Patent Publication Number: US-11644858-B2

Title: Lever operation device and method for manufacturing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent application claims the priority of Japanese patent application No. 2021/063506 filed on Apr. 2, 2021, and the entire contents of Japanese patent application No. 2021/063506 are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a lever operation device and a method for manufacturing the lever operation device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A lever switch is known which includes a lever pivotally operable in predetermined directions, rotating bodies that rotate according to an operation performed on the lever, magnets attached to the centers of the rotating bodies, and magnetic detection elements to detect magnetic fields of the magnets (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1). 
     The lever is arranged between an upper case and a lower case so as to be pivotally operable back and forth and up and down from an intermediate position. A cover is further attached to the upper case so as to cover a lower surface. The lever has an outer lever exposed to the outside of the upper case and an inner lever located inside the upper case. A detent means which has a pin and a spring applying an elastic force to the pin is arranged in an opening at the tip of the inner lever. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: JP 2008/218067 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     When assembling the lever switch, the upper case and the lower case must be assembled while holding down the pin of the of the detent means so that the pin does not pop out by an elastic force of the spring, hence, it is not easy to assemble. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a lever operation device with improved ease of assembly, and a method for manufacturing the lever operation device. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, a lever operation device comprises:
         a lever main body on which a first rotation operation about a first shaft is performed;   a bracket portion that comprises an insertion opening for insertion of the lever main body and a through-hole in communication with the insertion opening;   a housing which rotatably holds the bracket portion and on which a detent wall comprising a detent surface is arranged; and   a detent portion that is inserted into the through-hole and comprises a detent tip end portion in contact with the detent surface, a detent base end portion in contact with the lever main body inserted into the insertion opening of the bracket portion, and an elastic portion applying an elastic force, which is generated by being sandwiched and compressed by the detent surface and the lever main body, to the detent surface and the lever main body.       

     According to another aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a lever operation device comprises:
         preparing a bracket portion comprising an insertion opening for insertion of a lever main body, a through-hole in communication with the insertion opening, and a magnet;   inserting a detent portion, which is to be in contact with a detent surface of a detent wall arranged on a housing and generates a detent, into the through-hole so that a detent base end portion of the detent portion is exposed in the insertion opening;   attaching the bracket portion to the housing; and   inserting the lever main body into the insertion opening of the bracket portion, pushing the detent base end portion, which is exposed from the through-hole, into the through-hole so that a detent tip end portion of the detent portion is pressed against the detent surface, and integrating the lever main body with the bracket portion by coupling a first lock portion of the lever main body to a second lock portion of the bracket portion.       

     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the invention, a lever operation device with improved ease of assembly can be provided as well as a method for manufacturing the lever operation device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  is a diagram illustrating a periphery of a steering wheel of a vehicle in which an example of a lever operation device in an embodiment is mounted. 
         FIG.  1 B  is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the lever operation device. 
         FIG.  2 A  is an exemplary front view of the lever operation device in the embodiment. 
         FIG.  2 B  is an exemplary top view thereof. 
         FIG.  2 C  is an exemplary back view thereof. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of when a front-left cover is removed from the lever operation device in the embodiment. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a diagram illustrating an example of when a second bracket is further removed. 
         FIG.  4 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of when a back-left cover is removed from the lever operation device in the embodiment. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cross section cut along line IV(b)-IV(b) of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  5 A  is an exemplary diagram illustrating the lever operation device in the embodiment before a lever main body is inserted into a bracket portion. 
         FIG.  5 B  is an exemplary diagram after the lever main body is inserted into the bracket portion. 
         FIG.  6 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of rotation of a magnet about a first shaft in the lever operation device in the embodiment. 
         FIG.  6 B  is a diagram illustrating an example of rotation of the magnet about a second shaft. 
         FIGS.  7 A to  7 E  are diagrams illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing the lever operation device in the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Short Summary of the Embodiment 
     A lever operation device in the embodiment is generally provided with a lever main body on which a first rotation operation about a first shaft is performed, a bracket portion that has an insertion opening for insertion of the lever main body and a through-hole in communication with the insertion opening, a housing which rotatably holds the bracket portion and on which a detent wall having a detent surface is arranged, and a detent portion that is inserted into the through-hole and has a detent tip end portion in contact with the detent surface, a detent base end portion in contact with the lever main body inserted into the insertion opening of the bracket portion, and an elastic portion applying an elastic force, which is generated by being sandwiched and compressed by the detent surface and the lever main body, to the detent surface and the lever main body. 
     A method for manufacturing a lever operation device in the embodiment includes preparing a bracket portion comprising an insertion opening for insertion of a lever main body, a through-hole in communication with the insertion opening, and a magnet, inserting a detent portion, which is to be in contact with a detent surface of a detent wall arranged on a housing and generates a detent, into the through-hole so that a detent base end portion of the detent portion is exposed in the insertion opening, attaching the bracket portion to the housing, and inserting the lever main body into the insertion opening of the bracket portion, pushing the detent base end portion, which is exposed from the through-hole, into the through-hole so that a detent tip end portion of the detent portion is pressed against the detent surface, and integrating the lever main body with the bracket portion by coupling a first lock portion of the lever main body to a second lock portion of the bracket portion. 
     This lever operation device and the manufacturing method thereof allows for improvement in ease of assembly since the detent tip end portion does not need to be pushed into the through-hole when arranging on the housing. 
