Multidirectional input device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multidirectional input device, and more particularly, to a multidirectional input device in which a plurality of electric parts can be simultaneously operated by manipulating a control shaft.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present inventors disclose a multidirectional input device in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/332753 and 09/333276. In the disclosed conventional multidirectional input device (as shown in

FIGS. 14

to

20

), a first interlock member

32

having a slot

32

a

is turnably mounted in a cavity of a box-shaped frame

31

. The first interlock member

32

is turned to change the resistance of a variable resistor

33

mounted on the frame

31

.

A control shaft

34

has a shaft support portion

34

b

formed at the center and a pair of shaft portions

34

a

disposed in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft support portion

34

b.

The control shaft

34

is passed through the slot

32

a

of the first interlock member

32

so as to be movable along the slot

32

a.

The shaft portions

34

a

are turnably supported by a second interlock member

35

, thereby allowing the control shaft

34

to be tilted in the A—A direction.

The second interlock member

35

is made of synthetic resin, and is placed below the first interlock member

32

and is orthogonal thereto.

The second interlock member

35

comprises a rectangular side wall

35

b

having a center opening

35

a

for passing the control shaft

34

therethrough, a pair of circular holes

35

c

formed in the opposing sides of the side wall

35

b

so as to be engaged with the shaft portions

34

a

of the control shaft

34

, and part operating portions

35

d

and

35

e

protruding outward from the side wall

35

b.

The shaft portions

34

a

of the control shaft

34

are snap-fitted in the circular holes

35

c,

and the control shaft

34

is thereby held by the second interlock member

35

.

The second interlock member

35

is turnably supported by the frame

31

to allow the control shaft

34

to be tilted in the B—B direction. A variable resistor

36

mounted on the frame

31

is controlled by the part operating portion

35

d,

and a pushbutton switch

37

mounted on the frame

31

is operated by the part operating portion

35

e.

At the shaft support portion

34

b

in the lower part of the control shaft

34

placed in the frame

31

, an operating member

38

is disposed to move in the axial direction of the control shaft

34

.

The operating member

38

is made of resin, and has a base portion

38

a

having a lower surface curved like a saucer. A cylindrical boss portion

38

b

projects upward from the center of the base portion

38

a,

and a shaft hole

38

c

penetrates through the center of the boss portion

38

b.

The shaft support portion

34

b

of the control shaft

34

is fitted in the boss portion

38

b

of the operating member

38

so that the operating member

38

can move in the axial direction of the shaft support portion

34

b.

An urging member

39

formed of a coil spring is interposed between the control shaft

34

and the operating member

38

.

A bottom plate

40

is placed under the operating member

38

so as to close the bottom of the frame

31

. The bottom of the operating member

38

is elastically contacted with the flat inner bottom face of the bottom plate

40

by the urging member

39

.

The operation of the conventional multidirectional input device will now be described. When operating force is not applied to the control shaft

34

(i.e., when no load is imposed), the operating member

38

is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face of the bottom plate

40

by the elastic force of the urging member

39

, the saucerlike bottom face of the base portion

38

a

is in the horizontal position, and the control shaft

34

is in the neutral upright position (as shown in FIGS.

15

and

17

).

When the control shaft

34

is tilted along the slot

32

a

of the first interlock member

32

in the direction B—B (see FIGS.

15

and

17

), the second interlock member

35

turns on the mounting positions on the frame

31

, and the operating member

38

is brought into the states shown in

FIGS. 19 and 20

and is tilted while the bottom face of the base portion

38

a

moves in sliding contact with the inner bottom face of the bottom plate

40

. This causes the boss portion

38

b

of the operating member

38

is pushed into the control shaft

34

against the elastic force of the urging member

39

.

In the neutral state shown in

FIG. 17

, clearances K

1

and K

2

serve as play on the right and left sides of the control shaft

34

between the control shaft

34

and the second interlock member

35

because of the connecting structure therebetween.

As shown in

FIG. 18

, when the control shaft

34

is initially tilted, the clearance K

1

on the tilting side is lost, and the clearance K

2

on the opposite side increases.

When the tilting operation is continued in this state, the operating member

31

is brought into a state shown in

FIG. 19

, and then, into a state shown in

FIG. 20

in which it is tilted at a predetermined angle.

When the operating member

38

is tilted by a greater angle than a certain angle, the force in the surface direction of the bottom plate

40

by the spring force of the urging member

39

exceeds the friction force between the operating member

38

and the bottom plate

40

between the states shown in

FIGS. 19 and 20

. The operating member

38

consequently slides in the direction of the arrow D, and the clearance shifts from the clearance K

2

to the clearance K

1

. This shift operation is transmitted as a tactile feel to the control shaft

34

, which impairs operability.

When the second interlock member

35

is turned, the resistance of the variable resistor

36

is changed by the part operating portion

35

d.

When the operating force applied to the control shaft

34

is removed after the operation of the variable resistor

36

is completed, the operating member

38

automatically returns to the horizontal position because of the elastic force of the urging member

39

, and the control shaft

34

also automatically returns to the neutral position.

When the control shaft

34

is tilted along the center opening

35

a

of the second interlock member

35

in the direction A—A in

FIG. 16

, the first interlock member

32

is turned to adjust the variable resistor

33

.

Description will now be given of the operation of the pushbutton switch

37

serving as an electric part in addition to the variable resistors

33

and

36

. First, the control shaft

34

is pressed down in the direction of the arrow C, as shown in FIG.

16

.

Then, the second interlock member

35

is moved down because of pressure, and the part operating portion

35

e

presses a stem portion of the pushbutton switch

37

to turn the pushbutton switch

37

on and off.

When the control shaft

34

is released from pressing, it is returned to the initial state by the urging member

38

.

The control shaft

34

may be pressed in the direction of the arrow C not only in the neutral position, but also when it is tilted to control the resistances of the variable resistors

33

and

36

.

When the control shaft

34

is tilted in the conventional multidirectional input device, the bottom of the operating member

38

moves in sliding contact with the inner bottom face of the bottom plate

40

. Therefore, when the operating member

38

is tilted at a greater angle than a certain angle, it slips in the direction of the arrow D, and this slip is transmitted as a tactile feel to the control shaft

34

, which impairs operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multidirectional input device with a superior operability in which tactile feel is not produced in a tilting operation of a control shaft.

According to a first arrangement for overcoming the above problems, there is provided a multidirectional input device including: a frame; first and second interlock members turnably mounted in the frame so as to intersect each other; a control shaft placed perpendicularly to the first and second interlock members and held by the second interlock member so as to be tilted to turn the first and second interlock members; a bottom plate placed so as to intersect the axial direction of the control shaft; an operating member held by the control shaft to move in the axial direction of the control shaft; an urging member for elastically pressing the bottom of the operating member against the bottom plate; and electric parts operated via the first and second interlock members by the tilting of the control shaft, wherein a surface of the bottom plate facing the bottom of the operating member is provided with a projection having a taper portion that gradually rises from the outer periphery toward the center, and the operating member tilted with the tilting operation of the control shaft contacts the projection to regulate the motion of the operating member.

According to a second preferred arrangement, the projection has at least the taper portion in the forming direction of the first interlock member.

According to a third preferred arrangement, the taper portion of the projection is conical.

According to a fourth preferred arrangement, the operating member has a recess on a surface facing the bottom plate, and the projection is placed in the recess.

According to a fifth preferred arrangement, the operating member has an arc-shaped face portion on the outer periphery facing the bottom plate, and the arc-shaped face portion is in contact with the taper portion of the projection.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of a multidirectional input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a top view of a second interlock member for use in the multidirectional input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3

is a front view of the second interlock member.

FIGS. 4A and 4B

are side views of the second interlock member.

FIG. 5

is a top view of a control shaft for use in the multidirectional input device of the present invention.

FIG. 6

is a front view of the control shaft.

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view of the control shaft taken along line

7

—

7

in FIG.

5

.

FIG. 8

is a longitudinal sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 9

is a sectional view of the multidirectional input device taken along line

9

—

9

in FIG.

8

.

FIG. 10

is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line

10

—

10

in FIG.

8

.

FIG. 11

is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line

11

—

11

in FIG.

8

.

FIG. 12

is an explanatory view showing the operation of the multidirectional input device of the present invention.

FIG. 13

is an explanatory view showing the operation of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 14

is an exploded perspective view of a conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 15

is a cross-sectional view of a principal part of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 16

is a sectional view taken along line

16

—

16

in FIG.

15

.

FIG. 17

is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 18

is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 19

is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 20

is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A multidirectional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to

FIGS. 1

to

13

.

FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of a multidirectional input device according to the present invention,

FIGS. 2

,

3

,

4

A and

4

B are explanatory views of a second interlock member in the multidirectional input device,

FIGS. 5

to

7

are explanatory views of a control shaft in the multidirectional input device,

FIG. 8

is a longitudinal sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device,

FIG. 9

is a longitudinal sectional view of the multidirectional input device taken along line

9

—

9

in

FIG. 8

,

FIG. 10

is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line

10

—

10

in

FIG. 8

,

FIG. 11

is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line

11

—

11

in

FIG. 8

, and

FIGS. 12 and 13

are explanatory views showing the operation of the multidirectional input device.

Referring to

FIG. 1

, the multidirectional input device of the present invention is provided with a frame

1

made of an iron plate or the like. The frame

1

includes side plates

1

a,

1

b,

1

c,

and

1

d

bent downward by pressing or by other methods, is open at the bottom with a cavity therein, and is outwardly shaped nearly like a rectangular parallelepiped. The top of the frame

1

is covered with an upper plate

1

e

having an operating hole

1

f

at the center.

Side plates

1

a,

1

c,

and

1

d

(excluding the side plate

1

b

) each have circular holes

1

g,

and the side plates

1

a

and

1

c

also have a plurality of square holes (not shown) for mounting variable resistors

3

serving as rotary electric parts (which will be described below). The side plate

1

b

(opposed to the side plate

1

a

) has a substantially semicircular support portion

1

h

at a position opposed to the circular hole

1

g

of the side plate

1

a.

Part presser bars

1

j

are formed on the right and left sides of the support portion

1

h

so as to be substantially perpendicularly bent outward from the side plate

1

b.

The opposing side plates

1

c

and

1

d

have, at the bottoms, a plurality of mounting terminals

1

k

extending downward by which the multidirectional input device is mounted on a printed board or the like (not shown).

The side plates

1

a

and

1

b

have, at the bottoms, tongues

1

m

used to mount a bottom plate

8

(which will be described below).

A first interlock member

2

made of a phosphor-bronze plate or the like is placed inside the cavity of the frame

1

. The first interlock member

2

is curved upward in an arched form by pressing or by other methods, and the arched portion is provided with a slot

2

a

formed by stamping so as to extend in the longitudinal direction.

Both ends of the first interlock member

2

are bent downward. At one of the bent ends (on the left side in the figure), a pipelike support portion

2

b

is formed by drawing or by other methods, and is fitted in the circular hole

1

g

of the side plate

1

d

so as to be turnably supported thereat.

The other right end of the first interlock member

2

is bent nearly in a U-shape to form a part operating portion

2

c.

The part operating portion

2

c

is protruded outward through a circular hole (not shown) formed in the side plate

1

c

of the frame

1

, and is engaged with a horizontal groove of a sliding-element supporting member

3

d

of a variable resistor

3

(which will be described below).

The first interlock member

2

is laid between the circular holes

1

g

of the side plates

1

c

and

1

d

of the frame

1

so that the arched portion is turnably placed inside the frame

1

.

Electric parts (for example, variable resistors

3

) are mounted, by snap-fitting or by other methods, at the plural square holes (not shown) formed in the side plate

1

a

and the adjoining side plate

1

c

of the frame

1

.

In the variable resistor

3

serving as a rotary electric part, as shown in

FIG. 8

, a substrate

3

b

is formed integrally with a casing

3

a

by insert molding or by other methods and is placed inside the casing

3

a.

A sliding-element supporting member

3

d

with a sliding element

3

c

is turnably mounted on the substrate

3

b

by snap-fitting or by other methods. An operating portion

3

e

having an engagement groove, constituted by a combination of a vertical groove and a horizontal groove, is formed at the turning center of the sliding-element supporting member

3

d.

The substantially U-shaped part operating portion

2

c

of the first interlock member

2

protruding outward from the circular hole (not shown) of the side plate

1

c

of the frame

1

is engaged with the operating portion

3

e

of the variable resistor

3

mounted on the side plate

1

c.

When the first interlock member

2

turns, the sliding-element supporting member

3

d

of the variable resistor

3

also turns, thereby changing the resistance of the variable resistor

3

.

A grip portion

4

a

of a control shaft

4

is passed through the slot

2

a

of the first interlock member

2

, and the grip portion

4

a

and a root portion

4

b

are movable along the slot

2

a.

The control shaft

4

is made of synthetic resin or the like, and the grip portion

4

a

and the root portion

4

b

are oval and circular, respectively, as shown in

FIGS. 5

to

7

. Under the circular root portion

4

b,

a cylindrical portion

4

c

is formed integrally therewith.

The cylindrical portion

4

c

is open at the bottom, is surrounded by an outer wall, and has therein a holding portion

4

d

for holding an urging member

7

formed of a substantially circular return spring (which will be described below). Flat portions

4

e

are formed opposed to each other on the outer wall of the cylindrical portion

4

c,

as shown in FIG.

5

. Oval shaft portions

4

f

having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined height project from the flat portions

4

e

in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the control shaft

4

.

On the lower surface of each of the shaft portions

4

f,

a slope portion

4

j

is formed to be gradually inclined upward from the leading end of the shaft portion

4

f

toward the center of the control shaft

4

, as shown in FIG.

7

.

A concave grease storing portion

4

k

is formed on the arc-shaped upper surface of the shaft portion

4

f.

Inside the holding portion

4

d,

a shaft support portion

4

g

is formed integrally with and coaxially with the grip portion

4

a

so as to extend downward in the figure. A bottom end

4

h

of the shaft support portion

4

g

protrudes downward from the cylindrical portion

4

c.

A plurality of ribs

4

m

extending in the axial direction are formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical portion

4

c

so as to project into the holding portion

4

d,

particularly, as shown in FIG.

11

.

On the outer wall of the cylindrical portion

4

c,

projections

4

n

constituting stoppers are formed on the lower sides of the shaft portions

4

f.

The shaft portions

4

f

are turnably supported by a second interlock member

5

, which allows the control shaft

4

to tilt in the directions of the arrow A.

The second interlock member

5

is made of synthetic resin, and is placed below the first interlock member

2

so as to extend in the direction orthogonal to the first interlock member

2

.

The second interlock member

5

has a support section

5

a,

which is substantially rectangular in outer shape and has a center opening

5

c

at about the center for passing the control shaft

4

therethrough, particularly, as shown in

FIGS. 2

to

4

. The support section

5

a

comprises side walls

5

b

that are long crosswise and lengthwise, and substantially surrounds the rectangular center opening

5

c.

Circular holes

5

d

are formed through or as concavities of a predetermined depth, at fixed positions of the side walls

5

b

of the support section

5

a

that are long crosswise, with which the shaft portions

4

f

of the control shaft

4

are engaged. The lower inner faces of the circular holes

5

d

are tapered along the slope portions

4

j

of the shaft portions

4

f.

On the inner sides of the side walls

5

b,

stopper portions

5

e

are formed of recesses for receiving the projections

4

n

and are disposed below and close to and the circular holes

5

d,

particularly, as shown in FIG.

10

.

The shaft portions

4

f

of the control shaft

4

are snapped into the circular holes

5

d.

Thereby, the control shaft

4

is held by the second interlock member

5

, and the projections

4

n

abut on the stopper portions

5

e

to constitute stoppers.

After this assembly, the inner sides of the side walls

5

b

are in contact with the flat portions

4

e

on the periphery of the control shaft

4

, and the upper and lower portions of the oval shaft portions

4

f

are in contact with the inner faces of the circular holes

5

d.

First and second arm portions

5

f

and

5

g

horizontally extend from the support section

5

a

to the right and left sides, as shown in FIG.

3

. The first arm portion

5

f

extending to one side is provided with a support portion

5

h

having a given diameter, and a platelike part operating portion

5

j

having a given width projects from the support portion

5

h.

