Operating device and vehicular shift device using operating device

1. An operating device comprising:

an operating member configured to be positioned in a plurality of positions of the operating device in response to being tilted from a reference position by an operator;

a support supporting the operating member so that the operating member is tiltable;

a first movable member and a second movable member configured to tilt in conjunction with the operating member; and

a first magnetic body provided on the first movable member, a second magnetic body provided on the second movable member, and a permanent magnet supported by the support,

wherein, when the operating member is in the reference position, the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body are placed on one side of the permanent magnet, and the permanent magnet and the first and second magnetic bodies attract each other, and

wherein, when the operating member is tilted in a first direction from the reference position to be positioned in one or more of the plurality of positions, first, the first magnetic body moves away from the permanent magnet with tilting of the first movable member, and next, the second magnetic body moves away from the permanent magnet with tilting of the second movable member.

2. The operating device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the operating member includes a pillar-shaped operating shaft and a base pan spreading in a plane through which a central axis of the operating shaft penetrates,

the base part pivots with tilting of the operating member,

the base part includes a first pressing part configured to contact the first movable member and a second pressing part configured to contact the second movable member, and

when the operating member is in the reference position, the first pressing part and the second pressing part are placed opposite the first movable member and the second movable member, respectively, so that a distance between the first movable member and the first pressing part is smaller than a distance between the second movable member and the second pressing part.

3. The operating device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the second magnetic body is placed between the first magnetic body and the permanent magnet, and

the second movable member is formed of a nonmagnetic material.

4. The operating device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first movable member and the first magnetic body are a soft magnetic material and are formed together as one piece.

5. The operating device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the support includes a tilt shaft that enables the operating member to tilt in the first direction, and

the first movable member and the second movable member pivot about the tilt shaft serving as a central shaft.

6. The operating device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic body, the second magnetic body, and the permanent magnet are placed at such positions that when the operating member is tilted to move the first magnetic body or the second magnetic body away from the permanent magnet, a force of attraction exerted therebetween is maintained.

7. The operating device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a third movable member and a fourth movable member configured to tilt in conjunction with the operating member; and

a third magnetic body provided on the third movable member and a fourth magnetic body provided on the fourth movable member,

wherein when the operating member is in the reference position the third magnetic body and the fourth magnetic body are placed on another side of the permanent magnet, and the permanent magnet and the third and fourth magnetic bodies attract each other, and

wherein, when the operating member is tilted in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the reference position to be positioned in one or more of the plurality of positions, first, the third magnetic body moves away from the permanent magnet with tilting of the third movable member, and next, the fourth magnetic body moves away from the permanent magnet with tilting of the fourth movable member.

8. The operating device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the support includes a tilt shaft that enables the operating member to tilt in the first direction,

the operating member includes a pillar-shaped operating shaft and a base part spreading in a plane through which a central axis of the operating shaft penetrates,

the base part pivots about the tilt shaft serving as a central shaft,

the base part includes a first pressing part configured to contact the first movable member, a second pressing part configured to contact the second movable member, a third pressing part configured to contact the third movable member, and a fourth pressing part configured to contact the fourth movable member, and

when the operating member is in the reference position, the first pressing part, the second pressing part, the third pressing part, and the fourth pressing part are placed opposite the first movable member, the second movable member, the third movable member, and the fourth movable member, respectively, so that a distance between the first movable member and the first pressing part is smaller than a distance between the second movable member and the second pressing part and a distance between the third movable member and the third pressing part is smaller than a distance between the fourth movable member and the fourth pressing part.

9. The operating device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first movable member, the second movable member, the third movable member, and the fourth movable member pivot about the tilt shaft serving as a central shaft.

10. The operating device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein

the first movable member and the first magnetic body are formed together as one piece, and the third movable member and the third magnetic body are formed together as one piece, and

the first movable member, the first magnetic body, the third, movable member, and the third magnetic body are a soft magnetic material.

11. The operating, device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

the tilt shaft is formed of a soft magnetic material, and

the first movable member and the first magnetic body are formed together as one piece, the third movable member and the third magnetic body are formed together as one piece, and the first movable member, the first magnetic body, the third movable member, and the third magnetic body are placed to cover the permanent magnet, the second magnetic body, and the fourth magnetic body.

12. The operating device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the second magnetic body is placed between the first magnetic body and the permanent magnet,

the fourth magnetic body is placed between the third magnetic body and the permanent magnet, and

the second movable member and the fourth movable member are formed of a non-magnetic material.

13. The operating device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the first magnetic body, the second magnetic body, and the permanent magnet are placed at such positions that when the operating member is tilted in the first direction to move the first magnetic body or the second magnetic body away from the permanent magnet, a force of attraction exerted therebetween is maintained, and

the third magnetic body, the fourth magnetic body, and the permanent magnet are placed at such positions that when the operating member is tilted in the second direction to move the third magnetic body or the fourth magnetic body away from the permanent magnet, a force of attraction exerted therebetween is maintained.

14. The operating device as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:

a drive member configured to pivot with tilting of the operating member, the drive member being provided on at least one of the first movable member, the second movable member, the third movable member, the fourth movable member, the first magnetic body, the second magnetic body, the third magnetic body, and the fourth magnetic body; and

a cam member placed opposite one side of the drive member,

wherein a sliding surface including a first protrusion formed into a protruding shape and a guide surface including a second protrusion formed into a protruding shape are provided on one and the other, respectively, of the drive member and the cam member that are placed opposite each other, and the sliding surface and the guide surface are placed to be slidable relative to each other,

wherein, when the operating member is in the reference position, the sliding surface and the guide surface are in contact with each other because of a force of mutual, attraction of at least one combination among a combination of the first magnetic body and the permanent magnet, a combination of the second magnetic body and the permanent magnet, a combination of the third magnetic body and the permanent magnet, and a combination of the fourth magnetic body and the permanent magnet, and

wherein, when the operating member is tilted in a third direction crossing the first and second directions from the reference position to be positioned in one or more of the plurality of positions, the first protrusion of the sliding surface and the second protrusion of the guide surface move up onto and slide on the protruding portion of each respective surface.

15. The operating device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a drive member configured to pivot with tilting of the operating member, the drive member being provided on at least one of the first movable member, the second movable member, the first magnetic body, and the second magnetic body; and

a cam member placed opposite one side of the drive member,

wherein a sliding surface including a first protrusion formed into a protruding shape and a guide surface including a second protrusion formed into a protruding shape are provided on one and the other, respectively, of the drive member and the cam member that are placed opposite each other, and the sliding surface and the guide surface are placed to be slidable relative to each other,

wherein, when the operating member is in the reference position, the sliding surface and the guide surface are in contact with each other because of a force of mutual attraction of at least one combination among a combination of the first magnetic body and the permanent magnet and a combination of the second magnetic body and the permanent magnet, and

wherein, when the operating member is tilted in a second direction crossing the first direction from the reference position to be positioned in one or more of the plurality of positions, the first protrusion of the sliding surface and the second protrusion of the guide surface move up onto and slide on the protruding portion of each respective surface.

16. A vehicular shift device comprising:

the operating device as set forth in claim 1 ;

a control part configured to transmit a signal to a vehicle-side device in response to a signal from the operating device;

a shift knob engaged with the operating member of the operating device and configured to be gripped by the operator; and

a position detecting part configured to detect the plurality of positions in which the operating member is to be positioned.