JP7851287B2 - Switching device - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a switching device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a paddle shift switch attached to a steering wheel.

Korean Published Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0081516

Some paddle shift switches of this type have a case fixed to the steering wheel, a shaft supported by the case, and an operating knob rotatably supported by the shaft.
The operating knob has an operable part that is operated by the user, located radially outward from the pivot axis of the shaft. In a paddle switch, when the operable part is operated, the operating knob rotates around the pivot axis, causing the operating knob and the case to be displaced relative to each other in opposing directions.

In the operating knob, a stopper mechanism is provided at a position away from the pivot axis to define the range of rotation of the operating knob. The stopper mechanism can consist of a locking claw provided on one of the operating knob or the case, and an engagement hole provided on the other.
The engagement hole is a hole whose length is in the direction opposite to the operating knob and the case. The locking claw is a projection that engages with the engagement hole from a direction perpendicular to the aforementioned opposing direction.
In the stopper mechanism, when the operating knob is displaced in one of the opposing directions away from the case, the locking surface of the locking claw engages with the engagement surface on the other side of the engagement hole in the opposing direction, thereby restricting the displacement of the operating knob.

In this stopper mechanism, the displacement of the operating knob is restricted by surface contact between the engagement surface on the engagement hole side and the locking surface on the locking claw side. However, when the operating knob is operated, the operating force (load) caused by the operation may not act uniformly on the contact surface between the engagement surface on the engagement hole side and the locking surface on the locking claw side. In such cases, an excessive load is placed on the base of the locking claw.
Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the load on the locking claws.
Furthermore, in addition to these requirements, other objectives of this invention may include achieving effects and benefits derived from each configuration disclosed in the "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" section below, which cannot be obtained with conventional technology.

The present invention
An operating knob that can rotate around a pivot axis set in the housing,
The operating knob has a stopper mechanism that defines the range of relative displacement between the operating knob and the housing in the opposing direction when the operating knob rotates,
The stopper mechanism is,
An engagement hole provided in either the housing or the operating knob,
The housing and the other operating knob are provided with a locking claw which is inserted into the engagement hole from the opening direction of the engagement hole,
The engagement hole is provided with its opening facing radially toward the pivot axis and has an engagement surface that contacts the locking surface of the locking claw when the operating knob is displaced away from the housing.
The aforementioned operating knob has an operating portion located radially away from the pivot axis,
The operated portion extends through the stopper mechanism and to one and the other sides of a straight line perpendicular to the pivot axis, and the region of the operated portion extending to one side has a length in the pivot axis direction that extends further from the straight line than the region extending to the other side.
In a switch device, the engagement surface or the locking surface, viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole , is provided with a recessed relief portion on at least one side in the width direction, which is recessed away from the locking surface or the engagement surface, so that when the operating knob is displaced away from the housing with the region on one side tilted away from the housing more than the region on the other side, a greater compressive force is not applied to one side of the contact surface between the engagement surface and the locking surface than to the other side .

According to the present invention, the load on the locking claw can be reduced.

This is a diagram illustrating a switch device. This is a diagram illustrating a switch device. This is a diagram illustrating the case of a switch device. This is a cross-sectional view of a switch device. This is a diagram illustrating the operation knob. This is a cross-sectional view of a switch device. This is a cross-sectional view of a switch device. This is a diagram illustrating the stopper mechanism. This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the stopper mechanism. This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the stopper mechanism. This diagram illustrates a modified example of the stopper mechanism.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using the example of a switch device 1 (paddle shift switch) that is attached to the steering wheel of a vehicle and used to operate the onboard transmission.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the switch device 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the switch device 1 installed on the steering wheel SW. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch device 1.
Note that in Figure 1, the steering wheel switches are shown with dashed lines.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the case 2 (housing) of the switch device 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the case 2 as seen from the assembly side of the operating knob 3, and the case 2 is schematically shown. This Figure 3 corresponds to a view of the switch device 1 attached to the steering wheel SW, as seen from the front of the vehicle. In Figure 3, hatching is shown intersecting the open area. Furthermore, hatching is applied to the end face on the near side of the paper of the peripheral wall portion 22 on the case 2 side to make it easier to understand.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device 1. In Figure 4, a cross-section of the switch device 1 is shown, obtained by cutting along the line A-A in Figure 3.
In the following explanation, the positional relationships of each component of the switch device 1 will be described using the vertical direction in Figure 4 as a reference, as necessary. For example, when "upper side" is written, it means the upper side in the vertical direction in Figure 4. Depending on how the switch device 1 is installed on the steering wheel SW, what is "upper side" in Figure 4 may also be "lower side".

As shown in Figure 1, the switch device 1 is attached to the frame 102 of the steering wheel SW. The frame 102 is the part that connects the connecting portion 100 of the steering shaft (not shown) and the ring-shaped gripping portion 101.
The switch device 1 is mounted on the back side of the frame 102, as seen from the perspective of the occupant operating the steering wheel SW.

The switch device 1 has an operating knob 3 that is operated by the occupant when performing an upshift or downshift. The switch device 1 is a switch device for so-called shift paddles.

As shown in Figure 2, the switch device 1 comprises a resin case 2, a shaft 4 supported by the case 2, and an operating knob 3 rotatably supported by the shaft 4.
As shown in Figure 3, the case 2 houses a printed circuit board 5, a rubber member 6 placed on the printed circuit board 5, and a shaft 4.

Case 2 has a bottom wall portion 21 and a peripheral wall portion 22 that surrounds the entire outer circumference of the bottom wall portion 21. Case 2 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening on the front side of the paper.
In a front view, Case 2 has a roughly rectangular shape. The side of Case 2 facing away from the viewer is the mounting surface for the steering wheel SW (not shown).

The peripheral wall portion 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape from side wall portions 221 and 222 that are parallel to each other, and side wall portions 223 and 224 that connect the ends of the side wall portions 221 and 222.
Support holes 23 and 24 for the shaft 4 are provided at one end (side wall 223 side) of the side wall portions 221 and 222 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in the figure). The support holes 23 and 24 penetrate the side wall portions 221 and 222 in the thickness direction (up-down direction in Figure 3).

As shown in Figure 4, the shaft 4 is supported by the case 2 with one end 4a and the other end 4b in the longitudinal direction inserted into the support holes 23 and 24 of the case 2.
At one end 4a and the other end 4b of the shaft 4, the connecting parts 34, 34 for the operating knob 3 are externally fitted to positions adjacent to the side walls 221, 222.

As shown in Figure 2, the operating knob 3 has a base portion 31 with connecting portions 34, 34 for connecting to the shaft 4, an operated portion 32 that is operated by the user, and a connecting portion 33 that connects the base portion 31 and the operated portion 32.
At the base portion 31, the connecting portions 34, 34 are provided on both sides in the direction of the axis X. The connecting portions 34, 34 are provided with through holes 341, 341 that penetrate through the connecting portions 34, 34 in the thickness direction. The shaft 4 passes through the through holes 341, 341 in the direction of the axis X along the longitudinal direction of the shaft 4. The through holes 341, 341 are formed with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter D4 of the shaft 4 (see Figure 4). Therefore, the connecting portions 34, 34 are loosely fitted onto the shaft 4. The operating knob 3 is supported by the shaft 4 in a state where rotation around the axis X (rotation axis) is permitted.
The operating knob 3 is made of a metal material such as tin, for example. The operating knob 3 is made of a material with higher hardness than the resin case 2.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation knob 3. Figure 5(A) is a plan view of the operation knob 3 as seen from the case 2 side. Figure 5(B) is a perspective view of the operation knob 3 as seen from the case 2 side.
Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the switch device 1. Figures 6 and 7 schematically show a cross-section of the switch device 1 cut along the line B-B in Figure 3. Figure 6 shows the configuration when the operating knob 3 is in the reference position, that is, when no operating force is acting on the operating knob 3. Figure 7 shows the configuration when the operating knob 3 is in the operating position, that is, when an operating force is acting on the operating knob 3 and the operating knob 3 is displaced toward the printed circuit board 5.

As shown in Figure 6, the base portion 31 and the operated portion 32 are positioned with a vertical offset from each other.
At the connection portion 33, the outer surface 31b of the base portion 31 and the inner surface 32a of the operated portion 32 are separated by a height h33 in the vertical direction. On the inner surface 32a of the operated portion 32 on the case 2 side, a wall portion 35 is provided by utilizing the step difference between the base portion 31 and the operated portion 32.
As shown in Figure 5, the wall portion 35 has a pair of first side wall portions 351 and 352 that are spaced apart in the axial direction X, and a second side wall portion 353 that connects one end 351a and 352a of the first side wall portions 351 and 352.
The first side wall portions 351 and 352 are provided in an area extending from the operated portion 32 through the connecting portion 33 to the base portion 31 (the area in the left-right direction in Figure 5(A)). The other ends 351b and 352b of the first side wall portions 351 and 352 are located on the base portion 31 side (right side in the figure) of the boundary Bx between the base portion 31 and the connecting portion 33.

On the case 2 side of the operating knob 3, a space Ra is formed, enclosed by the wall portion 35 (first side wall portions 351, 352, and second side wall portion 353) and the connecting portion 33. In this space Ra, the area overlapping with the connecting portion 33 becomes shallower in the direction from front to back on the paper as it moves towards the base portion 31 side (right side in the figure).
In the switch device 1, when the operating knob 3 is assembled to the case 2, the wall portion 35 is inserted inside the peripheral wall portion 22 on the case 2 side. In this state, the opening of the peripheral wall portion 22 is covered by the area enclosed by the wall portion 35 at the operated portion 32 and the connecting portion 33, and by the base portion 31.

As shown in Figure 5(A), the second side wall portion 353 is provided with a guide piece 36 on the side of the first side wall portion 351 (upper side in the figure) relative to the center line C3 of the operating knob 3. The center line C3 is a straight line that passes through the center in the width direction (vertical direction in the figure) of the case 2 and is perpendicular to the axis X that runs along the rotation axis of the shaft 4.
The guide piece 36 extends further towards the front of the paper than the first side walls 351 and 352.
As shown in Figure 6(B), the guide piece 36 is formed with a length L36 that extends beyond the tip 351c of the first side wall portion 351 towards the printed circuit board 5.

An engagement hole 37 is provided at the tip 36c side of the guide piece 36, penetrating the guide piece 36 in the thickness direction. The locking claw 251 of the engagement arm 25 on the case 2 side is inserted into the engagement hole 37 from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37 (left-right direction in the figure).
In this embodiment, the locking claw 251 on the engaging arm 25 side and the engaging hole 37 on the operating knob 3 side constitute a stopper mechanism 10 that defines the range of relative displacement between the operating knob 3 and the case 2 in the opposing direction (vertical direction in Figure 6(A)).

Here, the term "opposing direction" as used herein is not limited to the vertical direction in the strict sense of Figure 6(A), that is, the direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 21 of case 2 (the opening direction of case 2).

As described above, the operating knob 3 is rotatably supported by a shaft 4 supported by the case 2, with the base 31 side (right side in the figure), which is located away from the guide piece 36, with the base 31 side being supported.
The guide piece 36 is located radially away from the axis X, which is the rotation axis of the operating knob 3. Therefore, when the operating knob 3 is operated and rotated around axis X, the guide piece 36 is displaced along the virtual circle Im1 centered on axis X in the region on the guide piece 36 side.

In the case of Figure 6(A), the movement trajectory when the region where the engagement hole 37 is provided is displaced is shown by the arc-shaped imaginary line Im1.
In this embodiment, the region of the engagement hole 37 in the operating knob 3 is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the opposing direction (left-right direction in the figure) during the process of displacement in the direction of opposition between the operating knob 3 and the case 2 in the strict sense.
Here, the region in which the engagement hole 37 and the locking claw 251 on the engagement arm 25 engage is a limited range in the vertical direction in the figure, and in this specification, for the convenience of alternative names, the term "opposing direction" is used to describe it.

The engaging arm 25 has a base portion 250 that extends from the bottom wall portion 21 toward the operating knob 3. The base end 250b of the base portion 250 is connected to the bottom wall portion 21. In cross-sectional view, the base portion 250 is positioned to overlap with the side wall portion 224 on the case 2 side. The base portion 250 is provided utilizing the thickness of the side wall portion 224.
The locking claw 251 protrudes into the case 2 from the inner circumference of the end 250a side of the base 250. The inner circumference of the base 250 is provided with an inclined surface 250c such that the thickness W250 increases towards the connection point with the locking claw 251. The inclined surface 250c is connected to the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251.
The locking surface 252 is a flat surface perpendicular to the extension direction of the base 250 (the vertical direction in Figure 6).

The engaging arm 25 is cantilevered to the bottom wall portion 21 on the case 2 side. The end portion 250a of the engaging arm 25 (the side with the locking claw 251) is elastically displaceable in the direction of the opening of the engaging hole 37 (left and right direction in the figure).
In the switch device 1, when the operating knob 3 is assembled to the case 2, the locking claw 251 of the engaging arm 25 is inserted into the engaging hole 37 of the guide piece 36 on the operating knob 3 side from the opening direction of the engaging hole 37 (left and right direction in the figure).

The height h251 of the locking claw 251 in the opposing direction (up and down direction in the figure) between the operating knob 3 and the case 2 is smaller than the length L37 of the engagement hole 37 in the same direction (L37 > h251).
As described above, the operating knob 3 is supported by the shaft 4 so as to be rotatable around axis X. When the operating knob 3 rotates around axis X, the guide piece 36 also displaces in the circumferential direction around axis X. At this time, the guide piece 36 is displaced relative to the engaging arm 25 on the case 2 side in the direction opposite to the operating knob 3 and the case 2 (the vertical direction in Figure 6(B)). At this time, the operating knob 3 is displaceable relative to the case 2 within the length L37 of the engaging hole 37.

Here, the engagement surface 372, which is the side edge of the bottom wall portion 21 side (lower side in the figure) of the engagement hole 37, is a flat surface positioned opposite the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251.
In the switch device 1, when the operating knob 3 is displaced away from the case 2, the engaging surface 372 of the engaging hole 37, which is displaced by the rotation of the operating knob 3, is locked in a state of surface contact with the locking surface 252 on the locking claw 251 side, thereby preventing the operating knob 3 from moving away from the case 2. In other words, the stopper mechanism 10, which has the engaging surface 372 and the locking surface 252, defines the range of rotation (range of movement) when the operating knob 3 rotates around the axis X.

As shown in Figure 6(A), the operating knob 3 has an operating element 38 positioned offset from the guide piece 36 towards the connection part 33 (right side in the figure). As shown in Figure 5(A), the operating element 38 is located on a straight line Cy. Line Cy is a straight line parallel to the center line C3 of the operating knob 3. The center line C3 is a straight line that passes through the center of the operating knob 3 in the width direction and is perpendicular to the axis X.

As shown in Figure 6(A), the operator 38 protrudes from the case 2 side (lower side in the figure). The tip 38a of the operator 38 is a flat surface and is resting on the cylindrical mounting portion 62 on the rubber member 6 side. The outer diameter D38 of the tip 38a of the operator 38 is larger than the outer diameter D62 of the mounting portion 62 (D38 > D62).

As shown in Figure 6(B), the rubber member 6 has a base portion 61, a mounting portion 62, a support wall portion 63, and a stopper portion 64. The rubber member 6 is a single piece made of a flexible elastic material such as rubber.
The base portion 61 is the part that is placed on the printed circuit board 5. The mounting portion 62 is the part that supports the operator 38. The support wall portion 63 holds the mounting portion 62 at a position away from the printed circuit board 5 and supports the mounting portion 62 so that it can be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the printed circuit board 5 (up and down direction in the figure).
The stopper portion 64 protrudes from the lower end of the mounting portion 62 toward the printed circuit board 5 side (downward in the figure) and is the part that supports the contact 65. The contact 65 is provided on the surface of the stopper portion 64 facing the printed circuit board 5 (the lower surface in the figure). On the printed circuit board 5, a contact 66 is provided on the part facing the contact 65.
The mounting portion 62 that supports the operating element 38 on the operating knob 3 side is displaced relative to the printed circuit board 5 in the direction opposite to the printed circuit board 5 (up and down in the figure) when the operating knob 3 is operated. At this time, the contact 65 provided on the stopper portion 64 is also displaced in conjunction with the operation of the operating knob 3, and moves toward and away from the contact 66 on the printed circuit board 5 side. The contact 65 of the stopper portion 64 (the movable contact) and the contact 66 of the printed circuit board 5 (the fixed contact) constitute a switch that turns on/off in response to the operation of the operating knob 3.

The operating knob 3 is biased away from the printed circuit board 5 by a biasing force acting from the rubber member 6 side. The operating knob 3 is positioned in a reference position (see Figure 6(B)) by the biasing force acting from the rubber member 6 side. In the reference position, the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251 on the case 2 side engages with the engagement surface 372 of the engagement hole 37 on the guide piece 36 side, restricting the displacement of the operating knob 3 away from the printed circuit board 5. When the operating knob 3 is in the reference position, the movable contact 65 is positioned at a distance from the fixed contact 66.

When the operating knob 3 is operated, the operating element 38 is displaced in a direction that moves it closer to the printed circuit board 5. As a result, the mounting portion 62 of the rubber member 6 is pushed by the operating element 38, causing the support wall portion 63 to deform and move in a direction that moves it closer to the printed circuit board 5.
The operating knob 3 is displaced toward the printed circuit board 5 to a position (operating position: see Figure 7) where the contact 65 of the stopper portion 64 is in contact with the contact 66 on the printed circuit board 5 side.
At this time, the contact 65 on the mounting section 62 side comes into contact with the contact 66 on the printed circuit board 5 side, and the voltage generated by the operation of the operating knob 3 is output to the outside from a terminal (not shown) connected to the printed circuit board 5.
The support wall 63 constantly applies a biasing force to the operating knob 3 (operating element 38) placed on the mounting section 62, returning it to its reference position before displacement. Therefore, when the operating force acting on the mounting section 62 is released, the restoring force of the support wall 63 causes the mounting section 62 to displace away from the printed circuit board 5.

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the stopper mechanism 10.
Figure 8(A) is a schematic diagram showing a cross-section of the switch device 1 obtained by cutting along the line A-A in Figure 6(A). Figure 8(B) is an enlarged view of region A in Figure 8(A). Figure 8(C) is an enlarged view of region B in Figure 8(B). Note that in Figure 8(C), the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251 is positioned away from the engagement surface 372 of the engagement hole 37.
Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the stopper mechanism 10' according to a comparative example.
Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the stopper mechanism 10. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the stopper mechanism 10.

In the switch device 1, when a user's operating force is applied to the operated portion 32 of the operating knob 3, the operating knob 3 rotates around axis X, changing its relative position to the case 2. The direction of rotation of the operating knob 3 at this time is unidirectional and determined according to the direction of input of the operating force to the operated portion 32.
Here, as shown in Figure 7, when the operating knob 3 rotates toward the case 2, the case 2 itself acts as a stopper that determines the range of rotation of the operating knob 3.
On the other hand, when the operating knob 3 rotates away from the case 2, the stopper mechanism 10 determines the range of rotation of the operating knob 3.
Specifically, the engagement surface 372 on the engagement hole 37 side and the locking surface 252 on the locking claw 251 side make surface contact, thereby restricting the rotation of the operating knob 3 away from the case 2.

In this embodiment, the engaging surface 372 on the engaging hole 37 side and the engaging surface 252 on the locking claw 251 side are configured such that they contact each other with a surface having width in the radial direction of the straight line Cy (the left-right direction in Figures 8(B) and 8(C)).

As shown in Figure 7, the operating knob 3 has a base 31 rotatably supported by the shaft 4 and an operated portion 32, which are located radially apart from each other along the axis X. Therefore, the point of application of the operating force on the operated portion 32 is radially away from the axis X. Consequently, the operating force acting on the operated portion 32 acts in a direction that causes the operating knob 3 to bend, with the base 31 as the pivot point. This bending force increases as the point of application moves radially away from the axis X. In Figure 7, the degree of bending of the operating knob 3 is greater when the operating force is applied at point B than when the operating force is applied at point A.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8(A), the operated portion 32 has extending regions 321 and 322 on one side and the other side of the straight line Cy, respectively. Therefore, as the point of application of the operating force on the operated portion 32 moves radially away from the straight line Cy, the degree to which the operating knob 3 flexes increases.
In the case of Figure 8, the degree to which the operating knob 3 flexes is greater when the operating force is applied to point D than when the operating force is applied to point C.
Furthermore, the end 321a of region 321 is located further from the line Cy than the end 322a of region 322. Therefore, since one side of region 321 is longer than the other side of region 322 in the direction perpendicular to the line Cy (the direction along axis X), the more operating force is applied to the end 321a of region 321, the greater the degree to which the operating knob 3 bends.

If the operating knob 3 flexes, the engaging surface 372 on the operating knob 3 side may come into contact with the locking surface 252 on the locking claw 251 side in an inclined state.
As shown in Figure 9(A), in a typical stopper mechanism 10', the engaging surface 372' and the locking surface 252' are formed with width in the X direction (left-right direction in the figure), and it is assumed that the rotation of the operating knob 3 is restricted by the engaging surface 372' and the locking surface 252' making surface contact over their entire surface.

Therefore, when the operating knob 3 rotates away from the case 2, if the guide piece 36 tilts due to the deflection of the operating knob 3, a load will be applied from the locking surface 252 side to the left region of the engagement surface 372' in the figure.
This load acts from the moment the operating knob 3 begins to flex and the guide piece 36 starts to tilt, and increases as the tilt increases.
In the case of Figure 9(A), a compressive force due to stress concentration acts on the left-hand region of the locking claw 251. In this case, stress concentrates in a part of the locking surface 252 in the X direction, which may result in a crack CK occurring in the load-concentrated region on the left-hand side of the boundary between the locking claw 251 and the base 250 (see Figure 9(B)).

In this embodiment, a stopper mechanism 10 with a relief portion N is employed to prevent stress concentration when the guide piece 36 tilts due to the bending of the operating knob 3 (see Figure 8).
The stopper mechanism 10 is provided on the operating knob 3 and has an engagement hole 37 whose opening is oriented radially to the axis X, which is the rotation axis of the operating knob 3, and a locking claw 251 provided on the case 2 that is inserted into the engagement hole 37 from the radial direction of the axis X.
The engagement hole 37 has an engagement surface 372 into which the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251 engages when the operating knob 3 is displaced away from the case 2. The locking surface 252 and the engagement surface 372 are surfaces that are joined to each other in the relative displacement direction (Cy direction).

As shown in Figure 8(C), the locking surface 252 has a width W252 in the X direction and is a flat surface along the X direction. The engaging surface 372 consists of a flat portion 372a and an inclined portion 372b along the X direction. The inclined portion 372b is inclined in a direction such that the gap CL between it and the locking surface 252 widens as it moves away from the flat portion 372a. The inclined portion 372b is located on the region 321 side when viewed from the straight line Cy of the operated portion 32.

As shown in Figure 8(B), when viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37, one side edge 371 of the engagement hole 37 is a flat surface parallel to the flat portion 372a described above. Both ends of the side edge 371 and the engagement surface 372 are connected to one end and the other end of the side edges 373 and 374 that extend vertically on both sides of the locking claw 251.
The connection points between the side edge 371 and the engaging surface 372 and the side edges 373 and 374 are rounded (R-shaped).
In this embodiment, the inclined portion 372b and the R-shaped portion on the side edge 374, the area in the figure below the imaginary line Im along the flat portion 372a, constitute the "relief portion N" in the invention.

As described above, the region 321 extending to one side of the operated portion 32 is longer than the region 322 extending to the other side. Therefore, when an operating force is applied to the end 321a of region 321, the operating knob 3 will bend to a greater extent than when an operating force is applied to the end 322a of region 322.
In this embodiment, in order to prevent compressive force from acting on the locking claw 251, a relief portion N is formed on the side where the applied stress is greater. Specifically, an inclined portion 372b is provided on the region 321 side (left side in Figure 8) of the engaging surface 372, thereby forming a relief portion N between the engaging surface 372 and the locking surface 252.
Furthermore, the boundary between the flat portion 372a and the inclined portion 372b is rounded (see Figure 10) to prevent the formation of an edge at the boundary.

