Switching device

Abstract

To prevent a locking claw from falling off from an engagement hole.SOLUTION: A switching device 1 includes a case 2 attached to a holder 9, an operation knob 3 rotatable about an axis X, and a stopper mechanism 10 that defines a range of relative displacement between the operation knob 3 and the case 2 in the opposing direction. The stopper mechanism 10 includes an engagement hole 37 provided in the operation knob 3, and a locking claw 251 that is elastically displaceable in a region of the peripheral wall portion 22 of the case 2 and engages with and disengages from the engagement hole 37. When the case 2 is attached to an accommodation portion 91, the locking claw 251 is disposed with a gap between it and an inner periphery 923a of a second side edge portion 923 that is an opposing portion of the accommodation portion 91 with the locking claw 251, and displacement of the locking claw 251 in the direction of disengagement from the engagement hole 37 is restricted by the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 before it disengages from the engagement hole 37.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a paddle shift switch attached to a steering wheel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0081516 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some paddle shift switches of this type have a case fixed to a mounting portion on the steering wheel side, a shaft supported by the case, and an operating knob rotatably supported by the shaft. The operating knob has an operated part that is located radially outward from the rotation axis of the shaft. In a paddle shift switch, when the operated part is operated, the operating knob rotates around the rotation axis, and the operating knob and the case are displaced relative to each other in opposing directions.

[0005] The control knob is provided with a stopper mechanism at a position away from the rotation axis to limit the rotation range of the control knob. The stopper mechanism can be composed of a locking claw provided on the case and an engagement hole provided in the control knob. The engagement hole is a hole having a length in the direction in which the operation knob and the case face each other, and the locking claw is a protrusion that engages with the engagement hole from a direction perpendicular to the facing direction. In the stopper mechanism, when the operating knob is displaced in a direction away from the case, the locking claw is engaged with the side edge of the engagement hole, thereby restricting the displacement of the operating knob.

[0006] When assembling the paddle shift switch, the operating knob is rotatably supported by the case, and then the operating knob is displaced toward the case, engaging the locking pawl on the case with the engaging hole on the operating knob. At this time, the locking pawl elastically deforms in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the operating knob and the case, and then engages with the engaging hole due to the restoring force of the material. In this state, the locking pawl can also be displaced in a direction away from the engaging hole. Therefore, if the operating knob is operated with excessive force in a direction away from the case, the locking claw engaged with the side edge of the engagement hole may be displaced in a direction away from the engagement hole, causing the operating knob to come off the case. Therefore, it is required to be able to prevent the locking claw from falling out of the engagement hole. In addition to such requirements, another objective of the present invention is to achieve actions and effects derived from the various configurations disclosed in the "Forms for Implementing the Invention" described below, which actions and effects cannot be obtained with conventional technologies. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a housing attached to a mounting portion of a support member; a knob that is rotatable around a rotation axis set on the housing; a stopper mechanism that defines a range within which the knob and the housing can be relatively displaced in the opposing direction when the knob rotates; The stopper mechanism includes: an engagement hole provided in the knob and opening in a radial direction in the opposing direction; a locking claw that is provided in the housing so as to be elastically displaceable and that engages with and disengages from the engagement hole in an opening direction of the engagement hole, the locking claw is capable of protruding from the housing when engaged with or disengaged from the engagement hole, When the housing is attached to the mounting portion, the locking claw is positioned with a gap between it and the opposing portion of the mounting portion, and the displacement of the locking claw in the direction of disengaging from the engagement hole is restricted by the opposing portion before it disengages from the engagement hole, thereby forming a switch device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the locking claw engaged with the engagement hole from falling off from the engagement hole. In addition, when the housing is attached to the mounting portion, a gap is maintained between the locking claw and the opposing part on the mounting portion, which prevents the locking claw from interfering with the mounting portion and being pushed into the housing. When the locking claw is pressed into the housing and engages with the engagement hole, the position of the knob, which is rotatable around the rotation axis, may shift, but by ensuring the gap, this shift can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a switch device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a switch device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a switch device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a case of the switch device. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation knob. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the assembly of the switch device by assembling the operation knob to the case. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the case as seen from the holder side. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a housing portion on the holder side. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the assembly of the switch device into the housing portion on the holder side. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the assembly of the switch device into the housing portion on the holder side. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the function of a rib. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the influence when an engaging arm interferes with the inner periphery of a housing portion on the holder side. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the function of the rib when the operating knob is operated in the opposite direction. [Figure 17] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an engaging arm according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described taking as an example a switch device 1 (paddle shift switch) that is attached to the steering wheel of a vehicle and used to operate an in-vehicle transmission. 1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating the switch device 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the state in which the switch device 1 is installed on a steering wheel. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which the switch device 1 is attached to a frame 102 on the steering wheel SW side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the switch device 1. In FIG. 1, the steering wheel SW is shown by a virtual line.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the case 2 (housing) of the switch device 1. FIG. 4 shows the case 2 as seen from the side where the operation knob 3 is attached. FIG. 4 corresponds to a view of the switch device 1 attached to the steering wheel SW as seen from the front side of the vehicle. Note that in FIG. 4, cross hatching is shown in the open area. Furthermore, to make it easier to understand the position of the end face of the peripheral wall portion 22 on the case 2 side on the near side of the page, the end face is shown with hatching. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device 1. In FIG. 5, a cross section of the switch device 1 taken along line AA in FIG.

[0012] In the following description, the positional relationship of each component of the switch device 1 will be described based on the vertical direction in Fig. 5 as needed. For example, the term "upper side" refers to the upper side in the vertical direction in Fig. 5. Note that depending on the installation state of the switch device 1 on the steering wheel SW, the "upper side" in Fig. 5 may actually be the "lower side."

[0013] 1 and 2, the switch device 1 is attached to a frame 102 of the steering wheel SW via a holder 9. The frame 102 is a portion that connects a connecting portion 100 of a steering shaft (not shown) and a ring-shaped grip portion 101. The holder 9 is attached to the back side of the frame 102 when viewed from the driver operating the steering wheel SW.

[0014] The switch device 1 has an operation knob 3 that is operated by a driver when performing an upshift or downshift. The switch device 1 is a switch device for a so-called paddle shift switch.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3, the switch device 1 has a resin case 2, a shaft 4 supported by the case 2, and an operating knob 3 supported by the shaft 4 so as to be rotatable. The operation knob 3 is formed of a metal material such as tin, for example. The operation knob 3 is formed of a material that is harder than the resin case 2. The operation knob 3 is rotatable around an axis X that extends along the longitudinal direction of the shaft 4. As shown in FIG. 4, inside the case 2, a printed circuit board 5, a rubber member 6 placed on the printed circuit board 5, and the shaft 4 are housed.

