Shifter

Abstract

To improve the visual quality of a steering body as viewed from the front side.SOLUTION: In a shifter, an operation body 22 is rotationally operated upward or downward to change a shift position of a transmission of a vehicle. Further, a handle 20 is rotationally operated to steer the vehicle. The operation body 22 is disposed on a rear surface of the handle 20. Thus, improvement can be achieved in the visual quality of the handle 20 as viewed from the front side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shift device in which an operating body is operated to change a shift position of a vehicle transmission. [Background technology]

[0002] In the shift device described in Patent Document 1 below, a shift element is operated to change the shift position of a vehicle transmission.

[0003] Here, in this shift device, the shift element is disposed on the upper surface of the steering wheel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 110094497 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a shift device that can improve the appearance seen from the front side of the steering body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the shift device of the present invention is arranged on the rear side of a steering body that is operated to steer a vehicle, and includes an operating body that is operated in a first direction and a second direction to change the shift position of the vehicle's transmission.

[0007] A shift device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the shift device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.

[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 operating body is operable in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions.

[0009] A shift device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the shift device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the operation body is released from the action of the operation force and returned to its initial position.

[0010] A shift device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the shift device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the operating body is made infinitely rotatable.

[0011] A shift device of a sixth aspect of the present invention is the shift device of any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, wherein the operating body is disposed at a connection between a central portion and an outer periphery of the steering body.

[0012] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a shift device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein at least a portion of the operating body is positioned closer to the outer periphery than the center between the central portion and the outer periphery of the connection portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] In the shift device of the first aspect of the present invention, the operating body is operated in a first direction and a second direction to change the shift position of the transmission of the vehicle, and the steering body is operated to steer the vehicle.

[0014] Here, the operating body is disposed on the rear side of the steering body, which makes it possible to prevent the operating body from being seen from the front side of the steering body, thereby improving the appearance from the front side of the steering body.

[0015] In the shift device of the second aspect of the present invention, the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other, so that the operating body can be easily operated in the first direction and the second direction.

[0016] In the shift device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the operating body can be operated in a third direction that intersects with the first and second directions, thereby increasing the number of directions in which the operating body can be operated.

[0017] In the shift device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation body is returned to its initial position when the operation force is released, thereby eliminating the need for an operation to return the operation body to its initial position.

[0018] In the shift device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the operating body can be rotated infinitely, which eliminates the need to operate the operating body to match the rotational position of the operating body with the shift position of the transmission.

[0019] In the shift device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the operating body is disposed at the connection portion between the central portion and the outer circumferential portion of the steering body, so that the driver can move his or her finger along the connection portion to the operating body and operate the operating body with the finger.

[0020] In the shift device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of the operating body is disposed closer to the outer periphery than the center between the central portion and the outer periphery of the connecting portion of the steering body, so that a rider can easily move his or her finger along the connecting portion to the operating body and operate the operating body with the finger. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a handle device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front right. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view showing a handle in a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a handle in a first embodiment of the present invention, where 1A is a perspective view seen from the rear diagonally right, and 1B is a side view seen from the right. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a shift device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 1A is a perspective view seen from diagonally rear right, and 1B is a side view seen from the right. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a shift device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where 10A is a perspective view seen from diagonally rear right, and 10B is a side view seen from the right. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] [First embodiment] 1 shows a perspective view of a steering wheel device 12 to which a shift device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied, as seen from diagonally forward right. In the drawing, the front of the steering wheel device 12 is indicated by an arrow FR, the right of the steering wheel device 12 is indicated by an arrow RH, and the upper side of the steering wheel device 12 is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0023] The handle device 12 in this embodiment is installed in a vehicle (automobile), and the front, right and upper sides of the handle device 12 are directed obliquely upward rear, right and upward obliquely forward of the vehicle, respectively.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, the handle device 12 is provided with an installation base 14, which is installed in front of the driver's seat (not shown) of the vehicle. A substantially cylindrical handle column 16 (steering column) is provided at the upper end of the installation base 14, and the axial direction of the handle column 16 is in the front-to-rear direction. A substantially cylindrical handle shaft 18 (steering shaft, see Figs. 3A and 3B) is coaxially supported by the handle column 16, and the handle shaft 18 protrudes forward and is rotatable.

[0025] A steering wheel 20 (see FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B) serving as a steering element is supported on the front side of the steering wheel shaft 18. A boss 20A having a generally rectangular columnar shape is provided in the center of the steering wheel 20 as a central portion, with the axial direction of the boss 20A extending in the front-to-rear direction. A rim 20B having a generally U-shape in front view is provided on the outer periphery of the steering wheel 20 as an outer peripheral portion (grip portion), and the center in the left-to-right direction of the lower portion of the rim 20B is connected to the boss 20A. Spokes 20C and 20D each having a generally rectangular plate shape are provided between the upper end of the left side and the upper end of the right side of the rim 20B and the boss 20A, respectively, as connection portions, and the spokes 20C and 20D connect the rim 20B and the boss 20A. Spokes 20C and spokes 20D extend in a direction toward the rear as they move toward the center of the handlebars 20 in the left-right direction, and the front and rear surfaces of spokes 20C and spokes 20D are inclined in a direction toward the rear as they move toward the inside of the handlebars 20 in the left-right direction.

[0026] The rear side of the boss 20A is fixed to the steering shaft 18, and the vehicle is steered by rotating the steering wheel 20 in the circumferential direction and rotating the steering wheel shaft 18 integrally with the steering wheel 20. The steering wheel 20 is disposed in front of the vehicle occupant (driver) seated in the driver's seat, and the steering wheel 20 is rotated by the occupant by gripping the left and right sides of the rim 20B with their left and right hands, respectively.

[0027] The shift device 10 according to this embodiment is installed on a spoke 20D on the right side of the handlebars 20 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B and 4A and 4B). The shift device 10 is provided with a substantially long, plate-shaped operating body 22, which extends laterally along the rear surface of the spoke 20D at the vertical center of the spoke 20D. A base end (front end) of the operating body 22 is supported within the spoke 20D, and a tip end (rear side) of the operating body 22 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the spoke 20D.

[0028] The operating body 22 is shaped like a toggle switch and is capable of rotating (pivoting) up and down within a predetermined range around its base end. The operating body 22 is disposed at a home position (initial position) in the center of the predetermined range, and can be rotated upward (in a first direction) from the home position to be disposed at an upper first position, and can also be rotated downward (in a second direction) from the home position to be disposed at a lower second position.

[0029] A right portion (part) of the operating body 22 is located closer to the rim 20B than the longitudinal center position C of the spoke 20D (the vertical plane position at the center of the line segment between the vertical center of the boss 20A end of the spoke 20D and the vertical center of the rim 20B end; see FIG. 2), and the operating body 22 can be rotated by the fingers (index finger, middle finger, ring finger, or little finger) of the occupant's right hand, other than the thumb, that grip the right side of the rim 20B and extend them toward the spoke 20D. In addition, the rotation angle of the fingers when the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the first position and the second position is set to a predetermined angle (for example, 10°).

[0030] The operating body 22 is biased toward the home position, and when the operating force acting on the operating body 22 is released while the operating body 22 is being operated from the home position, the operating body 22 is rotated (returned) to the home position by the biasing force.

[0031] The operating body 22 is electrically connected to a control device 24 of the vehicle, and the control device 24 is electrically connected to a transmission 26 (automatic transmission) of the vehicle (see FIG. 4(A)).

[0032] When the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the first position and is placed at the first position for a first time (for example, less than one second), the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the N position (neutral position) under the control of the control device 24. Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the first position and is placed at the first position for the first time, the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the R position (reverse position) under the control of the control device 24.

[0033] When the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the second position and placed in the second position for a first time, the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the N position under the control of the control device 24. Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the second position and placed in the second position for a first time, the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the D position (drive position) under the control of the control device 24.

[0034] When the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the second position and placed at the second position for a second time (e.g., one second) longer than the first time while the shift position of the transmission 26 is in the D position, the driving mode of the vehicle is set to the auto-cruise mode (driving assistance mode) under the control of the control device 24. Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the first position and placed at the first position for the first time, the set speed in the auto-cruise mode of the vehicle is increased under the control of the control device 24. On the other hand, when the operating body 22 is operated from the home position to the second position and placed at the second position for the first time, the set speed in the auto-cruise mode of the vehicle is decreased under the control of the control device 24.

[0035] A substantially plate-shaped display panel 28 (see FIG. 2) serving as a display device and an operating device is provided in front of the right spoke 20D of the handlebars 20. The display panel 28 is a touch panel and is electrically connected to the control device 24. The right end (rim 20B side end) of the display panel 28 is a shift display unit 28A, which, under the control of the control device 24, lights up (colors) the shift position of the transmission 26 (the letters "R," "N," or "D"). A plurality of operating switches 28B are displayed to the left of the right end of the display panel 28 (toward the boss 20A). When the operating switches 28B are touched and operated, operating devices other than the vehicle's shift device 10 (for example, an air conditioner or audio) are operated under the control of the control device 24.

[0036] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0037] In the shift device 10 configured as described above, the operating body 22 is rotated upward and downward to change the shift position of the transmission 26. Also, the steering wheel 20 is rotated to steer the vehicle.

[0038] Here, the operating body 22 is disposed on the rear side of the handle 20. This prevents the operating body 22 from protruding from the handle 20 to the front, upper, lower, left, or right (other than the rear) and prevents the operating body 22 from being visible from the front of the handle 20, improving the appearance of the handle 20 from the front.

[0039] Furthermore, the operating body 22 is disposed protruding from the rear side of the spoke 20D on the right side of the handlebars 20. Therefore, the occupant can move the fingers (including the thumb) of his / her right hand along the spoke 20D to the operating body 22 and operate the operating body 22 with the fingers, without visually checking the operating body 22. Furthermore, because the display panel 28 is disposed in front of the spoke 20D, when the occupant operates the operating body 22 with the fingers, the occupant can be prevented from unnecessarily touching and operating the operating switch 28B of the display panel 28 with the fingers.

[0040] Furthermore, a portion of the operating body 22 is disposed closer to the rim 20B than the longitudinal center position C of the spokes 20D. Therefore, even if the occupant does not visually see the operating body 22, the occupant can easily move the fingers (including the thumb) of his or her right hand along the spokes 20D to the operating body 22 and operate the operating body 22 with those fingers. Moreover, the occupant can extend the fingers of his or her right hand, other than the thumb, gripping the right side of the rim 20B toward the spoke 20D and operate the operating body 22 with those fingers.

[0041] Furthermore, the upper and lower sides of the operating body 22 are opposite to each other, so that the operating body 22 can be easily operated upward and downward, and erroneous operation of the operating body 22 can be prevented.

[0042] Furthermore, the operation body 22 is released from the operation force and is returned to the home position by the biasing force, which eliminates the need for an operation to return the operation body 22 to the home position.

[0043] [Second embodiment] Figure 5(A) shows a perspective view of a shift device 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear diagonally right, and Figure 5(B) shows a side view of the shift device 50 as seen from the right.

[0044] The handle device 12 (including the shift device 50) in this embodiment has almost the same configuration as that in the first embodiment, but differs in the following respects.

[0045] 5A and 5B, in shift device 50 according to this embodiment, operating body 22 is generally cylindrical, and extends laterally along the rear surface of right-side spoke 20D at the vertical center of spoke 20D of handlebar 20. The central axis of operating body 22 is supported within spoke 20D, and the rear end of operating body 22 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of spoke 20D.

[0046] The operating body 22 is wheel-shaped and rotatable about a central axis. The operating body 22 is displaceable within a set range in the front-to-rear direction perpendicular to the central axis and is biased rearward, with the operating body 22 being positioned at the rear end of the set range (initial position) by the biasing force. The rear end of the operating body 22 is infinitely rotatable upward (first direction) and infinitely rotatable downward (second direction), and the operating body 22 is displaceable forward (third direction) against the biasing force.