Therefore, as shown in Figure 10, even if the guide piece 36 tilts due to the deflection of the operating knob 3 when the operating knob 3 rotates away from the case 2, the relief portion N is provided on the left side of the engagement surface 372 in the figure, so that compressive force is effectively prevented from concentrating on a part of the area 321 side (left side in the figure) of the locking surface 252.
Furthermore, when the engaging surface 372 contacts the locking surface 252 while tilted relative to it, the boundary between the engaging surface 372 and the relief portion N (the boundary between the flat portion 372a and the inclined portion 372b) is the first to contact the locking surface 252. Therefore, if the boundary between the engaging surface 372 and the relief portion N has a pointed cross-section, stress will concentrate at the contact point with the boundary on the locking surface 252. By applying a rounded edge (R-shape) to the boundary between the engaging surface 372 and the relief portion N, it is possible to prevent stress from concentrating at the contact point with the boundary on the locking surface 252. This reduces the influence of the operating force on the locking claw 251.

Thus, even if the engaging surface 372 is tilted relative to the locking surface 252, the relief portion N allows for the suppression of the degree to which a compressive force acts on the side of the locking claw 251 to which the operating force is applied. Therefore, the degree of load on the locking claw 251 can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, an example was given in which a relief portion N is provided on the side of region 321 in the axial X direction (the left side in Figure 8(A)). The arrangement of the relief portion N is not limited to this embodiment.
The relief portion only needs to be provided on at least one side in the direction of the axis X.
Therefore, as shown in Figure 11(A), the relief portion N may be provided on the side of region 322 in the axial direction X (the right side in Figure 11(A)) as the stopper mechanism 10A.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11(B), the stopper mechanism 10B may also be configured such that the relief portion N is provided on both the region 322 side (right side in Figure 11(A)) and the region 321 side (left side in Figure 11(B)) in the direction of the axis X.
Furthermore, when relief portions N are provided on both sides in the direction of the axis X, it is preferable that the engaging surface 372 be configured such that the flat portion 372a is located between the inclined portions 372b and 372b.
If a flat portion 372a is not provided between the inclined portions 372b and the other inclined portion 372b, the boundary line between one relief portion N and the other relief portion N on the engaging surface 372 will have a pointed cross-section that protrudes toward the locking surface 252.
When no operating force is applied to the operating knob 3, it is held in a state where the engaging surface 372 and the locking surface 252 are in contact. If the engaging surface 372 has a pointed cross-section as described above, the operating knob 3 may become loose, which could cause abnormal noises and other problems.
The presence of a flat surface between one relief section N and the other relief section N effectively prevents the operating knob 3 from becoming loose.

Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment illustrates a case where the relief portion N is provided in the engagement hole 37 on the operating knob 3 side, the relief portion N may also be provided on the locking claw 251 side of the case 2.
Therefore, a locking portion 251C having a locking surface 252 composed of a flat portion 252a and an inclined portion 252b may be adopted, as shown in Figure 11(C) of the stopper mechanism 10C. In the case of this stopper mechanism 10C as well, the same effects and advantages as those of the stopper mechanism 10 described above will be achieved.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11(D), the stopper mechanism 10D may be configured such that the relief portion N on the locking surface 252 is provided on both the region 322 side (right side in Figure 11(D)) and the region 321 side (left side in Figure 11(D)) in the axial X direction.
In this case, for the reasons mentioned above, it is preferable to have a locking surface 252D configured such that a flat portion 252a is located between the inclined portions 252b and 252b.

In the above embodiment, a stopper mechanism 10 is provided in which an engagement hole 37 is provided on the operating knob 3 side and a locking claw 251 is provided on the case 2 side.
The stopper mechanism may also be configured such that a locking claw is provided on the operating knob 3 side and an engagement hole is provided on the case 2 side. This configuration also provides the same effects as the stopper mechanism 10 described above.

In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the arm portion 25 having the locking claw 251 is provided on the peripheral wall portion 22 (side wall portion 224) of the case 2. The engaging arm 25 having the locking claw 251 may also be provided on the side wall portions 221 and 222 of the case 2.
In this case, the engagement hole 37 in the operating knob 3 is provided with its opening facing the axis X direction, and the locking claw 251 in the case 2 is provided in a direction that allows it to be inserted into the engagement hole 37 from the axis X direction.
Even in such cases, by providing a relief portion N on the side of the engagement surface 372 where the operating force is applied, as viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37, the degree of load on the locking claw 251 when the operating knob 3 is operated can be reduced.

As described above, the switch device 1 according to this embodiment has the following configuration.
(1) Switch device 1 is
An operating knob 3 that can rotate around axis X (rotation axis) set in case 2 (housing),
The device includes a stopper mechanism 10 that defines the range of relative displacement between the operating knob 3 and the case 2 in the opposing direction when the operating knob 3 is rotated.
The stopper mechanism 10 is
An engagement hole 37 provided in the operating knob 3,
The case 2 includes a locking claw 251 which is provided in the case 2 and is inserted into the engagement hole 37 from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37.
The engagement hole 37 has an engagement surface 372 that contacts the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251 when the operating knob 3 is displaced away from the case 2.
Viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37,
The engaging surface 372 is provided with a recessed portion N that is recessed in a direction away from the locking surface 252.

