JP4784468B2 - Operating device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation button type operation device applicable to a vehicle interior panel of an automobile or the like and an operation panel of various electronic devices.

  An operation button that receives a pressing operation is frequently used in a vehicle interior panel of an automobile or the like and an operation panel of various electronic devices. This operation button is supported by a support member constituted by the vehicle interior panel or the like so as to be slidable in the direction of the pressing operation. In general, the operation button is provided with a guided portion extending from the back surface thereof in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction, and the support member is provided with a guide surface for guiding the guided portion in the same direction.

  When the operation button is relatively small, there is no particular problem even if the guided portion and the guide surface are single. However, when the operation button is relatively large, for example, has a shape extending in a specific direction, the operation button can be smoothly moved to a predetermined operation direction even when a pressing force is applied to a biased position of the operation button. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, the guided portion and the guide surface need to be provided at a plurality of positions aligned in the specific direction.

Patent Document 1 discloses a transceiver operation device including an operation button extending in a specific direction and a transceiver body that is a support member for supporting the operation button, and a pair of supports in the pressing operation direction from the back surface of the operation button. While the shaft extends, the transceiver body is provided with an insertion hole through which the support shaft can be inserted. In this operation device, the operation button is guided in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the support shaft, that is, a pressing operation direction, by sliding contact between the inner peripheral surface surrounding the insertion hole and the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft.
JP-A-5-266754

  In the operating device having the pair of support shafts and the guide insertion holes corresponding thereto, an error between the pitch between the support shafts and the pitch between the insertion holes can be avoided in manufacturing. Absent. In order to allow both support shafts to be inserted into the respective insertion holes regardless of the presence of such an error, in anticipation of the error, the outer peripheral surface of each of the support shafts and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole It is necessary to give clearance between them.

  However, such a clearance allows the operation button to be inclined with respect to the support member, and causes so-called rattling. If this clearance is large, the shakiness becomes remarkable, and there is a risk that the smooth pressing operation of the operation buttons may be obstructed.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention can reliably attach the operation button to the support member even if the clearance between the guided portion on the operation button side and the guide surface on the support member side is small. An object is to provide an operating device.

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an operation device comprising an operation button that receives a pressing operation in a specific pressing operation direction, and a support member that supports the operation button and guides it in the pressing operation direction. The operation button includes a button main body that receives the pressing operation, a first guided portion that extends from the button main body in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction, and the pressing operation from the first guided portion. The first from the button body at a position away from the direction perpendicular to the direction.
A second guided portion extending in parallel to the same direction as the guided portion, and the support member extends parallel to the first guided portion and is in sliding contact with the first guided portion in the pressing operation direction. A first guide surface capable of extending in parallel with the second guided portion and a pair of second guide surfaces capable of sliding contact with the second guided portion in the pressing operation direction. The surface is a cylindrical surface that surrounds the first guided portion from a direction orthogonal to the pressing operation direction, and the first guided portion includes a central portion extending in the pressing operation direction and four sides from the central portion. A projecting rib, and an end surface of each rib is slidable in a circumferential direction of rotation about an axis parallel to the pressing operation direction with respect to the first guide surface. part constitutes a center of rotation of the first guided portion by these first sliding contact portion which contacts with the first guide surface The are those kept constant, the respective second guide surface is parallel to the first guided portion of the rotation center axis and orthogonal axis interposed therebetween opposed vital the orthogonal axis perpendicular, said second The guided portion has a second sliding contact portion that can be slidably contacted with each of the second guide surfaces in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction, and the sliding contact position is specified in a direction parallel to the orthogonal axis. It has a shape that is variable in the region.

  In this operation device, the operation button can be rotated around the rotation center axis in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction with the sliding contact between the first sliding portion of the first guided portion and the first guide surface. However, the position of the rotation center axis is kept constant. The rotation allows adjustment of the relative position between the second guided portion and the second guide surfaces, and the second guided portion while the first guided portion and the first guide surface are in contact with each other. Can be inserted between the second guide surfaces. Thereby, the operation button is attached to the support member. In addition, since both the second guide surfaces face each other across an orthogonal axis that intersects the rotation center axis of the first guided portion and is parallel to the orthogonal axis, the pitch between the guided portions and the both guide surfaces are Even if there is an error in the pitch, the respective second sliding contact portions can be in sliding contact with the respective second guide surfaces. That is, the operation button can be attached to the support member even if the clearance between each guided portion and each guide surface is small.

Note that above for the "holding the central axis of rotation at a constant" shape of the first guided portion, rather than the spirit excluded that the rotation center axis is varied by an error in manufacturing, the central axis of rotation If it is the shape hold | maintained in a substantially fixed position, it is the meaning containing this.

The first guided portion and the first guide surface are such that the first sliding contact portion of the first guided portion contacts the first guide surface over the entire circumference, that is, the first guide surface and the first guide surface When both of the first sliding contact portions are cylindrical surfaces , the contact area is large and the sliding resistance is increased. However, the first guided portion according to the present invention includes a central portion extending in the pressing operation direction, and the central portion. Ribs projecting in four directions from each other, and the end surfaces of the ribs can be slidably contacted with the first guide surface in the circumferential direction of rotation about an axis parallel to the pressing operation direction. The first sliding contact portion constitutes the first sliding contact portion so as to keep the rotation center axis of the first guided portion constant by contacting the first guide surface, so that the sliding resistance is kept low. It is done.

  On the other hand, for the second guided portion, for example, the support member has a hole into which the second guided portion can be inserted in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction, and the second surrounding portion is formed on the surface surrounding the hole. It is preferable that a guide surface is included.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the clearance between the guided portion on the operation button side and the guide surface on the support member side is small, the operation button can be reliably attached to the support member. is there.

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

  The operating device shown in FIG. 1 includes a circuit board 10, an operating panel 12, and an operation button 14 that is pressed in a specific pressing operation direction. The circuit board 10 is provided on the back side of the operation panel 12, and a first switch element 16 and a second switch element 18 that are pressed by the operation buttons 14 are mounted on the circuit board 10. The operation panel 12 functions as a support member that covers the circuit board 10 and supports the operation button 14 and guides it in the pressing operation direction.

  The operation button 14 includes a button main body 20 that receives a pressing operation with a finger or the like, and a first guided portion 22 and a second guided portion that extend from the back surface of the button main body 20 to the back side in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction. 24.

  The button body 20 has a shape extending in the horizontal direction. The guided portions 22 and 24 extend in parallel while being spaced apart from each other by a certain distance in the horizontal direction. In addition to functioning as guided portions that receive guidance from the operation panel 12, the guided portions 22 and 24 according to this embodiment serve as pressing operation portions for pressing the switch elements 16 and 18, respectively. Also works.

  However, the 1st guided part and 2nd guided part which concern on this invention are not limited to what functions also as a press operation part as mentioned above. Further, the alignment direction of the guided portions 22 and 24 is not limited to the horizontal direction.

  2 and 3, the surface of the operation panel 12 has a recess 30 into which the button body 14 can be fitted. A first guide portion 26 for guiding the first guided portion 22 and a second guide portion 28 for guiding the second guided portion 24 are connected to the bottom wall of the concave portion 30. The guided portions 22 and 24 can be inserted into the guiding portions 26 and 28 from the concave portion 30 side.

  The first guide portion 26 has a cylindrical shape, and an inner peripheral surface thereof, that is, a cylindrical surface constitutes a first guide surface 34 that can be slidably contacted with the first guided portion 22. The second guide portion 28 has a rectangular tube shape and includes a pair of second guide surfaces 43 and 44 to be described later on its inner side surface.

  The shape of the first guided portion 22 viewed from the pressing operation direction is a substantially cross shape as shown in FIG. That is, the first guided portion 22 has a cross-sectional shape in which the ribs 36 protrude in four directions from the central portion extending in the pressing operation direction. And the end surface of each said rib 36 comprises the 1st sliding contact part 36a. These first slidable contact portions 36 a are parallel to the pressing operation direction with respect to the first guide surface 34, and a rotation center axis (corresponding to the pressing operation direction) corresponding to the axis of the first guided portion 22. (Axis of parallel direction) can be slidably contacted with the circumferential direction of rotation about O, and the rotation center axis O is constant by the contact between the first sliding contact portion 36a and the first guide surface 34. Retained.

Each first sliding contact portion 36a shown in FIG. 4 is a surface along the first guide surface 34, that is, a convex surface having a curvature equivalent to the curvature of the first guide surface 34. As shown in FIG. 5, the portion 36 a may be a convex surface having a larger curvature than the first guide surface 34 or a corner portion .

Further, in FIG. 6 , the cross-sectional shape of the first guided portion 22 is a substantially square shape inscribed in the cylindrical first guide surface 34, which is a different form from the embodiment of the present invention . Thus, the top portion constitutes a first sliding contact portion 38 that is in sliding contact with the first guide surface 34 .

Moreover, although it is a form different from embodiment of this invention, in FIG. 7 , the outer peripheral surface of the said 1st to-be-guided part 22 is a cylindrical surface, and the said 1st guide surface 34 is said 1st to-be-guided. It is comprised by four planes (or more than that) which contact the outer peripheral surface of the part 22 from four directions . Even in this structure, the rotation center axis O of the first guided portion 22 is held constant.

  On the other hand, the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 are planes facing each other across an orthogonal axis G orthogonal to the rotation center axis O of the first guided portion 22 as shown in FIG. It is a plane parallel to the axis G. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 have a shape that keeps the opposing distance at a constant distance D over a predetermined region L in a direction parallel to the orthogonal axis G.

  In this embodiment, the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 are included in the surface surrounding the hole in the direction parallel to the pressing operation direction surrounded by the square tube-shaped second guide portion 28. For example, the operation panel 12 may be formed with a U-shaped notch opened in a direction parallel to the orthogonal axis G instead of the hole, and both side surfaces of the notch may constitute the second guide surface.

  The second guided portion 24 has a cross-sectional shape having a second slidable contact portion that can slidably contact the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction. . Specifically, the shape of the second guided portion 24 viewed from the pressing operation direction is also substantially cross-shaped as shown in FIG. 8, but the pair of ribs 40 in the direction orthogonal to the orthogonal axis G is used. Is an irregular shape shorter than the pair of ribs 42 in the direction parallel to the orthogonal axis G.

  Among these, the end surface of each said rib 40 comprises the 2nd sliding contact part 40a which is a plane which can be slidably contacted with each said 2nd guide surface 43 and 44, respectively. That is, the interval between the surfaces constituting the second sliding contact portion 40a, that is, the interval in the direction orthogonal to the orthogonal axis G is set to a distance corresponding to the separation distance D between the second guide surfaces 43 and 44. Yes. Moreover, the width dimension (dimension in the direction parallel to the orthogonal axis G) of the surface constituting each second sliding contact portion 40a is shorter than that of the second guide surfaces 43 and 44, and the difference between the width dimension and the orthogonal axis G is the difference. A shift of the position of the second sliding contact portion 40a with respect to the second guide surfaces 43, 44 in a parallel direction can be allowed. That is, the sliding contact position of the second sliding contact portion 40a with respect to the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 is variable in a specific region in a direction parallel to the orthogonal axis G.

  On the other hand, the interval between the end surfaces of the ribs 42, that is, the interval in the direction parallel to the orthogonal axis G is set sufficiently smaller than the interval between the inner side surfaces of the second guide portion 28 in the direction. These ribs 42 are not necessarily required. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the slidable contact portion 40 a may be a convex curved surface or a corner portion in line contact with the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 in the cross section. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the outer peripheral surface of the second guided portion 24 may be a cylindrical surface, and the outer peripheral surface may be inscribed in the second guide surfaces 43 and 44.

  According to such an operating device, the clearance between the first guided portion 22 and the first guiding surface 34 and the clearance between the second guided portion 24 and the second guiding surfaces 43 and 44 are small. However, it is possible to attach the operation button 14 to the operation panel 12 while allowing manufacturing errors.

