202 1-00004/U80 (TEM-FIOSSUSOR
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`TIPLE OF THE INVENTION:
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`SEAT SLIDING DEVICE
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
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`wy
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`This application is based wpon and claims the benefit of priority under
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`33U.S8.C.§119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-121255 filed on Fuly26, 2021,
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`the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
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`10
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`{0001}
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`The present disclosure relates to a seat sliding device used for a seat for a vehicle.
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`BACKGROUND
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`£0002]
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`In a seat sliding device for a vehicle, an upper rail fixed to a seat is provided to
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`be shdably movable on a lowerrail fixed to a vehicle body, and lock teeth (lock portions)
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`af a lock member attached to the upper rail engage with lock grooves (locked portions)
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`in the Lower rail to lock the seat. The seat sliding devices of Japanese Patent Application
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`Publication Nos. 2012-126184 and 2018-052401 are provided with a lock release lever
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`20
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`for operating lock portions in a lock release direction, and the lock release lever on the
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`front side from the turning center is partially biased upward by means ofa biasing member.
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`In Japanese PatentApplication Publication Nos. 2012-126184 and 2018-052401, the lock
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`release leveris biased such that the rear end of the lock release lever comes into contact
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`with the lock portions without a clearance (a gap, a space} therebetween.
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`[6003]
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`In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-126184, the above biasing
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`member is provided between an operation handle inserted into the front end of the lock
`release lever and the lock release lever.
`In addition, a rear-end connecting portion ofthe
`operation handle is supported so as to be swingable around an axis in the left-right
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`30
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`direction different from the turning center of the lock release lever, and the operation
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`

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`202 1-G0004/S6 (TFM-F1G59U801}
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`handle is prevented from coming off in the axial direction with respect to the lock release
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`lever.
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`£0004]
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`Meanwhile, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-052401, the
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`above biasing member is provided onthe upperrail.
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`SUMMARY
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`fO003}
`
`The biasing member of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-
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`18
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`126184 always biases in a direction maintaining a lower supported portion in a supported
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`slate by means of a lower support portion, and an upper supported portion in a supported
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`state by means of an upper support portion. Accordingly, when the operation handle
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`operates in the lock release direction from the standby position, the lock release lever
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`immediately starts to push the lock portions in the lock release direction. Although the
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`13
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`operation stroke of the operation handle can be reduced,
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`the time from the start of
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`movement of the operation handle to the release of the lock is shortened, and thus an
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`operator mayfecl that the lock is released earlier than the operator thinks.
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`[0606]
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`Further, in Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos, 2012-126184 and 2018-
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`20
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`052401, since the operation handle is a rigid body for connecting left and right seat sliding
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`devices, the lock release lever can be turned in the lock release direction in the standby
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`state due to a phase difference (deformation due to displacement of the mounting position,
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`collision, etc.) of the left and right seat stiding devices in the up-down direction.
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`Accordingly, a clearance is provided between the operation handle and the lock release
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`lever in the anti-lock release direction (direction opposite to the lock release direction}
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`from the standby position of the operation handle. Thus, even if the operation handle
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`moves downward within the clearance range due to a load pushing the operation handle
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`downward, the lock release lever is prevented fromterning.
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`fO007]
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`30
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`Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to turn only
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`

