JP6341838B2 - Button switch and shift lever unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a button switch that can be pushed in by a pushing operation and that returns to its original position when the pushing force is released, and a shift lever unit that employs the button switch.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a vehicle including an automatic transmission that changes the rotational output of a prime mover and transmits it to a wheel side. Such a vehicle is equipped with a shift lever unit provided with a shift lever operated by a driver as a vehicle part for controlling the degree of shifting of the automatic transmission. In the shift lever unit, any one of a plurality of shift positions corresponding to shift ranges that can be set on the automatic transmission side, such as a P range and a D range, can be selected by operating the shift lever.

  In recent years, for the purpose of suppressing fuel consumption, an automatic transmission having an overdrive function capable of setting a reduction ratio of less than 1 at which an output rotational speed is larger than an input rotational speed has become common. Many of the shift lever units corresponding to the transmission are provided with an OD button for turning on and off the overdrive function (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  There is a shift lever unit that employs a push operation type button switch that does not have a so-called latch mechanism and does not hold the push position as the OD button. In such a shift lever unit, the overdrive function can be switched between valid / invalid each time the OD button is depressed. If the OD button is pushed in and operated while the overdrive function is valid, the function can be invalidated. If the OD button is pushed again, the overdrive function can be validated again.

JP 2011-230692 A

  However, the conventional button switch has the following problems. In order to allow the operator to recognize that the push-in operation has been detected on the machine side, it is possible to improve the reliability of the operation by incorporating an operation feeling such as a click feeling. Is used, resulting in an increase in the number of parts.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a button switch that can obtain a good operational feeling while suppressing the number of parts, and a shift lever unit that employs this button switch. It is said.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a button provided with an operation surface for performing a pushing operation, a biasing member that pushes the pushed button back to an initial position, and a button base that holds the button in a pushable manner. A button switch of a push-in operation type in which the button can be pushed into a push-in position where a push-in operation is detected, while the button returns to the initial position when the push-in operation is not performed,
A biasing member including a coil winding portion in which a spring wire is wound in a coil shape is provided with a first torsion bar in which a winding end on the operation surface side is extended along a tangential direction,
The button base is provided with a torsion bar abutting portion provided with an abutting surface for pushing and displacing the first torsion bar in the circumferential direction in response to depression of the button,
A button switch configured such that when the button is pushed into the pushing position, the displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount of the first torsion bar with respect to the push displacement amount of the button fluctuates to generate an operational feeling. (Claim 1).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shift lever unit operated to change a transmission ratio when the rotational motion generated by the power source is transmitted to the wheel, and the shift lever unit is operated more than the input rotational speed to the power transmission path. Applied to vehicles with an overdrive function that generates an overdrive condition in which the output speed from the power transmission path is high,
There is a shift lever unit comprising the button switch of the first aspect as operation means for switching over / invalidity of the overdrive function (Claim 6).

  In the button switch according to the present invention, when the button is pushed in, the urging member obtained by winding the spring wire in a coil shape is elastically compressed and deformed, thereby generating an urging force for pushing the button back. Further, in this button switch, in response to the pressing of the button, a rotational displacement is generated in the first torsion bar in which the winding end of the urging member is extended, and a reaction force derived from the rotational displacement is generated. Occur.

  In the button switch according to the present invention, when the button is pushed into the push-in position, the displacement ratio of the first torsion bar fluctuates to generate an operational feeling. In this button switch, an operation feeling is generated using the first torsion bar in which the winding end of the urging member is extended in the tangential direction, so that the button is pushed back and the operation feeling is generated. The function is realized by the biasing member. If an operation feeling can be generated using the biasing member for pushing back the button, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with a case where an operation feeling is generated using other parts such as a leaf spring.

  As described above, the shift lever unit according to the present invention employs a lightweight and low-cost button switch with a small number of components, and is a product with excellent characteristics that is lightweight and low-cost.

  In the present invention, the push-in limit of the button is preferably set to a position exceeding the push-in position. However, if the distance from the pushing position to the pushing limit is too long, the operation feeling may be deteriorated.

In the torsion bar abutting portion in the button switch according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the two abutting angles differing in the displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount of the first torsion bar with respect to the pushing displacement amount of the button are different. Corners adjacent to the surface are provided corresponding to the pushing position,
The inclination angles of the contact surfaces on both sides of the corner are set so that the displacement rate of one contact surface corresponding to the initial position side is larger than that of the other contact surface ( Claim 2).

