IP Library Granted Patent US 12,110,051
Granted Patent B2
US 12,110,051 · App. 17/845,687 · Granted Oct 8, 2024

Input device, movable body, and steering shaft system

Inventors: Shinichiro Sasaki (Aichi, JP); Toshio Osawa (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
B62D1/16H01H21/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,110,051
App. No.
17/845,687
Granted
Oct 8, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input device includes: a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which a turn lever unit that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft; and a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion. The tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post, and in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction.

Claims (67)

1. An input device comprising:

a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which an operation portion that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft;

a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion; and

a rotation restriction member that is disposed between the brim portion and the column post in the central axis direction of the tubular portion, and restricts rotation of the tubular portion in a circumferential direction relative to the column post,

wherein:

the tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post,

in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction,

the rotation restriction member restricts rotation of the tubular portion by engaging with the brim portion in the circumferential direction and engaging with the column post in the circumferential direction, in a state in which the biasing member is located between the rotation restriction member and the brim portion,

the rotation restriction member includes:

a base; and

a projection in contact with the column post, the projection projecting from the base,

the rotation restriction member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by the projection being in contact with the column post,

the column post includes a first recess in which the projection is put, the first recess being recessed in a central axis direction of the column post,

the first recess has a bottom surface, the bottom surface including a non-sloping bottom surface and a sloping bottom surface,

the non-sloping bottom surface is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the column post,

the sloping bottom surface has a slope that increases a depth of the first recess with distance from the non-sloping bottom surface, and

when the input device is attached to the steering shaft,

the rotation restriction member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by the projection of the rotation restriction member, which is put in the first recess and faces the sloping bottom surface, sliding along the sloping bottom surface and moving onto the non-sloping bottom surface along with rotation of the casing.

2. The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base of the rotation restriction member includes a rotation engaging portion that bends in the central axis direction of the tubular portion, the rotation engaging portion projecting toward the column post,

the column post further includes a second recess that is recessed in the central axis direction of the column post, and in which the rotation engaging portion is put, and

when the input device is attached to the steering shaft,

the rotation engaging portion of the rotation restriction member that is put in the second recess is put into the first recess by moving while bending along with rotation of the casing, and

the projection put into the first recess engages with one of two lateral surfaces of the first recess, and the rotation engaging portion put into the first recess engages with a remaining one of the two lateral surfaces of the first recess.

3. The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the biasing member is a ring-shaped plate member, and curves in the central axis direction of the tubular portion.

4. The input device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the rotation restriction member is a ring-shaped member having one or more insertion holes, and

a protrusion provided on the brim portion of the tubular portion is put into each of the one or more insertion holes.

5. A movable body comprising:

the input device according to claim 1 ;

the steering shaft; and

the column post.

6. An input device comprising:

a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which an operation portion that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft;

a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion; and

a rotation pressing member disposed between the brim portion and the column post in the central axis direction of the tubular portion,

wherein:

the tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post,

in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction, and

the rotation pressing member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by rotating in a state in which the biasing member is located between the rotation pressing member and the brim portion.

7. The input device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the rotation pressing member includes:

a base; and

at least one pressing portion that projects from the base and comes into contact with the biasing member, and

the rotation pressing member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by the at least one pressing portion coming into contact with the biasing member along with rotation of the rotation pressing member.

8. The input device according to claim 7 ,

wherein when the input device is attached to the steering shaft, the at least one pressing portion comes into contact with, presses, and elastically deforms the biasing member by the rotation pressing member rotating.

9. The input device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the brim portion of the tubular portion includes a restricted portion that projects or is recessed in the central axis direction,

the column post includes a restricting portion that is recessed or projects in a central axis direction of the column post, and

rotation of the tubular portion in a circumferential direction relative to the column post is restricted in a state in which the restricted portion is engaged with the restricting portion.

10. The input device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the biasing member is a ring-shaped plate member, and curves in the central axis direction of the tubular portion.

11. The input device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the rotation pressing member includes a rotation operation portion on an outer circumference.

12. A movable body comprising:

the input device according to claim 6 ;

the steering shaft; and

the column post.

13. An input device comprising:

a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which an operation portion that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft; and

a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion,

wherein:

the tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post,

in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction, and

the biasing member is a ring-shaped plate member, and curves in the central axis direction of the tubular portion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066709/0745 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2022
From: SASAKI, SHINICHIRO; OSAWA, TOSHIO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061248/0338 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2019-231882 · Dec 23, 2019 · national
JP 2020-061550 · Mar 30, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2020043390 · Nov 20, 2020
Related Publication 20220315092A1 · Oct 6, 2022