In the operating knob 3 of the switch device 1, if an operating force is applied to a position separated from one side or the other of a straight line Cy perpendicular to the axis X, passing through the stopper mechanism 10, the engaging surface 372 may come into contact with the locking surface 252 at an angle. In such a case, when viewed from the opening direction of the engaging hole 37, a compressive force acts on the side of the locking claw 251 to which the operating force was applied, and a load is placed on the locking claw 251.
With the above configuration, even if a load caused by the operation of the operating knob 3 acts on a part of the locking claw 251, the relief portion N is provided, which suppresses the degree to which a compressive force acts on the side of the locking claw 251 that receives the load caused by the operating force. This reduces the degree of load on the locking claw 251.
Furthermore, even if the engaging surface 372 is tilted relative to the locking surface 252 due to the operation of the operating knob 3, the relief portion N is provided, which suppresses the degree to which a compressive force acts on the side of the locking claw 251 to which the operating force is applied.

(I) In (1) above,
In the operating knob 3, the engagement hole 37 is provided with its opening facing the radial direction of the axis X.
In case 2, the locking claw 251 is positioned to be inserted into the engagement hole 37 from the radial direction of axis X.
When viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37, a relief portion N is provided on the side of the engagement surface 372 in the width direction along the axis X where the operating force is applied.

This configuration also helps to reduce the degree of load on the locking claw 251.

(2) In the above (1) or (I),
In the operating knob 3, the engagement hole 37 is provided with its opening facing the radial direction of the axis X.
The operating knob 3 has an operable portion 32 located radially away from the axis X.
The operated portion 32 passes through the stopper mechanism 10 and extends to one side and the other side of a straight line Cy perpendicular to the axis X.
The operated portion 32 has a length in the axial X direction such that the region 321 extending to one side is further away from the straight line Cy than the region 322 extending to the other side.
When viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37, the relief portion N is provided on one side, towards region 321.

When an operating force is applied to the region 321 in the operated part 32 that has a long length in the axial X direction, the stress that tilts the engagement surface 372 with respect to the locking surface 252 increases.
With the above configuration, even if the engaging surface 372 is tilted relative to the locking surface 252, the relief portion N is provided, which suppresses the degree to which a compressive force acts on the side of the locking claw 251 to which the operating force is applied. This reduces the degree of load on the locking claw 251.

(3) In any one of the above (1), (2), or (I),
As the relief portion N moves toward the side edge 374 in the width direction along the axis X, the gap CL, which is the depth in the direction away from the locking surface 252, increases.

With this configuration, even if the area 321 side of the operating knob 3 is operated away from the case 2, the timing at which the engaging surface 372 contacts the locking surface 252 is delayed by the amount of the gap CL. This delay allows for a delay in the timing at which the compressive force acts on the locking claw 251. This reduces the degree of load on the locking claw 251.

(II) In any one of (1) to (3) and (I) above,
The locking surface 252 and the engaging surface 372 are flat surfaces that are joined in the direction of relative displacement between the operating knob 3 and the case 2.

With this configuration, when the operating knob 3 is displaced away from the case 2, the stress between the locking surface 252 and the engaging surface 372 is transmitted via the contact surfaces of the locking surface 252 and the engaging surface 372. For example, if the operating knob 3 tilts, the operating force transmitted from the engaging surface 372 may concentrate on a part of the locking surface 252, and the effect of the concentrated stress may extend to the locking claw 251.
As described above, by providing a relief section, the possibility of the operating force concentrating on a part of the locking surface 252 can be reduced. The possibility of the locking claw 251 being affected by stress concentration can also be reduced.

(III) In the above (1) to (3) and in either (I) or (II),
When viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37, the engagement surface 372 has a rounded edge at the boundary with the relief portion N.
When the engaging surface 372 contacts the locking surface 252 while tilted relative to it, the boundary between the engaging surface 372 and the relief portion N is the first to contact the locking surface 252. Therefore, if the boundary between the engaging surface 372 and the relief portion N has a pointed cross-section, stress will concentrate at the contact point with the boundary on the locking surface 252. As described above, by applying a rounded edge (R-shaped) to the boundary between the engaging surface 372 and the relief portion N, it is possible to prevent stress from concentrating at the contact point with the boundary on the locking surface 252. This reduces the influence of the operating force on the locking claw 251.

(IV) In (1) to (3) above, and in any one of (I), (II), or (III),
Relief sections N are provided on both sides in the direction of the axis X, and a flat surface is provided between one relief section and the other relief section. The flat surface is provided in the range that crosses the straight line Cy from one side to the other.