[0047] A right portion (part) of the operating body 22 is disposed closer to the rim 20B than the longitudinal center position C (see FIG. 2) of the spoke 20D, and the rear end of the operating body 22 can be rotated and displaced (pressed) by the fingers (index finger, middle finger, ring finger, or little finger) of the rider's right hand, other than the thumb, of the rider who grips the right portion of the rim 20B and extends them toward the spoke 20D. Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is rotated by a set angle, the rotation angle of the fingers is set to a specific angle (e.g., 20°). Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is displaced forward and the application of the displacement force to the operating body 22 is released, the biasing force displaces (returns) the operating body 22 to its initial position.

[0048] When the operating body 22 is rotated upward by a set angle and then displaced forward and placed in that displaced position for a first time (for example, less than one second), the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the N position under the control of the control device 24. Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is rotated upward by a set angle and then displaced forward and placed in that displaced position for the first time, the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the R position under the control of the control device 24.

[0049] When the operating body 22 is rotated downward by a set angle and then displaced forward to be placed in that displaced position for a first time, the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the N position under the control of the control device 24. Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is rotated downward by a set angle and then displaced forward to be placed in that displaced position for a first time, the shift position of the transmission 26 is changed to the D position under the control of the control device 24.

[0050] When the shift position of the transmission 26 is in the D position, and the operating body 22 is rotated downward by a set angle and then displaced forward to be placed in the displaced position for a second time (e.g., one second) longer than the first time, the driving mode of the vehicle is set to the auto-cruise mode (driving assistance mode) under the control of the control device 24. Furthermore, when the operating body 22 is rotated upward by a set angle, the set speed of the vehicle in the auto-cruise mode is increased under the control of the control device 24. On the other hand, when the operating body 22 is rotated downward by a set angle, the set speed of the vehicle in the auto-cruise mode is decreased under the control of the control device 24.

[0051] Here, this embodiment can also achieve the same functions and effects as the first embodiment.

[0052] Furthermore, the operating body 22 can be operated forward, which intersects upward and downward. This increases the number of directions in which the operating body 22 can be operated. Moreover, by operating the operating body 22 forward, the change in the shift position of the transmission 26 can be confirmed.

[0053] In addition, the operating body 22 is designed to be infinitely rotatable, which eliminates the need to operate the operating body 22 to match the rotational position of the operating body 22 with the shift position of the transmission 26.

[0054] In the first and second embodiments, the rotational axis of the operating body 22 is set to the left-right direction, and the operating body 22 is rotated upward and downward. However, the rotational axis of the operating body 22 may be set to either direction, and for example, the rotational axis of the operating body 22 may be set to the up-down direction, and the operating body 22 may be rotated leftward (first direction) and rightward (second direction).

[0055] In the first and second embodiments, a portion of the operating body 22 is disposed closer to the rim 20B than the longitudinal center position C of the spokes 20D. However, the entire operating body 22 may be disposed closer to the rim 20B than the longitudinal center position C of the spokes 20D. Also, the entire operating body 22 may be disposed closer to the boss 20A than the longitudinal center position C of the spokes 20D.

[0056] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the operating body 22 is disposed on the rear side of the right spoke 20D of the handlebars 20. However, the operating body 22 may be disposed on the rear side of the rim 20B of the handlebars 20 or the left spoke 20C.

[0057] In the first and second embodiments, the second time period is longer than the first time period. However, the second time period may be the same length as the first time period. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10···shift device, 20···handle (steering body), 20A···boss (center portion), 20B···rim (outer periphery), 20C···spoke (connection portion), 20D···spoke (connection portion), 22···operating body, 26···transmission, 50···shift device

Claims

1. A shift device is provided with an operating body that is disposed on the rear side of a steering body that is operated to steer a vehicle, and that is operated in a first direction and a second direction to change the shift position of a transmission of the vehicle.

2. 2. The shifting device of claim 1, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite.

3. The shift device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating body is operable in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions.

4. 2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the operating body is returned to its initial position when the operating force is released.

5. 2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the operating body is infinitely rotatable.

6. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the operating body is disposed at a connection between the central portion and the outer periphery of the steering body.

7. The shift device according to claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the operating body is disposed closer to the outer periphery than a center between the central portion and the outer periphery of the connecting portion.

Images