     Embodiment 
     (General Configuration of a Lever Operation Device  1 ) 
       FIG.  1 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a lever operation device arranged in a vehicle, and  FIG.  1 B  is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the lever operation device. In each drawing of the embodiment described below, a scale ratio may be different from an actual ratio. In addition, in  FIG.  1 B , flows of main signals and information are indicated by arrows. In the following general configuration of the lever operation device  1  and the manufacturing method thereof, the reference signs contained in the drawings (described later) are added in parentheses. 
     The lever operation device  1  is generally provided with a lever main body ( 30 ) on which a first rotation operation about a first shaft ( 410 ) is performed, a bracket portion ( 4 ) that has an insertion opening ( 411 ) for insertion of the lever main body ( 30 ) and a through-hole ( 412   a ) in communication with the insertion opening ( 411 ), a housing ( 10 ) which rotatably holds the bracket portion ( 4 ) and on which a detent wall ( 15 ) having a detent surface ( 150 ) is arranged, and a detent portion ( 5 ) that is inserted into the through-hole ( 412   a ) and has a detent tip end portion ( 50 ) in contact with the detent surface ( 150 ), a detent base end portion ( 52 ) in contact with the lever main body ( 30 ) inserted into the insertion opening ( 411 ) of the bracket portion ( 4 ), and an elastic portion ( 51 ) applying an elastic force, which is generated by being sandwiched and compressed by the detent surface ( 150 ) and the lever main body ( 30 ), to the detent surface ( 150 ) and the lever main body ( 30 ). 
     The lever operation device  1  further includes a magnet ( 6 ) attached at a tip end of the bracket portion ( 4 ), and a magnetic sensor ( 7 ) arranged in the housing ( 10 ) so as to face the magnet ( 6 ) and detects movement of the magnet ( 6 ) due to the first rotation operation performed on the lever main body ( 30 ). 
     The bracket portion ( 4 ) has a first bracket ( 41 ), which has the insertion opening ( 411 ), the through-hole ( 412   a ) and the first shaft ( 410 ) and to which the magnet ( 6 ) is attached, and a second bracket ( 42 ) which has a second shaft ( 420 ) intersecting the first shaft ( 410 ) and holds the first bracket ( 41 ). The housing ( 10 ) rotatably holds the second bracket ( 42 ). The lever main body ( 30 ) is operable by the first rotation operation about the first shaft ( 410 ) and a second rotation operation about the second shaft ( 420 ). 
     The through-hole ( 412   a ) is provided in a direction intersecting an insertion direction that the lever main body ( 30 ) is inserted. The lever main body ( 30 ) has a contact surface ( 303 ) that is located at a tip portion inserted into the insertion opening ( 411 ) of the first bracket ( 41 ) and comes into contact with the detent base end portion ( 52 ) of the detent portion ( 5 ) exposed from the through-hole ( 412   a ). 
     The lever main body ( 30 ) has a first lock portion. The bracket portion ( 4 ) has a second lock portion. In the lever operation device  1 , the lever main body ( 30 ) and the bracket portion ( 4 ) are integrated by coupling the first lock portion to the second lock portion. 
     The lever operation device  1  includes lever operation units ( 2   a  and  2   b ) that are mounted on a vehicle ( 9 ), each comprise the lever main body ( 30 ), the bracket portion ( 4 ), the magnet ( 6 ) and the magnetic sensor ( 7 ), and are provided at left and right of the housing ( 10 ) so as to sandwich a steering shaft ( 93 ) of the vehicle ( 9 ) therebetween. 
     A method for manufacturing the lever operation device  1  includes preparing a bracket portion ( 4 ) having an insertion opening ( 411 ) for insertion of a lever main body ( 30 ), a through-hole ( 412   a ) in communication with the insertion opening ( 411 ), and a magnet ( 6 ), inserting a detent portion ( 5 ), which is to be in contact with a detent surface ( 150 ) of the detent wall ( 15 ) arranged on a housing ( 10 ) and generates a detent, into the through-hole ( 412   a ) so that a detent base end portion ( 52 ) of the detent portion ( 5 ) is exposed in the insertion opening ( 411 ), attaching the bracket portion ( 4 ) to the housing ( 10 ), and inserting the lever main body ( 30 ) into the insertion opening ( 411 ) of the bracket portion ( 4 ), pushing the detent base end portion ( 52 ), which is exposed from the through-hole ( 412   a ), into the through-hole ( 412   a ) so that a detent tip end portion ( 50 ) of the detent portion ( 5 ) is pressed against the detent surface ( 150 ), and integrating the lever main body ( 30 ) with the bracket portion ( 4 ) by coupling a first lock portion of the lever main body ( 30 ) to a second lock portion of the bracket portion ( 4 ). 
     The lever operation device  1  is mounted on a vehicle  9 , as shown in  FIG.  1 A . The lever operation device  1  in the present embodiment includes a lever operation unit  2   a  and a lever operation unit  2   b  with a steering shaft  93  in-between, but it is not limited thereto. The number of lever operation units may be one or may be not less than three. Each of the lever operation unit  2   a  and the lever operation unit  2   b  is generally provided with a lever portion  3 , a bracket portion  4 , a detent portion  5 , a magnet  6  and a magnetic sensor  7  which are described later. 
     The lever operation device  1  in the present embodiment is configured such that the lever operation unit  2   a  on the left side is a turn operation unit to operate directional indicators and headlamps, and the lever operation unit  2   b  on the right side is a shift operation unit to operate a shifting device, as an example. The shifting device is a device to switch the connection state of gears in a transmission of the vehicle  9  according to the operating position of the shift operation unit, such as park position, drive position, neutral position, as an example. 
