JP6864933B2 - Foot controller - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a foot controller that operates an object by stepping on the tip of the foot.

In order to make a patient sitting on a medical chair or the like as an operation target into a posture suitable for medical treatment, a foot controller that allows a practitioner to easily change the posture of the chair with his / her feet has become widespread. Since such a foot controller is operated by the tip of the foot, a compact structure that does not become bulky is required.

Conventionally, an operation plate that can be stepped on with the tip of a foot, an operation shaft that tilts in conjunction with the operation plate with one end connected to the center of the operation plate, and the other end of the operation shaft on the bottom side. There is known a foot controller including a fixing member through which the foot is penetrated and a detection unit fixed to the back surface of the fixing member to detect the tilting direction of the operation shaft (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this foot controller, a tubular ring-shaped pressing portion is connected to the tip of the operation shaft, and a spring is arranged between the internal space of the ring-shaped pressing portion and the back surface of the fixing member.

When the operation plate is stepped on, the ring-shaped pressing portion of the operating shaft tilts together with the spring, the ring-shaped pressing portion presses the detection portion, the switch is turned on, and the posture of the chair is changed. On the other hand, when the tip of the foot is separated from the operation plate, the pressure of the detection unit is released, the switch is turned off, the operation shaft is returned to the neutral position by the urging force of the spring, and the operation plate is in a parallel posture with respect to the operation shaft. Return.

JP-A-2007-26743

However, in the conventional foot controller, since the ring-shaped pressing portion is tilted by tilting the spring, the spring is in a one-sided contact state and the original urging force is not exerted, and the foot controller is operated with a small stepping force. The shaft tilts easily. As a result, the ring-shaped pressing portion strongly presses the detection portion, which may damage the detection portion. Moreover, there is an inconvenience that the posture of the chair is unintentionally changed because the feeling of stepping operation cannot be obtained.

In addition, the operating shaft is returned to the neutral position by the urging force of the tilted spring, and the operating plate is returned to the parallel posture with respect to the operating shaft. Therefore, the returning operation of the operating plate may not be stable due to the displacement of the spring. It was.

Therefore, it is desired to compactly configure a foot controller that can give a feeling of stepping operation while preventing damage to the detection unit and has a stable return operation of the operation plate.

The characteristic configuration of the foot controller according to the present invention is a foot controller that operates an object by stepping on the tip of the foot, the operation plate that can be stepped on by the tip of the foot, and one end at the center of the operation plate. A recess is formed on the tip surface of the other end while the portions are connected, and the operation shaft is arranged between the operation plate and the recess and the operation shaft that tilts in conjunction with the stepping operation of the operation plate. A tilting shaft that is parallel to the operation plate when the shaft is in the neutral position, an abutting body whose portion abutting the concave portion is spherical, and an urging member that urges the abutting body toward the concave portion. A housing portion for accommodating, a fixing member for fixing the accommodation portion, and a detection unit for detecting the tilting direction of the operation shaft are provided, and when the operation shaft is tilted, the contact body of the contact body is viewed in a plan view. The point is that it is provided with a regulating mechanism that regulates the tilt of the operating shaft so that the spherical center is located in the inner region of the recess.

According to this configuration, a concave portion is formed on the tip surface of the operation shaft, and an urging member for urging the abutting body toward the concave portion while contacting the abutting body is provided in the concave portion. The thickness of the foot controller is defined by the dimensions of the shaft, abutting body and urging member. Since the configuration is simple as described above, it is easy to design the thickness of the foot controller to be compact.

Further, since the spherical portion of the contact body housed in the accommodating portion is brought into contact with the concave portion of the operating shaft, when the operating shaft tilts around the tilting shaft between the concave portion and the operating plate, the spherical portion The recess moves relative to the surface of the body in the lateral direction. On the other hand, the abutting body and the urging member do not move laterally while being accommodated in the accommodating portion of the fixing member. That is, in order to move the concave portion of the operating shaft relative to the spherical portion, it is necessary to sink the abutting body against the urging force of the urging member, so that the stepping force of the operating plate is the abutting body. Must exceed the urging force of the urging member urging towards the recess. This does not tilt the urging member as in the past, but always applies the urging force of the urging member toward the recess, so the contact body sinks unless a certain amount of stepping force is applied to the operation plate. Don't get crowded. As a result, the user can get a feeling of stepping operation, and the inconvenience that the object is unintentionally operated is eliminated.

