating lever 4 which is externally fitted to the joint lever 3. And a rubber tube 5 interposed between the joint lever 3 and the operation lever 4. The operation lever 4 is formed by a hollow metal pipe body, and a stopper 41 formed by crushing from both sides in a radial direction is provided at an appropriate position on the distal end side thereof. Is formed with a connecting portion 42 for connecting the joint lever 3 to the joint lever 3. In this connection part 42, the joint lever 3
A fitting space 43 for fitting the distal end of the fitting is formed. The operation lever 4 has an arc hole (notch hole) 4 formed at a central portion of the connection portion 42 and having a predetermined length in the circumferential direction.
The lever spring (locking means) 6 is mounted in the arc hole 44.

The lever spring 6 is formed by bending a wire-like spring body, and is bent in a straight portion 61 at a central portion and on both sides of the straight portion 61 in directions facing each other. And an L-shaped engaging portion 62 formed in the above manner. The straight portion 61 is set slightly longer than the outer diameter of the operation lever 4, and each of the engaging portions 62 is curved in a direction in which the central portions thereof are opposed to each other. Each engagement portion 62 sandwiches the connection portion 42 of the operation lever 4 in a state where the 44 is fitted, whereby the mounting state of the lever spring 6 to the operation lever 4 is stabilized.

The arc hole 44 of the operation lever 4 is
The central portion of the lever spring 6 is exposed in the fitting space 43 of the connecting portion 42 with the straight portion 61 fitted therein.

The outer diameter of the joint lever 3 is set slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the operating lever 4.
Thus, when the joint lever 3 is inserted into the connection portion 42 of the operation lever 4, a slight gap is formed between them in an annular shape. A tapered portion 31 whose diameter gradually decreases toward the distal end is formed at the distal end of the joint lever 3, and the tapered portion 31 facilitates the fitting operation of the joint lever 3 to the operation lever 4. .

The joint lever 3 has, at a portion slightly closer to the base end from the tapered portion 31, a locking groove 32 formed to extend in the circumferential direction corresponding to the arc hole 44 of the operation lever 4. And the fitting space 43 of the operation lever 4
Is fitted to the joint lever 3 so that the straight portion 61 of the lever spring 6 fits into the locking groove 32, whereby the operation lever 4 is connected to the joint lever 3.

The length from the locking groove 32 of the joint lever 3 to the tip is determined by the arc hole 44 of the fitting space 43.
Is set shorter than the distance from
Thus, with the joint lever 3 mounted in the fitting space 43, the tip of the joint lever 3 and the stopper 4
A tube mounting space 45 for mounting the tube 5 is formed between the tube mounting space 1 and the tube mounting space 1.

The length of the tube 5 is set slightly longer than the length of the tube mounting space 45, and the outer diameter of the tube 5 is larger than the inner diameter of the fitting space 43. The dimension is set smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the joint lever 3.

According to the connection structure of the operation lever 4 of the first embodiment, in the state shown in FIG. 1A, the tube 5 is first inserted into the fitting space 43 of the operation lever 4 as far as it will go. Then, the tube 5 is mounted in the tube mounting space 45 which abuts on the stopper 41 at the back of the fitting space 43. Then, the straight portion 61 of the lever spring 6 is fitted into the arc hole 44 and a pair of engaging portions 62 are hooked around the peripheral surface of the operation lever 4 so that the lever spring 6 is attached to the connection portion 42 of the operation lever 4. It will be in the state that was done.

In this state, the connecting portion 42 of the operating lever 4 is moved to the end of the joint lever 3 while the straight portion 61 of the lever spring 6 attached to the arc hole 44 corresponds to the locking groove 32 of the joint lever 3. Fig. 1
As shown in (b) of FIG.
1 is fitted in the locking groove 32 of the joint lever 3 in a retaining state, and the operation lever 4 is connected to the joint lever 3.

