Shifter

Abstract

To provide a downsized shifter.SOLUTION: In a shifter 10, a supported surface of a ball shaft of a lever 20 and a support surface 14B of a cover 14 are made to have a spherical surface shape, and the supported surface is supported by the support surface 14B. A protrusion 30A of an energization piece 30 is moved along an energization surface by an energization force of the energization piece 30 and the lever 20 is rotated to an H position. Here, the ball shaft of the lever 20 is provided with the energization surface. Therefore, the lever 20 can be energized in the ball shaft, so that the shifter 10 can be downsized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shift device in which a supported surface of a supported portion of a shift body is supported by a supporting surface of a support body, and the shift body is rotated around the supported portion. [Background technology]

[0002] In the shift lever device described in Patent Document 1 below, the curved surface of the spherical axis of the shift lever is supported by the spherical bearing surface of the plate, and the shift lever rotates around the spherical axis. Also, the detent pin of the shift lever is brought into contact with the detent surface by the biasing force of a compression coil spring, and the shift lever is biased toward the shift position.

[0003] In this shift lever device, the detent pin, the compression coil spring, and the detent surface are provided at a location other than the spherical axis of the shift lever. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-182074 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a shift device that can be made compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A shift device of a first aspect of the present invention includes a shift body having a supported part on which a supported surface is provided, a support body having a supporting surface that supports the supported surface and at least one of the supported surfaces made spherical, and the shift body is rotated around the supported part to change a shift position, and a biasing mechanism having a first biasing part and a second biasing part provided on the supported part, the first biasing part being moved relatively along the second biasing part by the biasing force of at least one of the first biasing part and the second biasing part, thereby rotating the shift body toward the shift position.

[0007] A shift device of a second aspect of the present invention includes a shift body having a supported part on which a supported surface is provided, a support body having a supporting surface that supports the supported surface and at least one of the supported surfaces being spherical, and the shift body being rotated around the supported part to change a shift position, a biasing mechanism having a first biasing part provided on one of the supported part and the support body and a second biasing part provided on the other of the supported part and the support body, the first biasing part being moved relatively along the second biasing part by the biasing force of at least one of the first biasing part and the second biasing part, thereby rotating the shift body toward the shift position, and a housing provided separately from the support body and housing the shift body.

[0008] A shift device of a third aspect of the present invention is the shift device of the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the biasing force of at least one of the first biasing portion and the second biasing portion is applied in a direction intersecting the fixing direction of the support body.

[0009] A shift device of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the shift device of any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the support body restricts rotation of the shift body. Effect of the Invention

[0010] In the shift device of the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the supported surface of the supported portion of the shift body and the support surface of the support body is made spherical, the supported surface is supported by the supporting surface, and the shift body is rotated around the supported portion to change the shift position. Also, the first biasing portion is relatively moved along the second biasing portion by the biasing force of at least one of the first biasing portion and the second biasing portion of the biasing mechanism, and the shift body is rotated toward the shift position.

[0011] Here, the second biasing portion is provided on the supported portion, so that the shift body can be biased at the supported portion, and the shift body can be made compact.

[0012] In the shift device of the second aspect of the present invention, at least one of the supported surface of the supported portion of the shift body and the support surface of the support body is made spherical, the supported surface is supported by the support surface, and the shift body is rotated around the supported portion to change the shift position. In addition, the first biasing portion is relatively moved along the second biasing portion by the biasing force of at least one of the first biasing portion and the second biasing portion of the biasing mechanism, and the shift body is rotated toward the shift position. Furthermore, a housing is provided separately from the support body, and the shift body is housed in the housing.

[0013] Here, the first urging portion is provided on one of the supported portion and the support body, and the second urging portion is provided on the other of the supported portion and the support body. Therefore, the shift body can be urged at the supported portion, and the size can be reduced.

[0014] In the shift device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the biasing force of at least one of the first biasing portion and the second biasing portion acts in a direction intersecting the fixing direction of the support body, so that the fixation of the support body can be well maintained.

