JPS6324670B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a slide device of a type that is automatically ejected by a predetermined actuator.
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a holding structure between a slide body and a retainer that slidably holds the slide body.

BACKGROUND ART An example of the above-mentioned automatic ejecting slide device is an ashtray device for a vehicle. In such an automatic ejecting ashtray device, both sides of the ashtray case are held by guide rails provided on a fixed retainer, and the ashtray case is guided in the loading/unloading direction. The ashtray case is always urged in the direction of protruding from the retainer, for example, by a spiral spring or the like that urges in one rotation direction a pinion that engages with a rack fixedly attached to the ashtray case. When the ashtray case is in the closed position stored in the retainer, it is held in that position by the locking action of the locking mechanism, but when the ashtray case is pushed in slightly, the lock is released and the ashtray case is opened. According to the biasing force of the actuator, it is usually configured to be automatically pushed out via a damper for deceleration, and the guide rail and ashtray case of such a retainer are often made of resin. .

By the way, in such an automatic ejecting type ashtray device, unlike a manual drawer type ashtray device,
It is not preferable to interpose a leaf spring or the like for removing backlash in the sliding portion between the guide rail of the retainer and both sides of the ashtray case. This is because, in this case, the sliding resistance of the ashtray case increases and the ashtray case cannot be pushed out smoothly even by the biasing force of the actuator. This is because if a force is applied to the actuator, a large force is required to push it into the storage position, resulting in poor operation feeling.

Problems Therefore, conventionally, in order to keep the sliding resistance of the ashtray case to a low level, it has been possible to guide both sides of the ashtray case in the loading/unloading direction by guide rails of the retainer without using the above-mentioned leaf springs. However, with this method, the ashtray case tends to rattle, and for example, when the ashtray case is extended to the open position, there is a problem in that the ashtray case rattles due to vibrations of the vehicle or the like.

This is a problem that occurs not only in ashtray devices for vehicles but also in automatic ejecting type slide body devices in general.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and as described above, the guide rails of the retainer allow both sides of the slide body to be moved in and out direction. In a slide body device of a type that is guided and automatically projected according to a predetermined biasing force of an actuator, and at least both sides of the slide body and the guide rail are made of resin, the guide rails and a guide groove is provided on one of the side portions of the slide body, and a guide portion that is slidably engaged in the guide groove is provided on the other side, and at least one of the guide groove and the guide portion is provided with a guide groove. One engagement protrusion is formed, and the other of the engagement protrusions is integrally provided with at least one elastic claw that is elastically deformed by engaging with the engagement protrusion, so that the engagement protrusion and the elastic When engaged with the claw portion, the side portion of the slide body is pressed against the guide rail of the retainer by a pressing force generated based on the elastic deformation action of the elastic claw portion. It is something.

In other words, the elastic claw portion does not apply a pressing force all the time, but applies a pushing force only after it engages with the engagement protrusion.Conversely, the elastic claw portion and the engagement protrusion Before the parts are brought into engagement, the side parts of the slide body can, as it were, freely slide on the guide rails of the retainer. It is preferable that the engagement timing between the engagement convex portion and the elastic claw portion coincides with, for example, the timing when the slide body is ejected to the ejection limit. Based on the elastic deformation of the claw portion, the side portion of the slide body is pressed against the guide rail of the retainer.

Embodiments Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an ashtray device for a vehicle will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of such an automatically ejecting vehicle ashtray device disassembled into individual parts. This ashtray device includes an ashtray case 2 for storing cigarette butts, and a retainer 4 that holds both sides of the ashtray case 2. The ashtray case 2 is fixed to an instrument panel, etc., and serves to guide the ashtray case 2 in the loading/unloading direction.

The ashtray case 2 is made of fire-resistant resin, and the upper portions of both sides of the ashtray case 2 have guide protrusions 6 that function as guide parts and have cross sections that protrude laterally. They are formed parallel to each other along the inlet/outlet direction of the two. Further, a fire protector 8 is rotatably provided via a shaft 10 so as to cover the opening of the ashtray case 2, and is biased upward by a spring 12. Furthermore, a rack 14 extending in the loading/unloading direction is fixed on the bottom outer surface of the ashtray case 2, and a locking pin 1
6 protrudes downward. A lock release lever 20 having a protrusion 18 is rotatably attached to the inside of the handle of the ashtray case 2.

