OPENING/CLOSING BODY OPERATION DEVICE

An opening/closing body operation device for operating an opening/closing body, which swings up and down, so as to open and close, has a driving unit, a slider which is moved up and down by the driving force from the driving unit and is linked to the opening/closing body and a guide member having the slider slidably disposed in the interior. The slider includes a main slider body, a sliding member that slides on the guide member, and an elastic member between the main slider body and the sliding member to support the load applied to the slider when the opening/closing body is opened or closed. The slider has a deformation allowance space for allowing elastic deformation of the elastic member caused when the slider is pressed into the guide member. Thus, the load applied to the slider to open or close the opening/closing body is reliably supported.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an opening/closing body operation device for opening/closing an opening/closing body configured to swing up and down.

BACKGROUND ART

In most cases, a vehicle such as a car and etc. is provided with an opening/closing body such as a back door, a trunk door (trunk lid), or etc. that is arranged to an opening at the back and can swing up and down. In addition, a recent vehicle is provided with an opening/closing body operation device configured to open/close the opening/closing body by electric power.

For example, Patent Literature 1 suggests a slider driving device (opening/closing body operation device) using electric power. The slider driving device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a screw member configured to rotate by a driving device, a guide member extending forwardly and backwardly so as to surround the screw member, a nut member configured to be screwed with the screw member, a slider unit configured to move along the guide member by the nut member, and a rod connected between the slider unit and a door. In addition, the slider unit includes a slider main body and sliding members attached to interpose the slider main body between them.

In the slider driving unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a rotation of the screw member allows the movement of the nut member along the screw member, i.e. the guide member. By the movement of the slider unit along the guide member, the rod performs an opening/closing operation of the door. In addition, when the slide unit moves along the guide member, the sliding body slides on (the inner surface of) the guide member.

With such slider driving device (opening/closing operation device) provided in the vehicle, the opening/closing of the door that swings up and down can be performed easily and securely.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2009-155900 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, when opening/closing the opening/closing body with the slider driving device of Patent Literature 1, since the opening/closing body has to be operated while resisting its weight, a large amount of load is applied to the slider. In addition, in the slider having the configuration disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since the load is supported at the side of the slider main body or the sliding members, the slider main body or the sliding members has a risk of damage.

As such, in the present invention, the object is to provide an opening/closing body operation device that ensures the support of the load applied to the slider when the opening/closing body is in opening/closing operation.

Solution To Problem

To achieve the object described above, the present invention provides an opening/closing body operation device for opening/closing an opening/closing body configured to swing up and down. The opening/losing body operation device includes a driving unit, a slider configured to move upward and downward by a driving power of the driving unit, the slider being connected to the opening/closing body, and a guide member in which the slider is arranged such that the slider can slide. The slider includes a slider main body, a sliding member configured to slide on the guide member, and an elastic member arranged between the slider main body and the sliding member so as to support a load applied to the slider when opening/closing the opening/closing body. A deformation allowable space is defined in the slider. The deformation allowable space is configured to allow elastic deformation of the elastic member caused when the slider is pressed into the guide member.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

According to the present invention, since the deformation allowable space is defined in the slider, elastic deformation of the elastic member is allowed, thus ensuring the support of the load applied to the slider.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a view illustrating an opening/closing body operation device according to the present invention andFIG. 2is a view illustrating the use of an opening/closing body operation device in a vehicle.

First, the embodiment of an opening/closing body operation device according to the present invention is described. As shown inFIG. 2, an opening/closing driving device A is a device that is configured to open/close an opening/closing body Dr arranged inside a vehicle Cr and rotatably connected to a supporting point Fc arranged at the upper end of a back opening part of the vehicle Cr. It should be noted that, in the vehicle Cr, a damper Da (gas damper) configured to assist a movement of the opening/closing driving device A and the opening/closing body Dr is used. It should be noted that an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing body Dr by the opening/closing driving device A will be described later.

