Patent ID: 8469328

Claim:
A lock mechanism for a seat track slide device that is arranged between a floor and a seat in a vehicle and selectively restricts and permits sliding of the seat, the lock mechanism comprising: a pair of lower rails configured by a first lower rail and a second lower rail fixed to the floor; a pair of upper rails configured by a first upper rail and a second upper rail that are fixed to the seat and supported to be movable with respect to the first lower rail and the second lower rail, respectively; a plurality of lock portions that are formed in at least the first lower rail out of the first and second lower rails, the lock portions being aligned in a movement direction of the corresponding upper rail; a lock member that is attached to at least the first upper rail out of the first and second upper rails, the lock member having an end; a handle that is attached to the lock member and has an end; an interlock support portion that is formed at the end of the lock member and supports the end of the handle; a fulcrum portion that is arranged in the interlock support portion of the lock member and pivotally supports the handle; the end of the handle being supported by the interlock support portion of the lock member; and a spring supported between the first upper rail and the end of the handle, wherein, as the handle is manipulated, the lock member is selectively engaged with and disengaged from the lock portion of at least the first lower rail, wherein the first upper rail has an end, at least a part of the interlock support portion of the lock member being exposed in an outer zone with respect to the end of the first upper rail and extending along a movement direction of the first upper rail with respect to the end of the first upper rail, the lock member being caused to be interlocked with the handle by an elastic force produced by the spring to be selectively engaged with and disengaged from the lock portion of at least the first lower rail, and wherein, with at least the first upper rail and at least the first lower rail being locked by the lock member, the end of the handle is allowed to pivot relative to the lock member against the elastic force of the spring about the fulcrum portion of the interlock support portion in the outer zone with respect to the end of the first upper rail.