  As described above, the rotational displacement of the first torsion bar occurs when the first torsion bar abuts against the contact surface of the torsion bar contact portion. The displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount of the first torsion bar with respect to the push-in displacement amount of the button depends on the inclination angle of the contact surface of the torsion bar contact portion. In the torsion bar contact portion, the corner portion where two contact surfaces having different inclination angles are adjacent to each other is provided. The corner portion is provided corresponding to a position where the first torsion bar contacts when the button is pushed into the pushing position where the pushing operation is detected.

  Comparing one abutment surface corresponding to the initial position side adjacent to this corner with the other abutment surface, the one abutment surface has a larger displacement rate, and the other abutment surface The surface has a smaller displacement rate. Then, when the button is pushed toward the push-in position, when the first torsion bar reaches the corner and comes into contact with the other abutment surface, the rotational displacement amount of the first torsion bar The increase degree of becomes smaller, and the increase degree of reaction force becomes smaller.

  Here, for example, in the case of a general button switch that employs a normal coil spring as a generation source of the urging force in the pushing-back direction, the reaction force increases approximately in proportion to the amount of pushing displacement. Also in the urging member in the present invention, a reaction force similar to that of the coil spring is generated in a portion where the spring wire is wound in a coil shape. On the other hand, for the first torsion bar, after reaching the corner, the displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount to the push displacement amount becomes small. That is, with respect to the degree of increase in the reaction force according to the pressing of the button until the first torsion bar reaches the corner, the degree of increase in the reaction force becomes smaller after reaching the corner.

  In general, it is natural for an operator to feel that the reaction force gradually increases as the button is pushed, and if the increase degree of the reaction force changes during the push-in operation, some feeling is generated on the operation side. . In the button switch according to the present invention, the corner portion is formed corresponding to the pushing position where the pushing operation is detected. Therefore, the above-mentioned touch is generated corresponding to the pushed-in position, and on the operating side, an operational feeling is obtained by operating a button at the pushed-in position.

  The contact surface against which the first torsion bar abuts may be a flat surface with a straight cross section or a curved surface with a curved cross section. The two contact surfaces adjacent at the corner may be different in the inclination angle of each end of the two contact surfaces adjacent at the corner. The inclination angles of the one abutment surface and the other abutment surface are constant regardless of location, that is, the abutment surface does not have to be a flat surface. Each contact surface may be a curved surface whose inclination angle gradually changes depending on the location.

  One contact surface corresponding to the adjacent initial position side at the corner portion needs to have an inclination angle at which the rotational displacement amount of the first torsion bar increases as the push-in displacement amount of the button increases. There is. On the other hand, regarding the inclination angle of the other contact surface on the opposite side, the displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount of the first torsion bar to the push displacement amount of the button is smaller than that of the one contact surface. Any tilt angle may be used. The inclination angle may be an angle at which the displacement ratio turns to the minus side, or may be an angle that becomes zero, and a positive displacement ratio that is smaller than the displacement ratio corresponding to the one contact surface. It may be an angle.

The urging member in the button switch according to a preferred aspect of the present invention is provided with a second torsion bar with a winding end opposite to the first torsion bar extending in a tangential direction,
The button base is provided with a detent portion for restricting the rotational displacement of the second torsion bar of the urging member (Claim 3).

  In addition to the torsion bar abutting part, if the rotation preventing part for restricting the rotational displacement of the second torsion bar is provided on the button base, the coil accompanying the rotational displacement of the first torsion bar The rotation of the winding part can be regulated. If the accompanying rotation of the coil winding portion is restricted, the elastic reaction force of the first torsion bar is generated according to the design specifications, and the operational effects of the present invention can be generated with high reliability.

  In the button switch according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a combination of an advancing / retracting shaft extending along the pushing direction between the button and the button base and a shaft hole into which the advancing / retracting shaft can be inserted. And a coil winding portion of the urging member is extrapolated to the fitting structure (Claim 4).

  In this case, the fitting structure that supports the forward / backward movement of the button in the pushing direction and the urging member can be arranged efficiently, and a compact design becomes possible. Further, a structure for supporting the forward / backward movement in the pushing direction may be provided on the outer peripheral side of the button. Then, the advance / retreat accuracy of the button can be further improved.

A button switch according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes an operation sound generation structure that generates a sound when a button is pressed into the pressing position.
If a sound is generated in response to the push of the button into the push position, it acts like an operation sound indicating the completion of the operation, and the above operational feeling when the button is pushed into the push position can be emphasized.