[0016] The case 2 has a bottom wall 21 and a peripheral wall 22 that completely surrounds the outer periphery of the bottom wall 21. The case 2 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is open on the front side of the page. When viewed from the front, the case 2 has a substantially rectangular shape.

[0017] The peripheral wall portion 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape from side wall portions 221 and 222 that are parallel to each other, and side wall portions 223 and 224 that connect the ends of the side wall portions 221 and 222 to each other. 4, inside the peripheral wall portion 22, a rib 225 is provided on the inside of the side wall portion 223. The rib 225 is provided along the inner periphery of the side wall portion 223 in a range from one side wall portion 221 to the other side wall portion 222 in the direction of the axis X. A rib 226 is also provided on the inner side of the peripheral wall 22 on the side of the side wall 224 (on the left side in the drawing) as viewed from the axis X. The rib 226 is provided along the axis X in a range from one side wall 221 to the other side wall 222 in the direction of the axis X. The rib 225 and the rib 226 are provided in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to the axis X.

[0018] 4, in case 2, the region between rib 225 and rib 226 forms opening 227. In the region where opening 227 is provided, reinforcing plate 211 is provided closer to side wall 222 (upper side in the figure) than center line Cx. Center line Cx is a straight line that passes through the center of case 2 in the width direction (up-down direction in the figure) and is perpendicular to axis X of shaft 4. The reinforcing plate portion 211 is a strip-shaped portion extending in a direction along the center line Cx in a top view. The reinforcing plate portion 211 is provided across the rib 225 and the rib 226.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 4, support holes 23, 24 for the shaft 4 are provided at one end (side wall 223 side) of the side wall portions 221, 222 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in the figure). The support holes 23, 24 penetrate the side wall portions 221, 222 in the thickness direction (up-down direction in Fig. 4). The support holes 23, 24 are provided concentrically with the axis X as the reference.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft 4 is supported by the case 2 with one end 4a and the other end 4b in the longitudinal direction inserted into support holes 23 and 24 of the case 2. At one end 4a and the other end 4b of the shaft 4, connecting portions 34, 34 on the operating knob 3 side are fitted at positions adjacent to the side wall portions 221, 222.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the operating knob 3 has a base 31 having connecting portions 34, 34 of the shaft 4, an operated portion 32 operated by the user, and a connecting portion 33 connecting the base 31 and the operated portion 32. The connecting portions 34, 34 are provided on both sides of the base 31 in the direction of the axis X. The connecting portions 34, 34 are provided with insertion holes 341, 341 that penetrate the connecting portions 34, 34 in the thickness direction. The shaft 4 penetrates the insertion holes 341, 341 in the direction of the axis X that follows the longitudinal direction of the shaft 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the insertion holes 341, 341 are formed with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter D4 of the shaft 4. Therefore, the connecting portions 34, 34 are loosely fitted into the shaft 4. The operating knob 3 is supported by the shaft 4 in a state where it is allowed to rotate about the axis X (rotation axis).

[0022] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation knob 3. Fig. 6(A) is a plan view of the operation knob 3 seen from the case 2 side. Fig. 6(B) is a perspective view of the operation knob 3 seen from the case 2 side. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device 1. Fig. 7(A) is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of the switch device 1 taken along line BB in Fig. 4. Fig. 7(B) is an enlarged view of region A in Fig. 7(A). 7 shows the state when the operation knob 3 is disposed at the reference position, that is, when no operating force is applied to the operation knob 3. In FIG.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the base portion 31 and the operated portion 32 are provided with a vertical offset. At the connecting portion 33, the outer surface 31b of the base 31 and the inner surface 32a of the operated portion 32 are separated in the vertical direction by a height h33. A wall portion 35 is provided on the inner surface 32a of the operated portion 32 on the case 2 side, utilizing the step between the base 31 and the operated portion 32. As shown in (A) of Figure 6, the wall portion 35 has a pair of side wall portions 351, 352 arranged at a distance in the direction of the axis X, and a connecting wall portion 353 connecting one end portion 351a, 352a of the side wall portions 351, 352 to each other. The side walls 351 and 352 are provided in a range extending from the operated portion 32 through the connection portion 33 to the base portion 31 (the range in the left-right direction in FIG. 6A). The other ends 351b and 352b of the side walls 351 and 352 are located closer to the base portion 31 (to the right in the drawing) than the boundary Bx between the base portion 31 and the connection portion 33.

[0024] A space Ra is formed on the surface of the operation knob 3 facing the case 2 (the surface facing the front of the paper in FIG. 6A) and surrounded by the wall 35 (side walls 351, 352, and connecting wall 353) and the connecting portion 33. The area of ​​this space Ra that overlaps with the connecting portion 33 becomes shallower in depth toward the base 31 (right side in the drawing). In the switch device 1, when the operating knob 3 is attached to the case 2, the wall portion 35 is inserted inside the peripheral wall portion 22 of the case 2. In this state, the opening of the peripheral wall portion 22 is covered by the area surrounded by the wall portion 35 in the operated portion 32 and the connecting portion 33, and by the base portion 31.

[0025] 6A, the connecting wall 353 is provided with a guide piece 36 on the side wall 351 side (upper side in the figure) of the center line C3 of the operation knob 3. The center line C3 is a straight line that passes through the center of the width direction (up-down direction in the figure) of the case 2 and is perpendicular to the axis X that follows the rotation axis of the shaft 4. As shown in FIG. 7A, the guide piece 36 is formed with a length L36 that extends to the side of the printed circuit board 5.

[0026] An engagement hole 37 is provided on the tip 36c side of the guide piece 36, penetrating the guide piece 36 in the thickness direction. A locking claw 251 of the engagement arm 25 on the case 2 side is inserted into the engagement hole 37 from the opening direction of the engagement hole 37 (left and right direction in the figure). Specifically, the locking claw 251 is inserted into the engagement hole 37 from the opposite side to the printed circuit board 5 in the opening direction of the engagement hole 37 (left and right direction in the drawing).

[0027] In this embodiment, the locking claw 251 on the engaging arm 25 side and the engaging hole 37 on the operating knob 3 side constitute a stopper mechanism 10 that defines the range of relative displacement between the operating knob 3 and the case 2 in the opposing direction (the up and down direction in Figure 7 (B)).

[0028] Here, the term "opposing direction" in this specification is not limited to the vertical direction in FIG. 7 in the strict sense, that is, the direction perpendicular to the bottom wall portion 21 of the case 2 (the opening direction of the case 2). As described above, the operating knob 3 is rotatably supported by the shaft 4 supported by the case 2 at the base 31 side (right side in the figure) located away from the guide piece 36 (see FIG. 7A). The guide piece 36 is positioned radially away from the axis X, which is the rotation axis of the operation knob 3. Therefore, when the operation knob 3 is rotated around the axis X by operating the operation knob 3, the region on the guide piece 36 side is displaced along an arc-shaped imaginary line Im1 centered on the axis X.

