JPH08222413A - Click device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a click device having high click force which eliminates the need for reconstructing an assembly installation and has the same number of parts as a conventional one used for a variable resistor and an encoder which are used for an operational part of air control mainly for chassis and an acoustic apparatus wherein strong click escape force (high click force) is required. CONSTITUTION: This device has a bearing 1, a shaft 2 which is inserted and held rotatively to the bearing 1 provided with a top part 2b in one position on a flange part 2a and a root part 2c in another position opposite 180 deg. continuously, a spring 3 provided with a pair of projecting parts 3a, 3b pressing the top part 2b or the root part 2c of the flange part 2a in positions of 180 deg. symmetry each other and a case 4 wherein the spring 3 is mounted and fixed to a bottom 1a of the bearing 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a click device such as a variable resistor with a click used in an operating portion of an on-vehicle air controller and audio equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, a bearing 41 rotatably holds a shaft 42. The shaft 42 has a flange portion 42a
Is provided, and a ridge portion 42b and a valley portion 42c are continuously formed on the flange portion 42a. The valley 42c
The convex portion 43a of the spring 43 comes into contact with the
The elastic force of 3 presses the shaft 42 in the axial direction. The case 44 equipped with the spring 43 is the bottom surface 4 of the bearing 41.
It is fixed to 1a.

Note that the fitting portion between the bearing 41 and the shaft 42 is provided with grease or the like (not shown) to improve the feel, and the peaks 42b and valleys 42c of the shaft 42 and the convex portion 43a of the spring 43 are rubbed. Grease or the like (not shown) is applied for lubrication.

The operation will now be described. When the shaft 42 is rotated via an operating knob or the like (not shown), the spring 4
The convex portion 43a of No. 3 rides over the mountain portion 42b of the shaft 42. At this time, click torque is generated.

Although not shown in the figure, a known variable resistor or switch is mounted on the rear portion 44a of the case 44 to constitute an electronic component with a click device.

[0007]

However, in the conventional configuration, when it is attempted to cope with a large number of clicks, the axis 42
The ridge and valley angles of the flange portion 42a are reduced in proportion to the number of click points, and the ridges and valley portions 42b and 42c are also formed by the spring 4.
Since the convex portion 43a of No. 3 also becomes small, there is a problem that the click torque becomes weak. The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a click device that can obtain a high click torque.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the click device of the present invention comprises a bearing and an 18
A shaft rotatably held by the bearing, which is continuously provided with a peak portion at one position and a valley portion at the other position of 0 ° symmetry, and presses the peak portion or the valley portion of the flange portion. It is provided with a spring having a pair of convex portions at 180 ° symmetrical positions, and a case in which the spring is mounted and fixed to the bottom surface of the bearing.

[0009]

With the above configuration, if the number of clicks is the same, 18
Since the convex portions of the springs provided at 0 ° symmetry alternately move over the peaks of the shaft, the peaks and valleys of the shaft are
2, the peaks, valleys, and protrusions of the spring can be made larger, so that high click torque can be provided.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A click device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a bearing 1 has a shaft 2 rotatably inserted and held therein. The shaft 2 is provided with a flange portion 2a, and on the flange portion 2a, a mountain portion 2b and a valley portion 2c are continuously formed at one position of 180 ° symmetry and at the other position. The one convex portion 3a and the other convex portion 3b of the pair of springs 3 provided at 180 ° symmetrical positions alternately abut the valley portion 2c of the flange portion 2a, and the valley portion 2c
The case 4 whose c is pressed in the axial direction of the shaft 2 by the elastic force of the spring 3 is fixed to the bottom surface 1 a of the bearing 1.

It should be noted that the fitting portion between the bearing 1 and the shaft 2 has grease or the like (not shown) for improving the feel, and the peak portion 2 of the shaft 2.
b, the valleys 2c and the protrusions 3a and 3b of the spring 3 are coated with grease or the like (not shown) for lubricating friction.

The operation will now be described. When the shaft 2 is rotated by an operating knob or the like (not shown), one protrusion 3a of the spring 3 and the other protrusion 3b of the spring 3 alternate with the ridge 2 of the shaft 2.
It becomes a form to get over b. At this time, click torque is generated. Further, the principle of generating a higher click torque than in the past will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the difference between the prior art and the embodiment will be described with respect to the same number of click points. In the prior art, the flange portion 4 of the shaft 42 is provided by the number of click points required.
Although the peaks and troughs 42b and 42c had to be formed in 2a, in the embodiment, the pair of protrusions 3a and 3b of the spring 3 are 180
° The peaks and troughs 2b and 2c of the shaft 2 are halved as compared with the conventional one because the movements over the peaks 2b of the shaft 2 are alternately performed. It is possible to provide a high click torque because it can be formed large.

The ridges 2b and the valleys 2 of the flange 2a.
c is set so that at the 180 ° symmetrical position, when one is the peak 2b, the other is the valley 2c.

Although not shown in the figure, the rear portion 4a of the case 4 is provided with known variable resistors and switches, which are not shown in particular, to constitute an electronic component with a click device.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the click device of the present invention, the ridges and valleys of the flange portion of the shaft are formed to be large, and the protrusions of the springs, which are also formed to be large, are pressed. It is possible to obtain high click torque with.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a click device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same side.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a state of contact between a convex portion of a spring and peaks and valleys of a flange portion of a shaft in comparison with a conventional product for explaining the same operating state; The state where the convex portion of the spring of the conventional product is in contact with the valley portion, (b) is the state where the convex portion of one spring of the product of this embodiment is in contact with the valley portion, and (c) is the product of this embodiment. The state in which the convex portion of the other spring of the above abuts on the mountain portion is shown.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional click device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the same side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bearing 1a Bottom 2 Shaft 2a Flange 2b Crest 2c Valley 3 Spring 3a, 3b Convex 4 Case

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bearing, a shaft rotatably inserted in and held by the bearing, which is continuously provided with a peak portion at one position of 180 ° symmetry on the flange portion and a valley portion at the other position, 1 pair of convex portions for pressing the peaks or valleys of the flange portion
A click device including a spring provided at a position symmetrical with respect to 80 ° and a case to which the spring is attached and which is fixed to the bottom surface of the bearing.