     In the following description, left and right are left and right as viewed from a driver sitting in the driver&#39;s seat of the vehicle  9 , up and down are up and down as viewed from the driver, and front and rear are front and rear of the vehicle  9 , unless otherwise specified. In addition, the lever operation unit  2   a  and the lever operation unit  2   b  of the lever operation device  1  are assigned with at least one of functions of operating the directional indicators, the headlamps, the shifting device, a wiper device, etc. Next, a specific configuration of the lever operation device  1  is described below. 
     (Configuration of a Housing  10 ) 
       FIG.  2 A  is an exemplary front view of the lever operation device,  FIG.  2 B  is an exemplary top view thereof, and  FIG.  2 C  is an exemplary back view thereof.  FIG.  3 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of the lever operation device when a front-left cover is removed, and  FIG.  3 B  is a diagram illustrating an example of the lever operation device when a second bracket is further removed.  FIG.  4 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of the lever operation device when a back-left cover is removed, and  FIG.  4 B  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cross section cut along line IV(b)-IV(b) of  FIG.  3 A . 
     As an example, the housing  10  is formed of a resin material and has a circular cylindrical shape, as shown in  FIGS.  2 A to  2 C . The housing  10  has an insertion hole  107  at the center. The insertion hole  107  is surrounded by a circular wall portion  14  and allows for insertion of the steering shaft  93 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 A , the steering shaft  93  is inserted through the insertion hole  107  of the housing  10  of the lever operation device  1 , and a base  91  of a steering wheel  90  is attached to the steering shaft  93  protruding from the insertion hole  107 . The lever operation device  1  in the present embodiment is configured to not rotate with the steering wheel  90 . 
     The housing  10  has a shape with the top cut off in the front view, as shown in  FIG.  2 A . Since the housing  10  has a shape with the top cut off, a visible area  94  between an upper portion of the base  91  and a ring portion  92  of the steering wheel  90  is wide as shown in  FIG.  1 A , hence, a meter panel  95  on which a speedometer, etc., is located is large and can provide better visibility. This visible area  94  is an area enclosed by a dotted line in  FIG.  1 A , and is an area surrounded by the upper portion of the base  91  and the ring portion  92  of the steering wheel  90 . 
     A front-left cover  102   a , a front-right cover  103   a  and a lower cover  104 , which are formed of a resin material, are attached to the housing  10  on a front surface  100  side, i.e., on the driver&#39;s side, as shown in  FIG.  2 A . The front-left cover  102   a  and the front-right cover  103   a  have a shape formed by cutting off a top portion of an upper half of a circle having the insertion hole  107 , then cutting off a portion of the center of the top portion, and further dividing into two parts. The lower cover  104  has a shape of a lower half of the circle. 
     When the housing  10  side is defined as a lower side, the front-left cover  102   a  covers an upper side of a left first room  11  in which the lever operation unit  2   a  is arranged. This first room  11  is a room surrounded by the housing  10  and the front-left cover  102   a  as indicated by a dotted line in  FIG.  2 A  and is in communication with the outside of the housing  10  through an opening  105   a  provided to allow a lever main body  30  to protrude to the outside of the housing  10 . 
     When the housing  10  side is defined as a lower side, the front-right cover  103   a  covers an upper side of a right first room  11  in which the lever operation unit  2   b  is arranged. This first room  11  is a room surrounded by the housing  10  and the front-right cover  103   a  as indicated by a dotted line in  FIG.  2 A  and is in communication with the outside of the housing  10  through an opening  106   a  provided to allow a lever main body  30  to protrude to the outside of the housing  10 . 
     When the housing  10  side is defined as a lower side, the lower cover  104  covers an upper side of a third room  13 . The third room  13  is a room surrounded by the housing  10  and the lower cover  104  as indicated by a dotted line in  FIG.  2 A . A connector opening  131  and a connector opening  132  which penetrate a back surface  101  are provided on the housing  10  at a portion corresponding to the third room  13 , as shown in  FIG.  2 C . 
     A connector portion  108   a  is arranged in the connector opening  131 . A connector portion  108   b  is arranged in the connector opening  132 . The connector portion  108   a  and the connector portion  108   b  are provided on a substrate  16  arranged on a bottom wall  130  of the third room  13  and are connected to connectors of a harness of the vehicle  9 . 
     On the back surface  101  side, the housing  10  has second rooms  12  on the left and right sides of the insertion hole  107 , as indicated by dotted lines in  FIG.  2 C . When the housing  10  side is defined as a lower side, a back-left cover  102   b  formed using a resin material is attached to cover an upper side of the left second room  12 . When the housing  10  side is defined as a lower side, a back-right cover  103   b  formed using a resin material is attached to cover an upper side of the right second room  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 C and  4 A , the left first room  11  in which the lever operation unit  2   a  is arranged has a drain hole  105   b  to drain a liquid or foreign matter entered through the opening  105   a  to the outside of the housing  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 A , the drain hole  105   b  is in communication with a drain groove  105   c  formed on the back surface  101  side of the housing  10 . The drain groove  105   c  is formed by the circular wall portion  14  forming the insertion hole  107  and a groove wall portion  105   d  provided along the drain groove  105   c , and suppresses ingress of a liquid or foreign matter into the left second room  12 . 
     Likewise, as shown in  FIG.  2 C , the right first room  11  in which the lever operation unit  2   b  is arranged has a drain hole  106   b  to drain a liquid or foreign matter entered through the opening  106   a  to the outside of the housing  10 . 
     The drain hole  106   b  is in communication with a drain groove  106   c  formed on the back surface  101  side of the housing  10 . The drain hole  106   b  is formed by the circular wall portion  14  and a groove wall portion  106   d  with a flipped shape of the left groove wall portion  150   d  and suppresses ingress of a liquid or foreign matter into the right second room  12 , in the same manner as the drain hole  105   b . In  FIG.  4 A , the groove wall portion  106   d  with the flipped shape of the groove wall portion  150   d  is not shown as it is disposed flipped on the left side. 