As shown inFIG. 1, an opening/closing body operation device A according to the present invention is a device that is configured to perform an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing body Dr that is arranged in a back opening part of the vehicle Cr as shown inFIG. 2and swings up and down. The opening/closing body operation device includes a driving unit1, a slider2configured to move upward and downward by a driving power of the driving unit1and connected to the opening/closing body Dr, and a guide member3in which the slider2is arranged such that the slider2can slide

The driving unit includes a motor not shown in the figure, a clutch11that is connected to an output shaft of the motor, and a male threaded shaft12that is connected to the motor via the clutch11, rotated by the driving power of the motor, and inserted to the guide member3. It should be noted that the driving unit1includes, other than the above, a reducer and a coupling13connecting the output shaft of the clutch11with the male threaded shaft12.

The guide member3is a member that guides the movement of the slider2and supports the male threaded shaft12. The guide member3is a metal plate having a substantially C-shaped cross section and an opening30continuing in a longitudinal direction is formed. In addition, a set plate31is attached at the longitudinal tip of the guide member3and a bracket32is fixed at the longitudinal base.

In the inner space of the guide member3, the male threaded shaft12is arranged such that the male threaded shaft12does not make contact with the guide member3and is substantially parallel to the opening30. Male threads are not formed at the tip of the male threaded shaft, i.e. the male threaded shaft12has a round-bar-shaped tip portion121and is rotatably supported by the set plate31. The part of the base side of the male threaded shaft12also has a round-bar-shaped base portion122where male threads are not formed. The base portion122is rotatably supported by the bracket32via a bearing Brg.

Since the tip portion121is supported by the set plate31, the base portion122is supported by the bracket32via the bearing Brg, and the base portion122is connected with the output shaft111of the clutch11via the coupling13such that the axis of the base portion122corresponds to that of the output shaft111, the male threaded shaft12is supported such that the rotation axis does not swing during the rotation. It should be noted that the method of supporting the male threaded shaft12is not limited to this, and any methods in which the rotation axis does not swing during the rotation can broadly be used. The connection between the base portion122and the coupling13is achieved by screwing together the male threads formed at the base side tip of the base portion122and female threads formed on the inner circumferential surface of the coupling13and swaging them from the radial outer direction of the coupling13towards the radial inner direction. It should be noted that the method for connecting the base portion122and the coupling13is not limited to this, and any connection methods in which the rotation axis does not swing during the rotation of the male threaded shaft12can broadly be used. Thus, the driving power of the motor is transmitted to the male threaded shaft12via the clutch11(output shaft111) and the coupling13and the male threaded shaft12rotates.

In addition, the bracket32is attached to a housing10of the driving unit1.

The details of the slider2will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of a slider used in the opening/closing body operation device illustrated inFIG. 1. The slider2is slidably arranged inside the guide member3.

As shown inFIG. 3, the slider2includes a slider main body20, a first liner21that is arranged to the inner surface of the guide member3opposite to the opening30and is a sliding member sliding on the guide member3, a second liner22that is arranged between the inner surface of the guide member3adjacent to the opening30and the slider main body20, and elastic members23that are arranged between the first liner21and the slider main body20and support a load applied to the slider2when opening/closing the opening/closing body Dr.

It should be noted that, in the slider2, the first liner21is the sliding member, however, there is a case where the second liner22is also configured to slide on the guide member3. In this case, the second liner22is also the sliding member and the elastic member23may be arranged between the second liner22and the slider main body20. In addition, the second liner22may be omitted if the friction or wear, due to the contact of the side of the slider main body20to which the second liner22is attached with the inner surface of the guide member3, is small and can be ignored.

As shown inFIG. 3, the elastic members23are formed in a shape of column with a circular cross section and, so as to support the load applied to the slider when opening/closing the opening/closing body Dr, the elastic members23are made of resilient materials such as chloroprene rubber and etc. and arranged between the slider main body20and the first liner21which is the sliding member. Any configurations of the elastic members can be used, provided that the elastic members can support the load applied to the slider2.

The slider2further includes a nut24that is attached to the slider main body20and has a female threaded portion241screwed with the male threaded shaft12, and an arm stud25that is also attached to the slider main body20and connected to a connection member4connecting the opening/closing body Dr with the slider2.