Further, this configuration includes a regulation mechanism that regulates the tilt of the operating shaft so that the spherical center is located in the inner region of the recess in a plan view when the operating shaft is tilted. This regulatory mechanism prevents the operating shaft from tilting more than necessary and the spherical center from detaching from the internal region of the recess. As a result, when the stepping operation on the operation plate is released, the operation shaft in contact with the abutting body is returned to the neutral position by the urging force of the urging member, and the operation plate is placed in a parallel posture with respect to the operation shaft. It can be restored. Further, since the urging force of the urging member is always applied toward the recess, the returning force for returning the operating shaft to the neutral position is large, and the returning operation of the operating plate is stable. Moreover, since the regulating mechanism regulates the tilt range of the operation shaft, for example, when the detection unit is configured by a switch pressed by the tilt of the operation shaft, there is no risk of damaging the detection unit.

Another characteristic configuration is that the regulation mechanism has a plate-shaped member connected in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the operating shaft, and a protruding portion protruding from the fixing member toward the plate-shaped member. The point is that when the operating shaft is tilted, the plate-shaped member comes into contact with the protruding portion to regulate the tilting of the operating shaft.

If the regulation mechanism of this configuration is such that a plate-shaped member arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the operation shaft is brought into contact with the protruding portion, the thickness of the foot controller is not increased. As a result, the tilt of the operating shaft can be reliably regulated while the foot controller is compactly configured.

Another characteristic configuration is that the regulation mechanism has a stopper formed on the inner wall of the accommodating portion, and when the operation shaft is tilted, the contact body comes into contact with the stopper, so that the operation shaft comes into contact with the stopper. The point is to regulate the tilt of.

Unlike this configuration, a simple configuration such as providing a stopper on the inner wall of the accommodating portion prevents the abutting body from sinking more than necessary. As a result, when the operating shaft is tilted, the spherical center can be reliably positioned in the inner region of the recess.

In another characteristic configuration, the tilting shaft is composed of a first tilting shaft and a second tilting shaft perpendicular to the first tilting shaft, and the first tilting shaft penetrates the operating shaft and the fixing member. It has a first shaft member pivotally supported by the shaft, and the second tilting shaft has a second shaft member penetrating the operation shaft and the first shaft member.

If two shaft members having a first tilting shaft and a second tilting shaft that are orthogonal to each other are provided as in this configuration, the tilting axis can be kept constant and the tilting posture of the operating shaft can be stabilized. Therefore, there is no positional deviation between the concave portion of the operating shaft and the spherical portion of the contact body, and the operating shaft can be reliably returned to the neutral position.

Another characteristic configuration is that the recess is formed by a spherical surface along the outer surface of the abutting body.

If the recess is formed by a spherical surface along the outer surface of the abutting body as in this configuration, the contact area between the recess and the spherical portion is increased, and the operation shaft can be stably tilted.

It is a perspective view of the foot controller which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. It is sectional drawing operated from the state of FIG. It is a perspective view of the operation shaft which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the accommodating part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the foot controller which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the foot controller which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is an enlarged perspective view of the tip of the operation shaft which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the foot controller according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as an example of the foot controller, a foot controller X that operates a chair (an example of an object) (changes the posture of the chair) by stepping on the feet of the user will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the foot controller X in the present embodiment, one end is connected to the operation plate 1 that can be stepped on with the tip of the foot and the center of the operation plate 1, and the other end A recess 24c is formed on the tip surface of the above, and is arranged between the operation shaft 2 that tilts in conjunction with the stepping operation of the operation plate 1 and the operation plate 1 and the recess 24c, and is operated when the operation shaft 2 is in the neutral posture. A tilting axis Y parallel to the plate 1, a fixing member 3 fixed to a decorative case or the like (not shown) whose movement is restricted, and a detection unit 4 supported by a substrate 4A to detect the tilting direction of the operating shaft 2. And have. The foot controller X is configured by covering these members with a decorative case or the like, and is set at a height that makes it easy to step on with the toes.