On the other hand, the retainer 4 is made of sheet metal,
A pair of resin guide rails 22 are provided in parallel with each other on the inner surfaces of the opposite sides of the side,
Mounting protrusions 24 formed on the back surface of each retainer 4 are fixed to both sides of the retainer 4 by being fitted into the mounting holes 26 of the retainer 4 in a manner that prevents them from coming off. those guide rails 2
Guide grooves 28 each having a rectangular groove cross section are formed on the mutually opposing inner surfaces of the grooves 2 along the longitudinal direction and facing each other,
The guide protrusions 6 on both sides of the ashtray case 2 are slidably engaged with these guide grooves 28, and are guided in the loading/unloading direction.

The window portion 30 formed in the upper part of the retainer 4 includes
A lighting case 34 is attached via a filter 32, and a protector guide 36 for guiding the protector 8 is fixed to the upper inner surface. This protector guide 36
8, and by abutting a protrusion 40 formed on the protector 8, it also plays the role of defining the limit of protrusion of the ashtray case 2 from the retainer 4.

A bracket 42 is fixed to the lower part of the retainer 4 so as to straddle both sides of the retainer 4 (this can also be seen as a part of the retainer 4). 58−88262
As described in the specification of the above issue, a pinion 44 meshing with the rack 14 of the ashtray case 2 is rotatably supported via the case 46 and is biased in one direction by a precompressed spiral spring 48. The spiral spring 48 functions as an actuator that always biases the ashtray case 2 in a direction to protrude from the retainer 4.

Further, an elastic cam piece 50 is rotatably attached to the lower surface of the bracket 42 and is always urged in the direction A by a spring 52.
When the ashtray case 2 is pushed into the retainer 4, the recess 54 of the cam groove of the elastic cam piece 50
By locking the locking pin 16 of the ashtray case 2, the ashtray case 2 is held in the pushed-in storage position. However, if the ashtray case 2 is pushed in slightly in this state, the locking pin 16 moves within the cam groove as shown in FIG. 2, causing the elastic cam piece 50 to elastically deform downward and detach. As a result, the locking is released and the ashtray case 2 is allowed to protrude, and these elastic cam pieces 50, locking pins 16, etc. constitute a locking mechanism.

In the unlocked state, the ashtray case 2 is automatically pushed out based on the engagement between the pinion 44 and the rack 14 according to the biasing force of the spiral spring 48. is meshed with a gear 58 of the damper 56, and the rotation of this gear 58 is suppressed by the viscous resistance of the fluid, so that an appropriate ejection speed is given to the ashtray case 2.

Note that if the ashtray case 2 is clogged with cigarette butts or the like and the ashtray case 2 cannot be pushed in slightly from the storage position, rotate the lock release lever 20 and release the elastic cam piece with the protrusion 18 of the lock release lever 20. By pushing down 50, the locking of the locking pin 16 can be released.

Each guide protrusion 6 formed on both sides of the ashtray case 2 is fitted into the guide groove 28 of each guide rail 22 of the retainer 4, but in this state, the lower surface of the guide protrusion 6 is below the guide groove 28. While the guide protrusion 6 is brought into sliding contact with the side surface, a certain gap is created between the upper surface of the guide protrusion 6 and the upper surface of the guide groove 28 . Each upper surface of the guide protrusion 6 is provided with a height such that the two engaging protrusions 60 and 62 protrude upward, and a slight clearance is created between the upper surface of the guide groove 28 and the upper surface of the guide groove 28. They are provided in each. These engaging protrusions 60
and 62 occupy positions corresponding to each other in the width direction of the ashtray case 2, but the engagement protrusion 60 is formed at the end (rear end) of the ashtray case 2 in the pushing direction, and The convex portion 62 is formed at a position separated from the engaging convex portion 60 by a predetermined distance in the direction in which the ashtray case 2 protrudes.

On the other hand, two elastic claws 64 and 66 are provided on the upper surface of the guide groove 28 of each guide rail 22, respectively. These elastic claws 64 and 66 are both formed of resin integral with the guide rail 22 by making slits 68 in the resin guide rail 22 along the contour thereof, and are formed of a resin integral with the guide rail 22 in the groove width direction of the guide groove 28. It is said that elastic deformation is possible in the vertical direction (in this example).
When forming the guide rail 22, these elastic claws 6
4 and 66 can be molded at the same time. Also,
The free end portions of each of the elastic claws 64 and 66 are formed in a shape that protrudes toward the upper side of the guide protrusion 6, but there is a minute clearance between the free end portion and the upper side of the guide protrusion 6. is made to occur. Each of the elastic claws 66 is attached to the guide rail 22.
is located at the front end in the longitudinal direction, that is, at the end of the protruding side of the ashtray case 2, and each of the elastic claws 64 extends by a distance equal to the distance between the engaging protrusions 60 and 62 of the guide protrusion 6. It is formed at a position apart from the elastic claw portion 66 in the direction in which the ashtray case 2 is pushed.