When the operating lever 4 is connected to the joint lever 3, the tube 5 is compressed between the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 31 of the joint lever 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion 42 of the operating lever 4. Since the state is interposed in the state, rattling between the operation lever 4 and the joint lever 3 is reliably prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent abnormal noise due to rattling between the operation lever 4 and the operation rod 3 which has been generated during the traveling of the vehicle, and it is also long and long.
In addition, it is possible to prevent the one-sided effect of the pair of operation rods 3 due to the distortion of the operation lever 4 set in a U-shape.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a second embodiment of the connection structure of the operation lever according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. In the second embodiment, the operation lever 4a is provided with the same arc hole 44 as described above, but the stopper 41 as employed in the first embodiment is not provided. The joint lever 3a is provided with an annular groove 33 at the tip end of the locking groove 32 in addition to the tapered portion 31 and the locking groove 32 as in the first embodiment. An O-ring (annular body) 5a is fitted. The inner diameter of the O-ring 5a is set slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the annular groove 33, and the outer diameter is the operation lever 4a.
The dimension is set slightly larger than the inner diameter dimension of.

According to the connection structure of the operating lever 4a of the second embodiment, the operating lever 4a is fitted over the joint lever 3a in the state shown in FIG. 2A, the lever spring 6 is attached to the arc hole 44, so that the operation lever 4 can be moved as shown in FIG.
a is attached to the joint lever 3a in a state where it cannot be removed.

When the operating lever 4a is mounted on the joint lever 3a, the O-ring 5a is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the joint lever 3a and the inner peripheral surface of the operating lever 4a in a compressed state by elastic deformation. Therefore, rattling between the joint lever 3a and the operation lever 4a is reliably prevented, and the same operation as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

As described in detail above, the connection structure of the operation levers 4 and 4a according to the present invention is connected by being externally fitted to a distal end side of a joint lever 3 protruded from a predetermined device for operation. This is a connection structure of the operating levers 4 and 4a, wherein a locking groove 32 extending in the circumferential direction is provided on the peripheral surface slightly proximal to the distal end of the joint lever 3, while the locking groove 32 is provided on the operating levers 4 and 4a. And a lever spring 6 which is fitted into the locking groove 32 through the arc hole 44 from the outside in a state where the operating levers 4 and 4a are externally fitted to the joint lever 3 are provided. The outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the joint lever 3 and the operation levers 4 and 4
Since an annular body made of an elastic material is interposed between the inner peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the operating lever 4 in a compressed state, the operating levers 4 and 4a are fitted to the joint lever 3 from outside, and the operating levers 4 and 4a are connected to the lever through the arc holes 44 from outside. By fitting the spring 6 into the locking groove 32, the spring 6 is connected to the joint lever 3 in a state where it cannot be removed. When the operating levers 4 and 4a are connected to the joint lever 3, an annular body made of an elastic material is compressed between the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the joint lever 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the operating levers 4 and 4a. Therefore, the play between the operating levers 4, 4a and the joint lever 3 is eliminated, whereby the operating levers 4, 4a and the joint lever which have conventionally occurred during the running of the vehicle are removed. No abnormal noise due to rattling between 3 and 3 is generated.

The joint lever 3 has a U-shape used for a seat slide mechanism, for example.
When both ends are connected to the pair of left and right joint levers 3, the joint lever 3 is
When the two are integrated by press-fitting into the 4a, there is no backlash between the two, but the displacement of the left and right joint levers 3 becomes different due to the distortion of the operating levers 4, 4a. Although there is a disadvantage that the lever 3 is in a one-sided state, the occurrence of such a disadvantage is suppressed by the elastic deformation of the annular body.

The arc hole 4 on the inner peripheral surface of the operation lever 4
A stopper 41 protruding radially to a position slightly behind the four positions
And the length of the tube 5 as an annular body is adjusted with the stopper 41 inserted into the operation lever 4.
By setting so that the movement to the back is restricted (first embodiment), the tube 5 is inserted into the operation lever 4 with the movement to the back restricted by the stopper 41, and It is prevented from slipping into the back and exhibits a stable rattling prevention action.

Further, an annular groove 33 extending in the circumferential direction is provided at a portion of the operation lever 4a on the tip side from the locking groove 32, and the O-ring 5a as an annular body is set so as to fit into the annular groove 33 ( 2nd Embodiment) By this, O-ring 5a
Is inserted into the operation lever 4a in a state where the movement to the back is restricted by the fitting of the joint lever 3 into the annular groove 33, and the O-ring 5a is prevented from slipping into the back,
Exhibits stable rattling prevention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but includes the following contents.

(1) In the above embodiment, the tube 5 and the O-ring 5a as an annular body are made of rubber. However, the present invention requires that the tube 5 and the O-ring 5a be made of rubber. It is not limited to
A material made of a synthetic resin having elasticity other than rubber may be employed as the annular body.