`

`2021-GD004/US0 (TFM-F1059U801)
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`the operation handle with respectto the lock release lever in boththe lock release direction
`and the anti-lock release direction for the standby position of the operation handle in a
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`non-operation state, with a simpler structure,
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`fOo08]
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`Ur
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`poh at
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`20
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`A seat sliding device according to the present invention includes: a lowerrail
`extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; an upperrail configured to move relative to
`the lowerrail in a longitudinal direction; a lock member attached to the upper rail, and
`including lock portions configured to engage with locked portions formedin the lower
`rail and to be biased in a lock direction; a lock release lever turnably supported about an
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`axis in a left-right direction with respect to the upper rail, and configured to move the
`lock portions from a lock position to a lock release position in accordance with a lock
`release operation; an operation handle connected to a front end ofthe lock release lever,
`and a biasing member configured to bias the front end of the lock release leverin the lock
`- release direction with a biasing force weaker than a biasing force biasing the lock portions
`in the lock direction. A front upper support surface and a rear upper support surface
`facing an upper surface ofan end ofthe operation handle are provided at the front end of
`the lock release lever with a gap between the front upper support surface and the rear
`upper support surface in the vehicle front-rear direction, and front lower support surfaces
`facing a lower surface of an endof the operation handle are provided belowthe front
`upper support surface. The upper rail is provided with a rear lower support surface
`facing ihe lower surface ofthe end of the operation handle, and the rear lower support
`surface is positioned belowthe rear upper support surface. The biasing member has one
`end fixed to the upperrail, and the other end engaged with the lower surface ofthe end
`of the operation handle from belowat a position between the front upper support surface
`and the rear upper support surface, and biases the operation handle upward. Aclearance
`is provided in an up-down direction between the front lower support surface provided in
`the lock release lever and the lower surface of the end of the operation handle, and a
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`clearance is provided in the up-down direction between the rear lower support surface
`provided in the upperrail and the lower surface of the end ofthe operation handle.
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`30
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`F0009]
`
`

`

`2621-00004/US0 (TFM-F105980 1}
`
`The present invention makesit possible to turn only the operation handle with
`respect to the lock release lever in both the lock release direction and the anti-lock release
`direction for the standby position ofthe operation handle in a non-operation state, with a
`simpler structure.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`{8010]
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`1 is an exploded perspective view of a seat siding device acearding to a
`FIG.
`first embodiment ofthe present invention.
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`FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional viewofaseat sliding device including a lower guide
`ball and an upper guide ball disposed between an upperrail and a lowerrail.
`PEG. 3 is a perspective viewof the lowerrail.
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`PIG. 4 is a perspective view ofthe upperrail.
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`FRG. 3 is a perspective viewofa lock member.
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`FIG. 6 is a perspective viewofa biasing member.
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`FIG, 7 is a perspective view of a fixing member.
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`FIG, 8 is a perspective viewofa lock release lever.
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`FIG. 9A is a perspective viewillustrating a portion of an operation handle.
`PIG. 9B is a perspective view of a portion of the operation handle ag viewed
`from below.
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`FG. 10 is a perspective viewillustrating a state in which the lock memberis
`assembled to the lock release lever, and the operation handle.
`FIG, 11 is a side-sectional view of an enlarged main portion of the seat sliding
`device according to the first embodiment,
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`FIG. 12 is a side-sectional view of an enlarged main portion of the seat sliding
`device illustrating a state in which the operation handle operates in a lock release direction.
`FIG. 13 is a side-sectional viewof an enlarged main portion of the seat sliding
`device illustrating a state in which a load is applied to the operation handle in an anti-lock
`release direction.
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`PIG, 14 is a side-sectional viewof aseat sliding device aceording to a second
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`bhaA
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`a S
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`