     The left second room  12  is a room surrounded by the housing  10  and the back-left cover  102   b  and is separated from the drain groove  105   c  by the groove wall portion  150   d . Likewise, the right second room  12  is a room surrounded by the housing  10  and the back-right cover  103   b  and is separated from the drain groove  106   c  by the groove wall portion  106   d.    
     In case of the left lever operation unit  2   a , a liquid or foreign matter enters the first room  11  through the opening  105   a , gets into the drain hole  105   b  after trickling down by gravity along a wall  111  separating the first room  11  from the third room  13 , and is drained through a drain route  109   a  along the drain groove  105   c  on the back surface  101  of the housing  10 , as shown in  FIGS.  2 C and  3 B . 
     In case of the right lever operation unit  2   b , a liquid or foreign matter enters the first room  11  through the opening  106   a , gets into the drain hole  106   b  after trickling down by gravity along the wall  111  separating the first room  11  from the third room  13 , and is drained through a drain route  109   b  along the drain groove  106   c  on the back surface  101  of the housing  10 , as shown in  FIG.  2 C . 
     The walls  111  forming the drain route  109   a  and the drain route  109   b  are inclined toward the drain hole  105   b  and the drain hole  106   b  to guide the liquid or foreign matter to the drain hole  105   b  and the drain hole  106   b.    
     The drain route  109   a  and the drain route  109   b  are not paths through electronic circuits such as the magnetic sensors  7  and the control unit  8 . Therefore, malfunction thereof due to ingress of the liquid or foreign matter can be suppressed in the lever operation device  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 B , the third room  13  is separated from the first room  11  by the wall  111 . However, the third room  13  is in communication with the second room  12  via a connector opening  122  provided in the second room  12 , as shown in  FIG.  4 A . 
     A connector portion  108   c  is arranged in the connector opening  122 . The connector portion  108   c  is connected to the magnetic sensor  7  via a cable  17 . The connector portion  108   c  is provided on the substrate  16  on which the control unit  8  is arranged. 
     Thus, in the lever operation device  1 , the magnetic sensor  7  arranged in the second room  12  and the control unit  8  arranged in the third room  13  are electrically connected via the cable  17 . In this regard, the substrate  16  is, e.g., a printed circuit board. The cable  17  is, e.g., a flat cable. 
     Since the first room  11  and the second room  12  on the left side have the horizontally flipped shapes of the first room  11  and the second room  12  on the right side, the first room  11  and the second room  12  on the left side will be mainly described below. 
     (Configuration of the Lever Portion  3 ) 
       FIG.  5 A  is an exemplary diagram before the lever main body is inserted into the bracket portion, and  FIG.  5 B  is an exemplary diagram after the lever main body is inserted into the bracket portion. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the lever portion  3  has the lever main body  30  and the bracket portion  4  attached to the lever main body  30 . A specific configuration of the bracket portion  4  will be described later. 
     The lever main body  30  is formed of a resin material and has a gripping portion  300  which protrudes from the housing  10  and is gripped by a user, and an insertion portion  301  inserted into the bracket portion  4 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the gripping portion  300  is operable in upward and downward directions (an arrow A direction and an arrow B direction) and in forward and rearward directions (an arrow C direction and an arrow D direction). An operation in the upward and downward directions is a second rotation operation about a second shaft  420 . Meanwhile, an operation in the forward and rearward directions is a first rotation operation about a first shaft  410 . 
     Operation directions of the first rotation operation and the second rotation operation are orthogonal. That is, the first shaft  410  serving as a rotational axis of the first rotation operation is orthogonal to the second shaft  420  serving as a rotational axis of the second rotation operation, but it is not limited thereto. 
     The lever operation unit  2   a  in the present embodiment can operate the functions of directional indicators, etc. Thus, an operation in the upward direction is an operation to turn on the directional indicators on the right side of the vehicle  9 , an operation in the downward direction is an operation to turn on the directional indicators on the left side, an operation in the forward direction is an operation to change the headlamps to high beam, and an operation in the rearward direction is an operation to turn the headlamps on high beam during when the operation is performed. 
     That is, the directional indicators on the right side are turned on when the lever main body  30  of the lever operation unit  2   a  is operated in the upward direction by the user, the directional indicators on the left side are turned on when operated in the downward direction, headlights are switched from low beam to high beam when operated in the direction of pushing away, and headlights are switched from low beam to high beam only during the operation when operated toward the user. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the insertion portion  301  has a substantially quadrangular prism shape. The insertion portion  301  has an end portion  302  at which an upper surface  301   a  has a smaller width than the gripping portion  300  side. 
     The end portion  302  has a contact surface  303  that is provided on a side surface  301   b  side, which is on the upper side of the paper of  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , and is inclined from the side surface  301   b . Since the insertion portion  301  has the contact surface  303 , a width from the side surface  301   b  to a side surface  301   c  on the gripping portion  300  side is larger than a width from the side surface  301   b  to the side surface  301   c  on the end portion  302  side. 
     The insertion portion  301  has claw portions  304  on the side surface  301   b  and the side surface  301   c . When the lever main body  30  is inserted into a first bracket  41 , the claw portions  304  come into contact with a stopper  411   a  provided in an insertion opening  411  of the first bracket  41 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the insertion portion  301  has a protruding portion  313  as the first lock portion that protrudes from the upper surface  301   a . The protruding portion  313  is fitted to a fitting portion  413  as the second lock portion of the first bracket  41  and thereby integrates the first bracket  41  with the insertion portion  301 . In this regard, coupling of the first lock portion to the second lock portion is not limited to coupling of the protruding portion  313  to the fitting portion  413 , and may be coupling of a raised portion to a recessed portion. 