Moreover, as is clear from FIG. 3a, when the ashtray case 2 is in the storage position pushed into the retainer 4, the engaging protrusions 60 and 62 and the elastic claws 64 and 66 occupy alternate positions. ,
Further, the respective distances l between the elastic claw portion 66 and the engagement protrusion 62 and between the elastic claw portion 64 and the engagement protrusion 60 are as follows:
Both are equal and are determined to be equal to the protrusion stroke l of the ashtray case 2 shown in FIG. 3b.

Therefore, the elastic claw portion 66 and the engagement protrusion 62 as well as the elastic claw portion 64 and the engagement protrusion 60 are engaged with each other when the ashtray case 2 is protruded to its maximum limit. As is clear from FIG. 4, the engaging convex portion 62 and the elastic claw portion 6
Corresponding inclined surfaces 70 and 72 are formed at the portions that are engaged with each other, and these inclined surfaces 70 and 72, due to their wedge effect, engage the elastic claws as the ashtray case 2 protrudes. 66 elastically deforms upward. Incidentally, both the elastic claw portion 64 and the engagement convex portion 60 are similarly formed with inclined surfaces 70 and 72 that correspond to each other.

In the automatic ejecting ashtray device configured as described above, as shown in FIG. The locking by the elastic cam piece 50 is released, and the ashtray case 2 opens as shown in FIG. It is automatically ejected to the protruding position. Therefore, until the ashtray case 2 is pushed out from the closed position to the open position, the elastic claws 64 and 66 are not connected to the engagement protrusion except when the engagement protrusion 62 passes through the elastic claw 64. 60 and 62 are not elastically deformed, and the lower surface of the guide protrusion 6 only comes into sliding contact with the lower surface of the guide groove 28, so the sliding resistance between them is suppressed to a low level. Therefore, the spiral spring 48
Even if the elastic force of the ashtray case 2 is not so strong, the ashtray case 2 can be pushed out lightly and smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 3b, just before the ashtray case 2 is ejected to the ejection limit, the engaging protrusion 62 engages the elastic claw 66 and the elastic claw 64. The protrusions 60 are engaged with each other, but at the initial stage of this engagement, the protrusion 40 of the protector 8 is still in contact with the stopper part 38 of the protector guide 36, as shown in FIG. They are not in contact, and a gap δ is maintained between them. From this state, in the process of protruding the ashtray case 2 by a further short distance, that is, as shown in FIG. The portion 62 and the elastic claw portion 66 are arranged on the inclined surface 70 of each other as shown in FIG.
and 72 are in contact with each other, the fifth
As shown in the figure, based on the wedge action of the inclined surfaces 70 and 72, the elastic claw portion 66 is elastically deformed in the direction of being pushed upward, and the resulting pressing force of the elastic claw portion 66 (original shape (returning force)
As a result, the lower surface of the guide protrusion 6 is pressed against the lower surface of the guide groove 28. Further, the other elastic claw portion 64 is similarly elastically deformed by engagement with the engagement convex portion 60, and exerts a pressing action.

As a result, the guide protrusions 6 on both sides of the ashtray case 2
is pressed against the lower surface of the guide groove 28 of the guide rail 22 by the elastic claws 66 and 64 at two locations separated in the longitudinal direction, for a total of four locations, so the ashtray case 2 is in the open position. When used for smoking in a car, it does not wobble due to vehicle vibrations and remains stable.

Further, when the ashtray case 2 is pushed into the retainer 4 against the biasing force of the spiral spring 48, the elastic claws 66 and the engagement protrusions 62 engage, and the elastic claws 64 and the engagement protrusions 60 engage with each other. The elastic claws 66 and 6 are disengaged from each other.
4 returns to its original shape, and as a result, a slight clearance is created between the upper surface of the guide protrusion 6 and the upper surface of the guide groove 28, and the sliding resistance therebetween is kept small. Therefore, the ashtray case 2 can be pushed into the retainer 4 smoothly. This low sliding resistance also applies to the protrusion process of the ashtray case 2, and as mentioned above, the spiral spring 4 as the actuator
Since the spring force of 8 is relatively small, the synergistic effect of the small spring force and the small sliding resistance reduces the force required to push in the ashtray case 2, improving the operational feeling. .