  As the operation sound generation structure, for example, a structure using a contact sound generated when the first torsion bar contacts the torsion bar contact portion may be used. For example, when the first torsion bar crosses the corner, the first torsion bar may make a sound of hitting the contact surface. In this case, by using the biasing member and the torsion bar contact portion, the operation sound generating structure can be configured while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

  For example, when a contact switch having an electrical contact is attached to the button switch, a contact switch that generates a sound when the electrical contact is closed may be employed. When the button is pushed into the pushing position, the electrical contact is closed and a sound is generated.

The perspective view which anticipates the shift lever unit in Example 1. FIG. The side view of the shift lever unit in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a detent rod assembly structure according to the first embodiment. The perspective view of the shift lever and the base bracket in Example 1. The perspective view which shows the base bracket in Example 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the shift lock link of the lock position in Example 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the shift lock link of the unlock position in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the assembly structure of the shift knob in the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the state which assembled | attached the OD button to the knob main body in Example 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of OD button in Example 1. FIG. The front view which shows the OD button base provided in the knob main body in Example 1. FIG. The front view which shows the torsion bar contact part in Example 1. FIG. The front view which shows the other torsion bar contact part in Example 1. FIG. The front view which shows the other torsion bar contact part in Example 1. FIG.

The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the following examples.
Example 1
This example is an example relating to the shift lever unit 1 capable of operating the shift lever 10 in a predetermined shift direction. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The shift lever unit 1 of this example is a straight type shift lever unit that can operate the shift lever 10 in a shift direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the vehicle (not shown) as shown in FIGS. The shift lever unit 1 is installed on a center console between a driver seat and a passenger seat, a dash panel facing the driver, or the like so that the driver can easily operate the shift lever 10.

  According to this shift lever unit 1, a parking range (P range), reverse range (R range), neutral range (N range), drive range (D range), sports arranged in the shift direction from the front side of the vehicle. Any one of the ranges (S range) can be selected as the shift position. By changing the shift range, it is possible to change the transmission ratio or the like of an automatic transmission (not shown) that constitutes a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational motion generated by the vehicle engine as a power source to the wheels.

  The shift lever unit 1 is configured such that the shift lever 10 is pivotally supported by the base bracket 3 in a rotatable state, and is attached to the vehicle so that the end of the shift lever 10 protrudes toward the vehicle compartment via the shift panel 18. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the shift lever 10 is configured around a lever body 2 to which a shift knob 5 is attached at the tip.
The lever body 2 is a resin component in which a shift shaft 20 is erected on both side surfaces of a hollow rod-shaped cylinder portion 21, and is pivotally supported by the base bracket 3. The lever main body 2 is provided with a control lever erected with a curved cover 201 having an arc cross section that covers a long hole of the shift panel 18 that penetrates the shift lever 10 from the inside, and a control pin 281 that locks a shift cable (not shown). 28 etc. are provided. In the shift lever unit 1, the rotation operation of the shift lever 10 is transmitted to the automatic transmission (not shown) via a shift cable (not shown) locked to the control pin 281.

  Of the shift shafts 20 on both side surfaces of the lever body 2, a shift shaft 20A (see FIG. 4) on the first side wall 31 side of the base bracket 3 to be described later has a constant circular cross section. At the base of the shift shaft 20B (see FIG. 3) on the second side wall 32 side, a base 200 having a barrel shape in cross section is provided. The root portion 200 has a cross-sectional barrel shape obtained by scraping both sides of a circular shape, and the width of the uncut portion is narrower than the diameter of the shift shaft 20B. As will be described in detail later, this root portion 200 narrower than the diameter of the shift shaft 20B is an essential configuration for assembling the shift lever 10 to the base bracket 3.

  3 and 4, a hollow portion (not shown) having a circular cross section is formed in the axial direction, and a detent rod 61 provided with a lock pin 615 for restricting the shift operation, or for the shift operation. A detent plunger 62 or the like that provides an appropriate operational feeling is inserted and arranged. A slit hole 210 (see FIG. 4) communicating with the end surface is formed in the side wall surface on the lower end side of the cylindrical portion 21 opposite to the shift knob 5. The slit hole 210 is a groove for advancing and retracting the lock pin 615 of the detent rod 61.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detent rod 61 is a resin component in which a substantially rod-shaped shaft portion 611 and a cylindrical holder portion 610 are connected in the axial direction.
The holder portion 610 is configured to insert and hold a detent spring 616 and a detent plunger 62 that are coil springs. A lock pin 615 is erected on the outer peripheral surface of the holder portion 610 so as to protrude radially outward. The lock pin 615 is configured to restrict an inadvertent shift operation by a combination with a shift lock link 15 (FIG. 4) and a detent unit 7 (FIG. 5) described later.

