Rotary input device

A rotary input device includes: a rotary operating unit which has an operating tubular portion formed from a first material and rotationally operated, and a gripper formed from a second material which has more elasticity than the operating tubular portion, the gripper covering an outer surface of a one-end side of the operating tubular portion; a casing which has the rotary operating unit disposed therein rotatably about an axis of the rotary operating unit, and which has a locking portion for restricting a rotational range of the rotary operating unit; and an input unit which transmits a predetermined signal with the rotation of the rotary operating unit. The operating tubular portion further includes, on the other-end side thereof, a portion to be locked that has a rotational range restricted to a predetermined rotational angle by the locking portion. The operating tubular portion is provided with an extension portion that is formed from the second material integrally with the gripper, and that extends toward the other end of the operating tubular portion from the gripper. The extension portion has an abutting portion that covers at least a portion of the portion to be locked and abuts against the locking portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rotary input device which includes a rotary operating unit and a locking portion for restricting a rotational range of the rotary operating unit.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional rotary input devices include, for example, a rotary switch device in PTL 1 and a stopper structure for a rotary knob in PTL 2. The rotary switch device in PTL 1 includes: a switch body which has a cylindrical hollow rotary shaft and a switching portion that is switched by the rotation of the hollow rotary shaft; and an illuminating member having a disc shape which is provided with illuminating elements. A stopper is provided to the illuminating member, and within the hollow rotary shaft, a locking portion that abuts against the stopper with turning of the hollow rotary shaft is provided.

In addition, the stopper structure for a rotary knob in PTL 2 includes a rotary knob that is fitted to a rotary electronic component, a base that holds the rotary electronic component, and a turning member that is supported on the base so as to be turnable about the rotary shaft. A protrusion extending downward is provided on the lower surface of the rotary knob, and a protrusion is provided on the peripheral surface of the turning member.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary input device capable of suppressing collision sound while having durability.

A rotary input device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a rotary operating unit that has an operating tubular portion and a gripper; a casing that has a locking portion; and an input unit. The operating tubular portion is formed from a first material having a first elasticity, has a first end and a second end, and is rotationally operated. The gripper is formed from a second material with a second elasticity greater than the first elasticity, and covers an outer surface of a portion of the operating tubular portion closer to the first end than the second end is. The locking portion restricts a rotational range of the rotary operating unit. The casing holds the rotary operating unit in such a manner that the rotary operating unit is disposed rotatably about an axis of the rotary operating unit. The input unit transmits a signal corresponding to an amount of rotation of the rotary operating unit. The operating tubular portion further includes a portion to be locked and an extension portion. The portion to be locked is provided at a portion of the operating tubular portion closer to the second end than the gripper is, and restricts the rotational range of the rotary operating unit by abutting against the locking portion. The extension portion is formed from the second material integrally with the gripper, and extends toward the second end from the gripper. The extension portion has an abutting portion that covers at least a portion of the portion to be locked and abuts against the locking portion.

With this configuration, the abutting portion which is formed from the second material having elasticity and which covers the portion to be locked abuts against the locking portion, thereby reducing the occurrence of a collision sound between the portion to be locked and the abutting portion and enabling breakage or the like of these portions to be suppressed. Furthermore, the gripper covers the operating tubular portion, and the abutting portion is provided to the extension portion that extends from the gripper. Thus, the abutting portion is less likely to detach from the portion to be locked, and it is possible to maintain a reduction in collision noise and suppression of breakage.

In the rotary input device, the second material may be a thermoplastic elastomer. This configuration allows the operating tubular portion, and the gripper, the extension portion and the abutting portion to be formed by double molding, which is excellent in working efficiency. Furthermore, the abutting portion is brought into tight contact with the portion to be locked of the operating tubular portion, and suppression of collision sound and durability are maintained.

In the rotary input device, the operating tubular portion may further include a holder that is provided with a through hole extending in the extension direction of the extension portion, and the extension portion may be provided within the through hole. With this configuration, the extension portion is provided within the through hole in the holder, and thus more firmly held by the holder. Therefore, the extension portion, and the abutting portion provided to the extension portion are less likely to detach from the portion to be locked, and suppression of collision sound and durability are maintained.

The present invention offers the advantage of providing a rotary input device which has the above-described configuration, and which is capable of suppressing collision sound while having durability.