The operation plate 1 is formed of a rectangular flat plate that can be stepped on with the tip of a foot. The operation plate 1 is formed with a concave accommodating space on the back surface for accommodating the base 2A (one end) of the operation shaft 2, and a plurality of holes 11 (4 locations in the present embodiment) are formed in the center. Has been done. Further, a plurality of protrusions 12 (four in the present embodiment) protruding from the surface are provided at the corners of the operation plate 1. The protrusion 12 is formed in a triangular shape having vertices at the corners in a plan view, and is inclined so that the amount of protrusion increases from the inside to the outside. The operation plate 1 is not particularly limited as long as it has a shape that can be stepped on, such as a circular flat plate shape instead of a rectangular flat plate shape. Further, the protrusion 12 may be formed in a quadrangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, or the like instead of a triangular shape in a plan view, and is not particularly limited.

The pair of diagonal protrusions 12 is, for example, a switch for changing the tilt angle of the backrest of the chair and the leg rest, and the other pair of protrusions 12 is, for example, a switch for changing the vertical position of the seat surface. .. By providing the protrusion 12 in this way, it becomes easier for the user to recognize the stepping operation position. Further, since the amount of protrusion of the corner portion of the protrusion 12 is increased, even when the user steps on the side of the protrusion 12, a part of the toe first contacts the corner of the protrusion 12. And the load is concentrated. As a result, the inconvenience that the operation plate 1 is pushed in an unintended diagonal direction (between the adjacent protrusions 12) and the posture of the chair is not changed can be solved.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the operation shaft 2 has a box-shaped base portion 2A and a columnar portion 2B extending from the base portion 2A. A plurality of (4 locations in this embodiment) screw holes 21 are formed on the upper surface of the base portion 2A, and bolts Ba are screwed in a state where the holes 11 of the operation plate 1 are overlapped with the screw holes 21 for operation. The operation shaft 2 is fixed to the center of the back surface of the plate 1. As a result, when the operation plate 1 is stepped on, the operation shaft 2 is tilted in conjunction with the moving direction of the operation plate 1. The operation shaft 2 may be formed integrally with the operation plate 1, or may be screwed or press-fitted through the center of the operation plate 1.

The columnar portion 2B of the operation shaft 2 has a large diameter portion 22, a medium diameter portion 23 having a diameter smaller than that of the large diameter portion 22, and a small diameter portion having a diameter smaller than that of the medium diameter portion 23, in order from the side closer to the base portion 2A. It is composed of a part 24.

The large-diameter portion 22 has a vertically long first shaft member 51 rotatably supported by the fixing member 3 along the first tilting shaft Ya (an example of the tilting shaft Y) in a neutral position. The hole 22a is formed. The vertically elongated first hole portion 22a allows the operation shaft 2 to move in the tilt direction with respect to the first shaft member 51, and restricts the movement of the operation shaft 2 in the rotation direction. Further, the large diameter portion 22 is formed with a circular second hole portion 22b through which the second shaft member 52 penetrates along the second tilt axis Yb (an example of the tilt axis Y) perpendicular to the first tilt axis Ya. Has been done. The second shaft member 52 also penetrates the circular hole 51a of the first shaft member 51, and rotates along the circumferential direction with the second hole portion 22b of the operation shaft 2 and the circular hole 51a of the first shaft member 51. It is in contact with possible. As a result, the second shaft member 52 has a function of keeping the tilting shaft core at the intersection of the first tilting shaft Ya and the second tilting shaft Yb.

Further, each diagonal line connecting the corner portions of the pair of protrusions 12 facing each other of the operation plate 1 is arranged in parallel with the first tilt axis Ya or the second tilt axis Yb. For example, when the protrusion 12 of the operation plate 1 located in the direction parallel to the first tilt axis Ya is stepped on, the operation shaft 2 tilts around the second tilt axis Yb, and the first hole portion 22a and the first hole portion 22a and the first. The vertical (vertical) gap with the shaft member 51 fluctuates (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, when the protrusion 12 of the operation plate 1 located in the direction parallel to the second tilt axis Yb is stepped on, the operation shaft 2 is tilted around the first tilt axis Ya, and the second shaft member 52 and the operation shaft are tilted. The first shaft member 51 rotates while the 2 rotates in the vertical direction. As described above, in the foot controller X in the present embodiment, the tilting axis is always constant by providing the two shaft members 51 and 52 along the first tilting axis Ya and the second tilting axis Yb that are orthogonal to each other. The tilting posture of the operation shaft 2 is stabilized.