The detent plunger 62 has a substantially cylindrical plunger body 621 that is inserted into the holder portion 610, and an annular portion 622 having a large diameter portion and a distal end portion 623 having a narrowed cross section are provided on the distal end side thereof. Resin parts.
The configuration of the shift knob 5 attached to the tip of the lever body 2 will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the base bracket 3 is a member that pivotally supports the shift lever 10 while being fixed to the vehicle (not shown). In addition to the shift panel 18 and the shift lever 10, a shift lock mechanism including a shift lock link 15, a solenoid (actuator) 17 and the like is assembled to the base bracket 3.

The base bracket 3 is formed around a first side wall portion 31 provided with a shaft hole 310 for accommodating one shift shaft 20A of the shift lever 10 and provided with a shaft hole 320 for accommodating the other shift shaft 20B. The two side wall portions 32 face each other with a gap.
While the shaft hole 310 of the first side wall portion 31 is completely circular, the shaft hole 320 of the second side wall portion 32 is incomplete with the slit groove 321 that opens to the outside toward the shift panel 18 side. It is circular. The slit groove 321 is formed with a width that allows the narrow base portion 200 of the shift shaft 20B of the shift lever 10 to be inserted.

  When the shift lever 10 is assembled to the base bracket 3, the tip of the shift shaft 20 </ b> A is positioned in front of the first side wall portion 31, and the root portion 200 of the shift shaft 20 </ b> B is slit in the second side wall portion 32. Insert along the groove 321. After the shift shaft 20B is inserted into the shaft hole 320 of the second side wall 32 until the shift shaft 20B is aligned, the entire shift lever 10 is moved toward the first side wall 31 to shift the shift shaft on the first side wall 31 side. If 20 A is inserted into the shaft hole 310, the shift lever 10 can be assembled to the base bracket 3.

  The first and second side wall portions 31 and 32 are outer peripheral side walls formed on the rear side portion in the traveling direction of the vehicle and the lower side portion on the opposite side to the shift knob 5 in the outer periphery surrounding the rotation space of the shift lever 10. They are connected to each other via 301 and face each other through the rotation space of the shift lever 10. Instead of the outer peripheral side wall 301, a clamp 300 for supporting the shift panel 18 is disposed on the upper portions of the first and second side wall portions 31 and 32 that contact the shift knob 5.

  A sliding surface 77 constituting a detent mechanism that realizes a reliable shift operation is formed on the inner surface of the outer peripheral side wall 301 corresponding to the lower side of the rotation space of the shift lever 10. The sliding surface 77 is formed to be concentric with the shaft holes 310 and 320 and to have a large-diameter arc shape so that the tip of the detent plunger 62 slides while pressing against the shift lever 10. . The sliding surface 77 formed in a range corresponding to the operation range of the shift lever 10 is provided with a concave moderation groove 77T or the like corresponding to each shift position such as the D range or the P range.

  The first side wall portion 31 is provided with a detent portion 7 constituting a detent mechanism. The detent portion 7 includes an arcuate outer peripheral wall surface 70, a stepped bottom surface 71 on the inner peripheral side having different distances from the centers of the shaft holes 310 and 320, a regulating surface 710 between the bottom surfaces 71 adjacent to each other in a step shape, It is a space formed by The bottom surface 71 corresponds to the shift position of the shift lever 10. In FIG. 5, the bottom surface 71P of the P range, the bottom surface 71R of the R range, the bottom surface common to the N range and the D range in order from the upstream side in the counterclockwise direction. 71ND, a bottom surface 71S of the second range is formed. A very shallow bottom boundary 71V is provided between the bottom surface 71R of the R range and the bottom surface 71P of the P range.

  The first side wall 31 holds the shift lock link 15 so as to be rotatable, and also holds a solenoid 17 for rotating and shifting the shift lock link 15. The shift lock link 15 is rotationally displaced from the lock position in FIG. 6 to the unlock position in FIG. 7 in response to energization of the solenoid 17. The lock position is a rotation position where the shift lock link 15 blocks the advance / retreat path of the lock pin 615 when the shift lever 10 is operated to the P range. The unlock position is a rotation position that allows the lock pin 615 to advance and retract when the shift lever 10 is in the P range. The shift lock link 15 is biased toward the lock position by the torsion spring 15S, and is displaced to the lock position when the solenoid 17 is not energized.

  Next, the shift knob 5 attached to the tip of the lever body 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the shift knob 5 is a portion that forms a handle that is held by the driver during a shift operation. A shift button 50 and an OD button 4 are disposed on the side surface of the shift knob 5 that faces the driver when the vehicle is mounted. These operation buttons can be operated with a thumb or the like by a driver holding the shift knob 5 with his left hand.