`

`Ua
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`2021-00004/U80 CTPM-FIOS9US01)
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`embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 11.
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`PHG. 15 is a perspective view of the seat sliding device according to the second
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`embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 10.
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`FIG. 16 is a side-sectional view of a seat sliding device according to a third
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`Ws
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`embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 11.
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`FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the seat sliding device according te the third
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`embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 10.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`0
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`(6011)
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`Embodiments of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to
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`the drawings.
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`{0012}
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`{First Embodiment]
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`A seat sliding device 101 according to a first embodiment of the present
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`invention illustrated in FIGS, 1 and 2 is a manualseat sliding device in whichthe position
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`of a vehicle seat in a froni-rear direction is adjusted manually. The seat sliding device
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`101 includes: a lower rail 103 installed on a floor surface of a vehicle and extending ina
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`vehicie front-rear direction; and an upper rail 105 installed on a back surface of a seating
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`20
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`portion (not illustrated) of a seat and assembled to be movable within the lower rail 103
`in a relative manner in a longitudinal direction of the lower rail 103. The lowerrail 103
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`and the upper rail 105 forma rail body 106 and a pairof left and right rail bodies 106 are
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`provided. Note that,
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`in the following description Gnehuiding the second and third
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`embodiments), “front” is the vehicle front FR side whichis the left side in FIG. 1, "rear
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`is the vehicle rear RR side whichis the right side in FIG. 1, and "left-right" is the lefi-
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`tight direction when viewing the vehicle front side from the vehicle rear side.
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`[0013]
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`As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower rail 163 includes a lower bottom wall 103a
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`having a rectangular plate shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A pair of
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`30
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`left and right lower outer walls 103b rise from both end edges of the lower bottom wall
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`

`

`202 1-D0004/US) CTPM-PLOSSUSOE)
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`103a in a vehicle width direction so as to tit slightly outward from the lower bottom wall
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`1034. Lower tilted walls 103c are formed between the lower bottom wall 103a and
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`lower ends of the respective left and right lower outer walls 103b. A pair ofleft and
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`right lower upper walls 103d extending in parallel with the lower bottomwall 103aare
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`provided from upper end edges of the respective left and right lower outer wails 103b in
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`a direction approaching each other.
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`{0014]
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`A pair ofleft and right lower inner walls 103e are provided to hang down from
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`inner end edges of the respective left and right lower upper walls 103dtoward the lower
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`bottom wall 103a. Note that a clearance between the lower inner walls 103¢ disposed
`parallel to and facing each otheris set large enough te allow movement of the upperrail
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`105 housed in the lowerrail 103.
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`10015]
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`The upper rail 105 includes an upper top wall 105a having a rectangular plate
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`shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A pair of left and right upperside
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`walls 105b hang down from both end edges of the upper top wall 105a in the vehicle
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`width direction. Upper hiwer-tilted-walls 105c rise obliquely outward and upward from
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`lower end edges of the respective upper side walls 105b. Upper upper-tilted-walls 105e
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`rise obliquely upward toward the lower upper walls 103d from upper end edges ofthe
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`20
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`respective left and right upper lower-tilted-walls 105 via bent portions 105d.
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`[O016)
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`Lower guide balls 107 are rotatably disposed between lower arc portions 103f of
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`the lower rail 103 and the upper lower-titted-wails 105c of the upper rail 105, and the
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`lower arc portions 103f are formed between the lower bottom wall 103a and the lower
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`bo a
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`tilted walls 103c of the lower rail 103. Upper guide balls 109 are rotatably disposed
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`between upper arc portions 103g of the lower rail 103 and the upper upper-tilted-walls
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`105¢ of the upperrail 105, andthe upper are portions 103g are formed between the lower
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`outer walls 103b and the lower upper walls 103d ofthe lowerrail 103,
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`[0017]
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`As illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower guide balls 107 and the upper guide balls 109
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`