[0029] In the case of FIG. 7A, the movement locus when the region provided with the engagement hole 37 is displaced is shown by an arc-shaped imaginary line Im1. In this embodiment, when the operation knob 3 is displaced in the direction facing the case 2, the region of the engagement hole 37 in the operation knob 3 is also displaced in a direction perpendicular to this facing direction (left and right direction in the drawing). Here, the area in which the engagement hole 37 and the locking claw 251 on the engagement arm 25 engage is limited in the vertical direction in the figure, and for convenience of explanation, this specification uses the term "opposite direction" to describe it.

[0030] 7(B), the engagement arm 25 has a base 250 extending from the bottom wall 21 toward the operation knob 3. A base end 250b of the base 250 is connected to the bottom wall 21. In a cross-sectional view, the base 250 is provided in a positional relationship where it overlaps with the side wall 224 on the case 2 side. The base 250 is provided by utilizing the thickness of the side wall 224. Locking claw 251 protrudes from the inner periphery of base 250 on the end 250a side toward the inside of case 2. An inclined surface 250c is provided on the inner periphery of base 250, with a thickness W250 increasing toward the connecting portion with locking claw 251. Inclined surface 250c is connected to locking surface 252 of locking claw 251. The locking surface 252 is a flat surface that is perpendicular to the extending direction of the base portion 250 (the up-and-down direction in FIG. 7B).

[0031] The engaging arm 25 is cantilevered on the bottom wall 21 of the case 2. The end 250a side (locking claw 251 side) of the engaging arm 25 is elastically displaceable in the opening direction of the engaging hole 37 (left and right direction in the figure). Furthermore, the locking claw 251 side of the engaging arm 25 is retractable from the outer periphery 224a of the side wall 224.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the assembly of the switch device 1 by assembling the operation knob 3 to the case 2. The switch device 1 is assembled in the following manner. (A) The operation knob 3 is assembled to the case 2, and the insertion holes 341, 341 of the connecting portion 34 on the operation knob 3 side and the support holes 23, 24 on the case 2 side are arranged concentrically on the axis X (see FIG. 5). (B) The shaft 4 is inserted from one support hole 23 to the other support hole 24 of the case 2, and one end and the other end of the shaft 4 are supported by the case 2 (see FIG. 5). (C) The operating knob 3, which is rotatably supported by the shaft 4, is rotated to bring the guide piece 36 closer to the case 2, and the locking claw 251 of the engagement arm 25 on the case 2 side is resiliently engaged with the engagement hole 37 of the guide piece 36 (see Figure 8).

[0033] At this time, the guide pieces 36 on the operation knob 3 side move toward the case 2 side (downward in the figure) while pushing the engagement arms 25 outward (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). Specifically, the end 250a of the engaging arm 25, on which the locking claw 251 is provided, is pushed by the guide piece 36 and displaced toward the outside (left side in the figure) of the case 2. Then, when the engaging hole 37 on the guide piece 36 side reaches the position of the locking claw 251 of the engaging arm 25, the end 250a of the engaging arm 25 is displaced in a direction approaching the guide piece 36 (right side in the figure) due to a restoring force, and the locking claw 251 of the engaging arm 25 is inserted into the engaging hole 37 of the guide piece 36 from the opening direction of the engaging hole 37 (left side in the figure).

[0034] That is, in the process of the locking claw 251 of the engaging arm 25 snapping into the engaging hole 37 of the guide piece 36, the tip 36c of the guide piece 36 abuts against the locking claw 251 of the engaging arm 25. When the operation knob 3 is further pressed downward toward the case 2 from this state, the end 250a of the engaging arm 25 is pushed by the guide piece 36 and displaced in a direction away from the printed circuit board 5 (to the left in the figure). As a result, the end 250a of the engaging arm 25 temporarily protrudes outward from the outer periphery 224a of the side wall 224 of the case 2. The maximum protrusion amount ΔP of the end 250a of the engaging arm 25 at this time is larger than the gap CLb (see FIG. 13B) between the outer periphery 224a of the side wall 224 of the case 2, which will be described later, and a rib 925 protruding from a second side edge 923 (ΔP>CLb).

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7, the height h251 of the locking claw 251 in the opposing direction of the operating knob 3 and the case 2 (vertical direction in the figure) is smaller than the length L37 of the engagement hole 37 in the same direction (L37>h251). As described above, the operation knob 3 is supported by the shaft 4 so as to be rotatable about the axis X. When the operation knob 3 rotates about the axis X, the guide piece 36 also displaces in the circumferential direction about the axis X. At this time, the guide piece 36 displaces relative to the engagement arm 25 on the case 2 side in the opposing direction between the operation knob 3 and the case 2 (the up-and-down direction in FIG. 7B). At this time, the operation knob 3 can be displaced relative to the case 2 within the range of the length L37 of the engagement hole 37.

[0036] Here, an engagement surface 372 which is the side edge of the engagement hole 37 on the bottom wall portion 21 side (lower side in the figure) is a flat surface disposed opposite the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251. In the switch device 1, when the operation knob 3 is displaced in a direction away from the case 2, the engagement surface 372 of the engagement hole 37, which is displaced by the rotation of the operation knob 3, is locked in a state of surface contact with the locking surface 252 on the locking claw 251 side, thereby preventing the operation knob 3 from moving in a direction away from the case 2. In other words, the stopper mechanism 10 having the engagement surface 372 and the locking surface 252 defines the rotation range (movement range) of the operation knob 3 when it rotates around the axis X.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 7A, the operation knob 3 has an operation element 38 provided at a position offset from the guide piece 36 toward the connection portion 33 (to the right in the figure). As shown in Fig. 6A, the operation element 38 is located on a straight line Cy. The straight line Cy is a straight line parallel to the center line C3 of the operation knob 3. The center line C3 is a straight line that passes through the center of the operation knob 3 in the width direction and is perpendicular to the axis line X.

[0038] 7, the operating element 38 protrudes toward the case 2 (downward in the figure). The tip 38a of the operating element 38 has a flat surface, and the tip 38a is placed on a cylindrical placing portion 62 on the rubber member 6 side.