The above-described object, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Prior to describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, problems found in a conventional device will be described briefly. In the rotary switch device in PTL 1 described above, the locking portion of the hollow rotary shaft abuts against the stopper of the illuminating member, thereby restricting the rotational range of the hollow rotary shaft. Furthermore, in the stopper structure in PTL 2, the protrusion of the rotary knob and the protrusion of the turning member abut against each other, thereby restricting the turning range of the rotary knob. When the rotational ranges of the hollow rotary shaft and the rotary knob are restricted in this manner, the rotary members (the locking portion of the hollow rotary shaft and the protrusion of the rotary knob) collide against the fixed members (the stopper of the illuminating member and the protrusion of the turning member).

For the collision members, a hard resin, such as ABS, is normally used in consideration of durability against collision. However, the collision between such hard resins generates a loud sound, which can cause discomfort to a user.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will specifically be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical or corresponding elements depicted in all the drawings are denoted with identical reference marks; therefore, the duplicate description thereof will be omitted. For convenience of following explanation, the rotary operating unit side with respect to a casing is defined as an upper side, while the opposite side is defined as a lower side. However, the rotary input device may be installed in any orientation. For example, the rotary operating unit is not necessarily placed above the casing.

Exemplary Embodiment

Rotary input device10according to the present exemplary embodiment is initially described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 6B. Hereinafter, rotary input device10which is composed of a combination of a push button switch and a rotary switch will be described. However, rotary input device10may be a device which is equipped with only a rotary switch, without a push button switch. Rotary input device10includes push button20, rotary operating unit30, slide tube40, guide tube50, casing60, and input unit70.

Push button20has a cylindrical shape with an upper end closed, and has upper wall21and side wall22.

Upper wall21is, for example, disc shaped and has a portion provided with illuminator23through which light passes. Side wall22is, for example, cylindrical shaped and extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of upper wall21. Such push button20is fitted into first hole31a, described later, of rotary operating unit30, and at that time, side wall22almost entirely sinks into first hole31a, but upper wall21is exposed to the outside from the upper end opening of first hole31a.

Rotary operating unit30has operating tubular portion31, and gripper32that covers the outer surface of one-end side (upper-end side or first end in this exemplary embodiment) of operating tubular portion31. Operating tubular portion31is formed from a first material, and examples of the first material include a hard resin such as ABS, acrylic, or polycarbonate. Operating tubular portion31includes body31b, portion31cto be locked, and two holders31d. Body31b, portion31cto be locked, and two holders31dare integrally formed.

Body31bis of substantially cylindrical shape having first hole31a. First hole31ahas a columnar shape and penetrates the center of operating tubular portion31in the vertical direction. The axes of operating tubular portion31and first hole31acoincide with each other and extend in the vertical direction.

Portion31cto be locked is a portion extending downward from a portion of the body31band has an arc shape in a cross section orthogonal to the vertical direction. The axis of body31bof cylindrical shape and the axis of portion31cto be locked of arc shape coincide with each other, and the diameter of portion31cto be locked is larger than the diameter of body31b.

It should be noted that the shape of portion31cto be locked is not limited to a continuous arc shape but may be any shape as long as both end positions of the arc shape can be defined. For example, portion31cto be locked may be two portions extending downward from two places of body31b. Such two portions31cto be locked are provided in spaced relation to each other, and are disposed at either end of the arc shape.

As shown inFIG. 4B, each of holders31dis provided in a protruding shape on the outer surface of body31band has second hole31e. Holder31dhas, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape or a substantially columnar shape, and the outer surface of holder31dhas an arc shape in a cross section orthogonal to the vertical direction. Two holders31dare arranged above portion31cto be locked, in spaced relation to each other at positions that sandwich portion31cto be locked therebetween. Second hole31ehas a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape or a substantially columnar shape, and is a through hole that is located lateral to body31band penetrates holder31din the vertical direction (extension direction of the extension portion).

Gripper32is a portion which is gripped by a user when rotary operating unit30is rotated. Gripper32is formed from the second material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, having a second elasticity greater than a first elasticity of the first material of operating tubular portion31. Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include a urethane thermoplastic elastomer, a styrene thermoplastic elastomer, and an olefin thermoplastic elastomer. This material may have a flexibility greater than that of operating tubular portion31in addition to elasticity.

Gripper32has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is provided above portion31cto be locked and holders31dof operating tubular portion31. Gripper32may cover not only the outer surface of body31bof operating tubular portion31but also the upper end and the inner surface of body31b. As a result, gripper32is more firmly fixed to operating tubular portion31. It should be noted that gripper32may be provided with slits (FIG. 2) extending in the vertical direction. However, the slits do not reach the top of gripper32, and the top of gripper32is not separated by the slits and form a substantially cylindrical shape.