`

`ond
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`202 L-O0004/US0 CLFM-FIO0S9USO1}
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`are rotatably supported in ball retainers 11] omittedin FIG. 2. Each ofthe ball retainers
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`11] supports a total of four balls which are two lower guide balls 107 and two upper guide
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`balls 109. The ball retainers 111 supporting the lower guide balls 107 and the upper
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`guide balls 109 are disposed at two positions on the front and the rear sides in a housing
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`LR
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`portion 113 (FIG. 2} surrounded by the lower outer walls 103b, the lower tilted walls 103c,
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`the lower upper walls 103d, and the lowerinner walls 103e, and are disposed at a total of
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`four positions in the pair of left and right rail bodies 106.
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`fO018]
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`In a state where the rail bodies 106 are assembled, a lock member 117 is fixed to
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`10
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`the upper top wail 105a in a front portion of the upperrail 105 by using a fixing member
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`115 such as a rivet or a fixed pin. The lock member 117 is formed of a plate-shaped
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`spring member. The lock member 117 has a fixing hole 119a into which the fixing
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`member 115 is inserted, in a fixing portion 119 which is a base fined byusing the fixing
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`member 15.
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`In the upper top wall [03a of the upper rail 105, a peripheral portion of an
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`upper fixing hole 105f is formed to be recessed downward relative to the other portionof
`the upper top wall 105a. Thus, a head portion of the fixing member 115 is set not to
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`protrude from the other upper surface of the upper top wall 105a of the upper rail 105.
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`[GOTO]
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`FIG, 7 ulustrates the fixing member 115 before being attached.
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`Asillustrated
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`20
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`in FIG, 11 which is a side-sectional viewofan enlarged main portion, the fixing member
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`115 includes: an insertion shaft portion 1i5a inserted into the fixing hole 119a and the
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`upper fixing hole 105f from below; a second insertion shaft portion 115e, which is formed
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`under the insertion shaft portion 113 and has a diameter larger than that of the insertion
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`shaft portion 115a, and is inserted into a biasing-member-side fixing hole 34a (which
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`bo ia
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`will be described later); a large-diameter portion 11Sb formed belowthe second insertion
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`shaft portion 1i5e and having a larger diameter than the second insertion shaft portion
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`liSe; and a flange 115¢ formed below the large-diameter portion 115b on the opposite
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`side ic the insertion shaft portion [iSa. The flange 115¢ forms a protrusion protruding
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`sideways.
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`f0020]
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`

`

`202 1-00004/US80 (TEM-FIOSSUSON
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`As illustrated in PIG. 11, the flange 115 is positioned below support protrusions
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`l47e provided in left and right side walls 147 of a lock release lever 131 illustrated in
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`FIG. 8 which will be described later. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the support protrusions
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`147e are pasitioned slightly forward from the center position of the lock release lever 131
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`in the front-rear direction, and are formed by cutting and raising the side walls 147, which
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`are part ofthe lock release lever 131, toward the innerside.
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`16021]
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`The upper portions of the support protrusions 147e¢ are continuous with the side
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`walls 147, and the lower portions of the support protrusions 147e are cut off from the side
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`id
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`walls 147. The cutoff lower end surfaces of the support protrusions 147e face an upper
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`surface of the flange 11Sc. A gap is formed in the up-down direction between the lower
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`end surfaces of the support protrusions 147e and the upper surface of the flange 115c.
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`Providing the gap allows the lock release lever 131 to swing in the fromt-rear direction
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`with a swing fulcrum portion 151 (sce FIG. 10) acting as a fulcrum. Here, the swing
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`fulcrum portion 151 is provided with the fixing member 115.
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`f0022]
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`The fixing portion 119 of the lock member 117 Hlustrated in FIG. 5 extends in
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`the front-rear direction substantially parallel to the upper top wall 105a illustrated in FIG.
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`i, and a rear tilted portion 121 is formedto be titted rearward and obliquely downward
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`2g
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`from the rear end of the fixing portion 119. A rear elastic deformation portion 123 is
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`formed to extend rearward froma rear end of the rear tilted portion 121 substantially
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`parallel to the fixing portion 119. A rear end 125 ofthe rear elastic deformation portion
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`123 bas alarger widthin the left-right direction than the rear elastic deformation portion
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`123, and has a rectangular shape in a plan view. The rear elastic deformation portion
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`123 forms a rear biasing portion.
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`[0023]
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`Two rectangular holes i25aare formed near each ofthe left and right edges of
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`the rear end 125 inthe front-rear direction. Portions ofthe rear end 125 adjacent to the
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`respective holes 125a in the front-rear direction form lock teeth 125b, which are lock
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`38
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`portions, protruding leftward and rightward. The lock teeth 125b are formed at three
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`