[0039] 7(B), the rubber member 6 has a base portion 61, a mounting portion 62, a support wall portion 63, and a stopper portion 64. The rubber member 6 is an integrated part made of a flexible elastic material such as rubber. The base 61 is a portion that is placed on the printed circuit board 5. The mounting portion 62 is a portion that supports the operator 38. The support wall portion 63 is a portion that holds the mounting portion 62 at a position separated from the printed circuit board 5 and supports the mounting portion 62 so that it can be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the printed circuit board 5 (the up and down direction in the figure). The stopper portion 64 is a portion that protrudes from the lower end of the mounting portion 62 toward the printed circuit board 5 (the lower side in the figure) and supports a contact 65. The contact 65 is provided on the surface of the stopper portion 64 that faces the printed circuit board 5 (the lower surface in the figure). A contact 66 is provided on the printed circuit board 5 at a portion that faces the contact 65. When the operation knob 3 is operated, the mounting portion 62 that supports the operating element 38 on the operation knob 3 side is displaced relative to the printed circuit board 5 in the direction facing the printed circuit board 5 (up and down direction in the figure). At this time, the contact 65 provided on the stopper portion 64 is also displaced in conjunction with the operation of the operation knob 3, and comes into contact with and separates from the contact 66 on the printed circuit board 5. The contact 65 (movable side contact) of the stopper portion 64 and the contact 66 (fixed side contact) of the printed circuit board 5 form a switch that turns on / off in response to the operation of the operation knob 3.

[0040] The operation knob 3 is biased in a direction away from the printed circuit board 5 by a biasing force acting from the rubber member 6 side. The operation knob 3 is placed in a reference position (see FIG. 7A) by a biasing force acting from the rubber member 6 side. At the reference position, the locking surface 252 of the locking claw 251 on the case 2 side engages with the engagement surface 372 of the engagement hole 37 of the guide piece 36, thereby restricting displacement of the operation knob 3 in a direction away from the printed circuit board 5. When the operation knob 3 is placed in the reference position, the movable side contact 65 is placed at a position spaced apart from the fixed side contact 66.

[0041] When the operating knob 3 is operated to displace the operating element 38 in a direction approaching the printed circuit board 5, the mounting portion 62 of the rubber member 6 is pushed by the operating element 38 and displaced in a direction approaching the printed circuit board 5 while deforming the support wall portion 63. The operation knob 3 is displaced toward the printed circuit board 5 to a position where the contact 65 of the stopper portion 64 abuts against the contact 66 on the printed circuit board 5 side. When the operating force acting on the mounting portion 62 is released, the restoring force of the support wall portion 63 causes the mounting portion 62 to be displaced in a direction away from the printed circuit board 5. The support wall portion 63 constantly applies a biasing force to the operating knob 3 in a direction that returns the operating element 38 (operation knob 3) placed on the mounting portion 62 to the reference position before the displacement.

[0042] The printed circuit board 5 is provided with a gap between it and the bottom wall portion 21 by a plurality of ribs 29 provided on the bottom wall portion 21. In this state, the printed circuit board 5 is provided substantially parallel to the bottom wall portion 21, oriented along the axis X (rotation axis) of the shaft 4 described above. Contacts 66 are provided on the surface of the printed circuit board 5 facing the operation knob 3. A plurality of electronic components 51 are mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board 5 facing the bottom wall 21 of the case 2.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 4, a boss portion 26 is provided in the bottom wall portion 21 of the case 2 in a region where the center line Cx and the rib 226 intersect. A ring-shaped bushing 27 having a screw hole 270 in the center is embedded in the boss portion 26. In this embodiment, a nut into which a bolt B (see Fig. 2) for mounting the switch device 1 is screwed is used as the bushing 27. The bushing 27 is embedded in the resin material that constitutes the case 2, with the threaded hole 270 penetrating in the direction along the thickness direction of the bottom wall portion 21 (the direction from the front to the back of the paper in Fig. 4). Here, the thickness direction of the bottom wall portion 21 is the direction along which the operation knob 3 and the printed circuit board 5 face each other.

[0044] The bottom wall 21 is provided with a substantially rectangular opening 210 at a position inscribed in the side wall 224 . The opening 210 is provided along the inner periphery of the side wall portion 224, closer to the side wall portion 221 than the center line Cx (lower side in the drawing). The locking claw 251 of the engagement arm 25 is arranged in an overlapping position with the opening 210.

[0045] A printed circuit board 5 and a rubber member 6 are located on the side wall portion 223 side (the right side in the figure) when viewed from the opening 210. The printed circuit board 5 is positioned by a positioning pin 28 provided on the bottom wall portion 21. The printed circuit board 5 is located between the opening 210 and the boss portion 26. On the upper surface of the printed circuit board 5 facing the operation knob 3, a fixed contact 66 is located. A rubber member 6 is placed on the printed circuit board 5. The rubber member 6 is provided so as to cover the area of ​​the contact point 66 on the printed circuit board 5.

[0046] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device 1. Fig. 9(A) schematically shows a cross section of the switch device 1 taken along line CC in Fig. 4. Fig. 9(B) is a diagram schematically showing the state when the switch device 1 is assembled to the holder 9 side. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the case 2 as seen from the holder 9 side. Fig. 10 schematically shows the case 2 as seen from the holder 9 side to which the switch device 1 is assembled.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, in the case 2 of the switch device 1, boss portions 26, which are regions in which bushes 27 are embedded, protrude both inward and outward from the bottom wall portion 21. 10, a boss portion 26 protrudes toward the front side of the page on the back surface (the surface facing the holder 9) of the bottom wall portion 21. Furthermore, positioning protrusions 212 and 213 are provided on the back surface of the bottom wall portion 21 on one side and the other side of the center line Cx. The protrusion 212 is provided in the region of the reinforcing plate portion 211 on the sidewall portion 223 side (on the left side in the drawing) when viewed from the boss portion 26. The protrusion 213 is located on the sidewall 224 side (right side in the drawing) when viewed from the boss portion 26, and on the back side of the region where the printed circuit board 5 is provided.

[0048] The protrusions 212 and 213 protrude in the same direction as the boss portion 26. When the switch device 1 is assembled to the holder 9, the protrusions 212 and 213 are inserted into through holes 932 and 933 (see FIGS. 11 and 12), which are positioning holes on the holder 9 side, respectively.

[0049] Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the accommodation portion 91 of the holder 9. Fig. 11 schematically shows the area around the accommodation portion 91 of the holder 9 as viewed from the assembly side of the switch device 1. In Fig. 11, the opening area is indicated by cross-hatching to make the position of the opening easier to understand. In the holder 9, a cover part 90 that covers the surface of a frame 102 (see FIG. 2) is provided with a storage part 91. The storage part 91 is a cylindrical part with a bottom, with an opening facing away from the frame 102. The storage section 91 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 92 formed from a pair of first side edges 921, 922 and a pair of second side edges 923, 924 connecting the ends of the first side edges 921, 922. A bottom wall 93 having an opening 930 is located at the back of the peripheral wall 92. The opening 930 in the bottom wall 93 is formed at least in a size and range that allows interference with the boss 26 on the case 2 side to be avoided. The bottom wall portion 93 has through holes 932 and 933. The through hole 932 is provided at a position closer to the second side edge portion 924. The through hole 933 is provided at a position offset from the through hole 932 towards the second side edge portion 923 (to the left in the figure). When the position of the center line Cx when the switch device 1 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 91 is used as a reference, the through holes 932 and 933 are located on one side and the other side of the center line Cx.

[0050] The through hole 932 is a round hole that matches the outer diameter of the protrusion 212 (see FIG. 6) on the case 2 side described above. The through hole 933 is an elongated hole with an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter of the protrusion 213 (see FIG. 6) on the case 2 side described above. The through hole 933 is provided along a straight line C2 in a direction that follows the first side edge portions 921, 922. Here, the straight line C2 is a straight line that is parallel to the center line Cx described above.

[0051] A rib 925 is provided on the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923. The rib 925 is provided in the region between the center line Cx and the straight line C2. The rib 925 is provided in a position facing an engaging arm 25, which will be described later (see FIG. 7B). As shown in FIG. 7B, the rib 925 extends along the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge 923 in the same direction as the engaging arm 25 (vertical direction in the figure: the direction in which the operating knob 3 and the printed circuit board 5 face each other). In the opposing direction of the operating knob 3 and the case 2 (up and down in the figure), the rib 925 is provided in a range that crosses the side of the locking claw 251 from the bottom wall portion 21 side (lower side in the figure) to the operated portion 32 side of the operating knob 3 (upper side in the figure). The rib 925 reaches further toward the operated portion 32 (upper side) than the upper end 250a of the engagement arm 25. The rib 925 has a flat surface 925a (see FIG. 14A) that can come into contact with the back surface 250d of the engaging arm 25 at a portion facing the engaging arm 25. The width W925 of the rib 925 is narrower than the width W251 of the engaging arm 25 (locking claw 251) (W251>W925: see FIG. 14).

[0052] 12 and 13 are diagrams for explaining the assembly of the switch device 1 (case 2) into the accommodating portion 91 of the holder 9. FIG. 12 illustrates only the case 2 on the switch device 1 side, and omits illustration of other components. FIG. 13A illustrates a state in which the switch device 1 is being brought close to the accommodation portion 91 of the holder 9 from the case 2 side. FIG. 13B illustrates gaps CLa and CLb between the second side edge 923 and the case 2 as the engagement arm 25 on the switch device 1 side is being inserted into the inside of the second side edge 923 of the accommodation portion 91. FIG. 13C illustrates a state in which the switch device 1 is placed in a predetermined position within the accommodation portion 91. FIG. 14A illustrates a view of the area around the locking claw 251 as viewed from the direction of the arrow AA in FIG. 13C. FIG. 14B illustrates a state in which the locking claw 251 has been displaced to a position in which it contacts the rib 925 on the holder 9 side.

[0053] As shown in Figure 12, when assembling the switch device 1 into the storage section 91 of the holder 9, the protrusions 212 and 213 on the case 2 side are inserted into the through holes 932 and 933 in the storage section 91, respectively (see the imaginary lines in Figure 11), to position the switch device 1 within the storage section 91. At this time, the boss portion 26 on the case 2 side is disposed within the opening 930 on the accommodating portion 91 side. In this state, the boss portion 26 (bush 27) is disposed with the opening of the bush 27 facing the frame 102 side (see FIG. 9). Therefore, by threading the bolt B that passes through the bolt hole 102a (see FIG. 2) on the frame 102 side into the boss portion 26, the switch device 1 is fixed to the frame 102 via the holder 9.

[0054] Here, as shown in Figure 11, in the storage section 91 of the holder 9, the combination of the through hole 932 (round hole) and the through hole 933 (long hole) functions as a rotation prevention device for the switch device 1 (case 2) placed in the storage section 91. Furthermore, the through-hole 933 is used for positioning to ensure a gap (a gap in the left-right direction in FIGS. 7 and 11) between the engaging arm 25 on the switch device 1 (case 2) side and the rib 925 on the accommodating portion 91 side. In this embodiment, the protrusion 213 of the case 2 comes into contact with an edge 933a on the rib 925 side (the left side in FIG. 11) of the through-hole 933, thereby restricting movement of the case 2 toward the second side edge 923. The position of the through-hole 933 is set so as to satisfy the following conditions when the switch device 1 (case 2) is accommodated in the accommodating section 91 (see (B) of FIG. 7). (a) A gap CLa can be ensured between the outer periphery 224a of the side wall portion 224 of the case 2 and the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 of the accommodating portion 91. (b) A gap CLb can be secured between the outer periphery 224a of the side wall portion 224 of the case 2 and the rib 925 protruding from the second side edge portion 923.

[0055] Therefore, as shown in Figure 13, during the process of inserting the switch device 1 into the storage section 91, the side wall portion 224 on the case 2 side interferes with the second side edge portion 923 and rib 925 on the storage section 91 side, so that the insertion of the switch device 1 into the storage section 91 is not hindered. Furthermore, since the back surface 250d of the engagement arm 25 does not protrude from the outer periphery 224a of the side wall portion 224, the engagement arm 25 does not interfere with the rib 925, thereby preventing the switch device 1 from being hindered from being inserted into the accommodating portion 91.

[0056] The case 2 of the switch device 1 is installed so as not to come into contact with the inner periphery of the peripheral wall portion 92 of the accommodation portion 91 on the holder 9 side. Here, the above-mentioned gaps CLa and CLb are set to intervals that ensure a gap between the case 2 and the accommodation portion 91 even when the error (tolerance) during manufacturing of the holder 9 is at its maximum.

[0057] FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the influence when the engaging arm 25 interferes with the inner periphery of the accommodating portion 91 of the holder 9. In FIG. Here, the influence when the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 or the rib 925 interferes with the engaging arm 25 on the case 2 side will be described. As shown in Figure 15, when the inner periphery 923a or rib 925 of the second side edge portion 923 interferes with the engaging arm 25 on the case 2 side and the engaging arm 25 is pushed inside the case 2, the upper end locking claw 251 of the engaging arm 25, which is cantilevered by the case 2, is displaced downward toward the bottom wall portion 21, with the base end 250b as a fulcrum. Then, because the locking claw 251 is engaged with the engagement hole 37 of the guide piece 36, the guide piece 36 is pulled by the locking claw 251, which is displaced downward toward the bottom wall 21, and is displaced downward toward the bottom wall 21. As a result, the operating knob 3 equipped with the guide piece 36 rotates in the circumferential direction about the axis X, and the operated portion 32 is displaced downward toward the bottom wall 21.

[0058] If this happens, the entire operation knob 3 will be positioned at a position deviated from the reference position. In this case, depending on the amount of displacement of the operation knob 3, the mounting portion 62 of the rubber member 6 on which the operation element 38 is mounted may be positioned at a position where the contact 65 comes into contact with the contact 66 on the printed circuit board 5 side. Furthermore, depending on the amount of displacement of the operating knob 3 (operated portion 32), the amount of operation of the operating knob 3 required to bring the contact points 65, 66 into contact with each other may be less than the amount of operation when the operating knob 3 is in the reference position, which may cause the user operating the operating knob 3 to feel uncomfortable when operating it.

[0059] In this embodiment, when the switch device 1 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 91 of the holder 9, a gap is ensured between the outer periphery of the case 2 and the inner periphery of the accommodation portion 91. This is to ensure that the mounting of the switch device 1 in the accommodation portion 91 is not hindered even when the error (tolerance) during manufacturing of the holder 9 is at its maximum. Therefore, in the case 2 of the switch device 1, the engaging arm 25 is provided by utilizing the thickness of the peripheral wall portion 22 so that at least the back surface 250d of the engaging arm 25 does not protrude outward from the outer periphery 224a of the side wall portion 224.

[0060] As a result, when the switch device 1 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 91 on the holder 9 side, the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 does not come into contact with the back surface 250d of the engaging arm 25. This prevents any influence from occurring when the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 or the rib 925 interferes with the engaging arm 25 on the case 2 side.

[0061] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the action of the rib when the operating knob 3 is operated in the opposite direction. The opposite direction means the direction opposite to the original operating direction (the direction toward the case 2) (the direction away from the case 2). Fig. 16(A) shows the displacement of the engaging arm 25 when the operating knob 3 is operated in the direction away from the case 2. Fig. 16(B) shows an enlarged view of the area around the locking claw 251 in the case of Fig. 16(A). Fig. 16(C) shows the case where the operating knob 3 is further operated from the state of Fig. 16(B).

[0062] The switch device 1 is used by being attached to the steering wheel SW via a holder 9. In normal use of the switch device 1, the operation knob 3 is operated in a direction approaching the frame 102 (downward in the drawing) in FIG. 16(A). Here, the operation knob 3 may be unintentionally operated in a direction away from the frame 102 (upward in the drawing: see the outline arrow). In this case, the engagement surface 372 of the engagement hole 37 on the operating knob 3 side is displaced in a direction (upward in the figure) away from the frame 102. As a result, the engagement claw 251, whose engagement surface 252 is engaged with the engagement hole 37, is pulled in a direction (upward in the figure) away from the bottom wall portion 21 of the case 2. In this case, since the base end 250b of the base 250 of the engagement arm 25 is cantilevered on the bottom wall portion 21 of the case 2, the end portion 250a on which the locking claw 251 is provided is displaced in a direction away from the engagement hole 37 (to the left in the figure).

[0063] As a result, the engagement allowance W (see FIG. 16B) of the locking claw 251 on the engagement surface 372 of the engagement hole 37 decreases according to the amount of displacement. In this embodiment, while the engagement allowance W is sufficient to prevent the locking claw 251 from coming off the engagement surface 372, the back surface 250d of the locking arm 25 comes into contact with the inner periphery 923a (rib 925) of the second side edge portion 923 on the holder 9 side, thereby restricting the displacement of the locking arm 25 (see FIGS. 14B and 16B). This prevents the locking claw 251 from falling off the engagement surface 372. Therefore, the operation knob 3 does not deviate from the rotatable range defined by the engagement hole 37.

[0064] Here, if the operation of the operating knob 3 continues in the direction of moving it away from the frame 102 even after the back surface 250d of the engaging arm 25 comes into contact with the inner circumference 923a (rib 925) of the second side edge portion 923, the case 2 of the switch device 1, together with the operating knob 3, is displaced in the direction of moving it away from the frame 102. At this time, the rear surface 250d of the engaging arm 25 is displaced along the inner periphery of the second side edge portion 923 in a direction away from the frame 102. As described above, the rib 925 is provided in a range that crosses the side of the locking claw 251 in the opposing direction between the operating knob 3 and the case 2 (up and down in the figure), based on the position of the locking claw 251 when the switch device 1 is fixed to the frame 102. Therefore, even if the case 2 of the switch device 1 is displaced together with the operation knob 3 in a direction away from the frame 102, the contact state between the rear surface 250d of the engagement arm 25 and the rib 925 can be ensured. This allows the rib 925 to continue to restrict displacement of the engaging arm 25. Therefore, even if the switch device 1 is displaced in a direction away from the frame 102, the engagement between the engaging hole 37 and the locking claw 251 is not released. This makes it possible to prevent the locking claws 251 engaged with the engagement holes 37 from falling off from the engagement holes 37 .

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the case where the rib 925 is provided on the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge 923 is exemplified. The rib 925 may not be provided, and the rear surface 250d of the displaced engaging arm 25 may be made to contact the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge 923. In such a case, by setting the rear surface 250d of the engaging arm 25 to contact the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge 923 on the holder 9 side while the engaging claw 251 is within the engagement allowance W where it does not come off the engaging surface 372, it is possible to prevent the engaging claw 521 from coming off the engaging hole 37.

[0066] Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating an engaging arm 25A according to a modified example. Fig. 17(A) is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the engaging arm 25A and the inner periphery 923a (rib 925) of the second side edge portion 923 when the switch device 1 is attached to the accommodation portion 91. Fig. 17(B) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the abutting portion 253 of the engaging arm 25A has been displaced to a position where it contacts the rib 925 on the holder 9 side.

[0067] The above-described engaging arm 25 has been exemplified as an example in which the back surface 250d facing the second side edge 923 is a flat surface over the entire height direction (vertical direction in the figure). Engaging arm 25A shown in FIG. 17(A) may also be used. In engaging arm 25A, a contact portion 253 is provided on the upper end portion 250a side of the base 250. When viewed from the opening direction of the engaging hole 37 (horizontal direction in the figure), the contact portion 253 is provided at a position overlapping with the locking claw 251. The contact portion 253 bulges out from the back surface 250d of the base 250 in a direction away from the locking claw 251.

[0068] Here, even when the engaging arm 25A is adopted, the abutment portion 253 of the engaging arm 25A is set to contact the inner circumference 923a (rib 925) of the second side edge portion 923 on the holder 9 side while the engaging claw 251 is within the engagement allowance W where it does not fall off the engaging surface 372, thereby regulating the displacement of the engaging arm 25A. Thus, by employing the engaging arm 25A, the locking claw 251 can be prevented from falling off the engaging surface 372, so that the operating knob 3 can be prevented from departing from the rotatable range defined by the engaging hole 37.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, the engaging arms 25, 25A do not protrude from the outer periphery 224a of the side wall 224 of the case 2 in the normal state where the case 2 is attached to the accommodation portion 91. However, the engaging arms 25, 25A may protrude from the outer periphery 224a as long as a gap can be secured between the engaging arms 25, 25A and the inner periphery 923a (rib 925) of the second side edge 923 on the holder 9 side.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, the engaging arms 25, 25A are provided on the side wall portion 224 parallel to the axis X. However, the engaging arms 25, 25A may be provided on the side wall portions 221, 222 (see FIG. 4) perpendicular to the axis X. In such a case, by providing ribs on the first side edge portions 921, 922 side (see FIG. 11), it is possible to achieve the same effects as in the above-described embodiment.

