Operation switch for vehicle

Abstract

To provide an operation switch for a vehicle, arranged to a lower part of an instrument panel, capable of recognizing a switch position while reducing the possibility of an error operation.SOLUTION: An operation switch for a vehicle 10 is arranged to a lower part 4b of an instrument panel 4, and includes: a base member 11; and a lever type switch member 12 that is swingably supported by the base member 11, and has an operation part 13 that performs a pressing and leading operation to a swing side, and comprises: a guard member 20 that is arranged to a circumference of the operation part 13 of the switch member 12, and includes a projection part 21 projected from an outer surface 13a of the operation part 13; and a light source 30 that irradiates the guard member 20 or the circumference of the guard member 20 with light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation switch for a vehicle installed in a vehicle, and more particularly to an operation switch for a vehicle provided with a lever-type switch member suitable for an electric parking brake device.

Background Art

[0002] Various operation switches for vehicles are arranged on the instrument panel of a vehicle. For example, an electric parking brake device for a vehicle that has become popular in recent years can usually be switched between operation and release by manually operating an operation switch (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a lever-type switch that switches between on and off by a pulling operation and a pushing operation is also used as an operation switch for a vehicle applied to this electric parking brake device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the operation switch of the electric parking brake device is preferably located at a position where it is easy for an occupant (mainly the driver) to operate while sitting in the seat. However, it is operated during the release operation before starting the vehicle and during the operation operation when parking the vehicle, and is not frequently operated. Generally, operation switches for air conditioners, audio systems, etc. that are operated more frequently are arranged at a position on the upper part of the instrument panel that is easy to visually recognize and operate, and operation switches that are not frequently used, such as the operation switch of the electric parking brake device, are often arranged at the lower part of the instrument panel.

[0005] Not only limited to the operation switch of the electric parking brake device, when a vehicle operation switch is arranged at the lower part of the instrument panel in this way, there is a risk that a part of the occupant's body such as the knees and legs may hit it, causing the operation switch to be accidentally operated. In particular, in the case of a lever-type switch, there is a risk that the occupant's clothing may get caught on the lever-type switch member, causing the operation switch to be accidentally operated. Also, although the operation switch at the lower part of the instrument panel can be operated while sitting on the seat, its visibility is not sufficient, and it is conceivable that the switch may be searched for blindly by hand.

[0006] This invention was conceived by paying attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle operation switch arranged at the lower part of the instrument panel that reduces the risk of accidental operation and makes it easier to recognize the switch position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This invention was made to solve at least part of the above problems and can be realized as the following embodiments or application examples. The vehicle operation switch according to this application example is a vehicle operation switch having a base member and a lever-type switch member that is swingably supported by the base member and has an operation portion for pushing and pulling operations on the swing side, and a guard member that is arranged around the operation portion of the switch member and has a protrusion protruding from the outer surface of the operation portion, and a light source that irradiates light toward the guard member or the periphery of the guard member.

[0008] According to this application example, since the protrusion of the guard member arranged around the operation part of the switch member protrudes more than the outer surface of the operation part, even if the knees or legs of the occupant approach near the operation part, the knees and legs hit the protrusion and it is difficult to hit the operation part, reducing the risk of accidental operation of the switch member. Also, the protrusion makes it difficult for the occupant's clothing to get caught on the switch member, also reducing the risk of accidental operation of the switch due to this. Furthermore, since light is irradiated from the light source to the guard member or the periphery of the guard member, the guard member or the periphery of the guard member glows and the switch position becomes easier to recognize.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to this case, in the vehicle operation switch arranged at the lower part of the instrument panel, the risk of accidental operation can be reduced, and the switch position becomes easier to recognize.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Referring to the drawings, embodiments of the present case will be described. The following embodiments are merely examples, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and applications of technologies not explicitly stated in these embodiments. Each configuration of the following embodiments can be implemented with various modifications without departing from their gist. Also, they can be selected as needed, or appropriately combined.