`

`202 1-00004/U80 (TFPM-F1OSSUSO1)
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`positions on cach of the left and right sides. Thstal ends of the lock teeth 125b formed
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`at the three positions on each of the left and right sides are configured to be connected to
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`one another by respective connecting portions 125c¢ extending in the front-rear direction.
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`10024]
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`As illustrated in PIG. 4, lock tooth receiving recesses 129 are formed near a
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`substantially-center portion of the upperrail 105 in the front-rear direction so as to extend
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`fromm the left and right upper side walls 105b to the left and right upper lower-tilted-walls
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`10Sc, and are formed at three positions on eachof the left and right sides in the front-rear
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`direction.
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`In a state where the rail bodies 106 are assembled, the respective three lock
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`10
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`teeth 125b ofthe lock member 117 are inserted into the three lock toothreceiving recesses
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`129 trom below. At this time, protrusions 126 positioned between the lock tooth
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`receiving recesses 129 are inserted into the holes 12Saof the lock member 117.
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`In this
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`case, in order to avoid interference between the upperrail 105 and portions around the
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`connecting portions 125c of the rear end 125, an opening 128 continuous with lower
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`a srr
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`portions ofthe lock tooth receiving recesses 129 and a notch opening 130 formed in the
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`upper upper-tilted-wall 105e are provided on eachofthe left and right sides of the upper
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`rail 105,
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`£0025]
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`20
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`Further as illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of lock grooves 127, which are locked
`portions, are provided in the lowerrail 103 in the front-rear direction except for positions
`near front portions and rear portions of the left and right lower inner walls 103e. The
`lock member 117 is set to be locked to the lower rail 103 byinserting the lock teeth 125b
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`of the lock member 117 into the lock grooves 127 from below with the lock teeth 1256
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`positioned in the lock tooth receiving recesses 129. This makes it possible to prevent
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`boin
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`the upperrail 105 to which the lock member 117 is attached from moving relative to the
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`lower rail 103 in the front-rear direction.
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`[0026]
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`The rear elastic deformation portion 123 generates an clastic force upward in the
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`state where the lock member 117 is attached to the upper rail 105, and thus, it is possible
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`to maintain the state where the lock teeth 125b are inserted in the lock grooves 127.
`
`

`

`2021-00004/US6 (TEM-FIOS9USOD
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`Operating an operation handle 133 Ulustrated in FIG.
`
`1
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`in the lock release direction
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`(upward) im this state causes the rear end 125 of the lock member 117 to be pushed
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`downwardvia the lock release lever 131, and the lock is therebyreleased. The operation
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`handle 133 is inserted into the upper rail 105 tromthe front side, and is disposed so as to
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`urs
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`be interlocked with the lock release lever 131.
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`{0027]
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`As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lock member 117 includes bearing protrusions 119b,
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`which are supported portions, protruding sideways from left and right portions of the
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`fixing portion 119 at positions corresponding to the fixing hole 1194.
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`The bearing
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`protrusions 119b protrude sideways with the same thickness as the plate thickness of the
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`lock member 117 including the fixing portion 119, and have a rectangular shape in a plan
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`view,
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`{9028]
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`As iustrated in FIG. 11, a biasing mermber 132 is fixed to the lower surface of
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`the upper top wall 105a of the upper rail 108 by a fixing member 115 together with a plate
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`spring forming the lock member 117.
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`In the biasing member 132, a base 134 is fixed to
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`the lower surface of the upper top wall 10Sa, a folded portion 135 of an intermediate
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`portion extends rearward from the base 134 and is folded forward in the middle, and a
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`distal end 136 extends forward by passing belowthe fixing member 115 to form a
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`substantially U-shape. The biasing member 132 is formed ofa plate-like spring member
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`like the lock meraber 117.
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`£0029)
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`Asillustrated mn FIG, 6, the base 134 of the biasing member 132 is provided with
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`afixing hole (biasing-member-side fixing hole) 1342 inte which the second insertion shaft
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`25
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`portion 1i5e of the fixing member 115 is inserted. The base 134 of the biasing member
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`132 is provided with a notch opening 154b continuous with the vehicle front side of the
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`biasing-member-side fixing hole 134a through which the msertion shaft portion 115a of
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`the fixing member 115 can pass. The distal end 136 of the biasing member 132 extends
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`forward from the distal end (lower end} of the folded portion 135 substantiallyin parallel
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`30
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`with the base 134. The distal end 136 of the biasing member 132 forms a front biasing
`
`