The details of the slider main body20will be described.FIG. 4Ais a front view of the slider main body20used in the slider2illustrated inFIG. 3,FIG. 4Bis a plan view of the slider main body illustrated inFIG. 4A,FIG. 4Cis a bottom view of the slider main body illustrated inFIG. 4A, andFIG. 4Dis a cross sectional view of the slider main body illustrated inFIG. 4Bcut with an IV-IV line.

The slider main body20is formed with an opening portion201through which the male threaded shaft12passes (SeeFIG. 4D). The opening portion201is a through-hole extending in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slider main body20. A concave hole202having a rectangular parallelepiped shape is formed at the central part of the longitudinal direction of the slider main body20, and the concave hole202communicates with the opening portion201(SeeFIG. 4CandFIG. 4D). The nut24(SeeFIG. 3), which has the female threaded portion241screwed with the male threaded shaft12and has a rectangular parallelepiped in its external shape, is inserted into the concave hole202. Since the external shape of the nut24is a quadrangle and the shape of the concave hole202is the quadrangle slightly larger than the external shape of the nut24, and since the nut24makes contact with the inner surface of the concave hole202even if the nut24intends to rotate when the nut24is inserted into the concave hole202, the rotation of the nut24is inhibited.

As shown inFIG. 4AandFIG. 4D, a stud fixing portion203having a cylindrical shape where the arm stud25is fixed is formed on the upper surface of the slider main body20and its inner portion goes through to the concave hole202. Female threads are formed on the inner surface of the stud fixing portion203and can be screwed with male threads of a leg portion252of the arm stud25.

As shown inFIG. 3,FIG. 4A,FIG. 4B, andFIG. 4C, notches204and notches205are formed at four edges of the lower surface and upper surface of the slider main body20, respectively. A protrusion portion212of the first liner21and a protrusion portion222of the second liner22engage with the notches204at the lower surface and the notches205at the upper surface, respectively.

It should be noted that the slider main body20is made of metal materials such as zinc alloys, aluminum alloys, and etc. and produced by die casting. In addition, the materials and production method are not limited to these, and any materials and production methods, which can inhibit the damage caused by the application of load due to the weight of the opening/closing body and form it in light weight, can broadly be used. Moreover, the nut24is made of cupper alloys, but not limited to this.

Next, the first liner21, which is arranged to the lower surface of the slider main body20and is a sliding body, will be described with reference to new drawings.FIG. 5Ais a front view of the first liner21used in the slider2illustrated inFIG. 3,FIG. 5Bis a plan view of the first liner21illustrated inFIG. 5A, andFIG. 5Cis a side view of the first liner21illustrated inFIG. 5A. It should be noted thatFIG. 5A-FIG.5C illustrate the first liner21in which the elastic members23are attached.

The first liner21is a member that is arranged between the slider main body20and the surface of the inner surface of the guide member3opposite to the opening30and allows the smooth sliding of the slider2. The first liner21includes a body portion211having a rectangular shape in planar view, protrusion portions212that protrude from four edges and engage with the notches204of the slider main body20, and engaging concave portions213. As a misalignment prevention potions, the engaging concave portions213open towards the upper surface (the surface opposite to the slider main body20), through which the elastic members23are inserted (with pressure) into the inside of the protrusion portions212in order to prevent the misalignment of the elastic members23.

As shown inFIG. 5B, the protrusion portion212and the engaging concave portion213have substantially the same shape. The protrusion portion212is formed with the shape in which the notch204can insert the protrusion portion212. In addition, the engaging concave portion213is formed in fan-shaped at one corner and has a round-cornered rectangular shape at the rest of the corners. The engaging concave portion213is formed with two surface portions214and a round surface portion215in which the corner arranged diagonally opposite to the corner at which the surface portions214cross has a circular arc shape.

The length of the surface portion214of the engaging concave portion213is smaller than the diameter of the part of the elastic member23which is inserted into the engaging concave portions213. Thus, the elastic member23can be held at three points that are the two surface portions214and the round surface portion215, so that the elastic member23hardly comes out from the engaging concave portion213, and the drop out (misalignment) of the elastic member23can be inhibited. In addition, since the elastic member23is held at three points, the drop out of the elastic member23can be inhibited even if the elastic member23is compressed and deformed elastically. The engaging concave portion213that is the misalignment preventing portion can be any shapes other than concave, provided that the engaging concave portion213can prevent the misalignment of the elastic member.

