Operation device and steering device

Abstract

This operation device comprises: a rod-shaped body part that is fixed to an operation target device; a holder part provided at an end portion of the body part; a grip part that is held by the holder part and is gripped by an operator's hand; and a vibration generation device provided inside the grip part. One of the holder part and the grip part has a recess portion, and the other of the holder part and the grip part has an insertion portion that is inserted into the recess portion. The operation device has a first elastic member between the inner peripheral surface of the recess portion and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion.

Description

Operating and steering devices

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating device and a steering device.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-144993 discloses a technique in which a switch case containing a vibration means is attached to a handlebar of a vehicle, thereby vibrating a grip via the handlebar.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-165067

[0004] However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the entire handlebar is vibrated, and therefore it is not possible to vibrate the grip portion of the handlebar in a large partial manner.

[0005] An operating device according to one embodiment includes a rod-shaped main body portion fixed to a device to be operated, a holder portion provided at the end of the main body portion, a grip portion held by the holder portion and held by the operator's hand, and a vibration generating device provided inside the grip portion, wherein one of the holder portion and the grip portion has a recess, the other of the holder portion and the grip portion has an insertion portion that is inserted into the recess, and a first elastic member is provided between the inner surface of the recess and the outer surface of the insertion portion.

[0006] According to an operating device according to one embodiment, it is possible to cause the grip portion to vibrate largely in part.

[0007] 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a handle device according to one embodiment; 2 is an exploded view of a holder section and a grip section according to one embodiment; 3 is a cross-sectional view of a holder section and a grip section according to one embodiment; 4 is a view showing an example of installation of a handle device according to one embodiment;

[0008] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the right side of FIG. 1 will be referred to as the right side, and the left side will be referred to as the left side.

[0009] (Configuration of handle device 100) Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a handle device 100 according to one embodiment. The handle device 100 shown in Fig. 1 is an example of an "operating device". As shown in Fig. 1, the handle device 100 includes a main body 110, a pair of left and right holder portions 120 (holder portions 120L, 120R), and a pair of left and right grip portions 130 (grip portions 130L, 130R).

[0010] The main body 110 is a rod-shaped member having a rectangular cross section and extending in the left-right direction. Note that the cross section of the main body 110 may be a shape other than a rectangle (e.g., a round shape) as long as it is rod-shaped. The main body 110 is fixed to the operation target device by any fixing means. As an example, the main body 110 has a pair of left and right through-holes 111 in the central portion 110A, and is fixed to the operation target device by a pair of fixing screws 112 (see FIG. 4 ) that pass through the pair of left and right through-holes 111. The main body 110 is formed using a relatively hard material (e.g., metal, hard resin, etc.).

[0011] The holder portion 120L is provided at the left end portion 110L of the main body portion 110. The holder portion 120L holds the grip portion 130L. The holder portion 120R is provided at the right end portion 110R of the main body portion 110. The holder portion 120R holds the grip portion 130R. The holder portions 120L and 120R are formed using a relatively hard material (e.g., metal, hard resin, etc.).

[0012] Grip portion 130L is a round bar-shaped member held by holder portion 120L and extending leftward from holder portion 120L. Grip portion 130L is held by the left hand of the operator. Grip portion 130R is a round bar-shaped member held by holder portion 120R and extending rightward from holder portion 120R. Grip portion 130R is held by the right hand of the operator. Grip portions 130L, 130R are formed using a relatively hard material (e.g., metal, hard resin, etc.).

[0013] (Structure for Holding Grip Portion 130R by Holder Portion 120R) Fig. 2 is an exploded view of holder portion 120R and grip portion 130R according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of holder portion 120R and grip portion 130R according to one embodiment.

[0014] The holder 120R has a horizontal, planar upper surface 121. The upper surface 121 of the holder 120R is fixed to the bottom surface (the surface opposite to the upper surface 121) of the right end 110R of the main body 110 by screws.

[0015] The holder portion 120R also has a recess 123 that is coaxial with the central axis X of the rod-shaped grip portion 130R and recessed leftward from a right side surface 122 of the holder portion 120R (in the same direction as the axial direction of the central axis X of the grip portion 130R). The recess 123 has a cylindrical spatial shape, and the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R can be inserted into the recess 123.

[0016] The holder portion 120R also has four through holes 125 that penetrate from the left side surface 124 to the innermost bottom surface 123B of the recess 123.

[0017] The grip portion 130R has an overall appearance of a round bar extending linearly in the left-right direction. The grip portion 130R has a holding portion 131 and an insertion portion 132. The holding portion 131 is formed in a round bar shape and is the portion to be held by the operator's right hand. The cross section of the holding portion 131 may be a shape other than a circle (for example, a rectangle). The insertion portion 132 is provided at the left end of the holding portion 131 and is a cylindrical portion to be inserted into the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the grip portion 130R is held by the holder portion 120R by inserting the insertion portion 132 into the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R.

[0019] With the insertion portion 132 inserted into the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R, the grip portion 130R is fixed to the holder portion 120R by four fixing screws 141 (an example of a "fixing member"), respectively. Each of the four fixing screws 141 passes through each of the four through holes 125 of the holder portion 120R, the inner bottom surface 123B of the recess 123, a second gap D2 (described later), and an end surface 132B of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R, and is screwed into the insertion portion 132.

[0020] 3 and 4, two storage spaces 131A are formed spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction inside the grip portion 131 of the grip part 130R. Two vibration generators 144 are disposed in each of the two storage spaces 131A.

[0021] As a result, in one embodiment of the handle device 100, when predetermined vibration generation conditions are met, each of the two vibration generating devices 144 generates vibrations under control of the control device (not shown), causing the grip portion 130R to vibrate and transmitting the vibrations to the operator's right hand.

[0022] In particular, in the handle device 100 according to one embodiment, the distal end (left end) of the grip portion 130R is held by the holder portion 120R, so that the vibration displacement of the distal end (right end) of the grip portion 130R can be increased, and the grip portion 130R can be vibrated so as to tilt. Therefore, the grip portion 131 held by the operator's right hand can be vibrated greatly.

[0023] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the handle device 100, from the viewpoint of being able to vibrate the grip portion 130R greatly, the ratio of the length in the direction of the central axis X of the insertion portion 132 that is inserted into the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R of the grip portion 130R to the length of the grip portion 131 that can be held by the operator without being inserted into the recess 123 is set to 1:8, but it may be in the range of 1:6 to 1:10.

[0024] The upper part of the grip part 131 of the grip unit 130R is provided with a detachable cover 131B. As a result, the handle device 100 according to one embodiment can accommodate two vibration generators 144 inside the grip part 131 by removing the cover 131B.

[0025] In addition, in this embodiment, as an example, the vibration direction of the two vibration generating devices 144 is the radial direction of the round bar, which is a direction perpendicular to the central axis X of the rod-shaped grip portion 130R, but this is not limited to this, and the vibration direction of at least one of the two vibration generating devices 144 may be the same direction as the central axis X.

[0026] 3, the diameter of the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R is slightly larger than the diameter of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R. As a result, a first gap D1 is generated between the inner circumferential surface 123A of the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R and the outer circumferential surface 132A of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R. Therefore, the grip portion 130R can vibrate more greatly in the radial direction inside the recess 123 by the amount of this first gap D1.

[0027] As a result, the handle device 100 according to one embodiment can cause the grip portion 130R to vibrate largely in part, thereby making it possible to increase the vibration transmitted to the operator's right hand.

[0028] However, an O-ring 142 having a circular ring shape (an example of a "shape extending circumferentially along the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion") attached to the outer circumferential surface 132A of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R is disposed in the first gap D1. The O-ring 142 is an example of a "first elastic member" and is formed using an elastic material (e.g., rubber, silicone, etc.). Note that, although the O-ring 142 is used as the "first elastic member" in this embodiment, multiple elastic bodies may instead be disposed so as to be scattered along the outer circumferential surface 132A.

[0029] In one embodiment, the handle device 100 has an O-ring 142 in the first gap D1, which allows radial vibration of the grip portion 130R, while the radial vibration of the grip portion 130R is absorbed by the O-ring 142, making it less likely to be transmitted to the main body portion 110.

[0030] In addition, in one embodiment, the handle device 100 has an O-ring 142 in the first gap D1, which allows the outer surface 132A of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R to remain in a state where it does not abut against the inner surface 123A of the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R, thereby making it difficult for radial vibrations of the grip portion 130R to be transmitted to the main body portion 110.

[0031] 3, the depth of the recess 123 is slightly deeper than the axial thickness of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R. This creates a second gap D2 between the opposing bottom surface 123B of the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R and the end surface 132B of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R. This allows the grip portion 130R to move within the recess 123 in a direction approaching the bottom surface 123B of the recess 123 by the amount of the second gap D2, thereby allowing the grip portion 130R to vibrate more greatly in the radial direction, the direction of the central axis X, and the tilt direction of the grip portion 130R.

[0032] As a result, the handle device 100 according to one embodiment can cause the grip portion 130R to vibrate largely in part, thereby making it possible to increase the vibration transmitted to the operator's right hand.

[0033] However, four annular O-rings 143 are disposed in the second gap D2. Each of the four fixing screws 141 passes through one of the four annular O-rings 143. The O-rings 143 are an example of a "second elastic member" and are made of an elastic material (e.g., rubber, silicone, etc.).

[0034] The handle device 100 according to one embodiment has four O-rings 143 in the second gap D2, which allows axial vibration of the grip portion 130R, while absorbing the axial vibration of the grip portion 130R with the four O-rings 143, making it difficult for the vibration to be transmitted to the main body 110. Note that in this embodiment, the O-ring 143 is used as the "second elastic member," but instead, multiple elastic bodies may be disposed in the second gap D2.

[0035] Furthermore, because the handle device 100 according to one embodiment has the second gap D2, it is possible to prevent vibrations from the grip portion 130R from being transmitted to the holder portion 120R and the main body portion 110, even when the grip portion 130R is connected to the holder portion 120R with the fixing screw 141. Furthermore, by arranging four O-rings 143 in the second gap D2, the handle device 100 according to one embodiment can maintain a state in which the end surface 132B of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130R does not abut against the inner bottom surface 123B of the recess 123 of the holder portion 120R, thereby preventing vibrations in the direction of the central axis X of the grip portion 130R, vibrations in the radial direction, vibrations that cause tilting, and the like from being transmitted to the main body portion 110.

[0036] The structure for holding grip portion 130L by holder portion 120L is the same as the structure for holding grip portion 130R by holder portion 120R, except for the fact that it is symmetrical, and therefore detailed illustrations and descriptions thereof will be omitted. Therefore, the handle device 100 according to one embodiment can similarly cause grip portion 130L to vibrate largely in part, thereby increasing the vibration transmitted to the operator's left hand.

[0037] (Installation example of handle device 100) Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an installation example of the handle device 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 4 shows an example in which the handle device 100 according to one embodiment is installed on a handle mount 11 provided in a steering device 10 for steering the front wheel of a motorcycle.

[0038] The handlebar mount 11 has a horizontal, flat plate 11A and a pair of left and right vertical wall-like mount sections 11B provided on the upper surface of the plate 11A. Each of the pair of left and right mount sections 11B has a notch 11C at its upper part.

[0039] The handle device 100 has a central portion 110A of the main body 110 fitted into each of the cutout portions 11C of the pair of left and right mount portions 11B. The central portion 110A of the main body 110 is then fixed to the pair of left and right mount portions 11B by a pair of left and right fixing screws 112 that pass through the pair of left and right through holes 111. In this way, the handle device 100 is fixed to the handle mount 11.