`

`it
`
`2021-00004/USO (TFM-F 1G59US01)
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`portion.
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`[0030]
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`A pressing protrusion 145, which is bent upward so as to protrude, is formed in
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`the distal end dower end) of the biasing member 132. As ilhustrated in FIG. 11, the
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`tdi
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`pressing protrusion 145 enters from below and engages with a recessed groove 137, which
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`is illustrated in FIG. 9B, provided on a lower surface 169b3 of the rear end of the
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`operation handle 133.
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`The distal end 136 of the biasing member 132 presses the
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`operation handle 133 upward via the pressing protrusion 145. The pressing force ofthe
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`biasing member 132 against the operation handle 133 is set weaker than the pressing force
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`10
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`against the lock grooves 127 by means of the lock teeth 125b of the rear elastic
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`deformation portion 123.
`
`[6031]
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`Further, the distal end 136 of the biasing member 132 is provided with a pair of
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`left and right lock protrusions 138 at positions rearward of the pressing protrusion 145.
`
`15
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`A shit 139 is provided in the lower surface of the rear end of the operation handle 133
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`illustrated in FIGS. OA and OB, andthe lock protrusions 138 are engaged withthe slit 139
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`as lustrated in FIG. 11. The lock protrusions 138 are formed so as to protrude upward
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`of the pressing protrusion 145 for pressing the lower surface of the rear end of the
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`operation handle 133.
`
`20
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`[6032]
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`As illustrated in FIG. 8, the lock release lever 131 inchidestheleft and right side
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`walls 147, and an upper wall 149 connecting upper ends of the side walls 147 ina region
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`around rear ends of the left and right side walls 147. The flock member 117 except fora
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`portion around the rear portion is disposed between the left and right side walls 147 of
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`bo wn
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`the lock release lever 131. The biasing member 132 is disposed between the left and
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`right side walls 147 of the lock release lever 131. That is, the lock release lever 131 is
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`provided at a position overlapping the lock member 117 and the biasing member 132 in
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`the longitudinal direction and the up-down directionofthe upperrail 105.
`
`[0033]
`
`38
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`Recesses 147a, which are supporting portions, are formed at upper ends of the
`
`