The shift knob 5 has a structure that is vertically divided into two along the shift direction. The divided part on the passenger seat side is the knob body 51, and the divided part on the driver side is the knob cover 511.
The knob body 51 is provided with a bottomed cylindrical shift button housing portion 500 for housing the shift button 50 and an OD button base (button base) 54 for holding the OD button 4.

  The shift button accommodating portion 500 accommodates the shift button 50 via a coil spring 507 that generates an urging force in the pushing direction. The shift button 50 is an operation button that enables the shift lever 10 to be rotated. For example, in order to shift the shift lever 10 of the D range to the R range, P range, S range, etc., the operation of the shift button 50 is required. The detent rod 61 is displaced in the axial direction in response to the pressing of the shift button 50, and the lock pin 615 moves in a direction approaching the arcuate outer peripheral wall surface 70 (see FIG. 7) of the detent portion 7. When the lock pin 615 moves to the outer peripheral side in this way, the rotational displacement is not restricted by the restriction surface 710, and a shift operation that is a turning operation of the shift lever 10 becomes possible.

  The OD button 4 is a button constituting a button switch 4S for turning on / off the overdrive function of the vehicle. The overdrive function is a function for generating an overdrive state in which the output rotational speed is higher than the input rotational speed for an automatic transmission (not shown) of the vehicle. The OD button 4 is not provided with a latch mechanism for holding the pushed-in position, and is located at the initial position in the pushed-out state when not being operated. Each time the OD button 4 is pushed in, the overdrive function can be switched on / off (valid / invalid) alternately.

  In particular, in this example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, as an example of a biasing member for pushing back the OD button 4, a torsion spring 40 in which a spring wire is wound in a coil shape and both ends are extended in a tangential direction is adopted. doing. In the following description, the coiled portion of the torsion spring 40 is referred to as a coil winding portion 40C. In the torsion spring 40 of this example, the opening angle of the torsion bars 40A and B at both ends is set to about 120 degrees.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the OD button 4 includes a substantially cylindrical button head 401 provided with an operation surface on the front surface side, and a coil winding portion on the back surface of the button which is the end surface on the opposite side on the back side. This is a resin component in which a button shaft (advance / retreat shaft) 405 (see FIG. 10) for extrapolating 40C is erected. On the outer peripheral portion of the button head 401 on the back side of the button, a latch portion 403 is erected in the pushing direction.

  A pair of latch portions 403 are arranged so as to face two places in the circumferential direction. On the outer side surface of the latch portion 403, a latch claw 403T formed in a convex shape by an inclined surface at the front end side in the pushing direction and a shelf surface on the opposite side is provided. The OD button 4 is supported by the support unit 543 (described later) of the OD button base 54 via the latch unit 403 so that the OD button 4 can be advanced and retracted in the pushing direction. Furthermore, an outer peripheral wall portion 409 (see FIG. 8) extends along the outer periphery of one latch portion 403.

  The outer peripheral wall portion 409 having a standing height that is about half of the latch portion 403 is formed on the left rotation direction side when viewed from the operation surface side of the button head 401. In addition, a slit groove 409S for accommodating a torsion bar (first torsion bar) 40A is a button in about half of the left rotation side when viewed from the operation surface side in the circumferential formation range of the outer peripheral wall portion 409. It is formed along the back surface 401B. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the button head 401, a switch pushing portion 407 having a substantially rectangular cross section that protrudes to the outer peripheral side, avoiding the circumferential position of the latch portion 403, is provided.

  In the OD button base 54 of the knob main body 51, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, a spring holder 540 is installed, in which the coil winding portion 40C of the torsion spring 40 that generates an urging force that pushes back the OD button 4 is inserted. A support portion 543 that supports the OD button 4 so as to be pushed in, a torsion bar abutting portion 544, 545, a contact switch 45, and the like are disposed on the outer periphery thereof. In FIG. 11, priority is given to ease of understanding, and the support unit 543 and the like are not shown.

  The contact switch 45 is a switch that includes a movable lever 450 and detects the displacement of the tip of the movable lever 450. The contact switch 45 is arranged such that a convex switch pushing portion 407 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the OD button 4 interferes with the tip of the movable lever 450. When the OD button 4 is pushed in, the movable lever 450 is pushed in by the switch pushing portion 407, and the electrical contact built in the contact switch 45 is closed. Note that the position in the push direction of the OD button 4 when the electrical contact is closed is a push position described later.