[0012] Note that the vehicle 1 according to each embodiment described below is a commercial vehicle including a truck. However, the vehicle operation switch of the present case can be applied not only to commercial vehicles but also to passenger cars. Also, in FIGS. 1 to 4 for reference, it is assumed that the vehicle is on a horizontal plane, and the front of the vehicle is designated as "FR", the rear of the vehicle is designated as "RR", the right side in the vehicle width direction is designated as "RH", the left side in the vehicle width direction is designated as "LH", the vertically upward direction is designated as "UP", and the vertically downward direction is designated as "DW", and they are indicated by arrows.

[0013] [1. Configuration] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "instrument panel") 4 is provided below the front window 3 in front of the driver's seat and the passenger seat (both not shown) in the vehicle cabin 2. Also, a steering wheel 5 is provided in front of the driver's seat, and a shift lever 6 is provided on the side (passenger seat side) of the steering wheel 5.

[0014] The instrument panel 4 can be roughly divided into an instrument panel upper part 4a facing obliquely upward inside the vehicle cabin 2, an instrument panel lower part 4b facing obliquely downward inside the vehicle cabin 2, and an instrument panel intermediate part 4c connecting the instrument panel upper part 4a and the instrument panel lower part 4b with a smooth curved surface. The shift lever 6 is arranged near the instrument panel intermediate part 4c of the instrument panel upper part 4a. Near the shift lever 6, a P button (parking button) 7 is arranged. When the vehicle 1 stops, the P button 7 is operated, and a transmission (not shown) is set to the parking mode.

[0015] Since the vicinity of the center part 4c of the instrument panel upper part 4a is located relatively close to the driver seated in the driver's seat, if the shift lever 6 and the P button 7 are arranged near the center part 4c of the instrument panel upper part 4a, the shift lever 6 and the P button 7 can be arranged near the driver, and their respective operability can be enhanced.

[0016] Below the shift lever 6, a lever-type switch (vehicle operation switch) 10 for an electric parking brake for turning on and off an electric parking brake device (not shown) is provided. The lever-type switch 10 is provided directly below the shift lever 6 and the P button 7, near the center part 4c of the instrument panel lower part 4b. Although the visibility of the lever-type switch 10 is not good in the instrument panel lower part 4b, as long as it is directly below the shift lever 6 and the P button 7, the lever-type switch 10 can be operated continuously after the operation of the shift lever 6 and the P button 7.

[0017] That is, after the vehicle stops, when the driver sets the shift lever 6 and the P button 7 to the parking mode (parking mode) with the left hand and then tries to set the electric parking brake device to on by operating the lever-type switch 10, since the lever-type switch 10 is arranged directly below the shift lever 6 and the P button 7, the operation when the vehicle stops can be smoothly performed without greatly moving the hand.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lever-type switch 10 has a base member 11, a lever (lever-type switch member) 12 supported by the base member 11, and a cover member 14 attached to the base member 11 and covering the base member 11 from the vehicle interior side. Further, the base member 11 is fixed to the back side of the instrument panel lower part 4b, and the lever 12 is swingably supported by the base member 11 via a pin 15. A resin material is applied to the base member 11, the lever 12, and the cover member 14. In FIG. 3, the lever 12 is shown with a changed brightness so as to be distinguishable from others, and thin lines are additionally provided for the outside shape of the lever 12 to be visible. Further, in FIG. 3, the cover member 14 is shown omitted.

[0019] An electric wire (not shown) for sending an electric signal for turning on and off the electric parking brake device is connected to the base member 11. In response to the operation of the lever 12, an on signal (locking signal) for operating the electric parking brake and an off signal (brake release signal) for releasing the electric parking brake are transmitted.

[0020] The lever 12 is provided with an operation part (operation knob) 13 for pushing and pulling operations on its swinging side. By pressing the lever 12 by placing a finger on the front surface (outer surface) 13a of the operation part 13 (on the vehicle interior 2 side) (pushing operation), and pulling the lever 12 by placing a finger on the rear surface (inner surface) 13b of the operation part 13 (on the base member 11 side) (pulling operation), an on signal or an off signal is transmitted to the electric parking brake device.

[0021] The cover member 14 is disposed between the base member 11 and the lever 12. The cover member 14 is positioned so as to cover the outer periphery of the operation part 13, that is, the base end side (the side supported by the pin 15, upper side in FIG. 4), the tip end side (swinging end side, lower side in FIG. 4), and the outer sides of both left and right edges, and is fixed to the front side of the lower part 4b of the instrument panel.

[0022] This cover member 14 is formed with a recessed part 14a at the tip end side (lower side in FIG. 4) of the operation part 13, into which a finger can be inserted on the rear side of the lever 12 during the pulling operation of the lever 12. The outer surface 13a of the operation part 13 of the lever 12 protrudes slightly more inside the vehicle interior 2 than the outer surface 14b of the cover member 14, making it easier to grasp the operation part 13 by the feel of the finger during the pushing and pulling operations, and also making it easier to operate by the amount protruding inside the vehicle interior 2.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a guard member 20 is disposed around the operation portion 13 of the lever-type switch 10. This guard member 20 has a protrusion 21 that protrudes from the outer surface 13a of the operation portion 13 so that the knees and legs of the occupant do not accidentally hit the operation portion 13 and cause an accidental pressing operation. In FIG. 4, thin lines are additionally drawn to show the outer surface shapes of the respective portions, and further, the lever 12 and the guard member 20 are shown with different brightness levels so as to be distinguishable from others.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the guard members 20 are arranged in pairs at the left and right edges of the operation portion 13 and the cover member 14, and both extend in the direction in which the left and right edges extend. The surface of each guard member 20 protrudes inward of the passenger compartment 2 from the outer surfaces 14b of the operation portion 13 and the cover member 14. Protrusions 21 that protrude more inward of the passenger compartment 2 than the other portions are formed at portions located outside the left and right edges of the operation portion 13 at the intermediate portion in the extending direction of the guard member 20. The surface of the guard member 20 is formed of a smooth curved surface.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1(b) with hatching for easy identification, the lever-type switch 10 includes a light source 30 that irradiates light toward the guard member 20 or the periphery of the guard member 20. In the present embodiment, the light source 30 is formed in a line shape. For example, a light-emitting diode (LED) is used for this light source 30, which is formed in a line shape and emits light when energized. In the present embodiment, slits 22 extending in the extending direction of the guard member 20 are formed at the base portions (portions on the side in contact with the instrument panel 4) of the respective guard members 20, and the linear light source 30 is disposed inside these slits 22.

[0026] Thereby, when the light source 30 is energized, the light source 30 emits light, and the light is irradiated outward (to the sides of the respective guard members 20) through the slits 22 to illuminate the periphery of the guard member 20. Also, in the present embodiment, the guard member 20 itself is made of a translucent resin, and when the light source 30 emits light, a part of the light is also irradiated onto the guard member 20 itself, and light is emitted outside the guard member 20 through the guard member 20.

[0027] [2. Function and Effect] Since the lever-type switch (vehicle operation switch) 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, the following functions and effects can be obtained.

[0028] Since the lever-type switch 10 is disposed directly below the shift lever 6 and the P button 7, and closer to the instrument panel intermediate portion 4c of the lower instrument panel 4b, when the vehicle is stopped, the driver can smoothly operate the shift lever 6 and the P button 7 and the lever-type switch 10 without greatly moving the hand. Further, since the outer surface 13a of the operation portion 13 of the lever 12 protrudes inward of the passenger compartment 2 more than the outer surface 14b of the cover member 14 (more than the outer surface 4d of the instrument panel 4), it is easy to grasp the operation portion 13 by the touch of the finger during the push-pull operation, and it is also easier to operate by the amount protruding inward of the passenger compartment 2.