Extension portion32aextending toward the other end of operating tubular portion31(lower end or second end in this exemplary embodiment) from gripper32is provided on the outer surface of operating tubular portion31. Abutting portion32bis provided at the lower end of extension portion32a. Gripper32, extension portion32a, and abutting portion32bare integrally formed from the second material and formed, for example, by double molding in combination with operating tubular portion31, and cover the outer surface of operating tubular portion31in tight contact with the outer surface of operating tubular portion31.

Extension portion32ais a portion extending downward from a portion of gripper32, and two extension portions are provided to gripper32. Extension portions32ahave a substantially plate shape or a substantially semicircular columnar shape along the outer surface of operating tubular portion31, and reach each side of portion31cto be locked of operating tubular portion31. Extension portions32aare provided within second holes31e(through holes) of holders31d. Thus, extension portions32aare covered and held by holders31d.

Abutting portions32bare provided at the lower ends of extension portions32alateral to portion31cto be locked. Two abutting portions32bare arranged in spaced relation to each other at positions that sandwich portion31cto be locked therebetween. Abutting portions32bcover at least a portion of the side surface of portion31cto be locked while being in tight contact with the side surface of portion31cto be locked. The side surface of portion31cto be locked is a surface orthogonal to the circumferential direction of operating tubular portion31.

Slide tube40has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an axis extending in the vertical direction and an upper portion to which side wall22of push button20is connected. Slide tube40is disposed in first hole31aof operating tubular portion31.

Guide tube50has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an axis extending in the vertical direction and an interior into which slide tube40is inserted so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to guide tube50. Guide tube50is disposed in first hole31aof operating tubular portion31and fixed to input unit70.

Casing60has rotary operating unit30disposed therein rotatably about the axis of rotary operating unit30, and has locking portion63for restricting the rotational range of rotary operating unit30. Casing60is formed from a hard resin such as ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate. Casing60has a box shape having an internal space and opening downward and has upper wall61and side wall62. Upper wall61is, for example, a substantially pentagonal plate-shaped body, and has opening64at the center thereof. Opening64has a circular shape and penetrates upper wall61. The diameter of opening64is larger than the diameter of rotary operating unit30, and the lower end of body31bis disposed spaced apart from the edge of the upper portion of opening64. Side wall62extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of upper wall61.

Locking portion63is provided at the lower portion of opening64and protrudes inward from the inner edge of the lower portion of opening64, and has an arc shape in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The inner periphery of locking portion63is provided parallel to the inner edge of opening64, and the center of locking portion63having an arc shape coincides with the center of opening64. Portion31cto be locked is disposed in the region on the inside of the lower portion of opening64where locking portion63is not provided, and the rotation of portion31cto be locked causes abutting portion32bcovering portion31cto be locked to abut against locking portion63.

Input unit70is disposed on printed substrate71and electrically connected to the electronic circuit on printed substrate71. Input unit70is, for example, a potentiometer, and performs conversion into a predetermined signal corresponding to the rotation amount of either the rotational angle or the movement amount of rotary operating unit30to output the signal to the electronic circuit on printed substrate71. Input unit70has fixed tubular portion73and rotary tubular portion74, both of which have a cylindrical shape, and the axes of fixed tubular portion73and rotary tubular portion74extend in the vertical direction and coincide with each other. Fixed tubular portion73is disposed inside rotary tubular portion74and fixed to printed substrate71. Rotary tubular portion74is held by fixed tubular portion73so as to be rotatable with respect to fixed tubular portion73.

Printed substrate71is provided in the internal space of casing60, and fixed tubular portion73and rotary tubular portion74pass through opening64of casing60and protrude upward from upper wall61of casing60. Guide tube50is fixed to fixed tubular portion73by the snap-in method or the like. Operating tubular portion31of rotary operating unit30is fixed to rotary tubular portion74. Light emitter72is disposed inside fixed tubular portion73. Furthermore, light emitter72and a switch (not shown) are arranged on printed substrate71, and the switch turns light emitter72on or off according to the vertical movement of slide tube40.

Next, a description will be given of the use of rotary input device10. When the user pushes push button20, slide tube40connected to push button20moves downward with respect to guide tube50on the inside of guide tube50. This movement is detected by the switch, and light emitter72emits light. The light from light emitter72passes through the interior of slide tube40and reaches push button20to illuminate illuminator23of push button20.