     (Configuration of the Bracket Portion  4 ) 
       FIG.  6 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of rotation of the magnet about the first shaft, and  FIG.  6 B  is a diagram illustrating an example of rotation of the magnet about the second shaft. 
     The first bracket  41  is formed of a resin material and rotates together with the magnet  6  relative to the housing  10  by the first rotation operation about the first shaft  410 , as shown in  FIGS.  5 B and  6 A . The second bracket  42  is formed of a resin material and rotates together with the first bracket  41  and the magnet  6  relative to the housing  10  by the second rotation operation about the second shaft  420 , as shown in  FIGS.  5 B and  6 B . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the first bracket  41  has the insertion opening  411  into which the lever main body  30  is inserted, a detent insertion portion  412  having a through-hole  412   a  in communication with the insertion opening  411 , the fitting portion  413  to be coupled to the protruding portion  313  of the lever main body  30 , and holding portions  414  to hold the magnet  6 . 
     The first shaft  410  is provided on a side surface  410   b  and a side surface  410   c . The first shaft  410  is inserted into recessed portions  421   a  formed in a housing opening  421  of the second bracket  42 . 
     The insertion opening  411  is an opening into which the lever main body  30  is inserted, and it is wide at the entrance and narrow at the bottom. 
     The detent insertion portion  412  is provided on the side surface  410   b  on the upper side of the first bracket  41 . The detent insertion portion  412  is out of alignment with an insertion direction of the lever main body  30  (an arrow E direction). In particular, the through-hole  412   a  is formed not in a direction of extension from the lever main body  30  inserted into the first bracket  41 , i.e., not in a direction of extension from the insertion opening  411  of the bracket portion  4 . The magnet  6  and the magnetic sensor  7  are arranged in this direction of extension, as shown in  FIG.  3 B . 
     The through-hole  412   a  is provided in a direction intersecting the insertion direction (the arrow E direction) in which the lever main body  30  is inserted. In particular, the through-hole  412   a  has a center line L 2  contained in an extended plane  42   b  extended from a plane  42   a  that a center line L 1  shown in  FIG.  6 B  draws when rotated about the second shaft  420 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the insertion opening  411  has a stopper  411   b  that prevents the inserted detent portion  5  from moving too far toward the insertion opening  411 . The stopper  411   b  is provided to prevent the contact surface  303  from making contact. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5 B , the center line L 1  is the center line of the insertion portion  301  of the lever portion  3 . That is, the center line L 1  coincides with the insertion direction of the lever main body  30 . In  FIG.  6 A , the extended plane  42   b  is viewed from a side and thus overlaps the center line L 1 . Therefore, in  FIG.  6 A , the center line L 2  of the through-hole  412   a  shown in  FIG.  6 B  overlaps the center line L 1 . 
     In addition, the center line L 2  of the through-hole  412   a  shown in  FIG.  6 B  is a straight line passing the second shaft  420 . Thus, the through-hole  412   a  is provided so that the center line L 1  when rotated about the second shaft  420  coincides with the center line L 2 . However, the center line L 2  of the through-hole  412   a  is not limited to the straight line passing the second shaft  420  and may be a straight line intersecting the extended plane  42   b.    
     As shown in  FIG.  3 B , the fitting portion  413  is provided on an upper surface  410   a . The fitting portion  413  has grooves  413   b  on a front end face  413   a  and both side surfaces, and furthermore, it is bent toward the insertion opening  411 . The groove  413   b  on the front end face  413   a  side has a shape to be fitted to the protruding portion  313  of the lever main body  30 . The first bracket  41  and the lever main body  30  are integrated by fitting the protruding portion  313  to the groove  413   b.    
     The holding portions  414  are provided as claws to hold the magnet  6  inserted into a recessed portion  415  which is open on the upper surface  410   a  side. As shown in  FIG.  5 B , the recessed portion  415  is located further ahead of a tip end of the insertion opening  411  into which the lever main body  30  is inserted. 
     To reduce a distance between the magnet  6  and the magnetic sensor  7 , a tip end face  410   d  of the first bracket  41  is formed as a curved surface corresponding to rotation of the lever main body  30  about the second shaft  420  and faces a side portion  121   b  of a protruding portion  121  in which the magnetic sensor  7  is arranged. 
     The second bracket  42  has a cancelling mechanism  43  on an upper surface  420   a . The cancelling mechanism  43  is a mechanism to return the lever main body  30  held up or down back to the pre-operation state, i.e., to return to the pre-operation state by an operation performed on the steering wheel  90 . In this regard, the cancelling mechanism  43  is not arranged in the right lever operation unit  2   b  since it is a mechanism required when assigned to operate, e.g., directional indicators and is not essential. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the second bracket  42  has the housing opening  421  into which the lever main body  30  is inserted and in which the first bracket  41  is housed. The housing opening  421  rotatably holds the first bracket  41 . 
     The second bracket  42  is configured to be, e.g., divisible. To attach the second bracket  42  to the first bracket  41 , the first bracket  41  is arranged on one of the divided pieces of the second bracket  42  and the other piece is then assembled. 
     To install the lever operation unit  2   a , the detent portion  5  is set in the through-hole  412   a  after the second bracket  42  is attached to the first bracket  41 , these are then arranged in the first room  11 , and the front-left cover  102   a  is further attached to the housing  10 , and in this state, the lever main body  30  is inserted. At this time, the detent portion  5  is maintained in the set position since the stopper  411   b  is provided in the through-hole  412   a.    