The depth of the engaging concave portion213, i.e. the protrusion height of the protrusion portion212is shorter than the axial length of the elastic member23. Thus, the tip of the part of the elastic member23protruding from the engaging concave portion213makes contact with the bottom surface of the notch204, i.e. the slider main body20, when the first liner21is attached to the slider main body20.

With such configuration, when the slider2is pressed into the guide member3by compressing the elastic members23, a gap is formed at the part between the engaging concave portions213and the notches204. This gap acts as a deformation allowable space S that allows elastic deformation of the elastic members23caused when the elastic members23are compressed due to the load of the opening/closing body Dr applied to the slider2when opening/closing the opening/closing body Dr (SeeFIG. 7). In other words, one end of the elastic member23is arranged in the engaging concave portion213that is the misalignment prevention portion, and another end of the elastic member23protruding from the engaging concave member that is the misalignment prevention portion is arranged in the deformation allowable space S. Since the deformation due to the compression of the elastic members23can absorb the load, the deformed parts can escape to the deformation allowable space, and the area supporting the slider main body20and the first liner21increases, the support of the load applied to the slider2is ensured.

For the above reason, even if the elastic members23are elastically deformed (compressed), the formation of the deformation allowable space S in the slider2allows their deformation.

It should be noted that there is still a gap between the elastic members23and the engaging concave portions213even after the elastic members23are pressed into the engaging concave portions213. When the elastic members23is compressed in the axial direction, the elastic members23deform and extend into the gaps in the engaging concave portions213. The existence of the gap in the engaging concave portions213allows the elastically deformed part of the elastic members23to extend into the gaps in the engaging concave portions213. The gap in the engaging concave portions213can also act as the deformation allowable space that allows the elastic deformation caused when the elastic member23is compressed.

Since the gap between the engaging concave portions213and the notches204acts as the deformation allowable space of the elastic members23, the support of the load applied to the slider2is ensured.

Two sliding portions216having a convex shape extending in the longitudinal direction are formed in the lower surface of the first liner21(the surface opposite to the side on which the protrusion portions212are formed). The formation of the sliding portion216reduces the surface contacting the guide member3, thus reducing the friction heat as the contacting surface reduces.

It should be noted that the upper surface of the first liner21of the body portion211has two engaging portions217formed in shape of the rods (in shape of split pins) engaging with two concave portions206formed in the slider main body20. The engagement of the concave portions206and the engaging portions217allows the first liner21to be positioned with respect to the lower surface of the slider main body20, and inhibits the first liner21from being misaligned with respect to the slider main body20and from dropping out.

Next, the second liner22will be described with reference to new drawings.FIG. 6Ais a front view of the second liner22used in the slider2illustrated inFIG. 3,FIG. 6Bis a cross sectional view of the second liner22illustrated inFIG. 6Acut with a VI-VI line, andFIG. 6Cis a bottom view of the second liner22illustrated inFIG. 6A.

As shown inFIG. 6C, the second liner includes a body portion221and protrusion portions222protruding downwardly from four edges of the lower surface side of the body portion221. The body portion221extends in the longitudinal direction between the protrusion portions222, and has convex portions223to be arranged in the opening30of the guide member3, and the central part of the body portion221has a through-hole224through which the stud fixing portion203passes when the second liner22is attached to the upper surface of the slider main body20. The upper surface of the body portion221of the second liner22has a sliding portion225sliding on the inner surface of the guide member3adjacent to the opening30.

The protrusion portions222have the shape that can engage with the notches205formed at four edges of the upper surface of the slider main body.

The lower surface of the body portion221of the second liner22has engaging portions226formed in shape of the rods (in shape of split pins) engaging with concave portions207formed in the slider main body20. The engagement of the concave portions207and the engaging portions226allows the second liner22to be positioned with respect to the upper surface of the slider main body20, and inhibits the second liner22from being misaligned with respect to the slider main body20and from dropping out. With the positioning of the second liner22with respect to the upper surface of the slider main body20, the stud fixing portion203passes through the through-hole224.