Furthermore, when the user grips gripper32and rotates rotary operating unit30, rotary operating unit30is rotated around slide tube40and guide tube50within opening64of casing60. With this rotation, rotary tubular portion74of input unit70connected to rotary operating unit30rotates. Input unit70detects the rotational angle or the movement amount of rotary tubular portion74, and outputs a predetermined signal corresponding the rotational angle or the movement amount to the circuit of printed substrate71.

When portion31cto be locked of rotary operating unit30abuts against locking portion63of casing60during the rotation of rotary operating unit30, the rotational range of rotary operating unit30is restricted. Here, if rotary operating unit30is rotated largely, portion31cto be locked collides with locking portion63with abutting portion32binterposed therebetween. At this time, abutting portion32b, which is an elastic body, absorbs the collision energy, thereby allowing a reduction in the occurrence of sound due to collision. Further, by absorbing the collision energy with abutting portion32b, it is possible to reduce the propagation of the collision energy to locking portion63and portion31cto be locked, and prevent the breakage of locking portion63and portion31cto be locked due to the collision.

As described above, according to rotary input device10having the above-described configuration, abutting portion32bwhich covers portion31cto be locked suppresses collision sound between portion31cto be locked and locking portion63and improves the durability of these portions.

Furthermore, abutting portion32bis provided on extension portion32aextending from gripper32. Gripper32, extension portion32a, and abutting portion32bare integrally formed. In addition, abutting portion32b, extension portion32a, and gripper32are formed by double molding in combination with operating tubular portion31and brought into tight contact with operating tubular portion31. Further, extension portion32apasses through second hole31eof holder31d, and is covered and held by holder31d. Thus, even when locking portion63and portion31cto be locked collide with each other, abutting portion32bis less likely to detach from portion31cto be locked, and thus suppression of collision sound and improvement of durability are maintained.

Further, by using a thermoplastic elastomer for abutting portion32b, extension portion32a, and gripper32, it is possible to form operating tubular portion31and abutting portion32b, extension portion32aand gripper32by double molding. Therefore, it is unnecessary to form and assemble operating tubular portion31and abutting portion32b, extension portion32aand gripper32, and the operation efficiency is excellent.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

In the above-described exemplary embodiment, portion31cto be locked is provided on the outer surface of operating tubular portion31, and locking portion63is provided on the inner surface of opening64of casing60. Alternatively, portion31cto be locked may be provided on the inner surface of operating tubular portion31, and locking portion63may be provided on the outer surface of opening64of casing60. Also in this case, with the same configuration as that in the above-described exemplary embodiment, rotary input device10can exert the same operations and effects as in the above exemplary embodiment.

Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, extension portion32ais provided on the outer surface of operating tubular portion31, but may be provided on the inner surface of body31bof operating tubular portion31. In this case, the diameter of portion31cto be locked is formed to be smaller than that of body31bso that abutting portion32bof extension portion32ais located lateral to portion31cto be locked. Thus, extension portion32aextends toward the lower end from gripper32on the inner surface of operating tubular portion31so that abutting portion32bcan cover portion31cto be locked.

Further, in this case, holder31dhaving second hole31eextending in the extension direction of extension portion32amay be provided in a protruding shape on the inner side of body31b. Thus, extension portion32aextends toward the lower end on the inner surface of operating tubular portion31and passes through second hole31eof holder31d, and thus is covered and held by holder31d.

Furthermore, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, extension portion32ais formed in a linear shape, but the shape of extension portion32ais not limited thereto. For example, extension portion32amay be bent such that abutting portion32bis located further toward the inside than gripper32. On the contrary, extension portion32amay be bent such that abutting portion32bis located further toward the outside than gripper32.

Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, two extension portions32aare provided such that two abutting portions32breach each side of portion31cto be locked. Alternatively, one extension portion32amay be provided such that one abutting portion32breaches one side of portion31cto be locked. This allows abutting portion32bto cover at least one side of portion31cto be locked.

Any of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined as long as no incompatibility is produced between one another. It is apparent from the foregoing description that those skilled in the art will conceive various modifications and other exemplary embodiments on the present invention. It is accordingly understood that the foregoing description is merely interpreted as being illustrative and is given for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. It is therefore possible to substantially change the details of at least one of the structure and function of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The rotary input device of the present invention is useful as a rotary input device or the like capable of suppressing collision sound while having durability.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS