Patent Publication Number: US-9847187-B2

Title: Operating member, and method of manufacturing operating portion of operating member

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/000256 filed on Jan. 21, 2015 and published in Japanese as WO 2015/115063 A1 on Aug. 6, 2015. This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-015610 filed on Jan. 30, 2014. The entire disclosures of all of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an operating member for vehicle equipment and the like, and a method of manufacturing an operating portion of the operating member. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the related art, a vehicle includes vehicle equipment such as a car navigation apparatus, an audio apparatus, and an air conditioning apparatus. The vehicle equipment includes an operating member for inputting various commands. The operating member is configured to include a body portion and an operating portion provided on a surface side of the body portion. In this case, an engaged hook is provided in one of the body portion and the operating portion, and an engaging hole portion is provided in the other. The body portion and the operating portion are joined together by engagement between the engaged hook and an edge of the engaging hole portion. 
     In this configuration, when a very small gap is present between the engaged hook and the edge of the engaging hole portion, and an operator operates the operating portion, the operating portion and the body portion wobble relative to each other, which is a problem. 
     PRIOR ART LITERATURES 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: JP-2010-123541 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an operating member configured to include a body portion and an operating portion, and a method of manufacturing the operating portion of the operating member in which wobbling during an operation can be prevented 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an operating member includes: a body portion; an operating portion connected to the body portion; an engaging portion arranged in the body portion; an engaged portion arranged in the operating portion, and engaged with the engaging portion to connect the body portion and the operating portion; a piece portion arranged in a back surface portion of the operating portion and protruding toward the body portion; a piece-portion hole arranged in the body portion, into which the piece portion is inserted; and a protruding portion made of an elastic material, arranged in the piece portion, protruding from a side of the piece portion, and press-contacting an edge portion of the piece-portion hole when the piece portion is inserted into the piece-portion hole. 
     In the operating member, the body portion and the operating portion are joined together by engagement of the engaging portions with the respective engaged portions. The piece portion of the operating portion is inserted into the piece-portion hole portion of the body portion. At this time, the protruding portion made of an elastic material and protruding from the side surface of the piece portion comes into press contact with an inner edge portion of the piece-portion hole portion. Accordingly, wobbling between the body portion and the operating portion during operation can be prevented. 
     Alternatively, the operating portion may include an operating-portion main body and an exterior body made of an elastic material and fixed to a front surface portion of the operating-portion main body. The engaged portion is arranged in the operating-portion main body. The piece portion is arranged in a back surface portion of the operating-portion main body. The operating-portion main body includes a through hole arranged in a portion of the operating-portion main body corresponding to a base portion of the piece portion and penetrating from the front surface portion to the back surface portion of the operating-portion main body, and a plug space portion communicating with the through hole and opening to a middle portion of the piece portion. A portion of the exterior body is continuously plugged into and fixed to the through hole and the plug space portion, and the portion of the exterior body fixed to the plug space portion provides the protruding portion protruding from the side of the piece portion. 
     In the case described above, the operating portion is configured to include the operating-portion main body, and the exterior body which is made of an elastic material and is firmly fixed to the upper surface portion of the operating-portion main body. Since the hand and fingers of a user come into contact with the exterior body made of an elastic material in this configuration, the exterior body is well fitted to the hand and fingers, and improved ease of use is obtained. Since a portion of the exterior body is continuously plugged into, and firmly fixed to the through hole portion and the plug space portion of the operating-portion main body, and a portion of the exterior body firmly fixed to the plug space portion forms the protruding portion protruding from the side surface of the piece portion, the protruding portion can be formed on an upper surface portion side of the operating-portion main body by using the exterior body configured to improve ease of use. Since the protruding portion is plugged into and firmly fixed to the plug space portion of the piece portion, when the piece portion is inserted into the piece-portion hole portion, the protruding portion can also be integrally (without being offset from the piece portion) pressed into the piece-portion hole portion, and reliably comes into press contact with the inner edge portion of the piece-portion hole portion. Accordingly, wobbling between the body portion and the operating portion during operation can be reliably prevented. 
     According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing an operating portion of an operating member, which includes: a body portion; an operating portion including an operating-portion main body and an exterior body made of an elastic material and fixed to a front surface portion of the operating-portion main body, and connected to the body portion; an engaging portion arranged in the body portion; an engaged portion arranged in the operating-portion main body, and engaged with the engaging portion to connect the body portion and the operating portion; a piece portion arranged in a back surface portion of the operating-portion main body, and protruding toward the body portion; and a piece-portion hole arranged in the body portion, into which the piece portion is inserted, the operating-portion main body including a through hole arranged in a portion of the operating-portion main body corresponding to a base portion of the piece portion and penetrating from the front surface portion to the back surface portion of the operating-portion main body, and a plug space portion communicating with the through hole and opening to a middle portion of the piece portion, a portion of the exterior body being continuously plugged into and fixed to the through hole and the plug space portion, the portion of the exterior body fixed to the plug space portion providing a protruding portion protruding from the side of the piece portion, and the protruding portion press-contacting an edge portion of the piece-portion hole when the piece portion is inserted into the piece-portion hole, the method of manufacturing the operating portion of the operating member includes: die molding the operating-portion main body with a first die and a second die, which are separable from each other and provide a cavity for the operating-portion main body; separating the second die from the first die; die matching the first die, on which the operating-portion main body remains, with a separable third die for providing a cavity for the exterior body using the first die and the operating-portion main body; and die molding and fixing the exterior body to the operating-portion main body using the first die, the operating-portion main body and the third die. 
     In the operating portion manufacturing method for manufacturing the operating portion, the body portion and the operating portion are joined together by engagement of the engaging portions with the respective engaged portions. The piece portion of the operating portion is inserted into the piece-portion hole portion of the body portion. At this time, the protruding portion made of an elastic material and protruding from the side surface of the piece portion comes into press contact with the inner edge portion of the piece-portion hole portion. Accordingly, wobbling between the body portion and the operating portion during operation can be prevented. 
     In addition, the operating portion is configured to include the operating-portion main body, and the exterior body which is made of an elastic material and is firmly fixed to the upper surface portion of the operating-portion main body. Since the hand and fingers of a user come into contact with the exterior body made of an elastic material in this configuration, the exterior body is well fitted to the hand and fingers, and improved ease of use is obtained. Since a portion of the exterior body is continuously plugged into, and firmly fixed to the through hole portion and the plug space portion of the operating-portion main body, and a portion of the exterior body firmly fixed to the plug space portion forms the protruding portion protruding from the side surface of the piece portion, the protruding portion can be formed on an upper surface portion side of the operating-portion main body by using the exterior body configured to improve ease of use. Since the protruding portion is plugged into and firmly fixed to the plug space portion of the piece portion, when the piece portion is inserted into the piece-portion hole portion, the protruding portion can also be integrally (without being offset from the piece portion) pressed into the piece-portion hole portion, and reliably comes into press contact with the inner edge portion of the piece-portion hole portion. Accordingly, wobbling between the body portion and the operating portion during operation can be reliably prevented. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an operating member in a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the operating member seen from below; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the operating member taken along line Z 3 -Z 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the operating member taken along line Z 4 -Z 4  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a body portion and an operating portion which are separated from each other; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an operating-portion main body seen from below; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the operating-portion main body seen from above; 
         FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view of the operating-portion main body taken along line Z 8   a -Z 8   a  in  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the operating-portion main body taken along line Z 8   b -Z 8   b  in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the operating member taken along line Z 9 -Z 9  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the operating member taken along line Z 10 -Z 10  in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIGS. 11A to 11C  are views illustrating the sequence of molding the operating member in time series; 
         FIG. 12  is a view equivalent to  FIG. 9  illustrating a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an audio device in a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of an operating member; and 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the operating member in which a section different from that in  FIG. 14  is taken. 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 11C . An operating member  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an operating member for a car navigation device in a vehicle. The operating member  1  is provided in a panel  2  in the vicinity of an arm rest beside a driver&#39;s seat such that the operating member  1  can be operated in an arbitrary direction. An operator can perform various settings and selections on a monitor screen by operating the operating member  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the operating member  1  includes a body portion  3  and an operating portion  4  joined to the body portion  3 . The body portion  3  is formed of hard synthetic resin (ABS resin or the like) by die molding. The body portion  3  includes a body-portion main body  31  having a substantially rectangular flat plate-like shape. A rising portion  32  is provided from a circumferential edge portion of the body-portion main body  31  to form a substantially mountain-like shape. A cylindrical operator  33  is provided in a lower surface portion (back surface portion) of the body-portion main body  31 . A circular stepped portion  33   a  is provided in an upper surface portion of the body-portion main body  31 , and has a flat upper surface corresponding to the operator  33 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , substantially rectangular stepped portions  31   a  to  31   d , each of which has a flat upper surface, are respectively provided in four corner portions of the upper surface portion of the body-portion main body  31 . 
     Stepped portions  31   e  to  31   h  are provided close to the four corner portions of the body-portion main body  31 . Four engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d  as engaging portions are respectively provided to vertically pass through the stepped portions  31   e  to  31   h , and portions of the body-portion main body  31  corresponding to the respectively stepped portions  31   e  to  31   h . Locking portions  34   a   1  to  34   d   1  (refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) are respectively provided in inner surface portions of the engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d.    
     Separate stepped portions  31   j  and  31   i  are respectively formed in right and left portions of the body-portion main body  31 . Piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , each of which has an elongated shape in a top view, are respectively provided to vertically pass through the stepped portions  31   i  and  31   j , and portions of the body-portion main body  31  corresponding thereto. Protruding portions  35   a   1  facing each other are provided at two locations in the piece-portion hole portion  35   a . The width of a gap between the protruding portions  35   a  facing each other is narrow. Similarly, protruding portions  35   b   1  are formed in the other piece-portion hole portion  35   b.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 10 , inner surfaces of each of the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , and the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  are disposed to form a vertical tapered shape from the viewpoint of mold release. Accordingly, a gap between the protruding portions  35   a   1  facing each other is decreased toward an upper side. Similarly, a gap between the protruding portions  35   b   1  is decreased toward the upper side. 
     The operating portion  4  is configured to include an operating-portion main body  41 , and an exterior body  42  which is made of an elastic material such as elastomer and is firmly fixed to an upper surface portion of the operating-portion main body  41 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , substantially rectangular stepped portions  41   a  to  41   d , each of which has a flat lower surface, are respectively provided in four corner portions (corresponding to the respective stepped portions  31   a  to  31   d ) of a back surface portion (lower surface portion) of the operating-portion main body  41 . Hole portions  41   a   1  to  41   d   1  are respectively provided to vertically pass through the stepped portions  41   a  to  41   d , and portions of the operating-portion main body  41  corresponding to the respective stepped portions  41   a  to  41   d.    
     A stepped portion  41   e  having a flat lower surface is provided in a substantially central portion (corresponding to the stepped portion  33   a ) of the back surface portion of the operating-portion main body  41 . Two hole portions  41   e 1 are provided to vertically pass through the stepped portion  41   e . A downward extending wall portion  41   f  is provided in an edge portion of the operating-portion main body  41 . 
     Engaged claw portions  43   a  to  43   d  as engaged portions protruding downward (toward the body portion  3 ) are respectively provided in the vicinities (corresponding to the respective engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d ) of the four corner portions of the back surface portion of the operating-portion main body  41 . 
     Rib-shaped piece portions  44   b  and  44   a  are respectively provided in right and left portions (corresponding to the respective piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b ) of the back surface portion of the operating-portion main body  41 . The piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  can be respectively inserted into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 8B , through hole portions  45   a  and  45   b  are respectively provided to pass through two portions (corresponding to base portions of the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b , respectively) of the operating-portion main body  41  from the upper surface portion to the back surface portion. 
     Plug space portions  46   a  and  46   b  are provided in the operating-portion main body  41  to communicate with the through hole portions  45   a  and  45   b , and to open to middle portions of the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b , respectively. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the exterior body  42  includes an exterior-body main body  42   a  having a substantially rectangular plate-like shape. A falling portion  42   b  is provided in a circumferential edge portion of the exterior-body main body  42   a . An inner surface of the falling portion  42   b  is a surface which falls substantially straight, and an outer surface of the falling portion  42   b  has a mountain-like shape which protrudes laterally. 
     The exterior-body main body  42   a  is firmly fixed to the upper surface portion of the operating-body main body  41  and an outer circumferential surface of the downward extending wall portion  41   f.    
     Protruding portions  48   a  to  48   d  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) are provided in a back surface portion (lower surface portion) of the exterior-body main body  42   a . The protruding portions  48   a  to  48   d  are respectively inserted into the hole portions  41   a   1  to  41   d   1  of the stepped portions  41   a  to  41   d , and tip end portions of the protruding portions  48   a  to  48   d  respectively protrude from the hole portions  41   a   1  to  41   d   1 . Protruding portions  49   a  and  49   a  illustrated in  FIG. 5  are provided in the back surface portion (lower surface portion) of the exterior-body main body  42   a . The protruding portions  49   a  and  49   a  are respectively inserted into the hole portions  41   e   1  and  41   e   1  of the stepped portion  41   e , and tip end portions of the protruding portions  49   a  and  49   a  respectively protrude from the hole portions  41   e   1  and  41   e   1 . 
     Protruding portions  50   a  and  50   b  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5  are provided in the back surface portion of the exterior-body main body  42   a . The protruding portion  50   a  is continuously plugged into, and firmly fixed to the through hole portion  45   a  and the plug space portion  46   a . A portion of the protruding portion  50   a  forms a protruding portion  51   a  protruding from both side surfaces of the piece portion  44   a . The protruding portion  50   b  is continuously plugged into, and firmly fixed to the through hole portion  45   b  and the plug space portion  46   b . A portion of the protruding portion  50   b  forms a protruding portion  51   b  protruding from both side surfaces of the piece portion  44   b.    
     The operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  are integrally formed by die molding. The operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  are molded by the following specific manufacturing method. The operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  are molded by a manufacturing method referred to as so-called two-color molding.  FIGS. 11A to 11C  illustrate the schematic sequence of the two-color molding. In  FIG. 11A , a cavity  13  for the operating-portion main body  41  is formed by a first die  11  and a second die  12  which can be separated from each other. The operating-portion main body  41  with the aforementioned configuration is formed (die molded) by injecting a molten ABS-resin (material of the operating-portion main body  41 ) material into the cavity  13  through a resin injection path  12   a  provided in the second die  12 , and solidifying the injected ABS-resin material. The first die  11  includes a draft piece  11   a  for a resin injection path which can be pulled out thereof. 
     After the second die  12  is separated from the first die  11 , and the draft piece  11   a  is pulled from the first die  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 11B , a third die  14  is aligned with the first die  11  on which the operating-portion main body  41  remains, as illustrated in  FIG. 11C , and a cavity  15  for the exterior body  42  is formed by the first die  11 , the operating-portion main body  41 , and the third die  14 . A resin injection path  16  is provided in the first die  11  and the operating-portion main body  41  by pulling the draft piece  11   a  out thereof. 
     The exterior body  42  is formed (die molded) by injecting molten liquid of elastomer (the material of the exterior body  42 ) into the cavity  15  through the resin injection path  16 , and solidifying the injected elastomer liquid. A portion of the exterior body  42 , which comes into contact with the operating-portion main body  41 , is firmly fixed to the operating-portion main body  41  by die molding such that the operating portion  4  is formed (die molded). Thereafter, the operating portion  4  is taken out of the cavity  15  by mold release. 
     In order to join the operating portion  4  formed in this manner to the body portion  3 , the engaged claw portions  43   a  to  43   d  of the operating portion  4  are positionally aligned with the engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d  of the body portion  3 , respectively. In addition, at this time, the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are positionally aligned with the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , respectively. The operating portion  4  is pressed against the body portion  3 . Therefore, the engaged claw portions  43   a  to  43   d  of the operating portion  4  are respectively inserted into and engaged with the engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d  of the body portion  3 . In addition, at the same time, the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are respectively inserted into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b.    
     Since the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  protruding from the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are firmly fixed to the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b , respectively, even if a certain level of press-fit resistance is applied to the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b , the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  together with the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are respectively inserted into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b.    
     The protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  respectively come into press contact with the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1 , which are inner edge portions of the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , while being elastically deformed (refer to  FIGS. 3, 9, and 10 ). 
     Since the inner surfaces of each of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  are disposed to form a tapered shape from the viewpoint of mold release, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  are respectively bitten by upper edge portions of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1 . Portions of the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  respectively bitten by the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  are settled (undergo a decrease in elasticity, or plastic deformation) due to press fitting and stress. Accordingly, the movement of the upper edge portions of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  is stopped by the settled portions of the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b . As a result, the body portion  3  and the operating portion  4  are joined together without wobbling relative to each other in the vertical direction, a rightward and leftward direction, and a forward and rearward direction. 
     When the body portion  3  and the operating portion  4  are joined together, the protruding portions  48   a  to  48   d  protruding from the stepped portions  41   a  to  41   d  of the operating-portion main body  41  are proximate to or in contact with the stepped portions  31   a  to  31   d , respectively. Similarly, the protruding portions  49   a  and  49   a  protruding from the stepped portion  41   e  are proximate to or in contact with the stepped portion  33   a . Accordingly, even if the operating portion  4  is operated and pressed toward the body portion  3 , sound due to contact between the operating portion  4  and the body portion  3  does not occur. 
     A user touches the exterior body  42  with the hand and fingers, and operates the operating member  1  with the aforementioned configuration in an arbitrary direction. Since the exterior body  42  is made of an elastic material, the exterior body  42  is well fitted to the hand and fingers, and improved ease of use is obtained. 
     In the embodiment, the operating member  1  in which the body portion  3  and the operating portion  4  are joined together by engagement of the engaged claw portions  43   a  to  43   d  with the respective engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d  includes the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  provided in the back surface portion (back surface portion of the operating portion  4 ) of the operating-portion main body  41  so as to protrude toward the body portion  3 ; the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b  provided in the body portion  3  and into which the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are respectively inserted; and the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  made of an elastic material that are provided to respectively protrude from the side surfaces of the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b , and respectively come into press contact with the edge portions of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1 , which are the edge portions of the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , when the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are respectively inserted into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b.    
     In this configuration, when the body portion  3  and the operating portion  4  are joined together, the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  of the operating portion  4  are respectively inserted into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b  of the body portion  3 . At this time, the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b , which are made of an elastic material and protrude from both side surfaces of each of the respective piece portions  44   a  and  44   b , respectively come into press contact with the edge portions of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  of the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b . Accordingly, wobbling between the body portion  3  and the operating portion  4  during operation can be prevented. 
     The body portion  3  and the operating portion  4  can be simply and easily joined together by engagement of the engaged claw portions  43   a  to  43   d  with the respective engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d . As a result, the operating member  1  can be simply and easily assembled. Since wobbling is prevented by press contact between the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  made of an elastic material and the edge portions of the respective piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , even if a very small vertical gap is present between the engaged claw portions  43   a  to  43   d  and the respective locking portions  34   a   1  to  34   d   1  of the engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d , the vertical gap causes no issues. When the engaged claw portions  43   a  to  43   d  are respectively press-engaged with the locking portions  34   a   1  to  34   d   1  of the engaging hole portions  34   a  to  34   d  without a vertical gap therebetween, and when the operating member  1  is slid, a creaking sound may occur, and thus the press engagement is preferably avoided. 
     In the present embodiment, the operating portion  4  is configured to include the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  made of an elastic material and fixed to the upper surface portion of the operating-portion main body  41 . Since the hand and fingers of the user come into contact with the exterior body  42  made of an elastic material in this configuration, the exterior body  42  is well fitted to the hand and fingers, and improved ease of use is obtained. 
     In the present embodiment, the protruding portions  50   a  and  50   b , which are a portion of the exterior body  42 , are respectively continuously plugged into, and firmly fixed to the through hole portions  45   a  and  45   b  and the plug space portions  46   a  and  46   b  of the operating-portion main body  41 , and the portions of the protruding portions  50   a  and  50   b  respectively form the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  protruding from both side surfaces of the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b . Therefore, the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  can be formed on an upper surface portion side of the operating-portion main body  41  by using the exterior body  42  configured to improve ease of use. 
     In the present embodiment, since the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  are respectively plugged into and firmly fixed to the plug space portions  46   a  and  46   b  of the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b , when the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are respectively inserted into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  can also be integrally (without being offset from the respective piece portions  44   a  and  44   b ) pressed into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , and reliably come into press contact with the edge portions of the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , that is, the edge portions of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1 , respectively. Accordingly, wobbling between the body portion  3  and the operating portion  4  during operation can be reliably prevented. 
     In the present embodiment, the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  are integrally formed by die molding. Accordingly, the exterior body  42  can easily be firmly fixed to the operating-member  41 . 
     In the present embodiment, according to the adopted method (so-called two-color molding method) of manufacturing the operating portion  4  (configured to include the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42 ) of the operating member  1 , the operating-portion main body  41  is die molded by injecting molten resin liquid into the cavity  13  for the operating-portion main body  41 , which is formed by the first die  11  and the second die  12  which can be separated from each other. Thereafter, the second die  12  is separated from the first die  11 , and the separable third die  14 , which forms the cavity  15  for the exterior body  42  together with the first die  11  and the operating-portion main body  41 , is aligned with the first die  11  on which the operating-portion main body  41  remains. Then, the exterior body  42  is firmly fixed to the operating-portion main body  41  by die molding using the first die  11 , the operating-portion main body  41 , and the third die  14  by injecting molten resin liquid into the cavity  15 . 
     In this manner, the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  can be molded by three dies such as the first die  11 , the second die  12 , and the third die  14 . By the way, when two members are die molded, two dies (a total of four dies) are required for each member. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  can be die molded using a smaller number of dies. 
     Since this manufacturing method is a two-color molding method, the exterior body  42  can be reliably and firmly fixed to the operating-portion main body  41 . As a result, when the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  are respectively inserted into the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , even if the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  of the piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  respectively come into contact with the edge portions of the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b , the separation of the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  from the respective piece portions  44   a  and  44   b  can be avoided. 
     According to this manufacturing method, since the inner surfaces (inner surfaces of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1 ) of the piece-portion hole portions  35   a  and  35   b  are disposed to form a tapered shape from the viewpoint of die molding, the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  respectively come into press contact with the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  while being respectively bitten by the upper edge portions of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1 . The portions of the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b  bitten by the upper edge portions of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  undergo plastic deformation due to the press contact, and thus, vertical engagement can become more firm, and vertical wobbling can be more reliably prevented. In this case, the movement in the forward and rearward direction and the rightward and leftward direction is also stopped. 
     The exterior body  42  may be integrally die molded (referred to as so-called mold forming) with the operating-portion main body  41  by die molding the operating-portion main body  41  alone, disposing the operating-portion main body  41  in separate upper and lower dies, and then injecting molten elastomer liquid for the exterior body  42  into the upper and lower dies. 
     In a method other than the method of firmly fixing the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  together by integral die molding, the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  may be separately formed, and bonding portions of the operating-portion main body  41  and the exterior body  42  may be bonded together using an adhesive. 
     In the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a width dimension Ha of each of the protruding portions  35   a   1  and  35   b   1  is greater than a width dimension Hb of each of the protruding portions  51   a  and  51   b ; however, Ha may be set to be less than Hb as in a second embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 . One protruding portion  51   a  ( 51   b ) may be provided on one side surface of the piece portion  44   a  ( 44   b ), and in this case, the protruding portion  51   a  ( 51   b ) may be formed to have a greater width dimension. The protruding portion  35   a   1  ( 35   b   1 ) of the piece-portion hole portion  35   a  ( 35   b ) may not be provided. In this case, the piece-portion hole portion  35   a  ( 35   b ) may be formed to have a width dimension equivalent to that of the protruding portion  35   a   1  ( 35   b   1 ). 
     In the embodiment, the operating member  1  for a car navigation device is exemplarily described; however, the present disclosure may be applied to an operating member  6  equivalent to an operating knob of an audio device in a third embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 13 to 15 . In this case, the operating member  6  can be operated in a push manner and a rotating manner. A body portion  63  and an operating portion  64  of the operating member  6  have a circular exterior shape. In  FIGS. 13 to 15 , the same reference signs are assigned to the same functional portions as in the first embodiment. 
     The shapes of the engaging portion and the engaged portion are not limited to those in the embodiment. The engaging portion may be formed as a claw portion, and the engaged portion may be formed as a hole portion. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to not only vehicle equipment but also operating members for general equipment. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and constructions. The present disclosure is intended to cover various modification and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various combinations and configurations, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.