Specifically, on the first guided portion 22 side, the fitting of the first guided portion 22 and the first guiding portion 26 determines the position of the first guided portion 22, but the first guided portion 22 First sliding contact portion 36 of portion 22
The operation button 14 can be rotated around the rotation center axis O in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction with sliding contact between the first guide surface 34 and the second guide portion 24. Position alignment with both the 2nd guide surfaces 43 and 44 in the said 2nd guide part 28 is enabled. Thereby, the second guided portion 24 can be fitted between the second guide surfaces 43 and 44.

  At this time, both the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 are in positions opposite to each other across the orthogonal axis G intersecting the rotation center axis O of the first guided portion 22 and are parallel to the orthogonal axis G. Even if there is a slight shift (shift due to manufacturing error) between the pitch between the guided portions 22 and 24 and the pitch between the first guide surface 34 and the second guide surfaces 43 and 44, Both the sliding contact of the first sliding contact portion 36a with respect to the first guide surface 34 and the sliding contact with the second sliding contact portion 40a with respect to the second guide surfaces 43 and 44 can be established. These sliding contacts allow the operation button 14 to be guided in a stable state (a state in which the clearance is small and the backlash is small) in the pressing operation direction, thereby improving the operability.

  For convenience, the second guided portion 24 is inserted into the second guide portion 28 after the first guided portion 22 is inserted into the first guide portion 26. In practice, however, both insertions are made substantially simultaneously.

  The support member according to the present invention is not limited to the one having the cylindrical guide portions 26 and 28 as described above. For example, the support member forms a block shape, and a pair of holes in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction are provided at appropriate positions, and the inner peripheral surfaces of the holes respectively correspond to the first guide surface and the second guide surface. It may be configured.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the whole structure of the operating device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional top view of the said operating device. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the fitting state of the 1st to-be-guided part and the 1st guide part in the said operating device. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the modification of the shape of a said 1st to-be-guided part and a said 1st guide part. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the reference example of the shape of a said 1st to-be-guided part and a said 1st guide part. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the reference example of the shape of a said 1st to-be-guided part and a said 1st guide part. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the fitting state of the 2nd guided part and 2nd guide part in the said operating device. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the modification of the shape of a said 2nd to-be-guided part and a said 2nd guide part. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the modification of the shape of a said 2nd to-be-guided part and a said 2nd guide part.

12 Operation panel (support member)
14 operation buttons 20 button body 22 first guided portion 24 second guided portion 26 first guiding portion 28 second guiding portion 34 first guiding surface 36a, 38 first sliding contact portion 40a second sliding contact portion 43, 44 Second guide surface G Orthogonal axis O Rotation center axis

Claims (2)

An operation device including an operation button that receives a pressing operation in a specific pressing operation direction, and a support member that supports the operation button and guides the operation button in the pressing operation direction,
The operation button includes a button main body that receives the pressing operation, a first guided portion that extends in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction from the button main body, and a direction orthogonal to the direction of the pressing operation from the first guided portion. A second guided portion extending in parallel with the first guided portion in the same direction as the first guided portion at a position away from the direction;
The support member extends in parallel with the first guided portion and extends in parallel with the first guided portion and in parallel with the second guided portion. A second guided portion and a pair of second guide surfaces slidable in the pressing operation direction;
The first guide surface is a cylindrical surface surrounding the first guided portion from a direction orthogonal to the pressing operation direction ,
The first guided portion has a central portion extending in the pressing operation direction and ribs protruding in four directions from the central portion, and an end surface of each rib is pressed against the first guiding surface. A first slidable contact portion that is slidable in a circumferential direction of rotation about an axis parallel to the operation direction is configured, and the first slidable contact portion is in contact with the first guide surface to thereby form the first slidable contact portion. is intended to hold constant the central shaft of the guide portion,
The second guide surfaces are opposed to each other across an orthogonal axis orthogonal to the rotation center axis of the first guided portion, and are parallel to the orthogonal axis.
The second guided portion has a second slidable contact portion that can be slidably contacted with each of the second guide surfaces in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction, and the slidable contact position is parallel to the orthogonal axis. An operating device having a shape that is variable in a specific region with respect to a direction. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein the support member has a hole into which the second guided portion can be inserted in a direction parallel to the pressing operation direction, and the second guide surface is formed on a surface surrounding the hole. An operating device characterized by being included.

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