[0040] In this way, the handle device 100 according to one embodiment is fixed to the handle mount 11 at the center portion 110A of the main body portion 110, thereby making it more difficult for the main body portion 110 to vibrate.

[0041] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the grip portion 130 is provided with an insertion portion 132 that protrudes from the grip portion 130, and the holder portion 120 is provided with a recess 123 into which the insertion portion 132 is inserted. However, it is also possible to provide a recess in the grip portion 130 and provide an insertion portion in the holder portion 120 that protrudes from the holder portion 120, and to place a "first elastic member" such as an O-ring between the inner surface of the recess in the grip portion 130 and the outer surface of the insertion portion in the holder portion 120.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the fixing screw 141 is used as an example of the "fixing means", but the "fixing means" is not limited to this, and other members may be used as the "fixing means".

[0044] Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a "fixing means." Specifically, in the above embodiment, a groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 132 of the grip portion 130, into which the O-ring 142 fits to restrict movement of the O-ring 142 in the direction of the central axis X. However, a groove may also be provided on the inner peripheral surface 123A of the recess 123, into which the O-ring 142 fits to restrict movement of the O-ring 142 in the direction of the central axis X, so that the grip portion 130 is held on the holder portion 120 using the O-ring 142.

[0045] In addition to the structure of the above embodiment, a through-hole may be formed in the grip portion 130 so as to penetrate the central axis X thereof, and a support pillar may be provided integrally with the holder portion 120 so as to penetrate the through-hole, with an elastic member provided around the outer periphery of the support pillar to support the grip portion 130. In this case, the attachment strength of the grip portion 130 to the holder portion 120 can be increased.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example of application of the "operating device" to the handle device 100 of a motorcycle has been described, but the "operating device" is not limited to this, and may be applied to other operating devices (for example, a handle device of a bicycle, an operating device of a simulator, an operating device of a game machine, a shift lever of an automobile, etc.).

[0047] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-003973, filed on January 15, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0048] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Steering device (device to be operated) 11 Handle mount 11A Plate 11B Mount portion 11C Cutout portion 100 Handle device (operation device) 110 Main body 111 Through hole 110A Central portion 110L Left end portion 110R Right end portion 112 Fixing screw 120, 120L, 120R Holder portion 121 Top surface 122 Right side surface 123 Recess 123A Inner peripheral surface 123B Bottom surface 124 Left side surface 125 Through hole 130, 130L, 130R Grip portion 131 Grip portion 131A Storage space 131B Cover 132 Insertion portion 132A Outer peripheral surface 132B End surface 141 Fixing screw (fixing member) 142 O-ring (first elastic member) 143 O-ring (second elastic member) 144 Vibration generator D1 First gap D2 Second gap X Central axis

Claims

1. An operating device comprising a rod-shaped main body fixed to an operating target device, a holder portion provided at an end of the main body portion, a grip portion held by the holder portion and gripped by an operator's hand, and a vibration generating device provided inside the grip portion, wherein one of the holder portion and the grip portion has a concave portion, the other of the holder portion and the grip portion has an insertion portion inserted into the concave portion, and a first elastic member is provided between an inner peripheral surface of the concave portion and an outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic member has a shape extending along a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein an inner bottom surface of the concave portion and an end surface of the insertion portion, which face each other, are fixed to each other by a fixing member with a gap therebetween.

4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing member is provided so as to penetrate the inner bottom surface of the concave portion, the gap, and the end surface of the insertion portion.

5. The operating device according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of the fixing members.

6. The operating device according to claim 3, having a second elastic member in the gap.

7. The operating device according to claim 6, wherein the second elastic member is provided around the fixing member.

8. A steering device comprising a handle device having the operating device according to claim 1.

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