The medium diameter portion 23 is inserted into the through hole 41 of the substrate 4A supported by the fixing member 3. When the operation shaft 2 is tilted, the through hole 41 is predetermined with respect to the outer surface of the medium diameter portion 23 so that the step formed at the boundary between the large diameter portion 22 and the medium diameter portion 23 does not come into contact with the substrate 4A. It has an interval (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 4, the small diameter portion 24 is formed on the tip surface, a step portion 24a formed at the boundary with the medium diameter portion 23, an annular groove 24b formed on the tip side of the step portion 24a, and the tip surface. It has a recess 24c. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first annular member 53 is locked to the stepped portion 24a, and a second annular member 54 (an example of a plate-shaped member) having a diameter larger than that of the first annular member 53 is the first. It is in contact with the monocyclic member 53. Further, a C ring 55 is fitted in the annular groove 24b, and the first annular member 53 and the second annular member 54 are sandwiched between the C ring 55 and the stepped portion 24a. That is, the first annular member 53, the second annular member 54, and the C ring 55 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the operation shaft 2. As a result, the thickness of the foot controller X is not increased. The first annular member 53 and the second annular member 54 may be integrally formed, or the C ring 55 may be omitted and press-fitted and fixed to the small diameter portion 24.

The recess 24c formed on the tip surface of the operation shaft 2 is formed of a spherical surface along the outer surface of a sphere 61 (an example of an abutting body) described later. The tilting shaft Y of the operating shaft 2 is arranged on the side of the operating plate 1 with respect to the recess 24c. By forming the recess 24c with a spherical surface, the contact area with the sphere 61 is increased, and the tilting posture of the operating shaft 2 is stabilized. The recess 24c is not limited to a spherical surface, and may have any shape as long as at least the outer circumference of the recess 24c abuts on the sphere 61.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing member 3 has a flat bottom portion 31 and a pair of arms extending in the direction of the operation plate 1 from a U-shaped groove 32 notched on both sides of the bottom portion 31. It has a portion 33 and a support portion 34 extending from the bottom portion 31 in the direction of the operation plate 1 to support the substrate 4A. Further, a tubular member 35 is screwed or press-fitted into the center of the bottom portion 31 of the fixing member 3. Further, in the bottom portion 31 of the fixing member 3, a plurality of bolts Bc (an example of a protruding portion) are screwed into a plurality of holes 36 (four locations in the present embodiment) arranged at equal intervals surrounding the tubular member 35. It is matched.

A plurality of holes 31a are formed at the corners of the bottom 31 of the fixing member 3, and a decorative case (not shown) is screwed. The pair of arm portions 33 are formed with a circular hole-shaped bearing portion 33a that pivotally supports the first shaft member 51. Although the bearing portion 33a is formed in the shape of a slide bearing, a rolling bearing or the like may be interposed, and any form may be used as long as the first shaft member 51 rotates smoothly. The support portion 34 is formed in a columnar shape extending from the bottom portion 31, and the bolt Bb is screwed in a state where the hole portion 42 of the substrate 4A is overlapped with the screw hole at the tip, and the substrate 4A is fixed to the fixing member 3. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the tubular member 35 is screwed or press-fitted into the nut portion 35a and the nut portion 35a, and has a sphere 61 and a compression coil spring 62 (an example of an urging member) inside. It has an accommodating portion 35b for accommodating. The tubular member 35 of the present embodiment is screwed or press-fitted into the nut portion 35a and the bottom portion 31 of the fixing member 3. Although the accommodating portion 35b is screwed or press-fitted into the nut portion 35a to form the tubular member 35, the accommodating portion 35b and the nut portion 35a may be integrally formed. Further, the accommodating portion 35b may be integrally formed with the bottom portion 31 of the fixing member 3. The axis that passes through the intersection of the first tilt axis Ya and the second tilt axis Yb and is perpendicular to the first tilt axis Ya and the second tilt axis Yb is defined as the central axis Z. The center of the sphere 61 is on the central axis Z.

A notch 63 is provided on the upper surface of the accommodating portion 35b of the tubular member 35 at a position adjacent to the sphere 61, and when the operation shaft 2 is in the neutral position, the bottom 63a of the notch 63 and the sphere 61 are provided. A predetermined gap is formed between the two. As a result, the air in the internal space of the accommodating portion 35b is released to the outside, and the straight movement of the sphere 61 is made smooth. In the present embodiment, the stroke of the sphere 61 is set to be small, the amount of compressed air is small, and the influence on the movement of the sphere 61 is small. Therefore, the notch 63 may be omitted.

The sphere 61 is in contact with the recess 24c formed on the tip surface of the operating shaft 2 by receiving an urging force from the compression coil spring 62 toward the intersection of the first tilting shaft Ya and the second tilting shaft Yb. As a result, when the operation shaft 2 tilts around the intersection of the first tilt axis Ya and the second tilt axis Yb, which are separated from the recess 24c toward the operation plate 1, the recess 24c is tilted with respect to the surface of the sphere 61. It moves relative to the lateral direction (see FIG. 3). That is, the sphere 61 and the compression coil spring 62 do not move laterally while being accommodated in the accommodating portion 35b of the fixing member 3.

On the other hand, in order to move the recess 24c relative to the sphere 61, it is necessary to sink the sphere 61, so that the stepping force of the operation plate 1 exceeds the urging force of the compression coil spring 62 that urges the sphere 61. There is a need. That is, since the urging force of the compression coil spring 62 is always applied toward the recess 24c (the intersection of the first tilt axis Ya and the second tilt axis Yb), the stepping force exceeding a predetermined value is not applied to the operation plate 1. As long as the sphere 61 does not sink. As a result, when the recess 24c moves relative to the sphere 61, a click feeling is generated, and the user can obtain the feeling of stepping operation, so that the inconvenience of unintentionally changing the posture of the chair is solved. Will be done. When the sphere 61 is subducted, the center of the sphere 61 moves on the central axis Z.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the foot controller X of the present embodiment, when the operation shaft 2 is tilted, the operation shaft 2 is tilted so that the center of the sphere 61 is located in the internal region of the recess 24c in a plan view. It is equipped with a regulatory mechanism L that regulates. As shown in FIG. 3, the regulating mechanism L regulates the tilting of the operating shaft 2 when the lower surface of the second annular member 54 abuts on the tip of the bolt Bc when the operating shaft 2 is tilted. That is, the regulation mechanism L in the present embodiment has a second annular member 54 connected in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the operation shaft 2 and a bolt Bc protruding from the fixing member 3 toward the second annular member 54. Have. As a result, the operation shaft 2 is tilted more than necessary, and the recess 24c is prevented from being separated from the center of the sphere 61. As a result, when the stepping operation on the operation plate 1 is released, the urging force of the compression coil spring 62 acts to return the operation shaft 2 that comes into contact with the sphere 61 to the neutral position, and the operation plate 1 is moved to the operation shaft 2. It is possible to return to the parallel posture with respect to. Moreover, since the urging force of the compression coil spring 62 is always applied toward the recess 24c, the returning force for returning the operating shaft 2 to the neutral position is large, and the returning operation of the operating plate 1 is stable.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detection unit 4 is composed of a tact switch arranged above the second annular member 54 while being supported by the substrate 4A. As shown in FIG. 3, the detection unit 4 is pressed by contacting the upper surface of the first annular member 53 to turn on the switch, and outputs a signal for changing the posture of the chair. At this time, the second annular member 54 functions as a member for adjusting the pushing amount for pressing the detection unit 4.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the stepping operation of the operation plate 1 is released, the small-diameter first annular member 53 is separated from the detection unit 4 and the switch is turned off, and the posture change of the chair is stopped. The detection unit 4 is not limited to the tact switch, and is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the tilting direction of the operation shaft 2 such as a micro switch, a magnetic sensor, and an optical sensor.

In the present embodiment, the detection unit 4 is arranged above the first annular member 53 in contact with the second annular member 54, and the regulation mechanism L composed of the lower surface of the second annular member 54 and the bolt Bc is the operating shaft 2. Since the tilting range of is regulated, there is no possibility that the detection unit 4 is strongly pressed and damaged. Moreover, since the first annular member 53 and the second annular member 54 have both the pressing function of the detection unit 4 and the regulation mechanism L, the number of parts can be saved and the thickness of the foot controller X can be made compact. The detection unit 4 may be arranged below the second annular member 54, and the bolt Bc as a protruding portion may be arranged above the second annular member 54. Further, the protruding portion constituting the regulation mechanism L is not limited to the bolt Bc, and may be formed of, for example, a columnar member fixed to the fixing member 3 by integral formation or adhesion. Further, the second annular member 54 may be formed in a cross shape, for example, and may have any shape as long as it can come into contact with the bolt Bc.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the foot controller X. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the drawings, the same members will be described using the same names and reference numerals. In addition, only a feature configuration different from the above-described embodiment will be described.

The regulation mechanism L of the present embodiment has a protrusion 63b (an example of a stopper) formed so as to protrude inward in the radial direction of the inner wall of the accommodating portion 35b, and when the operation shaft 2 is tilted, the sphere 61 comes into contact with the protrusion 63b. This regulates the tilt of the operating shaft 2. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the protrusion 63b is radially inward from the inner wall of the accommodating portion 35b from the portion stepped down below the bottom portion 63a of the notch portion 63 to the bottom of the internal space of the accommodating portion 35b. It may be projected and integrally formed. Further, the protrusion 63b may be formed to protrude inward in the radial direction along the circumferential direction of the inner wall of the accommodating portion 35b, or the protrusion of another member may be adhered to the inner wall of the accommodating portion 35b.

As described above, the sphere 61 is not submerged more than necessary with a simple configuration in which the protrusion 63b is provided on the inner wall of the accommodating portion 35b. As a result, when the operation shaft 2 is tilted, the center of the sphere 61 can be reliably positioned in the internal region of the recess 24c.

[Third Embodiment]
7 to 9 show a third embodiment of the foot controller X. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the drawings, the same members will be described using the same names and reference numerals. In addition, only a feature configuration different from the above-described embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the operation shaft 20 of the present embodiment has an outer cylinder portion 37 in which the outer circumference of the tip of the columnar portion 20B is projected. A plurality of guide grooves 37a (four locations in the present embodiment) formed so as to be recessed outward are formed on the inner wall of the outer cylinder portion 37. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, a guide protrusion 38 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis Z is erected from the bottom 31 of the fixing member 3, and the accommodating portion 35b1 is attached to the central portion thereof. Has been done. As a result, when the operating shaft 20 is tilted, the operating shaft 20 and the guide protrusion 38 move relative to each other along the side wall 37a1 of the guide groove 37a, and the outer peripheral surface of the guide protrusion 38 hits the bottom wall 37a2 of the guide groove 37a. In contact with it, the tilt of the operating shaft 20 is regulated. That is, in the regulation mechanism L of the present embodiment, when the operation shaft 20 is tilted, the guide protrusion 38 comes into contact with the outer cylinder portion 37 to regulate the tilt of the operation shaft 20. In the present embodiment, the corner portion of the guide groove 37a of the outer cylinder portion 37 is configured at an acute angle, but it may be configured in an arc shape. In this case, the operation shaft 20 is tilted smoothly.

By the way, when the region (diagonal direction) between the protrusions 12 of the operation plate 1 is stepped on, the detection unit 4 may be pressed at two places, so that the posture of the chair is not changed. Therefore, the user is confused because the posture of the chair is not changed even though the operation plate 1 is depressed by stepping on the operation plate 1. However, in the present embodiment, for example, when the region (oblique direction) between the protrusions 12 of the operation plate 1 is stepped on, the corner portion of the guide groove 37a of the outer cylinder portion 37 hits the guide protrusion 38. Since it does not tilt in contact with it, the operation plate 1 does not sink. On the other hand, when a region slightly deviated from the protrusion 12 of the operation plate 1 is stepped on, the guide protrusion 38 is guided by one of the guide grooves 37a, and the protrusion of the operation plate 1 closest to the stepping operation position is reached. 12 sinks. As a result, the user can surely change the posture of the chair in response to the sinking of the operation plate 1.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the first shaft member 51 and the second shaft member 52 are configured by two axes, but a uniaxial structure may be used. In this case, the operation shaft 2 and the shaft member may be tilted in conjunction with each other, and the arm 33 of the fixing member 3 may be provided with an elongated hole that allows the shaft member to move.
(2) Although the stepping direction of the operation plate 1 has been described in four directions, it may be configured in two directions, six directions, or the like. In this case, the quantity of the protrusion 12 of the operation plate 1 and the bolt Bc as the protrusion of the regulation mechanism L is appropriately changed according to the number of steps in the stepping direction.
(3) In the above-described embodiment, the sphere 61 is formed as the abutting body that abuts on the recess 24c of the operation shaft 2, but any form may be used as long as the portion that abuts on the recess 24c is formed in a spherical shape. Absent. For example, it may be a columnar member having a spherical tip surface.
(4) Although a chair is illustrated as an operation target of the foot controller X, for example, a foot controller that changes the posture of the bed may be used.

The present invention can be used for a foot controller that can change the posture of a chair or the like by stepping on the toes of the user.

1 Operation plate 2 Operation shaft 2A Base (one end)
12 protrusions (first protrusion, second protrusion)
20 Operation shaft 24c Recess 3 Fixing member 35b Accommodating part 35b 1 Accommodating part 4 Detection unit 51 First shaft member 52 Second shaft member 54 Second annular member (plate-shaped member)
61 Sphere (contact body)
62 Compression coil spring (biasing member)
63b protrusion (stopper)
Bc bolt (protruding part)
L Regulatory mechanism X Foot controller Y Tilt axis Ya First tilt axis Yb Second tilt axis Z Central axis

Claims (6)

It is a foot controller that operates an object by stepping on it with the tip of the foot.
An operation board that can be stepped on with the tip of the foot
An operation shaft in which one end is connected to the center of the operation plate and tilts in conjunction with the stepping operation of the operation plate.
A first tilting axis and a second tilting axis arranged on the operating shaft, parallel to the operating plate when the operating shaft is in the neutral position, and intersecting each other.
A pair of first elements that are superimposed on the first tilt axis of the operation plate and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the second tilt axis in a plan view, and project from the surface of the operation plate to the side opposite to the operation axis. With protrusions
A pair of first elements that are superimposed on the second tilt axis of the operation plate and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the first tilt axis in a plan view and project from the surface of the operation plate to the side opposite to the operation axis. Equipped with two protrusions,
The amount of protrusion of each of the pair of the first protrusions with respect to the surface of the operation plate increases as the distance from the second tilt axis increases.
A foot controller in which the amount of protrusion of each of the pair of the second protrusions with respect to the surface of the operation plate increases as the distance from the first tilt axis increases. Each of the pair of the first protrusions has an isosceles triangle shape arranged so that the median line overlaps the first tilt axis in a plan view.
The foot controller according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of the second protrusions has an isosceles triangle shape arranged so that the center line overlaps the second tilt axis in a plan view. The first tilt axis and the second tilt axis are orthogonal to each other.
The foot controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation plate has a square shape in a plan view. The foot controller according to claim 3, wherein the pair of the first protrusions and the pair of the second protrusions are arranged at each of the four corners of the operation plate. Each of the pair of the first protrusions has a right-angled isosceles triangle shape arranged so that the median line overlaps the first tilt axis in a plan view.
Each of the pair of the second protrusions has a right-angled isosceles triangle shape arranged so that the center line overlaps the second tilt axis in a plan view.
The foot controller according to claim 4, wherein the pair of right-angled vertices of the first protrusion and the pair of the second protrusions are located at the respective vertices of the four corners of the operation plate in a plan view. .. The first tilt axis and the second tilt axis are orthogonal to each other.
The first tilting shaft has a first shaft member penetrating the operating shaft.
The foot controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second tilting shaft has the operating shaft and the second shaft member penetrating the first shaft member.

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