[0029] On the other hand, when the lever-type switch 10 is disposed in the lower instrument panel 4b directly below the shift lever 6 and the P button 7, there is a risk that a part of the passenger's body such as the knee or leg hits and the lever-type switch 10 is accidentally operated, or the passenger's clothing is caught on the operation portion 13 of the lever 12 and the lever-type switch 10 is accidentally operated. In particular, from the viewpoint of operability, when the operation portion 13 of the lever 12 protrudes inward of the passenger compartment 2, the passenger's knee or leg is more likely to hit, and the passenger's clothing is more likely to be caught, increasing the risk of accidental operation of the operation switch.

[0030] On the contrary, in the present lever-type switch 10, the guard member 20 disposed around the operation portion 13 of the lever 12 has a protrusion 21 that protrudes more than the outer surface 13a of the operation portion 13. Therefore, even if the passenger's knee or leg approaches the vicinity of the operation portion 13, the knee or leg hits the protrusion 21 and it is difficult to hit the operation portion 13. Therefore, the risk of accidental operation of the lever-type switch 10 can be reduced. Further, the protrusion 21 makes it difficult for the passenger's clothing to be caught on the operation portion 13 of the lever 12, and the risk of accidental operation of the lever-type switch 10 can be reduced.

[0031] Furthermore, when the lever-type switch 10 is disposed at the lower part 4b of the instrument panel facing obliquely downward inside the passenger compartment 2, the visibility is low. However, the light from the light source 30 is projected through the slit 22 to irradiate the periphery of the guard member 20, or the translucent guard member 20 is irradiated to cause the guard member 20 itself to glow. As a result, the guard member 20 and its periphery glow like illumination, making it easier to recognize the switch position. In addition, since the protrusion 21 that protrudes more inward of the passenger compartment 2 than the other parts is formed in the middle part of the guard member 20 in the extending direction, even by touching the protrusion 21 of the guard member 20 blindly, the switch position can be easily recognized.

[0032] [3. Others] The configuration of the above embodiment is an example, and it can be implemented by appropriately changing it without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the lever-type switch (vehicle operation switch) 10 for the electric parking brake is exemplified, but the present invention can be widely applied to the lever-type switch (vehicle operation switch) disposed at the lower part of the instrument panel 4. In addition, in the present embodiment, the guard members 20 are arranged in pairs at the left and right edges of the operation unit 13 and the cover member 14, and both extend in the direction in which the left and right edges extend. However, the configuration and shape of the guard member 20 are not limited to those of the embodiment.

[0033] In addition, in the present embodiment, the slit 22 for transmitting the light from the light source 30 is formed at the base of the guard member 20. However, when forming the slit, the arrangement and shape of the slit are not limited to those of the present embodiment. Even if the slit is not formed and only the translucent guard member 20 itself is irradiated with light, the switch position can be easily recognized. Also, with a configuration in which only the periphery of the guard member 20 is irradiated with light through the slit without causing the guard member 20 itself to glow, the switch position can be easily recognized.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 1 Vehicle 2 Passenger Compartment 3 Front window 4 Instrument panel (IP) 4a Upper part of IP 4b Lower part of IP 4c Middle part of IP 4d Outer surface of instrument panel 4 5 Steering wheel 6 Shift lever 7 P button (parking button) 10 Lever-type switch for electric parking brake (vehicle operation switch) 11 Base member 12 Lever (lever-type switch member) 13 Operation part (operation knob) 13a Outer surface of operation part 13 13b Rear surface of operation part 13 14 Cover member 14a Concave part 14b Outer surface of cover member 14 15 Pin 20 Guard member 21 Protrusion 22 Slit 30 Light source FR Front of vehicle RR Rear of vehicle RH Right side in vehicle width direction LH Left side in vehicle width direction UP Vertically upward DW Vertically downward

Claims

【Claim 1】 A vehicle operation switch disposed at the lower part of an instrument panel, comprising a base member and a lever-type switch member that is swingably supported by the base member and has an operation part for performing a push-pull operation on the swing side. A guard member disposed around the operation part of the switch member and having a protrusion protruding from the outer surface of the operation part. A light source that irradiates light toward the guard member or the periphery of the guard member. A vehicle operation switch characterized by the above.

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