[0015] In the shift device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the support body restricts the rotation of the shift body, which reduces the need to provide a separate member for restricting the rotation of the shift body, thereby simplifying the configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]1A and 1B are diagrams showing a shift device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 1A is a rear view seen from the rear, and 1B is a perspective view seen from diagonally below and rearward. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the main parts of a shift device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from diagonally rear left, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a cover of the shift device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the right side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1A is an oblique view showing the main parts of a shift device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed diagonally from the rear above; FIG. 1B is an oblique view showing a lever of the shift device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the left side. [Figure 4] 13A to 13D are cross-sectional views showing the main parts of a shift device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) shows when the lever is positioned in the H position, (B) shows when the lever is positioned in the N position, (C) shows when the lever is positioned in the R position, and (D) shows when the lever is positioned in the D position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] [First embodiment] Fig. 1(A) shows a rear view of a shift device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and Fig. 1(B) shows a perspective view of the shift device 10 as seen from diagonally below and rearward. In the drawings, the front of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow FR, the right side of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow RH, and the upper side of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0018] The shift device 10 according to this embodiment is installed on a steering column (not shown) of a vehicle (automobile), and the front, right and upper sides of the shift device 10 face toward the front, right and upper sides of the vehicle, respectively.

[0019] 1(A) and 1(B), the shift device 10 is provided with a housing 12 in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box as a container, and the housing 12 is fixed to a steering column to install the shift device 10 on the steering column. The housing 12 is provided with a front housing 12A on the front side and a rear housing 12B on the rear side, and the housing 12 is configured by assembling the front housing 12A and the rear housing 12B.

[0020] A resin-made, substantially bottomed cylindrical cover 14 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) is provided as a support in the right part of the housing 12. A substantially rectangular fixing plate 14A is integrally provided on the upper and lower sides of the cover 14, and the fixing plate 14A is fixed in the vertical direction between the side wall of the front housing 12A and the side wall of the rear housing 12B by screws (not shown), thereby fixing the cover 14 in the housing 12. The inside of the cover 14 is open to the front side, and is closed by the front wall (bottom wall) of the front housing 12A. A substantially rectangular first restricting hole 16 is formed penetrating the left part of the side wall of the cover 14 as a first restricting portion, and the first restricting hole 16 extends in the vertical direction. A rectangular second restricting hole 18 is formed penetrating the rear wall of the cover 14 as a second restricting portion, and the second restricting hole 18 extends in the horizontal direction. A substantially rectangular third restriction hole 16A is formed as a third restriction portion at the left side wall of the cover 14, behind the center of the first restriction hole 16, and extends substantially in the vertical direction. A spherical support surface 14B is formed on the inner surface of the cover 14.

[0021] A generally rectangular plate-shaped biasing piece 30 is formed on the left side of the side wall of the cover 14 above the first restriction hole 16 as a first biasing part constituting the biasing mechanism (moderating mechanism), and the biasing piece 30 extends forward from the rear wall of the cover 14. The biasing piece 30 is elastically tiltable in the radial direction of the cover 14 around its rear end, and the biasing piece 30 is tilted toward the radial outside (left side) of the cover 14 against its own biasing force, and is tilted toward the radial inside (right side) of the cover 14 by its own biasing force. A generally conical protrusion 30A is integrally formed on the lower end (tip) of the biasing piece 30 as a contact part, and the protrusion 30A protrudes toward the radial inside of the cover 14.

[0022] A roughly rod-shaped lever 20 serving as a shift body is supported within the cover 14. A roughly spherical spherical shaft 22 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) serving as a supported portion is provided at the left end (base end) of the lever 20, and a spherical supported surface 22A is formed on the circumferential surface of the spherical shaft 22. The spherical shaft 22 is fitted within the cover 14 and rotatably supported between the cover 14 and the front wall of the front housing 12A, and the supported surface 22A is slidably supported on the support surface 14B of the cover 14. The spherical shaft 22 rotatably penetrates the right side wall of the cover 14 and the right wall of the housing 12, and the lever 20 extends to the right from the spherical shaft 22 and is rotatable (movable) around the spherical shaft 22.

[0023] A first regulating post 24 having a substantially rectangular columnar shape as a first regulated portion is integrally provided on the left portion of the spherical axis 22, and extends to the left side. The first regulating post 24 penetrates the first regulating hole 16 and the third regulating hole 16A of the cover 14, and the first regulating post 24 is rotatable in the front-rear and up-down directions relative to the first regulating hole 16 and the third regulating hole 16A.

[0024] A cylindrical second regulating post 26 as a second regulated portion is integrally provided at the rear end of the spherical axis 22, and the second regulating post 26 protrudes rearward. The second regulating post 26 penetrates the second regulating hole 18 of the cover 14, and the second regulating post 26 is fitted into the second regulating hole 18 in the width direction (approximately the up-down direction) of the second regulating hole 18, and is rotatable relative to the second regulating hole 18 in the extension direction of the second regulating hole 18 (approximately the left-right direction).

[0025] A recess 32 is formed on the left side of the spherical axis 22 above the first regulating pillar 24, and a biasing surface 34, which is generally T-shaped in front view, is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 32 as a second biasing portion constituting the biasing mechanism. The front part of the biasing surface 34 is an H part 34H having an L-shaped cross section, and the rear center of the biasing surface 34 is an N part 34N, and the biasing surface 34 is inclined in a direction toward the center of the spherical axis 22 as it moves from the N part 34N to the H part 34H. The upper side of the biasing surface 34 above the N part 34N is an R part 34R, and the R part 34R is inclined in a direction toward the center of the spherical axis 22 as it moves toward the N part 34N side. The lower side of the biasing surface 34 below the N part 34N is a D part 34D, and the D part 34D is inclined in a direction toward the center of the spherical axis 22 as it moves toward the N part 34N side. Therefore, the biasing surface 34 is inclined in a direction toward the center of the spherical axis 22 from the R portion 34R and the D portion 34D through the N portion 34N toward the H portion 34H.

[0026] A roughly rectangular parallelepiped knob 28 serving as a grip is provided on the right side (tip side) of the lever 20. The knob 28 is disposed inside the vehicle cabin, and the lever 20 can be rotated in the front-rear direction (second direction, select direction) and the up-down direction (first direction, shift direction) by a vehicle occupant (particularly the driver) gripping the knob 28.

[0027] The lever 20 is disposed at the H position (home position) as a shift position. The convex portion 30A of the biasing piece 30 of the cover 14 is inserted into the recessed portion 32 of the spherical axle 22 by the biasing force of the biasing piece 30 and abuts against the H portion 34H of the biasing surface 34 in the recessed portion 32, and the lever 20 is held at the H position by the biasing force of the biasing piece 30. The first regulating pillar 24 of the spherical axle 22 is inserted into the third regulating hole 16A of the cover 14 and fitted therein in the substantially vertical direction, and the first regulating pillar 24 abuts against the lower end and upper end of the third regulating hole 16A, respectively, to regulate the upward and downward rotation of the lever 20 from the H position. Furthermore, the second regulating pillar 26 of the spherical axle 22 abuts against the right end of the second regulating hole 18 of the cover 14 to regulate the forward rotation of the lever 20 from the H position.

[0028] The lever 20 is rotated rearward from the H position to be disposed in the N position (neutral position) as a shift position. When the lever 20 is rotated from the H position to the N position, the protrusion 30A of the urging piece 30 of the cover 14 changes the contact position with the urging surface 34 of the spherical axle 22 from the H part 34H to the N part 34N against the urging force of the urging piece 30. Furthermore, when the lever 20 is rotated rearward from the H position, the first regulating pillar 24 of the spherical axle 22 is rotated forward from the third regulating hole 16A of the cover 14 to the first regulating hole 16, and the second regulating pillar 26 of the spherical axle 22 is rotated leftward with respect to the second regulating hole 18 of the cover 14. Moreover, the rotation of the lever 20 rearward from the N position is restricted by the second regulating pillar 26 abutting against the left end of the second regulating hole 18.

[0029] The lever 20 is rotated upward from the N position to be disposed in the R position (reverse position) as a shift position. When the lever 20 is rotated from the N position to the R position, the protrusion 30A of the biasing piece 30 of the cover 14 changes the contact position with the biasing surface 34 of the spherical axle 22 from the N part 34N to the R part 34R against the biasing force of the biasing piece 30. Furthermore, when the lever 20 is rotated upward from the N position, the first regulating post 24 of the spherical axle 22 is rotated downward with respect to the first regulating hole 16 of the cover 14, and the second regulating post 26 of the spherical axle 22 is rotated around the central axis. Moreover, the rotation of the lever 20 upward from the R position is restricted by the first regulating post 24 being abutted against the lower end of the first regulating hole 16.

[0030] The lever 20 is rotated downward from the N position to be disposed in the D position (drive position) as a shift position. When the lever 20 is rotated from the N position to the D position, the protrusion 30A of the urging piece 30 of the cover 14 changes the contact position with the urging surface 34 of the spherical axle 22 from the N part 34N to the D part 34D against the urging force of the urging piece 30. When the lever 20 is rotated downward from the N position, the first regulating pillar 24 of the spherical axle 22 is rotated upward with respect to the first regulating hole 16 of the cover 14, and the second regulating pillar 26 of the spherical axle 22 is rotated around the central axis. In addition, the rotation of the lever 20 downward from the D position is restricted by the first regulating pillar 24 abutting against the upper end of the first regulating hole 16.

[0031] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0032] In the shift device 10 configured as described above, the supported surface 22A of the spherical axis 22 of the lever 20 and the supporting surface 14B of the cover 14 are spherical, the supported surface 22A is supported by the supporting surface 14B, and the lever 20 is rotated around the spherical axis 22 to change the shift position.

[0033] When the lever 20 is rotated from the H position to the N position, the R position, or the D position, the protrusion 30A of the biasing piece 30 of the cover 14 changes the contact position with the biasing surface 34 of the spherical axis 22 from the H portion 34H to the N portion 34N, the R portion 34R, or the D portion 34D along the biasing surface 34 against the biasing force of the biasing piece 30. Furthermore, when the operating force on the lever 20 is released while the lever 20 is disposed in the N position, the R position, or the D position, the protrusion 30A of the biasing piece 30 changes the contact position with the biasing surface 34 from the N portion 34N, the R portion 34R, or the D portion 34D to the H portion 34H along the biasing surface 34 by the biasing force of the biasing piece 30, thereby rotating the lever 20 to the H position.

[0034] Here, the urging surface 34 is provided on the spherical axis 22 of the lever 20. Therefore, the lever 20 can be urged at the spherical axis 22, and unlike a case in which the urging surface 34 is provided somewhere other than on the spherical axis 22, the shift device 10 can be made smaller.

[0035] Furthermore, the urging piece 30 is provided on the cover 14. Therefore, the lever 20 can be urged at the cover 14, and unlike a case in which the urging piece 30 is provided somewhere other than the cover 14, the shift device 10 can be made smaller.

[0036] Moreover, the biasing piece 30 has a biasing force (elasticity), which eliminates the need to provide a separate biasing member, allowing the number of parts to be reduced and the shift device 10 to be made smaller in size.

[0037] In addition, while the cover 14 is fixed to the housing 12 in the up-down direction, the biasing piece 30 of the cover 14 biases the biasing surface 34 of the spherical axis 22 to the right. Therefore, the biasing force of the biasing piece 30 acts in a direction intersecting (approximately perpendicular to) the fixing direction of the cover 14 to the housing 12, so that the fixation of the cover 14 to the housing 12 can be maintained well.

[0038] Furthermore, the ends of the first and third restriction holes 16 and 16A of the cover 14 restrict the rotation of the first restriction post 24 of the spherical axle 22, thereby restricting the vertical rotation of the lever 20. Moreover, the end of the second restriction hole 18 of the cover 14 restricts the rotation of the second restriction post 26 of the spherical axle 22, thereby restricting the forward and backward rotation of the lever 20. This reduces the need to provide a separate member for restricting the rotation of the lever 20, and the configuration of the shift device 10 can be simplified.

[0039] In addition, the cover 14 is provided separately from the housing 12. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the configuration of the cover 14 to the housing 12, and the degree of freedom in the configuration of the housing 12 can be increased.

[0040] In this embodiment, the support surface 14B and the urging piece 30 (first urging portion) are provided on the cover 14 as the support body. However, the support surface and the first urging portion may be provided on the housing 12 as the support body.

[0041] [Second embodiment] FIG. 4(A) shows a cross-sectional view of a main portion of a shift device 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from below.

[0042] A shift device 50 according to this embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to that of the first embodiment, but differs in the following respects.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 4(A), in the shift device 50, the cover 14 in the housing 12 is formed in a generally cylindrical container shape. The cover 14 is provided with a front cover 14C on the front side and a rear cover 14D on the rear side, and the cover 14 is configured by assembling the front cover 14C and the rear cover 14D. Also, the support surface 14B in the cover 14 is formed on the front cover 14C and the rear cover 14D.

[0044] A first restriction hole 16 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) is formed through the right side wall of the cover 14, and the first restriction hole 16 extends in the vertical direction. A second restriction hole 18 is formed through the right side wall of the cover 14, and the second restriction hole 18 extends forward from the vertical center of the first restriction hole 16.

[0045] At the front side of the cover 14, a resin plate-shaped urging plate 52 (see Figs. 4A to 4D) is provided as a second urging part constituting the urging mechanism (moderating mechanism), and the urging plate 52 is substantially T-shaped when viewed from the rear side. The upper and lower ends of the urging plate 52 extend forward, and the urging plate 52 is supported by the cover 14 at the upper and lower ends. The left part of the urging plate 52 is an H part 52H having an L-shaped cross section, and the center of the right part of the urging plate 52 is an N part 52N, and the urging plate 52 is inclined in a direction toward the front side from the N part 52N to the H part 52H. The part of the urging plate 52 above the N part 52N is an R part 52R, and the R part 52R is inclined in a direction toward the front side as it approaches the N part 52N side. The lower side of the urging plate 52 below the N portion 52N is the D portion 52D, and the D portion 52D is inclined in a direction toward the front as it approaches the N portion 52N side. Therefore, the urging plate 52 is inclined in a direction toward the front as it approaches the H portion 52H from the R portion 52R and the D portion 52D via the N portion 52N.

[0046] The spherical axle 22 of the lever 20 is fitted into and rotatably supported within the cover 14, and a supported surface 22A of the spherical axle 22 is slidably supported on a supporting surface 14B of the cover 14. The vicinity of the spherical axle 22 of the lever 20 is rotatably inserted through the right side wall of the cover 14 (the first restriction hole 16 or the second restriction hole 18) and the right wall of the housing 12, and the lever 20 extends to the right side from the cover 14 and is rotatable (movable) around the spherical axle 22.

[0047] A substantially hemispherical protrusion 54 is integrally provided at the lower end of the spherical shaft 22 as a first biasing portion constituting the biasing mechanism, and the protrusion 54 protrudes downward. The protrusion 54 abuts against the biasing plate 52 of the cover 14, and the protrusion 54 elastically deforms the biasing plate 52 forward, and is biased rearward by the biasing plate 52.

[0048] The lever 20 is disposed at the H position (see FIG. 4(A)). The protruding portion 54 of the spherical shaft 22 abuts against the H portion 52H of the biasing plate 52 of the cover 14, and the lever 20 is held at the H position by the biasing force of the biasing plate 52. The lever 20 is inserted into the second restricting hole 18 of the cover 14 and fitted therein in the substantially vertical direction, and the upward and downward rotation of the lever 20 from the H position is restricted by the lever 20 abutting against the upper and lower ends of the second restricting hole 18, respectively. Furthermore, the forward rotation of the lever 20 from the H position is restricted by the lever 20 abutting against the front end of the second restricting hole 18.

[0049] When the lever 20 is rotated rearward from the H position to the N position, the contact position of the protruding portion 54 of the spherical axle 22 against the biasing force of the biasing plate 52 of the cover 14 is changed from the H portion 52H to the N portion 52N (see FIG. 4(B)). Furthermore, when the lever 20 is rotated rearward from the H position, the lever 20 is rotated from the second restriction hole 18 of the cover 14 to the first restriction hole 16. Moreover, the rotation of the lever 20 rearward from the N position is restricted by the lever 20 abutting against the rear end of the second restriction hole 18.

[0050] When the lever 20 is rotated upward from the N position to the R position, the contact position of the protruding portion 54 of the spherical shaft 22 against the biasing force of the biasing plate 52 of the cover 14 is changed from the N portion 52N to the R portion 52R (see FIG. 4(C)). Furthermore, when the lever 20 is rotated upward from the N position, the lever 20 is rotated upward with respect to the first restriction hole 16 of the cover 14. Moreover, the upward rotation of the lever 20 from the R position is restricted by the lever 20 abutting against the upper end of the first restriction hole 16.

[0051] When the lever 20 is rotated downward from position N to position D, the contact position of the protruding portion 54 of the spherical shaft 22 against the biasing force of the biasing plate 52 of the cover 14 is changed from N portion 52N to D portion 52D (see FIG. 4(D)). When the lever 20 is rotated downward from position N, the lever 20 is rotated downward with respect to the first restriction hole 16 of the cover 14. Furthermore, the downward rotation of the lever 20 from position D is restricted by the lever 20 abutting against the lower end of the first restriction hole 16.

[0052] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0053] In the shift device 50 configured as described above, the supported surface 22A of the spherical axis 22 of the lever 20 and the supporting surface 14B of the cover 14 are spherical, the supported surface 22A is supported by the supporting surface 14B, and the lever 20 is rotated around the spherical axis 22 to change the shift position.

