JP2023073040A - input device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an input device having a first axial member and a second axial member, the first and second axial members being prevented from becoming wobbly after being engaged.SOLUTION: An input device 1 includes: an axial cylinder 10 formed in the shape of a cylinder; and a tail valve 20 engaged with the axial cylinder 10 by being inserted into the inside from an insertion edge part of the axial cylinder 10. In the inner peripheral surface of the axial cylinder 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the tail valve 20, a protruding part 23 extending in the axial direction is formed in one side and a recessed part 17 is formed which opens toward the edge part to receive the protruding part 23 in the other side. The protruding part 23 and the recessed part 17 are engaged with each other when the axial cylinder 10 and the tail valve 20 are engaged with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to input devices.

An input device, for example, a knock-type writing instrument, comprising a knock member as a first shaft member formed in a cylindrical shape, and a second shaft member that is inserted from the end of the knock member and fitted to the knock member. a cam member, the outer peripheral surface of the cam member is formed with a protrusion extending in the axial direction, and the inner peripheral surface of the knock member is formed with a recess opening toward the end to receive the protrusion. A formed knock-type writing instrument is known from US Pat.

WO2017/104468

In the knock-type writing instrument disclosed in Patent Document 1, after the knock member and the cam member are fitted together, the knock member and the cam member rotate due to the clearance in the circumferential direction between the concave portion of the knock member and the convex portion of the cam member. There is a possibility of rattling in the direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device having a first shaft member and a second shaft member, in which rattling after fitting the first shaft member and the second shaft member can be suppressed. and

According to one aspect of the present invention, the first shaft member is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the second shaft member is inserted from the insertion end of the first shaft member and fitted to the first shaft member. wherein one of the inner peripheral surface of the first shaft member and the outer peripheral surface of the second shaft member is formed with a protrusion extending in the axial direction, and the other is formed so as to receive the protrusion. An input, characterized in that a concave portion that opens toward an end portion is formed, and the convex portion and the concave portion are configured to be fitted when the first shaft member and the second shaft member are fitted. An apparatus is provided.

A front end portion of the convex portion may be a wide portion formed to be wider. The wide portion may be tapered. The recess may be formed such that the width of the recess becomes narrower toward the back. The insertion end of the first shaft member and the corresponding end of the second shaft member may have the same non-circular cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape may be a regular hexagon. An input tool may be provided that includes the first shaft member and an input member arranged at the front end portion of the first shaft member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device having a first shaft member and a second shaft member, in which rattling after the first shaft member and the second shaft member are fitted together can be suppressed. It has the common effect of

1 is a side view of an input device according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the input device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of an input tool of the input device of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of an input tool of the input device of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear end of the input tool of the input device of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the process of fitting the barrel and the breech. 7 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of the cap of the input device of FIG. 1; FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the input device of FIG. 1 with a writing instrument; FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view of the writing instrument.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Corresponding elements are provided with common reference numerals throughout the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an input device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the input device 1 of FIG. 3 is a side view of the input tool 2 of the input device 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of the input tool 2 of the input device 1 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear end portion of the input tool 2 of the input device 1 of FIG. 1, and particularly FIG. 5(B) shows a state in which the barrel 10 and the tail plug 20 are fitted together.

The input device 1 has an input tool 2 and a cap 3 . The input tool 2 includes a barrel 10 which is a first shaft member formed in a cylindrical shape, and a second shaft which is inserted inside from the rear end portion which is the insertion end portion of the barrel 10 and is fitted with the barrel 10. It has a tail plug 20 as a member and an input member 11 detachably attached to the front end portion of the barrel 10 . In this specification, in the axial direction of the input device 1 or input tool 2, the input member 11 side is defined as the "front" side, and the side opposite to the input member 11 is defined as the "rear" side. Regarding the cap 3, the closed end side is defined as the "front" side, and the open end side is defined as the "rear" side.

As shown in FIG. 5, the barrel 10 has a regular hexagonal cross-sectional shape with rounded vertices. The external shape portion 21 of the breech plug 20, which is continuous by being connected to the rear end portion of the barrel 10, also has a regular hexagonal cross-sectional shape with rounded vertices. As a result, the external shape of the barrel 10, and thus the external shape of the input tool 2 as a whole, has the same external shape as a general pencil. Therefore, when introducing the input device 1 to an educational site such as an elementary school or a junior high school, it becomes easier for students and teachers to accept it.

The barrel 10 and the breech plug 20 may have a circular cross-sectional shape, but preferably have a non-circular cross-sectional shape such as other polygonal or elliptical shapes including regular hexagons. As a result, when the input tool 2 is placed on a desk or the like, it can be prevented from rolling and falling from the desk or the like.

A cylindrical fitting portion 13 to which the input member 11 can be fitted is provided at the front end portion of the barrel 10 . A male screw portion 14 having a larger diameter than the fitting portion 13 is provided behind the fitting portion 13 . A first engaging protrusion 15 is formed in an annular shape on the inner peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the barrel 10 . Six groove-shaped recesses 17 defined by protrusions 16 and extending toward the end are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 10 behind the first engagement protrusion 15 . The six recesses 17 are equally spaced from each other along the circumferential direction.

The input member 11 is a substantially hemispherical cap-shaped member. A flange portion 11 a is annularly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the open rear end portion of the input member 11 . The input member 11 is made of conductive rubber containing conductive materials such as carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and metal powder, and the shaft tube 10 and tail plug 20 are made of a mixture of metal material, conductive resin material, and metal powder. It is formed from a conductive material such as a resin molded product. Thereby, conduction from the input member 11 to the user's fingers is ensured via the barrel 10 and the tail plug 20, and the input tool 2 can be used as a capacitive touch pen. The hemispherical surface of the input member 11 may be flocked with conductive fibers. As a result, the frictional resistance of the input member 11 with respect to the screen can be reduced, and smoother and more precise input operations can be performed.

The input member 11 is attached to the barrel 10 via a cylindrical fixing member 12 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the inner peripheral surface of the fixing member 12 is provided with a female threaded portion 12 a that can be screwed with the male threaded portion 14 of the barrel 10 . A locking portion 12 b is provided in an annular shape on the inner peripheral surface of the front end portion of the fixing member 12 . With the input member 11 fitted in the fitting portion 13 , the fixing member 12 is inserted into the input member 11 from the front, and the fixing member 12 is screwed onto the barrel 10 . When the screwing is completed, the tip of the input member 11 protrudes from the fixed member 12 and the flange portion 11a of the input member 11 is locked to the locking portion 12b of the fixed member 12 . As a result, the input member 11 does not come off even when the input device 1 is used, that is, even when the input member 11 is rubbed against a screen such as a touch panel.

An insertion portion 22 is formed in the front end portion of the breech plug 20 and is inserted from the rear end portion, which is the insertion end portion of the barrel 10 . The insertion portion 22 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the outer portion 21 . In addition, in FIG. 4, only the tail plug 20 is shown not in a longitudinal section but in a side view. The outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 22 is formed with two convex portions 23 extending in the axial direction, specifically, extending forward from the front end surface of the outer portion 21 . The two protrusions 23 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the tail plug 20 . The two protrusions 23 are configured to be received by the recess 17 of the barrel 10 . A wide portion 24 wider than the rest of the protrusion 23 is formed at the front end of the protrusion 23 . In this specification, the term "width" refers to the length in the circumferential direction of the outer or inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical member. Two annular second engagement projections 25 are formed axially apart from each other on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 22 ahead of the projection 23 .

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the process of fitting the barrel 10 and the tail plug 20 together. FIG. 6 shows the position of the projection 23 with respect to the projection 16 defining the recess 17 developed in the circumferential direction. In the drawing, the upper side is the front of the input device 1 or the input tool 2 , and the lower side is the rear of the input device 1 or the input tool 2 .

As shown in FIG. 6A, the recess 17 is formed so that the width of the recess 17 becomes narrower from the entrance opening in the axial direction toward the back. That is, the side surfaces 18 of the protrusions 16 that face each other in the recess 17 are formed so as to approach each other from the entrance opening of the recess 17 toward the back. Therefore, the recess 17 is tapered. A curved first guide portion 19 that protrudes outward is formed at the tip portion of the projection 16, that is, the portion near the entrance of the recess 17 that opens. On the other hand, in the breech plug 20, at the tip of the convex portion 23, particularly at the tip of the wide portion 24, there is a curved second guide formed outwardly so as to correspond to the first guide portion 19. A portion 26 is formed.

FIG. 6A shows that when the tail plug 20 is to be inserted into the barrel 10, the concave portion 17 and the convex portion 23 do not match in the circumferential direction, and the first guide portion 19 of the barrel 10 and the tail plug are separated from each other. 20 is in contact with the second guide portion 26. FIG. In this state, when the tail plug 20 is pushed into the barrel 10 along the axial direction, due to the mutual shapes of the curved first guide portion 19 and the curved second guide portion 26, the circumferential direction A force component is generated, and the tail plug 20 rotates around the central axis with respect to the barrel 10 . That is, when the tail plug 20 is pushed into the barrel 10, the first guide portion 19 and the second guide portion 26 cooperate to move the convex portion 23 in the circumferential direction (Fig. 6(B)). As a result, the convex portion 23 is guided into the concave portion 17 (FIG. 6(C)). At this time, the positional relationship between the concave portion 17 of the barrel tube 10 and the convex portion 23 of the breech plug 20 is determined so that the corresponding surfaces of the barrel tube 10 and the breech plug 20, which have regular hexagonal cross-sectional shapes, are aligned.

When the tail plug 20 is further pushed into the barrel 10 from the state shown in FIG. Since the side surface 18 is formed so as to become narrower from the entrance opening of the recess 17 toward the back, the wide portion 24 is elastically compressed and deformed in the width direction as it moves forward (FIG. 6(D)). . As a result, the concave portion 17 and the convex portion 23 are fitted.

In this series of processes, the two second engaging protrusions 25 of the tail plug 20 sequentially climb over the first engaging protrusions 15 of the barrel 10 so that the tail plug 20 does not easily come off from the barrel 10. Lock. At the moment when the second engaging convex portion 25 of the tail plug 20 at the further rear side crosses over the first engaging convex portion 15 of the barrel 10 , the front end surface of the contour portion 21 of the tail plug 20 becomes the rear end surface of the barrel 10 . abut. As a result, the insertion of the tail plug 20 is restricted, and the fitting between the barrel 10 and the tail plug 20 is completed. The concave portion 17, the convex portion 23, and the wide portion 24 are fitted when the barrel tube 10 and the tail plug 20 are fitted.

In particular, as described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C, when the tail plug 20 is to be inserted into the barrel 10, the concave portion 17 and the convex portion 23 do not coincide with each other in the circumferential direction. Even if not, the first guide portion 19 and the second guide portion 26 can work together to align the concave portion 17 and the convex portion 23 in the circumferential direction. Therefore, fitting by insertion of the barrel 10 and the breech plug 20 can be performed more easily, and the outer surfaces of each of the barrel 10 and the breech plug 20, specifically, the regular hexagonal cross-sectional shape can be neatly formed. can be aligned.

Both the first guide portion 19 and the second guide portion 26 are curved, but one or both of the first guide portion 19 and the second guide portion 26 may be inclined. In short, the first guide portion 19 and the second guide portion 26 can be arbitrarily configured as long as they are configured such that the inserted convex portion 23 abuts and is guided into the concave portion 17 . Further, as long as the inserted convex portion 23 abuts and is guided into the concave portion 17, there is no need to provide both the first guide portion and the second guide portion. Only one of the portion or the second guide portion may be provided.

As described with reference to FIG. 6(D), since the convex portion 23, particularly the wide portion 24, fits into the concave portion 17, rattling after fitting the barrel tube 10 and the tail plug 20 is suppressed. be able to. The wide portion 24 may be tapered forward as a whole. In this case, it is preferable that the tapered wide portion 24 has a steeper angle than the side surface 18 of the concave portion 17 formed so as to become narrower toward the back. As a result, when the tail plug 20 is pushed into the barrel 10, the wide portion 24 is more elastically deformed due to the contact with the side surface 18, and the wide portion 24 can be locked to the side surface 18 more strongly. .

Further, the side surface of the convex portion 23 does not contact the side surface 18 of the concave portion 17 over the axial direction, but only the side surface of the wide portion 24 contacts the side surface 18 . As a result, resistance when the projection 23 advances in the recess 17 is reduced, allowing the projection to advance more smoothly, while promoting elastic deformation as described above. In short, the concave portion 17, the convex portion 23, and the wide portion 24 can be arbitrarily configured as long as the concave portion 17 and the convex portion 23 are configured to fit together when the barrel tube 10 and the breech plug 20 are inserted. be able to. For example, the outer shape of the wide portion 24 may be circular. The convex portion 23 may be formed substantially complementary to the concave portion 17 so as not to have the wide portion 24 .

Two protrusions 23 are formed on the tail plug 20, but the number of protrusions 23 may be one or more, for example, three. Similarly, six recesses 17 are formed in the barrel 10, but the number of recesses 17 is one or more, for example four, as long as the number of recesses 17 is the same as or greater than the number of corresponding protrusions 23. may be It is preferable that each of the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of recesses is spaced apart from each other at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. A protrusion may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 10 and a recess may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the breech plug 20 .

FIG. 7 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of the cap 3 of the input device 1 of FIG. The cap 3 has a cap body 30 and a cylindrical cover member 31 with a clip 32 . A cylindrical fitting portion 33 into which the input member 11 can be fitted is provided at the front end portion of the cap body 30 , and a male screw portion 34 having a larger diameter than the fitting portion 33 is provided behind the fitting portion 33 . is provided. On the other hand, the internal peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the cover member 31 is provided with a female threaded portion 31 a that can be screwed with the male threaded portion 34 of the cap body 30 .

By attaching the cover member 31 to the cap body 30 while the input member 11 is fitted in the fitting portion 33 of the cap body 30 , the input member 11 can be accommodated in the cap 3 . The input member 11 accommodated in the cap 3 can be used as a spare for replacement when the input member 11 of the input tool 2 is damaged due to wear or the like. The provision of the spare input member 11 in the input device 1 enables quick replacement. By attaching the cover member 31 to the cap main body 30 so as to cover the input member 11, the input member 11 can be prevented from being contaminated or damaged. Since the cap main body 30 and the cover member 31 are attached by screwing, the cover member 31 can be removed from the cap main body 30 even if only the cover member 31 or the clip 32 is pulled when removing the cap 3 from the input tool 2. There is no

A circular or rectangular through-hole may be provided in the outer surface of the cover member 31, for example, the outer peripheral surface, so that the presence or absence of the spare input member 11 in the cap 3 can be confirmed. This prevents the user from forgetting to replenish the spare input member 11 after removing it from the cap 3 and replacing it with the input member 11 of the input tool 2 .

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the input device 1 of FIG. 1 provided with the writing instrument 40, and FIG. The writing instrument 40 has a tail plug 20 and is configured to be housed in the barrel 10 . The writing instrument 40 has a small barrel 41 as a third shaft member and a refill 42 housed in the small barrel 41 . In the input device 1 , the front end portion of the tail plug 20 is inserted into the rear end portion of the barrel tube 10 and fitted with the barrel tube 10 , and the rear end portion of the small barrel tube 41 is inserted into the front end portion of the tail plug 20 . It is configured to fit with the tail plug 20 .

The writing instrument 40 can be separated from the input instrument 2 by pulling the tail plug 20 while gripping the barrel 10 . In this state, the input tool 2 can perform input using the input member 11 and the writing tool 40 can write with the refill 42 . In particular, the writing instrument 40 can have a sufficient length to be easily gripped by the user as long as it can be accommodated in the barrel 10. Therefore, even if the input instrument and the writing instrument are separated, they are easy to use.

The tail plug 20 and the small barrel tube 41 are fitted by press-fitting, but they may be fitted by screwing. It is also possible to engage by getting over the engagement convex portion of . In FIG. 8, the small barrel tube 41 has a length about half that of the barrel tube 10, but the small barrel tube 41 may have a length that is accommodated inside the barrel barrel 10 over the entire length thereof. As a result, the overall length of the writing instrument 40 is increased, making it easier to grip and write. In addition, since the total length of the refill 42 is longer, it is possible to store more ink and the like, and to write longer.

In the above-described input device 1, the entire input tool 2 including the input member 11 is made of a conductive material to form a capacitive touch pen. Moreover, it may be configured as a pressure-sensitive stylus by configuring in a tapered shape. In short, the input tool 2 can be an input tool such as a capacitive or pressure sensitive stylus or touch pen.

The refill 42 of the writing instrument 40 may be a ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, marker pen, mechanical pencil, and fountain pen refill. The refill 42 may contain thermochromic ink. In this case, the writing instrument 40 is a thermochromic writing instrument, and the cap 3 or the tail plug 20 may be configured as a friction body. In the writing instrument 40 as a thermochromic writing instrument, the handwriting of the writing instrument 40 can be thermally discolored by the frictional heat generated when rubbed by the cap 3 or the tail plug 20 as the friction body.

Here, the thermochromic ink maintains a predetermined color (first color) at room temperature (e.g., 25°C) and changes to another color (second color) when heated to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 60°C). , and then returns to the original color (first color) when cooled to a predetermined temperature (eg, −5° C.). In the writing instrument 40 using the thermochromic ink, making the second color colorless, heating up the drawn line written with the first color (for example, red) to make it colorless is referred to as "erasing" here. . Therefore, the writing surface or the like on which the drawn line is written is rubbed by the friction body as the erasing portion to generate frictional heat, thereby changing the drawn line to colorless, that is, erasing it. It should be noted that, as a matter of course, the second color may be colored other than colorless.

The fitting between the barrel 10 and the tail plug 20 described above with reference to FIG. 6 can also be applied to other input devices having a first shaft member and a second shaft member. The first shaft member and the second shaft member may be, for example, the barrel and the tail plug as described above, or may be the front shaft and the rear shaft that constitute the barrel. It may be a proboscis member and a barrel. The other input device may be, for example, an applicator in addition to the capacitive or pressure-sensitive stylus or touch pen as described above. Here, "applicator" means not only applicators such as correction fluids, adhesives and chemicals, and cosmetic applicators such as mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and nail polish, but also ballpoint pens, sign pens, marker pens, sharp pens Writing implements such as pencils, fountain pens, and thermochromic writing implements are also widely included.

1 Input Device 2 Input Tool 3 Cap 10 Axle Tube 11 Input Member 11a Flange 12 Fixing Member 12a Female Threaded Part 12b Locking Part 13 Fitting Part 14 Male Threaded Part 15 First Engagement Projection 16 Projection 17 Recess 18 Side 19 First Guide Part 20 Tail Plug 21 External Part 22 Insertion Part 23 Protruding Part 24 Wide Part 25 Second Engagement Protruding Part 26 Second Guide Part 30 Cap Main Body 31 Cover Member 31a Female Threaded Part 32 Clip 33 Fitting Part 34 Male Threaded Part 40 Writing Tool 41 Small barrel cylinder 42 refill

Claims (7)

a first shaft member formed in a cylindrical shape; and a second shaft member that is inserted into the inside from an insertion end of the first shaft member and fitted with the first shaft member,
One of the inner peripheral surface of the first shaft member and the outer peripheral surface of the second shaft member is formed with a protrusion extending in the axial direction, and the other is formed toward the end so as to receive the protrusion. An input device, wherein a concave portion is formed so as to open at the same direction, and the convex portion and the concave portion are configured to be fitted when the first shaft member and the second shaft member are fitted to each other. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the front end portion of said convex portion is a wide portion formed to be wider. 3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the wide portion is tapered. 4. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recess is formed so that the width of the recess becomes narrower as it goes deeper. 5. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insertion end of the first shaft member and the corresponding end of the second shaft member have the same non-circular cross-sectional shape. 6. The input device according to claim 5, wherein said cross-sectional shape is a regular hexagon. 7. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an input tool having the first shaft member and an input member arranged at a front end portion of the first shaft member.

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