`

`2021-00004/U80 (TFM-FLOS9USG1)
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`side walls 147 on the front side ofthe intermediate position ofthe lock release lever 131
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`in the front-rear direction.
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`The recesses 147a are positioned above the support
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`protrusions 147e, and have an arc-shaped recess surface which is open at the upper portion.
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`The recesses 147a are disposed belowthe left and right protrusions 119b of the lock
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`tay
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`member 117, and lower portions of the protrusions 1196 engage with the recesses 147a.
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`The protrusions 119b of the lock member 117, and the recesses 147a ofthe release lever
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`131 form the swing fulcrum portion 151 in a case where the lock release lever 131 and
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`the operation handle 133 mntegrally swing in the up-down direction. The swing fulcrum
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`portion 151 positionally matches the fixing portion of the lock member 117 with respect
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`to the upper rail 105 in the front-rear direction.
`
`[0034]
`
`The lock release lever 131 inchides a release pressing portion 153 extending
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`rearward trom the upper wall 149. A curved protrusion 1$3a protruding to curve
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`downwardis formed in a lower portion of the release pressing portion 153 on the rear end
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`side. The curved protrusion 153a comes into contact with an upper surface of the rear
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`end 125 of the rear elastic deformation portion 123 in the lock member 117. A stopper
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`protrusion 149ais formed on the upper wall 149 by cutting and raising a part of the upper
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`wall 149 upward. The stopper protrusion 149a fimetions as a stopper which comes into
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`contact with the upper top wall 1054 of the upper rail 105 when the Jock release lever 131
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`20
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`and the operation bandle 133 swing and turn counterclockwise in FIG. 11 with the swing
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`fulcrum portion 151 acting as a fulcrum.
`
`[0033]
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`The upper ends of the front ends of the lock release lever 131 are connected to
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`each other by a front upper wall 157. The lower surface of the front upper wall 157
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`forms a front upper suppart surface 157a. Front lower protrusions 1476 are formed at
`the front end lowerportions of the left and right side walls 147, and protrude from the
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`both side walls 147 so as to be bent toward the sides facing each other. The distal ends
`
`of the lett and right tront lower protrusions 147b are separated from each other, and a gap
`
`is formed therebetween. The upper surfaces of the front lower protrusions 147b form
`
`30
`
`front lower support surfaces 147c.
`
`

`

`_— had
`
`202 1-D0004/U50 (TPM-PF1059US801)
`
`{6036]
`
`A rear upper wall 158 is formed in the upper portions of the bath side walls 147,
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`which are positioned rearward of the front upper wall 157 and forward ofthe recesses
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`1474, The lower surface of the rear upper wall 158 forms a rear upper support surface
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`138a. That is, a pair of upper support surfaces (front upper support surface 157a and
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`rear upper support surface 158a) facing an upper surface 16961 of the rear end of the
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`operation handle 133 are provided at the front end of the lock release lever 131. Here,
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`the pair of upper support surfaces are provided with a gap between the pair of upper
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`support surfaces in the vehicle front-rear direction.
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`Farther, the front lower support
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`surfaces 147c facing the lower surface 169b3 of the rear end ofthe operation handle 133
`
`are provided belowthe front upper support surface 157a in the front end ofthe lock release
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`fever 131.
`
`[0037]
`
`Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the operation handle 133 includes a pair ofleft and night
`
`janet KR
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`arms 167 provided respectivelyfor the pair of left and right rail bodies 106, and a grip
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`168 extending in the vehicle width directionto connect thepair of left and right arms 167
`
`to each other. The pair of lefi and right arms 167 extendin the front-rear direction and
`are inserted respectively into the left and right upperrails 105 fromthe front ends. The
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`grip 168 is gripped by an occupant when the occupant operates the operation handle 133.
`
`20
`
`[0038]
`
`As illustrated in FIG. 10, a rear end of the arm 167 is inserted betweenthe left
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`and right side walls 147 of the lock release lever 131. The arm 167 is formed of a _
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`cylindrical member as a whole including the grip 168, and the rear end of the arm 167
`
`described above is a connection end 169 serving as a rear connecting portion formed by
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`press molding of the cylindrical member.
`
`[0039]
`
`As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the connection end 169 has a subsiantially
`rectangular cross section including:
`the upper surface 169b1; side surfaces 169h2
`
`extending downward from both left and right ends ofthe upper surface 16961: and a lower
`
`surface 16963 provided from the lower ends ofthe left and right side surfaces 1696?
`
`

