Direction handle for vehicle

Abstract

A steering handle for a vehicle is provided with: a steering wheel which is an isosceles trapezoid-shaped annular body comprising an upper bottom part, a lower bottom part longer than the upper bottom part, and left and right waist parts; the accelerator rod is mounted on the right waist part; and the brake rods are arranged on the left waist part and the right waist part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the structure of a steering handle for a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A driving device for disabled people has been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-52887 discloses a driving device using a joystick instead of a steering wheel, an accelerator, and a brake. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-52887 discloses a driving device consisting of a joystick and an auxiliary steering wheel that receives driver's operation.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-135592 discloses a driving device in which a driver's thumb holding a steering wheel performs a brake operation and a finger other than the thumb performs an acceleration operation. Summary of the invention

[0004] In the driving device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-52887, the joystick needs to be moved in the front-rear direction during acceleration and deceleration, so the burden on the driver's hands may increase when driving for a long time. In addition, in the case of the driving device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-135592, since the thumb is used for braking operation and the fingers other than the thumb are used for acceleration operation, the driving operation is not intuitive and difficult for the driver to operate.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle steering handle that is easy for a driver to operate and puts less burden on the driver.

[0006] The vehicle steering handle disclosed in the present invention is characterized by comprising: a trapezoidal steering wheel; an accelerator lever mounted on one side or both sides of the waist; and a brake lever mounted on one side or both sides of the waist.

[0007] According to this configuration, the driver can steer, accelerate, and decelerate the vehicle by gripping the steering wheel with his waist, so that the driving operation is easy and the burden of the driver's driving operation can be reduced.

[0008] In the vehicle steering handle of the present disclosure, the steering wheel may be an isosceles trapezoidal annular body composed of an upper bottom portion, a lower bottom portion longer than the upper bottom portion, and left and right waist portions.

[0009] This makes driving easier.

[0010] In the vehicle steering handle of the present disclosure, the left and right waist portions may be inclined with respect to the up-down direction, and the inclination angle may be in a range of 10 degrees to 30 degrees.

[0011] This makes it possible to reduce the bending angle of the wrist when turning the steering wheel, thereby reducing the burden on the driver's driving operation.

[0012] In the vehicle steering handle disclosed in the present invention, the accelerator lever may be installed so as to be rotatable around the waist with the operating end being located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel, and the accelerator opening may be adjusted according to the rotation angle; the brake lever may be installed so as to be rotatable relative to the waist with the upper end being moved closer to and away from the waist and the lower end being moved forward and backward relative to the driver's side, and the braking force may be adjusted according to the stroke of the lower end relative to the waist.

[0013] Thus, the driver can adjust the accelerator opening by turning the accelerator lever with the thumb while holding the steering wheel at the waist, and can adjust the braking force by holding the brake lever with fingers other than the thumb. Therefore, the driving operation becomes easy, and the burden of the driver's driving operation can be reduced. In addition, since the driving operation becomes intuitive, the driving operation also becomes easy in this respect.

[0014] In the vehicle steering handle of the present disclosure, the waist portion on one or both sides may include a steering switch and a wiper switch.

[0015] Thus, the driver can operate the steering switch and the wiper switch in addition to steering, accelerating, and decelerating the vehicle by gripping the steering wheel with his waist, so that the driving operation is easy and the burden of the driver's driving operation can be reduced.

[0016] The present disclosure can provide a vehicle steering handle that is easy for a driver to operate and puts less burden on the driver. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Features, advantages, technical and industrial significance of embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a front view of the vehicle steering handle according to the embodiment in the neutral position as viewed from the driver's side.

[0019] Figure 2 Observed from the top Figure 1 A top view of the accelerator lever is shown.

[0020] Figure 3 Yes means Figure 1 A perspective view of the brake lever is shown.