     The second shaft  420  is provided on the upper surface  420   a . The second shaft  420  is inserted into recessed portions formed on the wall  110  of the housing  10  in the first room  11  and on the front-left cover  102   a.    
     (Configuration of the Detent Portion  5 ) 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the detent portion  5  is composed of a detent tip end portion  50 , an elastic portion  51  and a detent base end portion  52 . 
     In particular, the detent portion  5  is provided on the lever portion  3  and has the detent tip end portion  50  which generates a detent by moving with a tilt in a direction of the first rotation operation from a direction of extension from the end portion  302  of the lever portion  3  and coming into contact with a detent surface  150  of the detent wall  15  arranged on the housing  10 , and the elastic portion  51  applying an elastic force to the detent tip end portion  50 . 
     The detent portion  5  is inserted into the through-hole  412   a , and the detent base end portion  52  on the opposite side to the detent tip end portion  50  is in contact with the contact surface  303  of the lever main body  30  inserted into the insertion opening  411  of the first bracket  41 . 
     The detent tip end portion  50  has a columnar shape and has a smaller radius on the detent wall  15  side than on the elastic portion  51  side. In addition, a portion of the detent tip end portion  50  in contact with the detent wall  15  has a spherical shape. The detent tip end portion  50  has a recessed portion  500  into which the elastic portion  51  is inserted. The detent tip end portion  50  is formed using a resin material but may be formed of a metal material. 
     The elastic portion  51  is a coil spring formed of a metal material, as an example. The elastic portion  51  is provided between the detent tip end portion  50  and the detent base end portion  52 . The elastic portion  51 , when arranged in the through-hole  412   a , is compressed from the natural length and thus applies an elastic force to the detent tip end portion  50  and the detent base end portion  52 . Therefore, the detent tip end portion  50  is pressed against the detent surface  150  of the detent wall  15  by the elastic force of the elastic portion  51 . The detent base end portion  52  is pressed against the lever main body  30  by the elastic force of the elastic portion  51 . 
     The detent base end portion  52  has a columnar shape. The detent base end portion  52  has a recessed portion  520  into which the elastic portion  51  is inserted. The detent base end portion  52  is formed using a resin material but may be formed of a metal material. 
     Before inserting the lever main body  30 , the detent portion  5  is inserted into the through-hole  412   a  so that the detent base end portion  52  is exposed in the insertion opening  411 , as shown in  FIG.  5 A . At this time, the detent tip end portion  50  is located away from the detent surface  150  as shown in  FIG.  5 A  so that the bracket portion  4  can be easily placed in the first room  11 . 
     As a modification, after attaching the bracket portion  4  in the first room  11 , the detent portion  5  may be inserted from the detent tip end portion  50  into the through-hole  412   a  through the opening  105   a  of the housing  10 . This further facilitates automated assembly of the lever operation unit  2   a  and the lever operation unit  2   b.    
     When the lever main body  30  is inserted into the insertion opening  411 , the contact surface  303  of the lever main body  30  comes into contact with an end face  521  of the detent base end portion  52  as shown in  FIG.  5 B  and the detent portion  5  moves toward the detent surface  150 . When the lever main body  30  is pushed in to the position where the protruding portion  313  is fitted to the fitting portion  413  of the first bracket  41 , the detent portion  5  is pushed by the lever main body  30 , the elastic portion  51  is compressed and presses the detent tip end portion  50  against the detent surface  150 , and assembly of the lever main body  30  is completed. 
     As a modification, the lever main body  30  may include a protruding portion which comes into contact with the detent base end portion  52 , instead of having the contact surface  303 . This protruding portion has a shape which protrudes toward the through-hole  412   a  when the lever main body  30  is assembled to the bracket portion  4 . 
     The detent wall  15  is arranged in the first room  11 . The detent wall  15  has the detent surface  150  in contact with the detent tip end portion  50  of the detent portion  5 . As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the detent surface  150  has a base recess  150   a  in which the detent tip end portion  50  is located before operation, and a first peak portion  150   b , a first valley portion  150   c , a second peak portion  150   d  and a second valley portion  150   e  which generate a detent when the lever main body  30  is operated in the upward and downward directions. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the base recess  150   a  is a V-shaped groove. The base recess  150   a  is a groove with both ends slanted toward the bracket portion  4  so that the elastic portion  51  is compressed during operation in the arrow C direction and the arrow D direction. The base recess  150   a  may have a recessed portion at an end of the groove to retain the position of the lever main body  30  operated in the arrow D direction. 
     The first peak portion  150   b  has a raised V-shape. The first valley portion  150   c  is a V-shaped groove. The first valley portion  150   c  may have a recessed portion at an end of the groove to retain the position of the lever main body  30  operated in the arrow D direction. 
     When the lever main body  30  is operated in the arrow A direction, the detent tip end portion  50  moves from the base recess  150   a , passes over the first peak portion  150   b , and fits into the first valley portion  150   c . The detent tip end portion  50  generates a detent by passing over the first peak portion  150   b  and fitting into the first valley portion  150   c.    
     The second peak portion  150   d  has a raised V-shape. The second valley portion  150   e  is a V-shaped groove. The second valley portion  150   e  may have a recessed portion at an end of the groove to retain the position of the lever main body  30  operated in the arrow D direction. 
     When the lever main body  30  is operated in the arrow B direction, the detent tip end portion  50  moves from the base recess  150   a , passes over the second peak portion  150   d , and fits into the second valley portion  150   e . The detent tip end portion  50  generates a detent by passing over the second peak portion  150   d  and fitting into the second valley portion  150   e.    
     Modification of the Detent Portion  5   
     The detent portion  5  may be composed of the detent tip end portion  50  and the elastic portion  51 . In this modification, the elastic portion  51  of the detent portion  5  comes into contact with the contact surface  303  of the lever main body  30 . 
     In addition, the elastic portion  51  is a coil spring but it is not limited thereto. The elastic portion  51  may be an elastic member such as synthetic rubber or silicon rubber. In addition, the detent tip end portion  50 , the elastic portion  51  and the detent base end portion  52  of the detent portion  5  may be integrally formed by co-molding. 
     (Configuration of the Magnet  6 ) 
     The magnet  6  is, e.g., a permanent magnet such as ferrite magnet or neodymium magnet. The magnet  6  has a rectangular shape. As an example, the magnet  6  is magnetized to have an N pole on the magnetic sensor  7  side and an S pole on the opposite side, as shown in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B . The magnetization direction of the magnet  6  is not limited as long as the magnetic sensor  7  can detect a magnetic field  60  which changes by rotation operations performed on the lever main body  30 . 
     The magnet  6  is arranged to face the magnetic sensor  7  but does not come into contact with the detent portion  5  since the detent portion  5  is positioned out of alignment with the magnetic sensor  7 . Thus, the magnet  6  can be arranged to face the magnetic sensor  7  and also can be arranged inside the first bracket  41  instead of on a surface of the first bracket  41 , which allows its volume to be increased to generate a strong magnetic field  60 , hence, detection accuracy of the magnetic sensor  7  can be improved. In addition, since a large magnet can be used as the magnet  6 , it is possible to use an inexpensive magnet such as ferrite magnet. 
     (Configuration of the Magnetic Sensor  7 ) 
     The magnetic sensor  7  is a sensor to detect changes in the magnetic field  60  with movement of the magnet  6  caused by the first rotation operation and the second rotation operation performed on the lever portion  3 . The magnetic sensor  7  is formed using a magnetoresistive sensor or a Hall sensor. The magnetic sensor  7  in the present embodiment is a Hall IC (=Integrated Circuit) from which analog signals generated by detection of the movement of the magnet  6  are output as digital signals, as an example. The magnetic sensor  7  may be a sensor only. 
     The magnetic sensor  7  detects up, down, left and right movement of the magnet  6 , as shown in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B . The magnetic sensors  7  of the lever operation unit  2   a  and the lever operation unit  2   b  are connected to the control unit  8  and outputs a detection signal S and a detection signal S 2 , which are digital signals, based on the detection of the movement of the magnet  6 , as shown in  FIG.  1 B . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 B , the magnetic sensor  7  is arranged in the second room  12  which is separated from the first room  11  by the wall  110 . Separating the first room  11  from the second room  12  means that they do not share any space. 
     The housing  10  has the protruding portion  121  that protrudes from the wall  110  of the first room  11 . The protruding portion  121  has an internal space  121   a  in which the magnetic sensor  7  is arranged. The internal space  121   a  constitutes part of the second room  12 . The magnetic sensor  7  faces the magnet  6  via the side portion  121   b  of the protruding portion  121 . 
     In the lever operation device  1 , the detent portion  5  and the magnet  6 /the magnetic sensor  7  are arranged vertically as viewed from the user. Since the lever operation device  1  can have the magnet  6  inside the first bracket  41  without contact with the detent portion  5 , the magnet  6  which is inexpensive and capable of generating the necessary and sufficient magnetic field  60  can be used while suppressing the thickness of the first bracket  41 , as compared to when a magnet is arranged on a surface of the first bracket  41 . 
     (Configuration of the Control Unit  8 ) 
     The control unit  8  is, e.g., a microcomputer composed of a CPU (=Central Processing Unit) performing calculation and processing, etc., of the acquired data according to a stored program, and a RAM (=Random Access Memory) and a ROM (=Read Only Memory) as semiconductor memories, etc. The ROM stores, e.g., a program for operation of the control unit  8 . The RAM is used as, e.g., a storage area to temporarily store calculation results, etc. The control unit  8  also has, inside thereof, a means to generate a clock signal and operates based on the clock signal. 
     The control unit  8  is arranged on the substrate  16  and has a threshold value  80  used to determine an operation direction. The control unit  8  determines the operation based on the detection signals S 1 , S 2  output from the magnetic sensors  7  of the lever operation units  2   a ,  2   b  and the threshold value  80 , generates operation information S 3  and outputs it to a vehicle control system  96 . The vehicle control system  96  performs overall control of the vehicle  9  and controls the directional indicators and the shifting device, etc., based on the acquired operation information S 3 . 
     Next, a method for manufacturing the lever operation device  1  in the present embodiment will be described. 
     (Method for Manufacturing the Lever Operation Device  1 ) 
     The method for manufacturing the lever operation device  1  includes preparing the bracket portion  4  having the insertion opening  411  for insertion of the lever main body  30 , the through-hole  412   a  in communication with the insertion opening  411 , and the magnet  6 , inserting the detent portion  5 , which is to be in contact with the detent surface  150  of the detent wall  15  arranged on the housing  10  and generates a detent, into the through-hole  412   a  so that the detent base end portion  52  of the detent portion  5  is exposed in the insertion opening  411 , attaching the bracket portion  4  to the housing  10 , inserting the lever main body  30  into the insertion opening  411  of the bracket portion  4 , pushing the detent base end portion  52 , which is exposed from the through-hole  412   a , into the through-hole  412   a  so that the detent tip end portion  50  of the detent portion  5  is pressed against the detent surface  150 , and integrating the lever main body  30  with the bracket portion  4  by coupling the protruding portion  313  of the lever main body  30  to the fitting portion  413  of the bracket portion  4 . Next, how the left lever operation unit  2   a  is assembled will be described in reference to  FIGS.  7 A to  7 E . 
     Firstly, the bracket portion  4  having the insertion opening  411  for insertion of the lever main body  30 , the through-hole  412   a  in communication with the insertion opening  411 , and the magnet  6  is prepared.  FIG.  7 A  shows an example of the bracket portion  4  after assembling the first bracket  41  to the second bracket  42 . 
     In the next assembly step, the detent portion  5 , which is to be in contact with the detent surface  150  of the detent wall  15  arranged on the housing  10  and generates a detent, is inserted into the through-hole  412   a  so that the detent base end portion  52  of the detent portion  5  is exposed in the insertion opening  411 .  FIG.  7 B  shows an example of after the detent portion  5  is inserted into the through-hole  412   a  of the bracket portion  4 . By this insertion, the detent base end portion  52  of the detent portion  5  is inserted into the through-hole  412   a  so as to be exposed in the insertion opening  411  as shown in  FIG.  5 A . 
     In the next assembly step, the bracket portion  4  is attached to the housing  10 .  FIG.  7 C  shows an example of after the bracket portion  4  with the detent portion  5  inserted thereinto is arranged in the first room  11  and the front-left cover  102   a  is attached from above. The main parts hidden by the front-left cover  102   a  are indicated by dotted lines in  FIG.  7 A . 
     As a modification, if the stopper  411   b  is not provided and the detent portion  5  can be inserted into the through-hole  412   a  from the opening  105   a  side, the assembly may be carried out in such a manner that, after arranging the bracket portion  4  in the first room  11  and attaching the front-left cover  102   a , the detent portion  5  is inserted into the through-hole  412   a  through the opening  105   a  and the lever main body  30  is then inserted. 
     In the next assembly step, the lever main body  30  is inserted into the insertion opening  411  of the bracket portion  4 .  FIG.  7 D  shows an example of insertion of the insertion portion  301  of the lever main body  30  into the insertion opening  411 . 
     In the next assembly step, the detent base end portion  52 , which is exposed from the through-hole  412   a , is pushed into the through-hole  412   a  so that the detent tip end portion  50  of the detent portion  5  is pressed against the detent surface  150 , and the lever main body  30  is integrated with the bracket portion  4  by coupling the protruding portion  313  of the lever main body  30  to the fitting portion  413  of the bracket portion  4 .  FIG.  7 E  shows an example of after the lever main body  30  is inserted into the insertion opening  411  and integrated with the bracket portion  4 . 
     By this insertion, the contact surface  303  of the lever main body  30  comes into contact with the end face  521  of the detent base end portion  52  and the detent portion  5  moves toward the detent surface  150  as shown in  FIG.  5 B . When the lever main body  30  is further pushed in to the position where the protruding portion  313  of the lever main body  30  is fitted to the fitting portion  413  of the first bracket  41 , the elastic portion  51  is compressed and presses the detent tip end portion  50  against the detent surface  150 , and assembly of the lever main body  30  to the bracket portion  4  is completed. 
     Effects of the Embodiment 
     The lever operation device  1  in the present embodiment allows for improvement in ease of assembly. In particular, since the detent tip end portion  50  does not need to be pushed into the through-hole  412   a  when arranging on the housing  10 , ease of assembly of the lever operation device  1  can be improved. 
     In more particular, when the detent portion is assembled to the housing while pushing it into the through-hole, the assembling direction is not straight and becomes a twisting trajectory to avoid contact with the detent wall, and automated assembly by machine is thus difficult to achieve. However, when assembling the lever operation device  1 , the detent portion  5  does not need to be compressed when attached to the bracket portion  4 . Therefore, the assembling direction is straight, e.g., it is possible to assemble only by placing a component on a work piece, which reduces the size of the work piece and facilitates automated assembly by machine. 
     The lever operation device  1  is thin and also allows the same main mechanisms to be used for the turn operation unit and the shift operation unit which are provided as the lever operation units. Therefore, the lever operation device  1  can be easily compatible with various specifications of the vehicle  9  and the cost is suppressed. 
     Although some embodiment and modifications of the invention have been described, these embodiment and modifications are merely an example and the invention according to claims is not to be limited thereto. These new embodiment and modifications thereof may be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions and changes, etc., can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, not all combinations of the features described in these embodiment and modifications are necessary to solve the problem of the invention. Further, these embodiment and modifications thereof are included within the scope and gist of the invention and also within the invention described in the claims and the range of equivalency. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  LEVER OPERATION DEVICE 
           2   a ,  2   b  LEVER OPERATION UNIT 
           3  LEVER PORTION 
           4  BRACKET PORTION 
           5  DETENT PORTION 
           6  MAGNET 
           7  MAGNETIC SENSOR 
           9  VEHICLE 
           10  HOUSING 
           15  DETENT WALL 
           30  LEVER MAIN BODY 
           41  FIRST BRACKET 
           42  SECOND BRACKET 
           50  DETENT TIP END PORTION 
           51  ELASTIC PORTION 
           52  DETENT BASE END PORTION 
           93  STEERING SHAFT 
           150  DETENT SURFACE 
           303  CONTACT SURFACE 
           410  FIRST SHAFT 
           411  INSERTION OPENING 
           412   a  THROUGH-HOLE 
           413  FITTING PORTION 
           420  SECOND SHAFT