  The spring holder 540 has a pair of curved holding portions 541 having a circular arc cross section like a rain gutter (see FIG. 11), and as a whole, gaps 542A and B extending in the axial direction based on a cylindrical shape. Is provided at two positions in the circumferential direction and is divided. In addition, a shaft hole 54H for inserting the button shaft 405 of the OD button 4 is formed on the inner bottom surface of the spring holder 540, and a fitting structure that allows the OD button 4 to move forward and backward is formed. .

  As shown in FIG. 11, a flat plate-like second torsion bar abutting portion 544 extending along the tangential direction is adjacent to the second gap 542 </ b> B of the spring holder 540. For the second torsion bar abutting portion 544 that is an example of the rotation preventing portion, when the coil winding portion 40C of the torsion spring 40 is accommodated in the spring holder 540, the torsion bar (second torsion on the back side) Bar) 40B extends to the outer peripheral side through the second gap 542B and is pressed against it.

  On the outer peripheral side of the first gap 542A of the spring holder 540, a flat plate-like first torsion bar abutting portion 545 is provided so as to extend perpendicular to the tangential direction. The first torsion bar abutting portion 545 abuts on the torsion bar 40A that extends through the slit groove 409S of the OD button 4 in the tangential direction.

  The front shape when the torsion bar abutting portion 545 is viewed from the center side of the spring holder 540 toward the outer peripheral side in the radial direction is a downwardly inclined shape as shown in FIG. Abutting surfaces 545A and 545B against which the torsion bar 40A of the torsion spring 40 abuts are provided on the side surface of the torsion bar abutting portion 545 that is inclined downward to the left.

  FIG. 12 shows the range of the stroke in the pushing direction of the torsion bar 40A when the OD button 4 is pushed. The upper range end in the figure corresponds to the initial position side of the OD button 4, and the lower range end corresponds to the push-in limit. The pushing position is close to the pushing limit corresponding to the corner portion 545P.

  Here, the initial position and the push-in limit are positions determined by the structure of the OD button 4 and the OD button base 54. The pushing position is a position determined by the relationship between the OD button 4 including the switch pushing portion 407 and the contact switch 45. A corner portion 545P of the torsion bar abutting portion 545 is a position where the torsion bar 40A reaches in the pressing direction when the OD button 4 is pressed and reaches the pressing position.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the contact surfaces 545A and B of the torsion bar contact portion 545 are adjacent to each other through the corner portion 545P, and the inclination angles thereof are different. One abutting surface 545A corresponding to the initial position side is an inclined inclined surface that causes the torsion bar 40A to be rotationally displaced in the left rotation direction in FIG. The other contact surface 545B on the push-in limit side is a vertical surface that is substantially parallel to the push-in direction of the OD button 4, and a contact surface that does not cause a new rotational displacement in the torsion bar 40A even when the OD button 4 is pushed in. It has become.

  The support part 543 has a gate shape like a torii in a shrine, and latches the latch part 403 of the OD button 4 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the standing direction. The support units 543 are respectively provided corresponding to the two latch units 403 provided in the OD button 4. The inner peripheral shape of the support portion 543 to which the latch claw 403T of the OD button 4 is locked is a vertically long rectangular shape so that the latch claw 403T can advance and retreat. In the OD button base 54, the combination of the support portion 543 and the latch portion 403 is disposed to face each other with the button head 401 interposed therebetween, and this combination enables the OD button 4 to be advanced and retracted in the pushing direction.

  The basic operation of the shift lever unit 1 in which the above parts are combined will be briefly described. When the shift lever 10 is positioned in the P range, the lock pin 615 is pressed against the bottom surface 71 </ b> P of the detent portion 7. While the brake pedal is not operated, the solenoid 17 is in a non-energized state, and the shift lock link 15 is in the locked position (FIG. 6) as described above. As a result, the lock pin 615 cannot be moved to a position where the boundary 71V can be overcome, and even if the shift button 50 is operated, a shift operation from the P range to another shift range cannot be performed.

  When a brake pedal (not shown) is depressed, the shift lock link 15 is rotated to the unlock position (FIG. 7) in response to the energization of the solenoid 17 and locked to a position where it can get over the boundary 71V. The pin 615 can be moved. By operating the shift button 50, the lock pin 615 can be moved to a position where the boundary 71V can be overcome (see FIG. 7), and a shift operation to another range such as the D range or the N range becomes possible.