[0021] Figure 4 It means the driver Figure 1 The vehicle is shown in a front view with the steering handle rotated 90 degrees to the right.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a front view showing a steering switch and a wiper switch mounted on the waist portion on the left side of a vehicle steering handle according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, a vehicle steering handle 100 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The vehicle steering handle 100 is connected to a steering column 25 of a vehicle and is a device that is rotated by a driver to steer the vehicle.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown in the figure, the vehicle direction handle 100 includes a steering wheel 10, a base 20, an accelerator lever 30 and brake levers 40L, 40R. In addition, the arrows RR, UP and RH shown in each figure represent the rear side, upper side and right side of the vehicle when the vehicle direction handle 100 is installed in the vehicle. In addition, when the vehicle direction handle 100 is installed in the vehicle, the rear direction of the vehicle direction handle 100 is the driver's side. Below, when only the front and rear, left and right, and up and down directions are used for explanation, as long as there is no special explanation, it represents the front and rear of the front and rear direction, the left and right of the left and right direction, and the up and down direction when the vehicle direction handle 100 is installed in the vehicle.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the steering wheel 10 is an isosceles trapezoidal ring body consisting of an upper bottom 11, a lower bottom 12 longer than the upper bottom 11, a left waist 13L and a right waist 13R. The base 20 is a frame structure disposed in the center of the steering wheel 10 and connected to the steering column 25.

[0026] The upper bottom portion 11 of the steering wheel 10 is located at the vehicle direction handle 100. Figure 1 The upper bottom 11 is connected to the upper part of the base 20 through the upper spoke 15. The lower bottom 12 is located when the vehicle steering handle 100 is located. Figure 1 The lower bottom 12 is connected to the lower part of the base 20 through the lower spoke 16. A decorative member for a handle that the driver can hold the lower bottom 12 is installed on the outer surface of the lower bottom 12.

[0027] The left waist portion 13L is a cylindrical member that connects the left end of the upper bottom portion 11 and the left end of the lower bottom portion 12 in the oblique up-down direction. Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle steering handle 100 is located at Figure 1In the neutral position shown in FIG. 1 , the left waist portion 13L is inclined at an angle θ relative to the vertical direction. The right waist portion 13R is a cylindrical member that is symmetrical with the left waist portion 13L and connects the right end of the upper bottom portion 11 and the right end of the lower bottom portion 12 in the vertical direction. The right waist portion 13R is also similar to the left waist portion 13L. When the vehicle steering handle 100 is in the Figure 1 In the case of the neutral position shown, the angle θ is tilted relative to the up and down direction. In the vehicle steering handle 100 of the embodiment, the angle θ is about 20 degrees, but it is not limited to this and can also be appropriately set between 10 degrees and 30 degrees. Decorative parts for the driver to hold the left waist 13L and the right waist 13R are installed on the outer surfaces of the left waist 13L and the right waist 13R. The length of the lower bottom 12 in the left and right directions is longer than the length of the upper bottom 11 in the left and right directions, and the lengths of the left waist 13L and the right waist 13R are the same. Therefore, the upper bottom 11, the lower bottom 12, the left waist 13L and the right waist 13R constitute an isosceles trapezoidal annular body.

[0028] The lower end of the left waist portion 13L is connected to the vehicle front side of the left end of the lower bottom portion 12. Therefore, the left end of the lower bottom portion 12 protrudes toward the driver side from the driver side surface of the left waist portion 13L. The protruding portion constitutes a rotation operation portion 17L that the driver can use his palm to rotate the steering wheel 10. Similarly, the lower end of the right waist portion 13R is connected to the vehicle front side of the right end of the lower bottom portion 12. A rotation operation portion 17R is formed at the right end of the lower bottom portion 12, and the rotation operation portion 17R protrudes from the driver side surface of the right waist portion 13R toward the driver side, and the driver can use his palm to rotate the steering wheel 10.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , an accelerator lever 30 and an acceleration angle sensor 35 are installed on the right waist portion 13R. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the accelerator lever 30 includes an annular portion 31 rotatably mounted on the right waist portion 13R and an operating end 32 protruding from the annular portion 31 toward the inner circumference of the steering wheel 10. The accelerator angle sensor 35 detects the angular position of the annular portion 31 and outputs the position to a control unit (not shown). The control unit adjusts the accelerator opening according to the input rotation angle position of the annular portion 31. Figure 2 As shown by the arrow 91 in FIG. 1 , when the driver presses the operating end 32 with the thumb 81R of the right hand to rotate the annular portion 31 clockwise, the control unit increases the accelerator opening. On the contrary, when the driver reduces the pressing force of the operating end 32, the annular portion 31 rotates counterclockwise by the spring provided inside, and the control unit decreases the accelerator opening.