(2) In the above embodiment, the operation stick 2 for sliding the sheet S is raised, but the present invention is limited to the operation stick 2 for the sheet sliding operation. However, the present invention can be applied to various operation sticks.

[0037]

According to the connecting structure of the operating lever according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating rod is provided with the locking groove extending in the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface slightly proximal to the distal end, while operating the operating rod. The lever is provided with a notch hole extending in the circumferential direction corresponding to the locking groove, and further provided with locking means which is fitted into the locking groove through the notch hole from the outside in a state where the operating lever is externally fitted to the operating rod. Since an annular body made of an elastic material is interposed in a compressed state between the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the operating rod and the inner peripheral surface of the operating lever, the operating lever is externally fitted to the operating rod, and cut out from the outside through a notch hole. By fitting the locking means into the locking groove, the locking means can be connected to the operating rod in a locked state. Then, in a state where the operation lever is connected to the operation rod, an annular body made of an elastic material is interposed in a compressed state between the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the operation rod and the inner peripheral surface of the operation lever, The rattling between the operating lever and the operating rod can be eliminated, and the generation of abnormal noise caused by the rattling between the operating lever and the operating rod, which has conventionally occurred during traveling of the vehicle, can be reduced. It can be reliably prevented.

When the operating rod has a U-shape used for a seat slide mechanism, for example, and its both ends are connected to a pair of left and right operating rods, the operating rod has a one-sided effect. The occurrence of the inconvenience of being in the state can be suppressed.

According to the connecting structure of the operating lever according to the second aspect of the present invention, the operating lever is provided with a radially projecting stopper at a position slightly deeper than the notch hole on the inner peripheral surface,
Since the annular body is dimensioned so that it is restricted from moving backward by the stopper when inserted into the operation lever,
The annular body is inserted into the operation lever in a state where the movement of the annular body is restricted by the stopper, whereby the annular body is prevented from slipping into the interior, and a stable rattling preventing action can be exhibited.

According to the connecting structure of the operating lever according to the third aspect of the present invention, the operating rod is provided with an annular groove extending in the circumferential direction on at least one of the portion on the distal end side or the proximal end side from the locking groove. Since the annular body has a width dimension set so as to fit into the annular groove, the annular body is inserted into the operating lever in a state where the movement to the back is restricted by the fitting of the operating rod into the annular groove. Thus, a stable rattling preventing action can be exhibited in a state where the annular body is prevented from slipping into the back.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a connection structure of an operation lever according to the present invention, wherein (A) is an exploded perspective view, and (B).
FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away assembled perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the operation lever connection structure according to the present invention, wherein (A) is an exploded perspective view, and (B) is an exploded perspective view.
FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away assembled perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a conventional operation lever connection structure is applied to a seat.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the connection structure of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Operating rod 3, 3a Joint lever (operating rod) 31 Tapered portion 32 Locking groove 33 Annular groove 4, 4a Operating lever 41 Stopper 42 Connecting portion 43 Fitting space 44 Arc hole (cut hole) 45 Tube mounting space 5 Tube ( O-ring (annular body) 6 Lever spring (locking means) 61 Straight part 62 Engaging part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connection structure of an operation lever connected by being fitted to a distal end side of an operation rod protruded from a predetermined device for operation, wherein the operation rod is slightly more basic than a distal end portion. The operation lever has a notch extending in the circumferential direction corresponding to the locking groove, and the operation lever is externally fitted to the operation rod. A locking means is provided which is fitted into the locking groove from the outside through the cutout hole in a state where the operating rod is formed, and an elastic material is provided between an outer peripheral surface of a distal end portion of the operation rod and an inner peripheral surface of the operation lever. A connection structure for an operation lever, wherein the annular body is interposed in a compressed state. 2. The operating lever has a stopper radially protruding at a position slightly deeper than the position of the notch hole on the inner peripheral surface, and the annular body is inserted into the operating lever by the stopper. The connection structure for an operation lever according to claim 1, wherein dimensions are set so that movement to the back is restricted. 3. The operating rod has an annular groove extending in a circumferential direction in at least one of a portion on the distal end side or a proximal end side of the locking groove, and the annular body is fitted in the annular groove. 2. The connection structure for an operation lever according to claim 1, wherein a width dimension is set so as to fit.