As shown inFIG. 3, a head portion251of the arm stud25is formed in spherical shape and a leg portion252is formed in cylindrical shape with male threads. The arm stud25is a connector that relative-rotatably connects the connection member4with the slider2.

Next, the method of attaching the slider2to the guide member3will be described with reference to drawings. As shown inFIG. 3, the elastic members23are attached to each of four engaging concave portions213of the first liner21. Here, since the elastic members23are held by two surface portions214and the round surface portion215, the elastic members23hardly drop out.

The first liner21is attached to the lower surface of the slider main body20such that the protrusion portions212are arranged in the notches204, the end portions of the elastic members23engage with the bottom surfaces of the notches203, and the engaging portions217of the first liner21engage with the concave portions206formed in the lower surface of the slider main body20. In addition, when the first liner21is attached, the nut24is inserted into the concave hole202of the slider main body20. The nut24is inserted into the concave hole202such that the central axis of the female threads241coincides with the central axis of the opening portion201.

Similarly to the attachment of the first liner21, the second liner22is attached to the upper surface of the slider main body20such that the protrusion portions222are arranged in the notches205and the engaging portions226engage with the concave portions207formed in the upper surface of the slider main body20. Here, the stud fixing portion203formed on the upper surface of the slider main body20passes through the through-hole224.

The slider main body20is sandwiched from top and bottom between the first liner21and the second liner22. Here, the thickness of the slider2in the axial direction of the arm stud25is larger than the height from the inner surface of the guide member3adjacent to the opening30to the inner surface of the guide member3opposite to the opening30. For this, by pushing the first liner21to the slider main body20to compress (elastically deform) the elastic members23, the thickness of the slider2is compressed to the thickness smaller than the height from the inner surface of the guide member3adjacent to the opening30to the inner surface of the guide member3opposite to the opening30. The compressed slider2is inserted into inside of the guide member3from the end portion of the guide member3such that the stud fixing portion203protrudes from the opening30of the guide member3to outside. The slider2is inserted into inside of the guide member3such that the longitudinal direction of the slider2coincides with the longitudinal direction of the guide member3.

Here, due to the resilience of the elastic members23, the sliding portion216is pushed to the surface of the guide member3opposite to the opening portion30and the sliding portion225of the second liner22is pushed to the inner surface of the guide member3adjacent to the opening portion30. Thus, the slider2is arranged inside the guide member3while inhibiting the rattling.

The driving unit1is attached to the guide member3and the male threaded shaft12is arranged inside the guide member3. The male threaded shaft12passes through the opening portion201and the male threaded shaft12is screwed with the female threads241of the nut24. With this configuration, the slider2is attached inside the guide member3, the set plate31is attached to the tip portion of the guide member3, and the tip portion121of the male threaded shaft12is rotatably held by the set plate31.

By performing the process described above, the assembling process of the opening/closing body operation device A completes. In the opening/closing body operation device A, the slider is arranged inside the guide member3, the male threaded shaft12passes through the opening portion201of the slider2without contact, and the female threads241of the nut24is screwed with the male threaded shaft12. In this configuration, if the driving power generated by the driving of the motor is transmitted from the output shaft111of the driving unit1, via the coupling13, to the male threaded shaft12, the male threaded shaft12rotates.

By the rotation of the male threaded shaft12, the nut24in which the female threads241are formed, i.e. the slider2, moves. As described above, since the rotation of the nut24is restricted inside the concave hole202of the slider main body20, the nut24does not rotate and a force acts in the axial direction of the male threaded shaft12. Thus, the male threaded shaft12is rotated by the driving force of the motor, and by the rotation of the male threaded shaft12, the slider2moves in the axial direction of the male threaded shaft, i.e. the longitudinal direction of the guide member3.

Next, the operation of the opening/closing body operation device A will be described with reference to drawings.FIG. 7is a cross sectional view of the opening/closing body operation device A cut along the axis of the guide member3. As shown inFIG. 2, the opening/closing body operation device A is attached to the vehicle Cr such that the longitudinal direction of the guide member3corresponds to the vertical direction. In addition, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 7, the guide member3is attached to the vehicle Cr such that the opening30faces the opening/closing body Dr.