  Next, the operation of the OD button 4 will be described. When the OD button 4 is pushed in, the coil winding portion 40C of the torsion spring 40 is elastically compressed and deformed, and thereby the urging force that pushes back the OD button 4 acts like an operation reaction force. Further, in the shift lever unit 1, in response to the pressing of the OD button 4, a rotational displacement occurs in the torsion bar 40 </ b> A that is the winding end on the near side of the torsion spring 40. Note that the torsion bar 40B, which is the other winding end, is restricted in rotational displacement by the torsion bar abutting portion 544, so that the coil winding portion 40C does not rotate. Therefore, an elastic reaction force of the torsion spring 40 is generated according to the rotational displacement of the torsion bar 40A.

  When the OD button 4 is pushed to the pushing position and the torsion bar 40A reaches the corner portion 545P, the movable lever 450 of the contact switch 45 is pushed by the convex switch pushing portion 407 on the outer periphery of the OD button 4. As a result, the electrical contact of the contact switch 45 becomes conductive, the operation of the OD button 4 is detected, and the overdrive function is switched on and off. If the OD button 4 is pressed when the overdrive function is on, the overdrive function is switched off. If the push operation is in the off state, the overdrive function is switched on.

  As described above, the rotational displacement of the torsion bar 40A in response to the depression of the OD button 4 occurs when the torsion bar 40A hits the contact surfaces 545A and 545B of the torsion bar contact portion 545. The displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount of the torsion bar 40A with respect to the pushing displacement amount of the OD button 4 depends on the inclination angles of the contact surfaces 545A and B of the torsion bar contact portion 545. In the torsion bar abutting portion 545, a corner portion 545P is provided in which an abutting surface 545A having an oblique inclination angle and an abutting surface 545B having a perpendicular inclination angle are adjacent to each other. As described above, the corner portion 545P is a portion where the torsion bar 40A comes into contact when the OD button 4 is pushed down to the pushing position where the electrical contact of the contact switch 45 is closed and the pushing operation is detected.

  Comparing one abutment surface 545A and the other abutment surface 545B connected by the corner portion 545P, the oblique abutment surface 545A rotates the torsion bar 40A with respect to the pushing displacement amount of the OD button 4. The displacement ratio of the displacement amount is large, and this displacement ratio is as small as zero on the vertical contact surface 545B. Accordingly, when the OD button 4 is pushed toward the pushing position, when the torsion bar 40A reaches the corner portion 545P, the displacement rate of the torsion bar 40A becomes zero, the increase in rotational displacement becomes zero, and the reaction force increases. No longer.

  For example, in the case of a general button switch that employs a normal coil spring as a generation source of the urging force in the push-back direction, the reaction force increases substantially proportionally according to the amount of pushing displacement. Also in the torsion spring 40 of this example, a reaction force similar to that of the above-described coil spring is generated with respect to the coil winding portion 40C in which the spring wire is wound in a coil shape. On the other hand, for the torsion bar 40A, after reaching the corner portion 545P, the displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount to the push displacement amount of the OD button 4 becomes small. That is, with respect to the degree of increase in the reaction force according to the pressing of the OD button 4 until the torsion bar 40A reaches the corner portion 545P, after the corner portion 545P is reached, the degree of increase in the reaction force becomes smaller.

  In general, it is natural for the operator to feel that the reaction force gradually increases as the button is pushed, and if the degree of increase in the reaction force changes during the pushing operation, some feeling is transmitted to the operation side. It will be. In the button switch 4S including the OD button 4 of this example, the corner portion 545P is formed corresponding to the pushed position where the pushing operation is detected. Therefore, the above-mentioned touch is generated corresponding to the push-in position, and on the operating side, the operation feeling is due to the operation of the OD button 4 at the push-down position.

  In the shift lever unit 1, the torsion spring 40 for pushing back the OD button 4 is provided with a torsion bar 40 </ b> A, so that a feeling of operation when the OD button 4 is operated to the pushing position is generated. In the button switch 4S using the OD button 4 as an operation button, a feeling of operation can be generated by using a torsion spring 40 for pushing back the OD button 4, and hence a feeling of operation is generated by using a leaf spring or the like. The number of parts is reduced as compared with the case where a mechanism is provided.

  As described above, the shift lever unit 1 is a lightweight, low-cost product with excellent characteristics by adopting the lightweight and low-cost button switch 4S with a small number of components.

  In the button switch 4S including the OD button 4 of this example, when the OD button 4 is pushed in, the contact surface 545A against which the torsion bar 40A is pressed is inclined, while the OD button 4 is pushed into the pushing position. The torsion bar 40A is configured to press against the vertical contact surface 545B. The contact surface against which the torsion bar 40A is pressed when the OD button 4 is pressed into the pressing position may be an inclined surface having a smaller inclination angle and a smaller displacement rate than the contact surface corresponding to the initial position side (FIG. 13). reference.). Alternatively, the contact surface may be reversely inclined, and part or all of the rotational displacement of the torsion bar 40A may be elastically restored when the corner portion 545P is exceeded (see FIG. 14).

