JP2007048478A - Switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switching device which improves collision safety by allowing a dial to slide. <P>SOLUTION: The switch device comprises a guiding member 3 in a shape of a cylinder; a dial 6 in a shape of a cylinder, which is mounted rotatably in relation to the guiding member 3; and a stopper rib 6s which is mounted between the guiding member 3 and the dial 6. The stopper rib 6s restrains the dial 6 from sliding against the guiding member 3 in normal case, and allows the dial 6 to slide against the guiding member 3 by deforming on a case when a predetermined excessive force is applied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device capable of dialing operation, which is mainly provided on an instrument panel of a vehicle.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional switch device described in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

  The switch device includes a push switch unit 101 and a dial switch unit 102 disposed around the push switch unit 101.

  The push switch unit 101 is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction on the inner peripheral side of a cylindrical guide member 103 fixed to the substrate P. By pushing down, the push switch unit 101 is mounted on the substrate P. The element 120 is pressed.

  The dial switch unit 102 includes a rotating member 105 that is rotatably provided on the outer peripheral side of the guide member 103, and a cylindrical dial 106 that is rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the guide member 103 together with the rotating member 105.

  The rotating member 105 and the guide member 103 have flange portions 105f and 103f that face each other in the axial direction, and the flange portions 105f and 103f that face each other come into contact with each other, so that the downward movement of the rotating member 105 in the axial direction is performed. It is regulated. Further, between the dial 106 and the rotating member 105, engaging portions 106 a and 105 a that are engaged with each other are provided so that both can rotate together, and the dial 106 is axially disposed with respect to the rotating member 105. A stopper mechanism (not shown) is provided for restricting movement of the stopper.

A fixed contact 104a and a movable contact 104b are provided on the sliding surfaces of the flange portions of the guide member 103 and the rotating member 105, respectively.
JP 2004-281205 A

  By the way, in the above switch device, the stopper mechanism prevents the dial 106 from sinking (sliding) in the axial direction. From the viewpoint of collision safety, when the human body collides with the dial, It is preferable that the dial sinks to some extent.

  In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device that allows a sinking of a dial to improve collision safety.

  The invention of claim 1 is provided between a cylindrical guide member, a cylindrical dial rotatably provided with respect to the guide member, and the guide member and the dial. A stopper mechanism that restricts the downward movement of the dial with respect to a member and deforms when an excessive downward force exceeding a predetermined value is input, thereby allowing the dial to sink into the guide member. To do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined or more collision load is applied to the dial, the dial can sink and the collision load can be reduced. For example, when the occupant strongly hits the dial, the impact on the occupant can be reduced, so that safety is improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The switch device according to the present embodiment forms a part of the operation unit of the vehicle air conditioner, and is mounted on the control panel CP on the instrument panel. 1 is a front view of the control panel, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state where the dial is depressed.

  First, a control panel equipped with the switch device of the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control panel CP is a case 90 attached to an instrument panel (not shown), and is accommodated in the case 90 and partially exposed outside the case 90 through an opening 90 a of the case 90. Three switch devices SD1, SD2, and SD3 are provided.

  The first switch device SD1 includes a push switch portion 1 and a dial switch portion 2. In the first switch device SD1, the air-conditioner blow mode (face blow mode, bi-level) depends on the rotational position of the dial switch portion 2. (Blowout mode, foot blowout mode, defroster / foot blowout mode) can be switched, and when the push switch unit 1 is pressed, it can be forcibly switched from the other blowout modes to the defroster blowout mode. It is like that.

  The second switch device SD2 includes a push switch unit 1 and a dial switch unit 2. In the second switch device SD2, each time the push switch unit 1 is pressed, the suction mode is changed between the inside air circulation mode and the outside air suction mode. Further, the blowout temperature can be adjusted stepwise (for example, every 0.5 ° C.) according to the rotational position of the dial switch section 2.

  The third switch device SD3 includes a push switch unit 1 and a dial switch unit 2. In the third switch device SD3, when the push switch unit 1 is pressed, the compressor of the air conditioner is switched ON / OFF. Further, the amount of blown air can be adjusted stepwise by the rotational position of the dial switch section 2.

  Each switch device has a structure including a push switch unit 1 and a dial switch unit 2, and the structure of the operation is different, but the second switch device SD2 is representatively shown in FIG. It demonstrates in detail, referring -5.

  The second switch device SD2 is disposed in the case 90, the substrate P fixed to the case 90, the cylindrical guide member 3 fixed to the substrate P, the inner periphery of the guide member 3, and the guide member. The push switch unit 1 is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction with respect to the shaft 3, and is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the guide member 3 and is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the push switch unit 1 and is circumferential with respect to the guide member 3 And a dial switch unit 2 supported rotatably.

  The push switch unit 1 includes a cylindrical push switch body 11 and a translucent design plate 12 attached so as to cover the upper surface of the push switch body 11. The push switch body 11 is supported by the cylindrical guide member 3 so as to be slidable in the axial direction by the guide groove 3a and the engaging protrusion 11a. When the push switch part 1 is pushed down, the push switch body 11 is mounted on the substrate P. The push switch element 20 can be pressed. A control circuit (not shown) controls a predetermined portion of the air conditioner (in this example, the rotation position of the intake door for switching between the inside air circulation mode and the outside air suction mode) according to ON / OFF of the push switch element 20 To do. The light source 21 such as an LED mounted on the substrate P is turned ON / OFF according to the ON / OFF of the push switch element, and the light from the light source 21 is provided on the design plate 12 through the light guide member 23. The unit 25 emits light. That is, the operator can recognize whether or not the push switch element 20 has been pressed by the indicator portion 25 of the design plate 12.

  The dial switch unit 2 includes a rotating member 5 that is rotatably provided on the outer peripheral side of the guide member 3 and a cylindrical dial 6 that is rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the guide member 3 together with the rotating member 5.

  The rotating member 5 and the guide member 3 have flange portions 5f and 3f that face each other in the axial direction, and the facing flange portions 5f and 3f abut each other, so that the rotating member 5 is pushed down in the axial direction. It is regulated. Further, between the dial 6 and the rotating member 5, there are provided an engaging claw 6 a and an engaging recess 5 a that are engaged with each other so that both can rotate together, and the dial 106 is connected to the rotating member 105. A stopper mechanism (a stopper rib 6s and a stopper surface 5s, which will be described later) is provided to restrict it from moving in the axial direction.

  A fixed contact 4a and a movable contact 4b are provided on the sliding surfaces of the guide member 3 and the flange portions 3f and 5f of the rotating member 5, respectively. As a result, when the dial switch unit 2 (the dial 6 and the rotating member 5) is rotated, a control circuit (not shown) controls a predetermined part of the air conditioner (this) according to the contact position between the fixed contact 4a and the movable contact 4b. In the example, the opening degree of the air mix door for adjusting the blowing temperature is controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper mechanism (6s, 5s) is constituted by a stopper rib 6s protruding from the inner periphery of the dial 6 and a stopper surface 5s on the rotating member 5 side against which the tip end surface of the stopper rib 6s abuts. Has been. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, a notch 6k is provided at the base of the stopper rib 6s projecting on the inner peripheral side of the dial 6, whereby the tip side of the L-shaped stopper rib 6s is formed. Is given flexibility.

  Then, the stopper rib 6s provided with the flexibility abuts against the stopper surface 5s on the rotating member 5 side, thereby restricting the downward movement of the dial 6 with respect to the rotating member 5 (guide member 3). As shown in FIG. 5, when an excessive pressing force Fa of a predetermined value or more is input, the tip side of the stopper rib 6s is bent and deformed (elastically deformed), so that the dial 6 sinks into the rotating member 5 (guide member 3). It comes to allow.

  As described above, according to the switch device SD2 of the present embodiment, the dial 6 sinks when an excessive pressing force exceeding a predetermined value is input to the dial 6 between the dial 6 and the rotating member 5 (guide member 3). Since the stopper mechanism that allows the operation is provided, when the collision load Fa exceeding the predetermined value is applied to the dial 6, the dial 6 sinks by an appropriate amount d as shown in FIG. Can do. For example, when the occupant strongly hits the dial 6, the impact on the occupant can be reduced, so that safety is improved.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the rotating member 5 is provided with the stopper surface 5s and the dial 6 is provided with the stopper rib 6s. Conversely, the rotating member 5 is provided with the stopper rib 6s, and the dial 6 is provided with the stopper surface 5s. It may be done. Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the stopper surface 5s is provided in the rotating member 5 which comprises a part of dial switch part 2, the stopper surface 5s may be provided in the guide member 3, Moreover, you may provide in the other member which cannot move to an axial direction with respect to the guide member 3. FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the switch device SD2 includes the push switch unit 1. However, the push switch unit may be omitted. In the present invention, various other changes are possible.

It is a front view of the operation panel carrying the switch apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is II-II arrow sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which takes out and shows only the dial of the switch device of an embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the dial sank. It is sectional drawing of the conventional switch apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

3 Guide member 5s Stopper surface (stopper mechanism)
6 Dial 6s Stopper rib (Stopper mechanism)

Claims (1)

A cylindrical guide member (3);
A cylindrical dial (6) provided rotatably with respect to the guide member (3);
Provided between the guide member (3) and the dial (6), and normally restricts the downward movement of the dial (6) with respect to the guide member (3), and an excessive pressing force exceeding a predetermined value is input. And a stopper mechanism (6s) that allows the dial (6) to sink into the guide member (3) by being deformed when the switch member is pressed.

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