Other Embodiments In the embodiments described above, the ashtray case 2
is at its protrusion limit, the ends of the inclined surface 70 of the engagement convex portion 62 and the inclined surface 72 of the elastic claw portion 66 are in partial contact with each other under the biasing action of the spiral spring 48. However, as shown in FIG. 8, when the elastic claw part 66 completely rides on the top of the engagement convex part 62, the pushing action is not performed. Their relative positions can also be determined to perform the function. The same applies to the relationship between the elastic claw portion 64 and the engagement protrusion 60.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the guide groove 28 is formed on the guide rail 22, and the guide protrusion 6 is formed on both sides of the ashtray case 2.
It is also possible to reverse the relationship and form guide protrusions on the guide rail 22 and guide grooves on both sides of the ashtray case 2. Also, it is possible to form an engaging protrusion on the guide groove and a guide protrusion on the guide protrusion. It is also possible to form each elastic claw part, and furthermore, it is also possible to adopt an embodiment in which various combinations thereof are formed. and,
The engagement convex portion and the elastic claw portion are not limited to two sets on each side, but may be provided in more sets or one set each, and their relative positions may be determined as appropriate without being limited to the above embodiments. can be determined.

Furthermore, when guide parts are provided on both sides of the ashtray case, they are not limited to guide protrusions, and the upper edge formed in the shape of a flange of the ashtray case 2 can also function as the guide part.

It goes without saying that there are other aspects of the present invention in which various improvements and changes have been made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the scope of application is not limited to ashtray devices, for example, small items. The present invention can be applied to various automatically ejecting slide body devices, such as a glove box for accommodating a computer or an automatically ejecting control panel, and such various embodiments are of course included in the present invention. be.

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, the present invention provides a guide groove and a guide groove for guiding the slide body in the insertion/extraction direction while holding the slide body with a retainer in an automatically ejecting type slide body device. and a guide portion to be engaged with each other, and an engaging convex portion is provided on one of them, and an elastic claw portion is provided on the other, and the guide portions are engaged with each other at a predetermined position, for example, at a protruding end position of the slide body. Accordingly, a pressing force is generated at that position based on the elastic deformation of the elastic claw part, and therefore, while preventing the slide body from wobbling at a predetermined position, when pushing in or ejecting, This has the effect of ensuring light sliding of the slide body without causing any pressing action of the elastic claws.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an automatically ejecting ashtray device for a vehicle, which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of an elastic cam piece in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3a and 3b are explanatory cross-sectional views showing a state in which the ashtray case of such an ashtray device is pushed out from a storage position (closed position) to an extended position (open position). Fourth
The figure is a partially enlarged view showing the portion A in FIG. 3b, and FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view showing the elastically deformed state of the elastic claw portion. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are explanatory cross-sectional views respectively showing a state in which the ashtray case is just before the protrusion limit and a state in which the ashtray case has reached the protrusion limit. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view showing an elastically deformed state of another embodiment of the elastic claw portion. 2: Ashtray case (sliding body), 4: Retainer,
6: Guide protrusion (guide part), 14: Rack, 1
6: Locking pin, 22: Guide rail, 28: Guide groove, 44: Pinion, 48: Spiral spring (actuator), 50: Elastic cam piece (locking mechanism), 5
6: Damper, 60, 62: Engagement protrusion, 64, 6
6: Elastic claw portion, 68: Slit, 70, 72: Inclined surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. It has a slide body whose both side parts made of resin are held by resin guide rails provided on a fixed position retainer and guided in the insertion/extraction direction, and An automatic protrusion type in which an actuator always urges the slide body in a direction to protrude from the retainer, and when a locking mechanism releases the lock, the slide body automatically protrudes according to the biasing force of the actuator. In the slide body device, a guide groove is provided in either the resin guide rail or the resin side part of the slide body, and a guide groove is provided in the other of the guide rail and the slide body side part. A guide portion that can be engaged with each other is provided, and at least one engagement protrusion is formed on either the guide groove or the guide portion, and the engagement protrusion is formed on the other of the guide groove or the guide portion. At least one elastic claw part that is elastically deformed by engaging with the part is integrally provided, and when the engaging convex part and the elastic claw part are engaged, the elastic deformation action of the elastic claw part 1. An automatically protruding slide body device, characterized in that a side portion of said slide body is pressed against a guide rail of said retainer by a pressing force generated based on said slide body. 2. Claims in which the relative positions of the engaging convex portion and the elastic claw portion in the direction in which the slide body is protruded are determined such that they are engaged with each other when the slide body is protruded to its protrusion limit. The slide body device according to item 1. 3. Claim 1, wherein at least one of the engaging convex portion and the elastic claw portion is formed with an inclined surface that elastically deforms the elastic claw portion as the slide body protrudes. Or the slide body device according to item 2. 4. The retainer is fixed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the slide body is an ashtray case stored in the retainer, and the guide groove is formed in the guide rail of the retainer, and the guide portion are formed on both sides of the ashtray case, and the engaging convex portion is formed on the guide portion,
The slide body device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide grooves are each provided with the elastic claw portions.