`

`202 1-Q0004/80 (TFM-FI0G39US01}
`
`toward the left and right inner sides. The recessed groove 137 extending in the vehicle
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`front-rear direction is provided in the lower surface 169b3 of the connection end 169.
`
`Tn
`
`addition, the slit 139 described above, and a lower tapered surface 171 which is provided
`
`at the rear end of the connection end 169 and is inclined upward are formed on the lower
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`surface 16953 of the connection end 169.
`
`fOO040]
`
`Asillustrated in FIG. 11, rear lower protrusions 148 are respectively formed on
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`the lef and right upper side walls 105b of the upper rail 105, and the rear lower
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`protrusions 148 are formedat a front position of the upper fixing hole 105f1n the vehicle
`
`10
`
`front-rear direction, and protrude from the both upper side walls 105b so as to be bent
`
`toward the sides facing each other. A substantially U-shaped sitt 1496 is formed around
`
`the rear lower protrusion 148. The distal ends ofthe left and right rear lower protrusions
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`148 are separated from cach other, and a gap is formed therebetween.
`
`The upper
`
`surfaces of the rear lower protrusions 148 form a rear lower support surface 148a. That
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`we a
`
`is, the upper rail 10S ts provided with the rear lower support surface 148a facing the lower
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`surface 16963 of the rear end of the operation handle 133, and the rear lower support
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`surface 148a is positioned belowthe rear upper support surface 138a.
`
`In addition, the
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`width of the distal end 136 of the biasing member 132 UWustrated in FIG. 6 im the left-
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`right direction is narrower than the gap between the pair of left and right rear lower
`
`protrusions 148 so as to allow passage between the pair ofleft and right rear lower
`
`protrusions 148 torming the rear lower support surface 148a.
`
`P0041]
`
`The biasing member 132 engages the lower surface 16963 of the rear end of the
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`operation handle 133 from below at a position (intermediate position) between the front
`
`25
`
`upper support surface 157a and the rear upper support surface 158a, and biases the
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`operation handle 133 upward. Thus, the upper surface 169b1 of the operation handle
`
`133 comes into contact with the pair of upper support surfaces (the front upper support
`
`surface 137a and the rear upper support surface 158a). At this time, a clearance Cl is
`
`provided in the up-down direction between the front lower support surface 147c provided
`
`30
`
`in the lock release lever 131 and the lower surface 169b3 ofthe rear end ofthe operation
`
`

`

`202 1-00004/US0 (TFM-FLOS9USOR)
`
`handle 133, and a clearance C2 is provided in the up-down direction between the rear
`
`lower support surface 148a provided in the upperrail 105 andthe lower surface 169b3 of
`
`the rear end of the operation handle 133.
`
`[0042]
`
`Next, the operation of the seat sliding device 101 configured as described above
`
`will be described.
`
`(0043)
`
`FIG. 11 illustrates a standby state (a non-operation state in which the operation
`
`handle 133 is not operated) in which the lock teeth 125b of the lock member 117 are
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`engaged with the lock grooves 127 ofthe lowerrail 103 and locked thereto._In this state,
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`the operation handle 133 is pressed against the pair of upper support surfaces (the front
`
`upper support surface 157a and the rear upper support surface 158a) by the pressing
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`protrusion 145 of the biasing member 132.
`
`Since the pressing force (biasing force) of
`
`the biasing member 132 is larger than the force ofthe operation handle 133 going down
`
`by its own weight, and smaller than the force of biasing the lock member 117 in the lack
`
`direction, the above standby state is maintained.
`
`16044]
`
`Fromthe state ilhistrated in FIG. 11, when an occupant lifts the prip 168 of the
`
`operation handle 133, the operation handle 133 tums around the contact point between
`
`the front upper support surface 157a and the upper surface 169b1 ofthe operation handle
`
`{33 as afulcrum, and the rear end of the operation handle 133 moves downward by
`
`pushing down the pressing protrusion 145 of the biasing member 132.
`
`In this state,
`
`when the grip 168 of the operation handle 133 is further lifted, the lower surface 169b3
`
`ofthe rear end ofthe operation handle 133 comes into contact with the rear lower support
`
`Norr
`
`surlace 148a provided in the upper rail 105, and the operation handle 133 tums around
`
`the contact point between the rear lower support surface 148a and the lower surface 1693
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`ofthe rear end of the ope