The damper Da (gas damper), that helps the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing body Dr, i.e. biases the opening/closing body Dr upwardly, is attached to the vehicle Cr. Since the angle of the damper Da varies in accordance with the opening/closing of the opening/closing body Dr, a hinge53connects the damper Da with the opening/closing body Dr and a hinge53connects the damper Da with the vehicle Cr (SeeFIG. 2).

As described above, the slider2of the opening/closing body operation device A moves along the longitudinal direction of the guide member3. The slider2is connected with the opening/closing body Dr by the connection member4, the opening/closing body Dr performs its opening operation when the slider2moves upward, and the opening/closing body Dr performs its closing operation when the slider2moves downward.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 7, the connection member4is swingably connected with the head portion251of the arm stud25at the concave portion41with substantially spherical shape arranged at one end of the connection member4. Another end of the connection member4is rotatably connected with the opening/closing body Dr via the hinge51.

When the slider2moves along the guide member3, the angle of the connection member4with respect to the guide member3varies. In this case, as the inner circumferential portion of the concave portion41of the connection member4makes contact with the spherical head portion251of the arm stud25, the angle of the connection member4can smoothly vary. It should be noted that the connection of the connection member4with the slider unit2is not limited to this, the connection methods in which the connection member4can swing with respect to the slider2and transmit a force can broadly be used.

Next, the force acting from the connection member4to the slider2will be described. During the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing body Dr, the weight of the opening/closing body Dr is supported by the connection member4and the damper Da. Therefore, the load Wg due to the weight of the opening/closing body Dr acts on the slider2via the connection member4(SeeFIG. 7). The load Wg is transmitted from the concave portion41of the connection member4to the stud fixing portion203. Since the connection member4is connected with angle with respect to the slider2, the load Wg acting on the slider2via the connection member4is divided into the component in the moving direction of slider2and the component in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction.

Since the male threaded shaft12is screwed with the female threads241of the nut24in the slider2, the component of the load Wg in the moving direction of the slider2is supported by the male threaded shaft12. Therefore, of the load Wg acting on the slider2via the connection member4, the load Wgh in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the slider2will be described.

Since, in the opening/closing body operation device A, the guide member3is attached to the vehicle Cr such that the opening30faces the opening/closing body Dr, the load Wgh in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the slider2acts in the direction pushing the first liner21of the slider unit2to the inner surface of the guide member3.

In the slider2, the elastic members23that are elastic deformation bodies are arranged between the slider main body20and the first liner21and the elastic members23are compressed by acting the load Wgh. The action of the load compressing the elastic members23elastically deforms the elastic members23.

The deformed portions of the elastic members23extends into the gaps of the engaging concave portions213of the first liner21. This deformation of the elastic members23reduces the load applied to the first liner by the load Wgh. Thus, the deformation, damage, and etc. of the first liner21can be inhibited. The reduction of the load applied to the first liner can inhibit the increase of the contact pressure acting between the sliding portion216of the first liner21and the inner surface of the guide member3. This can also inhibit the deformation, damage, wear, and etc. of the first liner21.

Thus, the load of the opening/closing body Dr can firmly be received without increasing the side of the opening/closing body operation device A, even if the opening/closing body Dr is heavy. Consequently, the stable opening/closing of the opening/closing body can be performed for long periods of time.

In the above-described slider2, the cylindrical elastic members23are attached between the slider main body20and the first liner21, however not limited to this, elastic members having shapes, other than cylinder, which are columns longer in their axial direction (e.g. quadratic prism, triangular prism, etc.) may be used. In addition, the number of the elastic members23is not limited to four.

Moreover, in the slider2, the elastic members23are arranged between the slider main body20and the first liner21, however not limited to this, the elastic member(s)23may also be attached between the slider main body20and the second liner22.

In the above, the embodiments of the present invention are described, however, the present invention is not limited to this context. In addition, any modifications and/or changes can be made to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention can be used as opening/closing body operation devices that perform opening/closing operations of opening/closing bodies that swing up and down, such as hatch gates of cars, trunk lids, and the like.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST