JP2009266454A - Operation knob - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cope with regulations for inner projections and to prevent erroneous insertion. <P>SOLUTION: A slide guiding projection 51 is formed on one of an inner knob 20 and an outer knob 30 and a slide guiding groove 52 extending in a direction in which the outer knob 30 is inserted is formed in the other such that the slide guiding projection 51 is engaged with the slide guiding groove 52 to guide sliding movement of the outer knob 30 relative to the inner knob 20. For erroneous engagement of the slide guiding projection 51 with a slide restricting groove 42 when inserting the outer knob 30 into the inner knob 20, insertion of the outer knob is restricted by engagement of the slide guiding projection 51 with the slide restricting groove 42 earlier than engagement of a slide restricting projection 41 with the slide guiding groove 52 to allow visual and ready confirmation of erroneous insertion and ready pulling of the inner knob 20 out of the outer knob 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation knob suitable for use in an in-vehicle electronic device.

  A rotary operation type operation knob used as an operator of a vehicle-mounted electronic device is typically protruded from the surface of the operation panel so as to be easily operated. Such an operation knob is based on ECE regulations No. 1 from the viewpoint of improving the safety of passengers in the event of a car collision. 21 (hereinafter referred to as the "inside collision regulation"), when the amount of protrusion of the operation knob from the surface of the operation panel exceeds the specified amount, when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the operation knob in the axial direction The load is pushed into the operation panel and the amount of protrusion from the surface of the operation panel needs to be within a specified amount.

Therefore, in the conventional operation knob, the outer knob is extrapolated to the inner knob, and an impact is applied to the outer knob so that the outer knob can be slid with respect to the inner knob so that the outer knob is pushed. There exists a thing which makes protrusion amount less than regulation amount (for example, refer to patent documents 1). In this type, the inner knob is normally provided with a plurality of bosses, and these are respectively engaged with a plurality of split grooves provided in the outer knob, thereby restricting the pushing of the outer knob.
JP 2006-277045 A

By the way, by providing at least one set of bosses and split grooves in a shape extending in the insertion direction of the outer knob, it is possible to obtain a guide property when the outer knob is inserted into the inner knob when the operation knob is assembled.
However, each boss is configured so that the outer knob can be pushed in by a load of a predetermined value or more. Therefore, when the operation knob is assembled, the extended boss is erroneously engaged with a split groove other than the corresponding split groove. Even in such a case, if a certain amount of force is applied, the outer knob is likely to be erroneously inserted into the inner knob. Such misinsertion is difficult to detect from the appearance after assembly, and even if the misinsertion can be discovered, if the inner knob is pulled out from the outer knob, the boss part is destroyed and cannot be reused. There is a fear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation knob that solves the above-described problems of the prior art and that can cope with an internal collision law and that prevents erroneous insertion.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an operation knob according to the present invention includes an inner knob and an outer knob externally inserted into the inner knob, and includes a slide restricting protrusion provided on one of the inner knob and the outer knob. An operation knob that engages with a slide restricting groove provided on the other and restricts sliding movement of the outer knob in the insertion direction until a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the outer knob. A slide guide protrusion is provided on one of the knobs, a slide guide groove extending in the insertion direction of the outer knob is provided on the other, and the slide guide protrusion is engaged with the slide guide groove so that the outer knob with respect to the inner knob is engaged. It is possible to guide the sliding movement of the knob, and when the outer knob is inserted into the inner knob , Wherein the slide guide protrusion is engaged with the slide restricting groove or said slide guide groove prior to the slide regulating protrusions.

  Further, the present invention provides the operation knob, wherein when the slide guide protrusion is guided along the slide restricting groove and the outer knob is externally inserted into the inner knob, the inner knob, the outer knob, A disengagement preventing means for engaging the disengageable member so as to prevent disengagement is provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to cope with the internal collision regulation and to improve the assemblability by the engagement structure of the slide guide protrusion and the slide guide groove. Furthermore, if the slide guide protrusion is accidentally engaged with the slide restricting groove when the outer knob is extrapolated to the inner knob, before the slide restricting protrusion engages with the counterpart, The insertion of the outer knob is regulated early by the engagement between the protrusion and the slide regulating groove.
As a result, the outer knob protrudes excessively from the inner knob, so that it is possible to easily confirm that there is a mistake in insertion, and the inner knob can be easily pulled out from the outer knob. In addition, it is possible to prevent damage during pulling out.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an operation panel provided with an operation knob in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an operation panel provided with an operation knob.
The operation panel 1 is an operation panel used for an in-vehicle electronic device having functions such as a car navigation system, an audio system, and a terrestrial digital TV. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 1 is provided in the in-vehicle electronic device having an audio system function. An example is shown.

  The operation panel 1 is provided with a panel surface 13 and an operation knob 2 as a rotary operation type operator. In the present embodiment, the operation knob 2 is configured as a knob of the volume 12. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 1 includes a printed circuit board 11 therein, and the printed circuit board 11 is mounted with the volume 12 with the rotating shaft 15 protruding. The panel surface 13 is provided with an opening 14 at a position corresponding to the volume 12, and the rotary shaft 15 of the volume 12 extends from the opening 14 to the outside of the panel surface 13, and the operation knob 2 is provided at the extended portion. It is attached.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operation knob 2.
The operation knob 2 includes an inner knob 20 and an outer knob 30 externally attached to the inner knob 20, and when the outer knob 30 is subjected to a load of a predetermined value or more, the outer knob 30 is attached to the inner knob 20. Thus, it is configured to slide and be pushed in the insertion direction.
More specifically, the inner knob 20 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a top wall 21 and a surrounding wall 22, and the top wall 21 faces the opening 14 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the end surface 20 </ b> A on the opposite side of the surrounding wall 22 is arranged to face the outer knob 30. As shown in FIG. 3, a shaft hole 23 is provided in the center of the top wall 21, and a rotating shaft 15 (see FIG. 2) extending from the volume 12 passes through the shaft hole 23 and is inserted into the inner knob 20. It is fixed.

  On the other hand, the outer knob 30 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a top wall 31 and a surrounding wall 32, and the surrounding wall 32 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the inner knob 20. An end surface 32 </ b> A on the panel surface 13 (see FIG. 2) side of the surrounding wall 32 is formed in parallel with the top wall 31, and the outer knob 30 is arranged so that the end surface 32 </ b> A faces the inner knob 20. In addition, a concavo-convex group 33 is formed on the outer periphery of the surrounding wall 32 on the top wall 31 side to prevent slippage during rotation operation.

Four bosses are provided on the outer periphery of the surrounding wall 22 of the inner knob 20 at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and two of them are load restricting bosses (sliding restricting protrusions) that restrict the sliding movement of the outer knob 30. ) 41, and the remaining two are configured as guide ribs (slide guide protrusions) 51 that guide the slide movement when the outer knob 30 is assembled and inserted.
On the other hand, the inner wall 34 of the outer knob 30 is provided with split grooves that engage with the ribs provided on the inner knob 20 at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, two of which are the load regulating boss 41 and The slide regulating dividing groove 42 is configured to be engaged, and the remaining two are configured as a sliding guide dividing groove 52 to be engaged with the guide rib 51.
On the opening side of the inner surface of the inner wall 34 of the outer knob 30, a circumferential protrusion 62 is formed over the entire periphery of the inner wall 34, and this protrusion 62 crosses the middle of the slide regulating dividing groove 42. It is configured as follows.

  When the operation knob 2 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer guide 30 is fitted into the inner knob 20 by aligning the slide guide split groove 52 and the guide rib 51, so that the outer guide 30 is fitted by the slide guide split groove 52. After the knob 30 is guided to slide in the axial direction, the load restricting boss 41 is engaged with the slide restricting split groove 42, thereby restricting the sliding movement of the outer knob 30 in the pushing direction. The amount of protrusion L of the operation knob 2 from the panel surface 13 is ensured to be equal to or greater than a specified amount.

  Further, a circumferential groove 61 is formed over the entire circumference of the surrounding wall 22 of the inner knob 20, and when the outer knob 30 is extrapolated to the inner knob 20, the load regulating boss 41 slides as shown in FIG. The protrusion 62 is configured to fit into the circumferential groove 61 when locked in the regulating dividing groove 42. Accordingly, the eccentricity between the outer knob 30 and the inner knob 20 is prevented, and the outer knob 30 is stably held. Therefore, even when the passenger pulls the outer knob 30 by mistake, these protrusions 62 are provided. In addition, the engagement structure of the circumferential groove 61 functions as a detachment preventing means, and the outer knob 30 can be prevented from detaching from the inner knob 20.

When the protrusion 62 is fitted in the circumferential groove 61, the end 51A on the panel surface 13 side of the guide rib 51 is located on the same plane as the end surface 32A on the panel surface 13 side of the outer knob 30. Therefore, it can be easily confirmed visually from the top wall 21 side that the inner knob 20 is correctly inserted into the outer knob 30.
When the outer knob 30 is rotated by the rider with the guide rib 51 disposed inside the slide guide split groove 52, the guide rib 51 is pressed against the side wall of the slide guide split groove 52. Therefore, the inner knob 20 also rotates synchronously with the outer knob 30. In addition, since the outer periphery of the inner knob 20 is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the outer knob 30 and the protrusion 62 is fitted with the peripheral groove 61, the eccentricity phenomenon does not occur and the volume level adjustment operation can be performed smoothly. it can.

  Under such a configuration, for example, when a vehicle collision accident occurs and the passenger's body collides with the outer knob 30, a load of a predetermined value (for example, 240 to 378N) or more is applied to the outer knob 30. When this is done, the load restricting boss 41 is crushed and dives into the inner wall 34 of the outer knob 30 and slides while expanding the inner wall 34 outward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer knob 30 is slid and pushed, and the amount of protrusion of the operation knob 2 from the panel surface 13 changes to a dimension L <b> 1 that is equal to or less than a specified amount. This makes it possible to ensure the safety of the passenger.

  Here, in the operation knob 2 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the guide rib 51 has the outer knob before the load regulating boss 41 when the outer knob 30 is fitted to the inner knob 20. 30 is formed so as to extend in the axial direction from the side closer to the end face 20A than the load restricting boss 41 so as to reach 30, and a slide guide split groove 52 that receives this corresponding to the extension of the guide rib 51, It is deeper than the slide restricting groove 42.

Therefore, when the outer knob 30 is fitted into the inner knob 20, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, if the guide rib 51 is accidentally engaged with the slide restricting split groove 42, this When the guide rib 51 is inserted, the tip end comes into contact with the back end of the shallow slide regulating split groove 42 at an early stage, and further slide movement is prohibited. In this state, the end 51 </ b> A of the guide rib 51 is not located on the same surface as the end surface 32 </ b> A of the outer knob 30 and protrudes, so that the outer knob 30 is erroneously inserted into the inner knob 20. This can be easily confirmed visually.
Further, before the load restricting boss 41 reaches the outer knob 30, the distal end of the guide restricting rib 51 is brought into contact with the inner end of the slide restricting split groove 42, so that the load restricting boss 41 is surrounded by the outer knob 30. No contact with 32 or the like.

Further, since the guide rib 51 abuts against the inner end of the slide regulating dividing groove 42 at an early stage, the inner knob 20 is not inserted deeply into the outer knob 30. It can be easily pulled out from the knob 30.
Further, when the guide rib 51 comes into contact with the rear end of the slide regulating split groove 42, the projecting strip 62 (see FIG. 4) and the circumferential groove 61 are not fitted with each other. The outer knob 30 can be pulled out from the inner knob 20 without adding a breaking load to the circumferential groove 61, and the outer knob 30 and the inner knob 20 can be reused.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the outer knob 30 can be slid relative to the inner knob 20 within the range in which the slide restricting means works. Can be set without being. When a load greater than or equal to a predetermined value is applied to the outer knob 30, the restriction of the slide by the slide restriction dividing groove 42 is released by the load, and the outer knob 30 deepens the degree of fitting with the inner knob 20. The protruding amount of the operation knob 2 can be kept within a specified amount, and safety can be ensured.
Further, when the outer knob 30 is extrapolated to the inner knob 20, even if the guide rib 51 is erroneously inserted such that the guide rib 51 is guided by the slide restricting split groove 42, the guide rib 51 is inserted into the slide restricting split groove 42. Since the inner knob 20 is abutted at an early stage and stops while the inner knob 20 is fitted to the outer knob 30, it is possible to easily confirm that it is erroneously inserted. At this time, since the inner knob 20 is not inserted into the outer knob 30 to the back, the inner knob 20 can be grasped and easily pulled out from the outer knob 30.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, even when the inner knob 20 and the outer knob 30 are fitted to each other, even if the guide rib 51 is erroneously inserted so as to be guided by the slide regulating dividing groove 42, the guide Since the end 51A on the panel surface 13 side of the rib 51 is not located on the same surface as the end surface 32A on the panel surface 13 side of the outer knob 30, it is possible to easily confirm by mistake that it has been erroneously inserted. Become. Moreover, since the protrusion 62 and the circumferential groove 61 do not fit at the time of incorrect insertion, the inner knob 20 can be pulled out from the outer knob 30 without applying a damage load to the protrusion 62 and the circumferential groove 61. Thus, the inner knob 20 and the outer knob 30 can be reused.

However, the above embodiment is an aspect of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operation knob 2 includes the inner knob 20 provided with the load restricting boss 41, the guide rib 51, and the circumferential groove 61, and the outer knob 30 provided with the slide restricting split groove 42 and the slide guide split groove. 52 and the protrusion 62 are provided, but the protrusion and the groove may be reversed.
For example, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an operation knob according to another embodiment.
The operation knob 100 includes an inner knob 120 and an outer knob 130 that is slidably fitted to the inner knob 120 in the axial direction.

Like the inner knob 20 described above, the inner knob 120 has a top wall 121 and a surrounding wall 122 and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. However, the inner knob 120 has a concave slide regulating split groove 142, a concave slide guide. A dividing groove 152 and a concave circumferential groove 162 are provided.
On the other hand, the outer knob 130 has a top wall 131 and a surrounding wall 132 and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, similar to the outer knob 30 described above, but has a convex load regulating boss 141 on its inner wall, A convex guide rib 151 and a convex protrusion 161 are provided.

  Also in this configuration, as in the present embodiment, it is possible to cope with the internal collision regulation, and when erroneously inserted, the guide rib 151 comes into contact with the back end of the slide regulating split groove 142 at an early stage, and the inner knob 120 is moved to the outer knob. Since it stops in the middle of fitting to 130, it is possible to easily confirm visually that the inner knob 120 is erroneously inserted into the outer knob 130. Moreover, since the protrusion 161 and the circumferential groove 162 do not fit at the time of erroneous insertion, the inner knob 120 can be pulled out from the outer knob 130 without applying a damage load to the protrusion 161 and the circumferential groove 162. Thus, the inner knob 120 and the outer knob 130 can be reused.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the rib 51 for guides provided in the inner knob 20 was formed elongate in the axial direction, if it reaches | attains the outer knob 30 side ahead of the load control boss | hub 41, It may be divided and formed.
For example, FIG. 8 is a front view showing an example of an inner knob according to another embodiment.
The inner knob 220 has a top wall 221 and a surrounding wall 222 and has a bottomed cylindrical shape, similar to the inner knob 20 described above, except that it includes a guide rib 251 including two guide rib pieces 251B and 251C. The load regulating boss 241 and the circumferential groove 261 are provided. An end surface 251 </ b> A on the panel surface (not shown) side of the guide rib 251 is formed in parallel with the top wall 221.

Even in this configuration, as in the present embodiment, it is possible to cope with the internal collision regulations, and at the time of erroneous insertion, the end surface 251A on the panel surface side of the guide rib 251 is flush with the end surface 32A on the panel surface side of the outer knob 30. Since it is not positioned, it can be easily confirmed visually that the inner knob 220 is erroneously inserted into the outer knob 30. Further, when erroneously inserted, the guide rib piece 251 </ b> B comes into contact with the back end of the slide restricting split groove 42 at an early stage and stops while the inner knob 220 is fitted to the outer knob 30. Therefore, the inner knob 220 can be grasped and easily pulled out from the outer knob 30.
8 shows an example in which the guide rib 251 is divided into two parts, it may be divided into three parts or more.

  Further, for example, in the above embodiment, the operation knob 2 is configured to adjust the volume 12 of the in-vehicle electronic device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation knob 2 is also applied to a rotary switch or the like.

It is a figure which shows the operation panel provided with the operation knob which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the operation panel provided with the operation knob. It is a disassembled perspective view of an operation knob. It is a figure which shows the operation knob to which the load more than predetermined value was added. It is a disassembled perspective view of the operation knob at the time of incorrect insertion. It is sectional drawing of the operation knob at the time of incorrect insertion. It is a disassembled perspective view of the operation knob which concerns on other embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the inner knob which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 2 Operation knob 13 Panel surface 15 Rotating shaft 20 Inner knob 30 Outer knob 32A End surface 41 Load control boss (slide control protrusion)
42 Sliding restriction groove (sliding restriction groove)
51 Rib for guide (protrusion for slide guide)
51A End face 52 Slide guide split groove (slide guide groove)
61 Circumferential groove 62

Claims (2)

An inner knob and an outer knob extrapolated to the inner knob;
The slide restricting protrusion provided on one of the inner knob and the outer knob is engaged with the slide restricting groove provided on the other, and the outer knob is slid in the insertion direction until a predetermined load is applied. In an operation knob that regulates movement,
A slide guide protrusion is provided on one of the inner knob and the outer knob, a slide guide groove extending in the insertion direction of the outer knob is provided on the other, and the slide guide protrusion is engaged with the slide guide groove. While making it possible to guide the sliding movement of the outer knob relative to the inner knob,
The operation knob, wherein when the outer knob is inserted into the inner knob, the slide guide protrusion engages with the slide restricting groove or the slide guide groove before the slide restricting protrusion. The operation knob according to claim 1,
When the slide guide protrusion is guided along the slide restricting groove and the outer knob is extrapolated to the inner knob, the inner knob and the outer knob are engaged with each other to prevent the separation. An operation knob comprising means.

Images