[0071] As described above, the switch device 1 according to the embodiment has the following configuration. (1) The switch device 1 is a case 2 (housing) attached to a receiving portion 91 (attachment portion) of a holder 9 (supporting member); an operation knob 3 (knob) that can be rotated around an axis X that is a rotation axis set in the case 2; The operating knob has a stopper mechanism that defines a range within which the operating knob and the case can be relatively displaced in the opposing direction when the operating knob rotates. The stopper mechanism 10 is an engagement hole 37 provided in the operation knob 3 and opening in the radial direction of the axis X (the direction perpendicular to the opposing direction); The case has a locking claw (251) that is provided in a region of the peripheral wall (22) of the case (2) so as to be elastically displaceable, and that snaps into and disengages from the engaging hole (37) from the opening direction of the engaging hole (37). The locking claws 251 can protrude outward from the peripheral wall portion 22 of the case 2 when engaged with or disengaged from the engagement holes 37 . When the case 2 is attached to the storage section 91, the locking claw 251 is positioned with a gap between it and the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923, which is the opposing portion of the storage section 91 to the locking claw 251, and the displacement of the locking claw 251 in the direction of disengaging from the engagement hole 37 is restricted by the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 before it disengages from the engagement hole 37.

[0072] When configured in this manner, in the switch device 1 accommodated in the accommodation section 91, the displacement of the locking claw 251 in the direction of falling off from the engagement hole 37 is restricted by the inner circumference 923a of the second side edge portion 923 before it falls off from the engagement hole 37. This makes it possible to prevent the locking claws 251 engaged with the engagement holes 37 from falling off from the engagement holes 37 . In addition, when the case 2 is attached to the storage section 91, a gap is secured between the locking claw 251 and the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 on the storage section 91 side, and the locking claw 251 interferes with the inner periphery 923a, thereby preventing the locking claw 251 from being pushed into the case 2. When the locking claw 251 is pressed into the case 2 and engages with the engagement hole 37, the position of the operating knob 3, which can rotate around the axis X, shifts (shifts from the reference position), but by ensuring a gap, the possibility of the operating knob 3 being positioned shifted from the reference position can be reduced. It is preventing.

[0073] If there is a deviation from the reference position, depending on the degree of deviation, there is a possibility that the mounting portion 62 of the rubber member 6 on which the operating element 38 is mounted will be positioned so that the contact 65 comes into contact with the contact 66 on the printed circuit board 5. Furthermore, depending on the degree of deviation, the amount of operation of the operating knob 3 required to bring the contacts 65, 66 into contact with each other may be less than the amount of operation when the operating knob 3 is in the reference position, which may cause the user operating the operating knob 3 to feel uncomfortable when operating it. As described above, the possibility of the operation knob 3 being positioned so as to be displaced from the reference position can be reduced, thereby reducing the possibility of such a problem occurring.

[0074] (2) In (1) above, The operation knob 3 is made of a metal material.

[0075] For example, if the operation knob 3 is made of a metal material such as tin, the portion of the operation knob 3 where the engagement hole 37 is provided is less likely to bend. Therefore, when the locking claw 251 engages with or disengages from the engagement hole 37, the portion of the case 2 where the locking claw 251 is provided is the one that bends. As described above, because the locking claws 251 can protrude outward from the side wall 224 of the case 2 to the outside of the peripheral wall 22 when engaging with or disengaging from the engagement holes 37, there is no need to ensure a space for the locking claws 251 to flex inside the case 2. This makes it possible to suitably prevent the case 2 from becoming larger in size in order to ensure a space for the locking claws 251 to flex.

[0076] (I) In (2) above, Inside the case 2, a printed circuit board 5 is provided on the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 22. The printed circuit board 5 is mounted with a contact 66 that contacts and separates with the contact 65 on the operation knob 3 side, and an electronic component 51 .

[0077] With this configuration, when the locking claw 251 is engaged with or disengaged from the engagement hole 37, interference with the components inside the case 2 and the printed circuit board 5 can be suitably prevented.

[0078] (3) In any one of (1), (2), or (I) above, A rib 925 that protrudes toward the case 2 is provided on an inner periphery 923a of the holder 9 (mounting portion), which is a portion facing the locking claw 251. When viewed from the radial direction of the opposing direction of the operating knob 3 and the case 2, the rib 925 is provided in a range that crosses the locking claw 251 in the opposing direction.

[0079] When a large operating force acts on the operating knob 3 in a direction that causes the operating knob 3 to fall off from the case 2, stress acts on the locking claw 251 engaged with the engagement hole 37 on the operating knob 3 in a direction that causes it to displace in accordance with the operating knob 3. As a result, the locking claw 251 is displaced in a direction away from the engagement hole 37, and after contacting the rib 925 on the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923, slides in the direction of the stress along the rib 925. At this time, a load due to the sliding acts on the locking claw 251. With the above configuration, the entire surface of locking claw 251 on the back surface 250d side (the entire surface on the inner periphery 923a side) does not come into contact with inner periphery 923a, but comes into contact with rib 925, which is a partial area of ​​inner periphery 923a. This reduces the sliding resistance that locking claw 251 experiences, and suppresses the load caused by sliding. Furthermore, since a rib 925 is provided in a range that crosses the area where the locking claw 251 is provided, when the locking claw 251 displaces in accordance with the operation knob 3, the locking claw 251 reliably contacts the rib 925, thereby reducing the possibility that the sliding resistance experienced by the locking claw 251 will increase.

[0080] (4) In any one of (1) to (3) and (I) above, The engagement hole 37 is provided in a guide piece 36 (extension piece) that extends from the operation knob 3 toward the case 2 in the opposing direction. The case 2 has a base end 250b in the longitudinal direction of the base 250 supported by the bottom wall portion 21 of the case 2, and the end portion 250a (tip side) having the locking claw 251 has an engaging arm 25 that can be elastically displaced radially about the axis X, which is the rotation axis of the operating knob 3. The engaging arm 25 is provided by utilizing the thickness of the peripheral wall portion 22 of the case 2 .

[0081] If the engaging arms 25 are provided on the inside or outside of the peripheral wall 22, the size of the case 2 increases. By providing the engaging arms 25 by utilizing the thickness of the peripheral wall 22, the size of the case 2 can be prevented from increasing.

[0082] (5) In any one of (1) to (4) and (I) above, A positioning projection 212 (first projection) and a projection 213 (second projection) are provided on the bottom wall 21 of the case 2 at a portion facing the holder 9. The accommodation portion 91 on the holder 9 side has a through hole 932 (first engagement hole) with which the protrusion 212 engages, and a through hole 933 (second engagement hole) with which the protrusion 213 engages. The through-holes 932 and 933 are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction. The through-hole 932 is a round hole that matches the outer diameter of the protrusion 212 . The through hole 933 is an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction (the direction in which the engaging arm 25 engages with and disengages from the engaging hole 37).

