Vehicle Shift Knob Structure to Prevent Unwanted Downward Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shift devices in vehicles often experience unnecessary displacement of the shift body, which can lead to erroneous operations and reduced operational patterns, as they lack effective mechanisms to inhibit such displacement.

Innovation Solution

The shift device incorporates a protruding portion that extends towards the vehicle cabin, with the shift body positioned radially outward, featuring a distal end surface aligned with or relative to the protruding portion's end, and an inclined angled surface to prevent unnecessary displacement, ensuring the shift body remains in its intended position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the shift body is made rotatable and displaceable to enable multiple shift positions, then the operational versatility is improved, but the shift body becomes susceptible to unnecessary displacement and erroneous operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational patternVSAvoidshift position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding portion is designed to preemptively prevent unnecessary displacement of the shift body before such displacement can occur. By positioning the protruding portion to contact the shift body at specific locations, the design creates preliminary resistance against erroneous movements while still allowing intended rotational and displacement operations to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the shift body is positioned to allow free rotation and displacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but unnecessary displacement and erroneous operations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshift operationVSAvoidshift position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding portion introduces localized constraints at specific positions on the shift body, creating different operational characteristics in different regions. The distal end surface allows free movement in intended directions, while the side surfaces provide localized resistance to unnecessary displacement, achieving a balance between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the shift body structure is simplified without additional inhibiting mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but unnecessary displacement cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestructureVSAvoidshift position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support element, provides the inhibition mechanism against unnecessary displacement, and defines the operational boundaries of the shift body. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate inhibiting mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11796050B2Shift device with shift body that can be inhibited from displacement

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 KK TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO

AI summary

In a shift device, a shift position of a knob is altered as a result of the knob being displaced in a vertical direction, and also being rotated in one direction or in another direction. Here, the knob is disposed on an outer side in a radial direction of a supporting column. Because of this, the knob can be inhibited by the supporting column from being unnecessarily displaced downwards.