[0054] When the lever 20 is rotated from the H position to the N position, the R position, or the D position, the protrusion 54 of the spherical axle 22 changes its contact position with the urging plate 52 from the H portion 52H to the N portion 52N, the R portion 52R, or the D portion 52D along the urging plate 52 against the urging force of the urging plate 52 of the cover 14. When the lever 20 is placed in the N position, the R position, or the D position and the operating force on the lever 20 is released, the protrusion 54 of the spherical axle 22 changes its contact position with the urging plate 52 from the N portion 52N, the R portion 52R, or the D portion 52D to the H portion 52H along the urging plate 52 due to the urging force of the urging plate 52, thereby rotating the lever 20 to the H position.

[0055] Here, a protrusion 54 is provided on the spherical axis 22 of the lever 20, and a biasing plate 52 is provided on the cover 14. Therefore, the lever 20 can be biased at the spherical axis 22, and the shift device 50 can be made smaller, unlike a case in which the protrusion 54 is provided somewhere other than the spherical axis 22. Furthermore, the lever 20 can be biased at the cover 14, and the shift device 50 can be made smaller, unlike a case in which the biasing plate 52 is provided somewhere other than the cover 14.

[0056] Moreover, the biasing plate 52 has a biasing force (elasticity), which means that there is no need to provide a separate biasing member, making it possible to reduce the number of parts and to make the shift device 50 smaller in size.

[0057] Furthermore, the ends of the first and second restriction holes 16 and 18 of the cover 14 restrict the rotation of the lever 20, thereby restricting the vertical and front-rear rotation of the lever 20. This reduces the need to provide a separate member for restricting the rotation of the lever 20, and the configuration of the shift device 50 can be simplified.

[0058] Furthermore, the cover 14 is provided separately from the housing 12. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the configuration of the cover 14 to the housing 12, and the degree of freedom in the configuration of the housing 12 can be increased.

[0059] In the first and second embodiments, the urging piece 30 or the urging plate 52 is provided on the cover 14. However, the urging piece 30 or the urging plate 52 may be provided on the housing 12.

[0060] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the biasing piece 30 has a biasing force, and in the second embodiment, the biasing plate 52 has a biasing force. However, in the first embodiment, it is sufficient that at least one of the biasing piece 30 and the biasing surface 34 has a biasing force, and in the second embodiment, it is sufficient that at least one of the biasing plate 52 and the protrusion 54 has a biasing force.

[0061] In the first and second embodiments, the lever 20 is biased toward the H position. However, the lever 20 may be biased toward a plurality of shift positions.

[0062] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the supported surface 22A of the spherical shaft 22 and the supporting surface 14B of the cover 14 are spherical. However, it is sufficient that at least one of the supported surface 22A of the spherical shaft 22 and the supporting surface 14B of the cover 14 is spherical.

[0063] In the above first and second embodiments, the shift devices 10, 50 are installed in the steering column. However, the shift devices 10, 50 may be installed in other parts of the vehicle (such as the instrument panel or console). [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10 shift device, 12 housing (accommodating body), 14 cover (support), 14B support surface, 20 lever (shift body), 22 spherical axis (supported portion), 22A supported surface, 30 biasing piece (biasing mechanism, first biasing portion), 34 biasing surface (biasing mechanism, second biasing portion), 50 shift device, 52 biasing plate (biasing mechanism, second biasing portion), 54 protrusion (biasing mechanism, first biasing portion)

Claims

1. A shift body having a supported portion on which a supported surface is provided; a support body having at least one of the supported surface and the support surface formed in a spherical shape to provide a support surface that supports the supported surface, and the shift body is rotated around the supported portion to change the shift position; a biasing mechanism including a first biasing portion and a second biasing portion provided on the supported portion, the first biasing portion being relatively moved along the second biasing portion by a biasing force of at least one of the first biasing portion and the second biasing portion, so that the shift body is rotated toward the shift position; A shift device comprising:

2. A shift body having a supported portion on which a supported surface is provided; a support body having at least one of the supported surface and the support surface formed in a spherical shape to provide a support surface that supports the supported surface, and the shift body is rotated around the supported portion to change the shift position; a biasing mechanism including a first biasing portion provided on one of the supported portion and the support body and a second biasing portion provided on the other of the supported portion and the support body, wherein the first biasing portion is relatively moved along the second biasing portion by a biasing force of at least one of the first biasing portion and the second biasing portion, thereby rotating the shift body toward the shift position; A housing body provided separately from the support body and housing the shift body; A shift device comprising:

3. 3. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing force of at least one of the first biasing portion and the second biasing portion is applied in a direction intersecting a fixing direction of the support body.

4. 3. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the support restricts rotation of the shift body.

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