[0083] For example, when the switch device 1 (case 2) is housed in the housing portion 91, the position of the through-hole 933 is set so as to satisfy the following conditions (see FIG. 7B). (a) A gap CLa can be ensured between the outer periphery 224a of the side wall portion 224 of the case 2 and the inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923 of the accommodating portion 91. (b) A gap CLb can be secured between the outer periphery 224a of the side wall portion 224 of the case 2 and the rib 925 protruding from the second side edge portion 923. This prevents the side wall portion 224 on the case 2 side from interfering with the second side edge portion 923 and rib 925 on the accommodating portion 91 side during the process of inserting the switch device 1 into the accommodating portion 91, as shown in Figure 13, thereby preventing the insertion of the switch device 1 into the accommodating portion 91 from being obstructed. Furthermore, since the back surface 250d of the engagement arm 25 does not protrude from the outer periphery 224a of the side wall portion 224, it is possible to preferably prevent the engagement arm 25 from interfering with the rib 925 and hindering the insertion of the switch device 1 into the accommodating portion 91.

[0084] (6) In any one of (1) to (5) and (I) above, The engagement hole 37 is provided on the operation knob 3 side. The locking claw 251 is provided on the case 2 side. The operation knob 3 is made of a metal material that is harder than the case 2.

[0085] If the case 2 is made of resin, the portion of the metal operation knob 3 having the engagement hole 37 is made of a material that is harder than the portion of the case 2 having the locking claw 251. Therefore, when the operation knob 3 is displaced in a direction away from the case 2, the portion having the locking claw 251 is more likely to be elastically displaced. With the above configuration, displacement of the locking claw 251 in the direction of falling off from the engagement hole 37 is restricted before the locking claw 251 falls off from the engagement hole 37. This makes it possible to prevent the locking claw 251 engaged with the engagement hole 37 from falling off from the engagement hole 37, thereby preventing displacement of the operating knob 3 in the direction of coming off from the case 2.

[0086] (II) In (6) above, At least the accommodating portion 91 of the holder 9 is made of a resin material that is lower in hardness than the operating knob 3 made of metal. The accommodation portion 91 has a second side edge portion 923 that faces the area where the locking claw 251 is provided on the case 2. A rib 925 is provided on an inner periphery 923a of the second side edge portion 923, which is the surface facing the locking claw 251.

[0087] With this configuration, the inner periphery 923 a , which is the opposing portion on the second side edge 923 side with which the locking claw 251 abuts, is also made of the same resin material as the case 2 . Here, if the holder 9 and the case 2 are formed from resin materials having the same degree of hardness, the possibility of excessive wear on only one side can be reduced even if the locking claw 251 and the inner circumference 923a of the second side edge portion 923 repeatedly come into contact with each other.

[0088] (7) In any one of (1) to (6), (I), or (II) above, The switch device 1 is a paddle shift switch for operating an in-vehicle transmission.

[0089] With this configuration, when an excessive operating force in a direction away from the case 2 acts on the operation knob 3, the locking claw 251 is displaced in a direction to disengage from the engagement hole 37. In the switch device 1, the displacement of the locking claw 251 in the direction to disengage from the engagement hole 37 is restricted by the rib 925 on the second side edge portion 923 side. This effectively prevents the locking claw 251 from coming off the engagement hole 37.

[0090] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1 Switching device 10 Stopper mechanism 2 Case (housing) 21 Bottom wall 212, 213 protrusion (1st protrusion, 2nd protrusion) 22 Peripheral wall section 221, 222, 223, 224 Side wall 224a outer circumference 25 Engagement arm 250 base 250a end 250b proximal end 250c slope 250d back 251 Locking claw 252 Locking surface 253 Contact part 26 Boss section 27 Bush 3 Operation knob (knob) 32 Operated part 35 Wall 351, 352 Side wall 353 Connecting wall 36 Guide piece (extension piece) 37 Engagement hole 372 Engagement surface 4 shafts 5 Printed circuit board 6 Rubber member 65, 66 contacts 9 Holder (supporting member) 90 Cover 91 accommodating portion (mounting portion) 92 Peripheral wall section 921, 922 1st side edge 923, 924 2nd side edge 923a Inner circumference 925 Rib 93 Bottom wall 930 Opening 932, 933 Through holes (first engagement hole, second engagement hole) 102 frames 102a Bolt hole CLa, CLb gap C3 center line SW steering wheel X axis

Claims

1. a housing attached to a mounting portion of a support member; a knob that is rotatable around a rotation axis set on the housing; a stopper mechanism that defines a range within which the knob and the housing can be relatively displaced in the opposing direction when the knob rotates; The stopper mechanism includes: an engagement hole provided in the knob and opening in a radial direction in the opposing direction; a locking claw that is provided in the housing so as to be elastically displaceable and that engages with and disengages from the engagement hole in an opening direction of the engagement hole, the locking claw is capable of protruding from the housing when engaged with or disengaged from the engagement hole, A switch device in which, when the housing is attached to the mounting portion, the locking claw is positioned with a gap between it and the opposing portion of the mounting portion, and displacement of the locking claw in the direction of disengaging from the engagement hole is restricted by the opposing portion before the locking claw disengages from the engagement hole.

2. In claim 1, The switch device, wherein the knob is made of a metal material.

3. In claim 1, A switch device, wherein a rib protruding toward the housing is provided at the portion of the mounting portion facing the locking claw, and when viewed from a radial direction in the opposing direction, the rib is provided in a range that crosses the locking claw in the opposing direction.

4. In claim 3, the engagement hole is provided in an extension piece that extends from the knob toward the housing along the opposing direction, The housing has a base end in a longitudinal direction supported by a bottom wall portion of the housing, and a tip end side having the locking claw has an engaging arm that is elastically displaceable in a radial direction of the rotation shaft, The engaging arm is provided by utilizing the thickness of the peripheral wall portion of the housing.

5. In claim 4, a first protrusion and a second protrusion for positioning are provided on a portion of the bottom wall facing the mounting portion, the mounting portion has a first engagement hole with which the first protrusion engages and a second engagement hole with which the second protrusion engages, The first engagement hole and the second engagement hole are arranged apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction, the first engagement hole is a round hole that matches the outer diameter of the first protrusion, The second engagement hole is an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction.

6. In any one of claims 1 to 5, A switch device, wherein the engagement hole is provided on the knob side, the locking claw is provided on the housing side, and the knob is made of a material harder than the housing.

7. In claim 1, The switch device is a paddle shift switch for operating an in-vehicle transmission.

Images