Shift Click Mechanism Layout for Compact Stable Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shift devices face challenges in reducing the size of the structure that imparts a clicking feel while maintaining stability and durability of the click mechanism.

Innovation Solution

The shift device incorporates guide portions that are offset laterally relative to the click surface, allowing for a reduced physical size in the guidance direction and preventing rattling, with open distal ends and stepped widths to enhance stability and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the guide portion is disposed in a position opposing the click surface, then the click member can be guided stably, but the size of the structure for imparting clicking feel increases in the guidance direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of click mechanismVSAvoidsize of structure in guidance direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide portion is repositioned from an opposing arrangement to a lateral offset arrangement relative to the click surface. This spatial reconfiguration in a different dimension allows the guide portion to maintain its guidance function while reducing the structure's footprint in the guidance direction, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of stationary object

If the guide portion is disposed laterally offset from the click surface, then the size of the structure is reduced, but the guidance stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of structure in guidance directionVSAvoidguidance stability of click member

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guide portion is designed with a segmented structure featuring multiple guide surfaces that contact different portions of the click member. This segmentation allows the guide portion to maintain stable guidance through multiple contact points while keeping the overall structure compact and laterally offset from the click surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide portion incorporates localized guide surfaces with specific geometric features positioned at critical contact points with the click member. These localized quality enhancements ensure stable guidance through precise surface interactions, compensating for the lateral offset arrangement and maintaining guidance stability without increasing overall structure size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12504778B2Shift device

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 KK TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO

AI summary

A shift device comprises a shift body, a click mechanism and a guide portion. The shift body is moved to change a shift position of the shift body. The click mechanism has a click member and a click surface against which the click member is biased to abut. The click mechanism is configured so that, when the shift body is movably operated, one of the click member or the click surface moves in accompaniment with movement of the shift body and imparts a clicking feel to the shift body. The guide portion guides the click member to the click surface and is disposed in a position in which it does not oppose the click surface.