[0030] like Figure 3As shown, a brake lever 40L is installed on the left waist 13L. The brake lever 40L is composed of a base 41L, a rod 42L, and a brake lever rotation angle sensor 48. The base 41L is a pedestal fixed to the front side of the vehicle on the side opposite to the driver's side of the left waist 13L. The rod 42L is installed on the base 41L through a pin 45L in a manner that the upper end 43L of the rod 42L can rotate freely relative to the base 41L. As a result, the lower end 44L approaches and moves away from the left waist 13L and moves forward and backward relative to the driver's side. In addition, a cable 46 connected to the brake device is connected to the upper end 43L. The brake lever rotation angle sensor 48 detects the rotation angle of the upper end 43L and inputs it to the control unit.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown by arrow 92 in FIG. 1 , when the driver holds the lower end portion 44L and pulls the lower end portion 44L toward the driver side, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown by the arrow 93 in , the upper end 43L of the rod 42L moves in the direction in which the front end is separated from the base portion 41L. As a result, the upper end 43L pulls the cable 46 downward, and the brake device is activated. In addition, when the driver holds the lower end 44L and pulls the lower end 44L toward the driver's side, the upper end 43L rotates around the pin 45L. The brake lever rotation angle sensor 48 detects the rotation angle of the upper end 43L and inputs it to the control unit. The control unit activates the brake device to increase the braking force according to the input rotation angle. On the contrary, when the driver weakens the grip of the lower end 44L and moves the lower end 44L away from the driver, the cable 46 loosens and the brake device stops. In addition, the control unit stops the brake device by rotating the upper end 43L in the opposite direction.

[0032] Thus, the brake lever 40L is mounted so that the upper end 43L is rotatable relative to the left waist 13L in such a manner that the lower end 44L approaches and moves away from the left waist 13L and the lower end 44L moves forward and backward relative to the driver's side. The brake lever 40L adjusts the braking force according to the stroke of the lower end 44L relative to the left waist 13L.

[0033] A brake lever 40R is attached to the right waist portion 13R in a bilaterally symmetrical manner to the brake lever 40L attached to the left waist portion 13L. The brake lever 40R has the same structure as the brake lever 40L, and thus description thereof is omitted.

[0034] The upper end 43L of the brake lever 40L attached to the left waist portion 13L and the upper end (not shown) of the brake lever 40R attached to the right waist portion 13R are connected by a connection mechanism 47. The connection mechanism 47 is a rod-shaped member rotatably supported at the vehicle front of the base 20, and rotates the left and right brake levers 40L and 40R together. The connection mechanism 47 can activate the brake device through one or both of the left and right brake levers 40L and 40R.

[0035] Next, refer to Figure 4 The operation of the vehicle steering handle 100 by the driver will be described. Figure 1 The neutral state shown is rotationally driven within a range of 90 degrees to the left and right. Figure 4 This shows a state where the driver has turned the steering wheel 10 to the right by a maximum angle of 90 degrees.

[0036] The steering wheel 10 is an isosceles trapezoidal annular body, in which the lower bottom 12 is longer than the upper bottom 11. Figure 4 As shown in the figure, in the state of rotating 90 degrees to the right, the right waist 13R comes to a position extending at an angle θ (about 20 degrees in this embodiment) in the right oblique upward direction. Therefore, the driver can keep the steering wheel 10 at a position of 90 degrees to the right by bending the wrist of the right hand 80R (90 degrees-θ). In addition, since the bending angle of the wrist is less than 90 degrees, the right thumb 81R can easily press the operating end 32 of the accelerator lever 30. At this time, the driver can also hold the left waist 13L with the left hand 80L and operate the brake lever 40L with the left index finger 82L, middle finger 83L, ring finger 84L, and little finger 85L.

[0037] In addition, the vehicle steering handle 100 is provided with rotation operation parts 17L and 17R protruding toward the driver side from the driver side surfaces of the left waist part 13L and the right waist part 13R at both ends of the lower bottom part 12. Thus, the driver can rotate the steering wheel 10 and steer the vehicle by pressing the rotation operation parts 17L and 17R with the palm 86R without holding the steering wheel 10. Therefore, the burden of the driver's driving operation can be reduced.

[0038] As described above, in the vehicle steering handle 100 according to the embodiment, the driver's operation is easy and the burden on the driver can be reduced.

[0039] Next, refer to Figure 5 Another embodiment of the vehicle steering handle 200 will be described. Figures 1 to 4 The same parts of the vehicle steering handle 100 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0040] The vehicle steering handle 200 is provided with a steering switch 60 and a wiper switch 50 at the left waist portion 13L. The other structures are the same as those of the vehicle steering handle 100 described above.

[0041] like Figure 5As shown, the turn switch 60 is composed of a housing 61 mounted on the left waist 13L, and a push-type L switch 62 and R switch 63 mounted on the housing 61. When the driver presses the L switch 62, the left turn signal flashes, and when the driver presses the R switch 63, the right turn signal flashes.

[0042] Similarly, the wiper switch 50 is composed of a housing 51 mounted on the left waist portion 13L, a push-type automatic button 52 mounted on the housing 51, a shut-off button 53, and a spray button 54. When the driver presses the automatic button 52, the wiper is operated and stopped according to rainfall. In addition, when the driver presses the spray button 54, the wiper starts to operate, and when the driver presses the shut-off button 53, the operation of the wiper stops.

[0043] In this way, the vehicle steering handle 200 is provided with a push-type steering switch 60 and a push-type wiper switch 50 at the left waist portion 13L. Therefore, by the driver holding the left waist portion 13L of the steering wheel 10, in addition to steering, accelerating, and decelerating the vehicle, the steering switch 60 and the wiper switch 50 can also be operated. As a result, the driving operation is easy and the burden of the driver's driving operation can be reduced.

[0044] In the above, in the described vehicle steering handles 100 and 200 , the accelerator lever 30 is arranged at the right waist portion 13R, and the brake levers 40L and 40R are arranged at the left waist portion 13L and the right waist portion 13R, respectively, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0045] For example, the accelerator lever 30 may be arranged at the left waist portion 13L, or at both the left waist portion 13L and the right waist portion 13R. In addition, the brake lever 40L, 40R may be arranged at either the left waist portion 13L or the right waist portion 13R.

[0046] In the above description, the brake lever 40L is described as including the cable 46 connected to the brake device and the brake lever rotation angle sensor 48 that detects the rotation angle of the upper end portion 43L and inputs it to the control unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the brake lever 40L may include either the cable 46 or the brake lever rotation angle sensor 48.

[0047] In the above description, the steering wheel 10 is connected to the base 20 via the upper spokes 15 and the lower spokes 16, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the left waist portion 13L, the right waist portion 13R and the base 20 may be connected via left and right spokes without the upper spokes 15 and the lower spokes 16.

[0048] In the above description, the vehicle steering handle 100 is described as Figure 1The neutral state shown is rotationally driven within a range of 90 degrees to the left and right, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the rotational drive may be performed within a range of 70 to 110 degrees to the left and right, respectively.

[0049] In the above description, the steering wheel 10 is described as an isosceles trapezoidal annular body composed of the upper bottom 11, the lower bottom 12 longer than the upper bottom 11, the left waist 13L, and the right waist 13R, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the steering wheel 10 may be an isosceles trapezoidal annular body in which the lower bottom 12 is longer than the upper bottom 11, or may be a trapezoidal annular body in which the left waist 13L and the right waist 13R are of different lengths.

[0050] In the above description, the left brake lever 40L and the right brake lever 40R are described as being bilaterally symmetrical, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the length of the right lever (not shown) may be shorter than the length of the left lever 42L.

[0051] In the above description, the turn switch 60 and the wiper switch 50 are described as push-type switches, but they may be configured as switches of other types, for example, touch switches.

Claims

1. A steering handle for a vehicle, characterized in that: have: Trapezoidal steering wheel; A throttle lever, mounted on one or both waist sections; and A brake lever is installed on one side or both sides of the waist.

2. The vehicle steering handle according to claim 1, wherein: The steering wheel is an isosceles trapezoidal annular body composed of an upper bottom portion, a lower bottom portion longer than the upper bottom portion, and left and right waist portions.

3. The vehicle steering handle according to claim 2, wherein: The waist parts on the left and right sides are inclined relative to the up-down direction, The tilt angle ranges from 10 degrees to 30 degrees.

4. The vehicle steering handle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The accelerator lever is installed so that the operating end is located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel and can rotate around the waist, and the accelerator opening is adjusted according to the rotation angle. The brake lever has an upper end portion mounted to be rotatable relative to the waist in a manner such that the lower end portion approaches and moves away from the waist and the lower end portion moves forward and backward relative to the driver's side, and the braking force is adjusted according to the stroke of the lower end portion relative to the waist.

5. The vehicle steering handle according to claim 4, wherein: The waist part on one side or both sides is provided with a steering switch and a wiper switch.

Images