If a flat surface is not provided between one relief portion and the other relief portion, the boundary line between the two relief portions on the engaging surface 372 will have a pointed cross-section that protrudes toward the locking surface 252.
When no operating force is applied to the operating knob 3, it is held in a state where the engaging surface 372 and the locking surface 252 are in contact. If the engaging surface has a pointed cross-section as described above, the operating knob 3 may become loose, which could cause abnormal noises and other problems.
The presence of a flat surface between one relief section and the other relief section effectively prevents the operating knob 3 from becoming loose.

(4) In the above (1) to (3) and any one of (I), (II), (III), or (IV),
Case 2 has a base portion 250 whose longitudinal base end is supported by the bottom wall portion 21 of Case 2, and a tip portion with a locking claw 251 has an engaging arm 25 that is elastically displaceable in the radial direction of axis X.
The engaging arm 25 is located on the opposite side of axis X when viewed from the engaging hole 37.
The engaging arm 25 is provided by utilizing the thickness of the peripheral wall portion 22 (side wall portion 224) of the case 2.

For example, if the engaging arm 25 is provided on the inside of the peripheral wall portion 22, the case 2 may become larger in order to secure space for the engaging arm 25. If the engaging arm 25 is provided on the outside of the peripheral wall portion 22, the position of the engaging arm 25 on the outside of the case 2 may cause the entire switch device 1 to become larger. With the above configuration, there is no need to provide the engaging arm 25 on the inside or outside of the peripheral wall portion 22 of the case 2. This effectively prevents the switch device 1 from becoming larger.

(5) In any one of (1) to (4) above and (I) to (IV),
The engagement hole 37 is provided on the operating knob 3 side. The locking claw 251 is provided on the case 2 side. The operating knob 3 is made of a material with higher hardness than the case 2.

If the engaging surface 372 on the operating knob 3 side engages with the locking surface 252 on the case 2 side, which is made of a material with lower hardness than the operating knob 3, in an inclined position, the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251 may be worn down.
The presence of the relief portion N delays the timing at which compressive force is applied to the locking claw 251. This reduces the possibility of the locking claw 251 being worn down.

(V) In any one of (1) to (5) above and (I) to (IV),
Switch device 1 is a paddle shift switch for operating the vehicle's transmission.

This configuration reduces the possibility of electric charge transfer from the control knob 3 to the printed circuit board 5, allowing for proper speed control through the operation of the switch device 1.

Although embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the invention.

1: Switching device 10, 10', 10A-10D: Stopper mechanism 2: Case (housing)
21: Bottom wall portion 22: Peripheral wall portion 25: Engaging arm 250: Base portion 250a: End portion 250b: Base end 250c: Inclined surfaces 251, 251C: Locking portions 252, 250', 252D: Locking surface 252a: Flat portion 252b: Inclined portion 3: Operating knob 31: Base portion 32: Operated portion 321: Region 321a: End portion 322: Region 322a: End portion 35: Wall portion 36: Guide piece 37: Engaging holes 371, 373, 374: Side edges 372, 372': Engaging surface 372a: Flat portion 372b: Inclined portion 38: Operator 4: Shaft 5: Printed circuit board 6: Rubber member C3: Centerline CK: Crack CL: Gap Cy : Straight line N : Relief section X : Axis line

Claims (4)

An operating knob that can rotate around a pivot axis set in the housing,
The operating knob has a stopper mechanism that defines the range of relative displacement between the operating knob and the housing in the opposing direction when the operating knob rotates,
The stopper mechanism is,
An engagement hole provided in either the housing or the operating knob,
The housing and the other operating knob are provided with a locking claw which is inserted into the engagement hole from the opening direction of the engagement hole,
The engagement hole is provided with its opening facing radially toward the pivot axis and has an engagement surface that contacts the locking surface of the locking claw when the operating knob is displaced away from the housing.
The aforementioned operating knob has an operating portion located radially away from the pivot axis,
The operated portion extends through the stopper mechanism and to one and the other sides of a straight line perpendicular to the pivot axis, and the region of the operated portion extending to one side has a length in the pivot axis direction that extends further from the straight line than the region extending to the other side.
A switch device in which, when viewed from the opening direction of the engagement hole , the engagement surface or the locking surface is provided with a recessed portion on at least one side in the width direction that is recessed away from the locking surface or the engagement surface, so that when the operating knob is displaced away from the housing with the region on one side tilted away from the housing more than the region on the other side, a greater compressive force is not applied to one side of the contact surface between the engagement surface and the locking surface than to the other side . In claim 1 ,
A switch device wherein the relief portion has a depth that increases in the direction away from the locking surface or the engaging surface as it approaches the side edge in the direction along the pivot axis. In claim 2 ,
The housing has a longitudinal base end supported by the bottom wall of the housing, and a tip end having the locking claw that is elastically displaceable in the radial direction of the pivot axis.
The engaging arm is located on the opposite side from the pivot axis when viewed from the engaging hole.
The engaging arm is provided using the thickness of the peripheral wall portion of the housing, in a switch device. In any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A switch device in which the engagement hole is provided on the operating knob side, the locking claw is provided on the housing side, and the operating knob is made of a material with higher hardness than the housing.