In this example, a fitting structure of the button shaft 405 and the shaft hole 54 </ b> H is formed between the OD button 4 and the button base 54. Either one of the OD button 4 and the button base 54 may be provided with a cylindrical standing shape, and the other may be provided with a cylindrical accommodating portion so that the OD button 4 can be moved forward and backward by the fitting structure of both. . In this case, the torsion spring 40 may be extrapolated from the cylindrical standing shape.
While the latch structure for preventing the OD button 4 from moving forward and backward can be provided in the fitting structure, the support portion 543 can be omitted.

  When the torsion bar 40A exceeds the corner portion 545P, a contact sound with the contact surface may be generated. For example, when the torsion bar 40A exceeds the corner portion 545P of the torsion bar abutting portion 545, part or all of the rotational displacement is opened, and the torsion bar 40A hits the abutting surface to generate a sound. It may be generated. If comprised in this way, the operation sound production | generation structure by the combination of the torsion bar 40A and an abutment surface can be formed, a sound can be generated when the OD button 4 is operated to a pushing position, Can be heard. If the operation sound generation structure is formed using the configuration of the button switch, the number of parts does not increase in order to generate the operation sound.

  It may be configured such that a sound is generated from the movable lever 450 when the electrical contact of the contact switch 45 is conducted. In this case, there is an effect that the operational feeling of the OD button 4 is emphasized by the sound generated by the contact switch 45 as the operation sound generation structure.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail, these Examples are only disclosing the example of the technique included by a claim. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be construed as limited by the configuration, numerical values, or the like of the embodiments. The scope of the claims includes techniques that are variously modified, changed, or appropriately combined with embodiments using known techniques and knowledge of those skilled in the art.

1 Shift lever unit 10 Shift lever 20 Shift shaft 3 Base bracket 4S Button switch 4 OD button (button)
40 Torsion spring (biasing member)
40A, B Torsion bar 40C Coil winding part 405 Button axis (advance / retreat axis)
5 Shift knob 50 Shift button 54 OD button base (button base)
544, 545 Torsion bar contact portion 545A, B Contact surface 545P Corner portion 543 Support portion 54H Shaft hole

Claims (6)

A push provided with a button provided with an operation surface for pushing operation, an urging member that pushes the pushed button back to an initial position, and a button base that holds the button so as to be pushed in. A button switch of a push-in operation type in which the button can be pushed into a position while the button returns to the initial position when no push-in operation is performed,
A biasing member including a coil winding portion in which a spring wire is wound in a coil shape is provided with a first torsion bar in which a winding end on the operation surface side is extended along a tangential direction,
The button base is provided with a torsion bar abutting portion provided with an abutting surface for pushing and displacing the first torsion bar in the circumferential direction in response to depression of the button,
A button switch configured such that when the button is pushed into the pushing position, the displacement ratio of the rotational displacement amount of the first torsion bar with respect to the push displacement amount of the button fluctuates to generate an operational feeling. . In Claim 1, in the said torsion bar contact part, the angle | corner which two contact surfaces from which the inclination angle which influences the displacement ratio of the rotation displacement amount of the said 1st torsion bar with respect to the pushing displacement amount of the said button differs is adjacent. Part is provided corresponding to the pushing position,
The buttons with the inclined angles set so that the contact rate on both sides of the corner portion is larger in the displacement rate of one contact surface corresponding to the initial position side than the other contact surface. switch. In Claim 1 or 2, the energizing member is provided with a second torsion bar with a winding end opposite to the first torsion bar extending in a tangential direction,
The button switch, wherein the button base is provided with an anti-rotation portion for restricting the rotational displacement of the second torsion bar of the urging member.   The combination of the advancing / retracting shaft extended along the pushing direction between the said button and the said button base, and the shaft hole which can insert this advancing / retracting shaft in any one of Claims 1-3 A button switch in which a fitting structure is provided, and a coil winding portion of the urging member is extrapolated to the fitting structure.   5. The button switch according to claim 1, further comprising an operation sound generation structure that generates a sound when a button is pushed into the pushing position. 6. A shift lever unit that is operated to change the transmission ratio when the rotational motion generated by the power source is transmitted to the wheel, and the output rotational speed from the power transmission path is higher than the input rotational speed to the power transmission path. Applied to vehicles with an overdrive function to generate a higher overdrive condition,
A shift lever unit comprising the button switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, as operation means for switching over / invalidity of an overdrive function.

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