The second arm portion

5

g

extending to the other side is provided with a support portion

5

k

having a given diameter, and a part operating portion

5

m

extends from the support portion

5

k

so as to be flat at the top and to be semicircular at the bottom.

In the second interlock member

5

, the support portion

5

h

of the first arm portion

5

f

is fitted in the circular hole

1

g

formed in the side plate

1

a

of the frame

1

and is turnably supported thereat, and the support portion

5

k

of the second arm portion

5

g

is supported at the semicircular support portion

1

h

of the side plate

1

b.

The second interlock member

5

is thereby turnably placed inside the frame

1

to allow the control shaft

4

to be tilted in the direction of the arrow B and so that the part operating portion

5

m

at one end is movable vertically.

The part operating portion

5

j

of the first arm portion

5

f

is engaged with the vertical groove of the operating portion

3

e

of the variable resistor

3

mounted on the side plate

1

a,

and the part operating portion

5

m

of the second arm portion

5

g

is placed on an electric part mounted on the bottom plate

8

, for example, a stem portion

9

a

of a pushbutton switch

9

(which will be described below).

At the bottom end

4

h

of the control shaft

4

, an operating member

6

is placed to move in the axial direction of the control shaft

4

.

The operating member

6

is made of resin, and has, in the lower part, a base portion

6

a

that is circular in outer shape and has a lower surface curved like a saucer. A cylindrical boss portion

6

b

projects upward from the center of the base portion

6

a,

and a shaft hole

6

c

is formed through the center of the boss portion

6

b.

The boss portion

6

b

of the operating member

6

is provided with a plurality of grooves

6

d

so as to be spline-connected to the ribs

4

m

of the control shaft

4

. The base portion

6

a

has a recess

6

e

at the center of the lower surface, and an arc-shaped face portion

6

f

on the periphery of the lower surface.

The shaft support portion

4

g

of the control shaft

4

is passed through the shaft hole

6

c

of the operating member

6

, and the boss portion

6

b

is movably fitted in the holding portion

4

d

of the cylindrical portion

4

c.

In this case, the ribs

4

m

of the control shaft

4

are spline-connected to the grooves

6

d

of the operating member

6

, whereby the operating member

6

is allowed to turn with the control shaft

4

.

The urging member

7

formed of a coil spring having a predetermined elastic force is placed inside the holding portion

4

d

in the cylindrical portion

4

c

of the control shaft

4

so that the upper and lower coil ends of the urging member

7

are in elastic contact with the ceiling face of the holding portion

4

d

and the upper surface of the boss portion

6

c

of the operating member

6

. The urging member

7

is fitted on the shaft support portion

4

g.

One end of the urging member

7

on the side of the grip portion

4

a

is guided by the inner wall of the cylindrical portion

4

c,

and the other end is guided by the outer wall of the boss portion

6

b,

thereby regulating the frontward, rearward, rightward, and leftward movements of the urging member

7

.

Below the operating member

6

, the bottom plate

8

is placed to close the bottom of the frame

1

. The bottom plate

8

is made of resin, is substantially rectangular in outer shape, and is partially provided with side walls

8

a

on the periphery. A flat inner bottom face

8

b

is formed inside the side walls

8

a.

A conical projection

8

e

shaped like a saucer is formed on the inner bottom face

8

b,

and has a taper portion that gradually rises from the periphery toward the center.

The bottom of the operating member

6

is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face

8

b

by the urging member

7

. A part mounting portion

8

c

projects from the side wall

8

a

on one side of the bottom plate

8

so as to mount thereon an electric part, for example, the pushbutton switch

9

. A plurality of guide portions

8

d

project from the side walls

8

a

adjoining the side wall

8

a

with the part mounting portion

8

c

so as to position the bottom ends of the side plates

1

c

and

1

d

of the frame

1

.

The pushbutton switch

9

to be mounted on the part mounting portion

8

c

comprises the stem portion

9

a

for opening and closing an inner switch circuit (not shown), a casing

9

b

for hermetically sealing the switch circuit, and a plurality of mounting terminals

9

c

extending downward from the side faces of the casing

9

b.

In such a pushbutton switch

9

, the mounting terminals

9

c

can be temporarily fixed to the part mounting portion

8

c

of the bottom plate

8

by snap-fitting or by other means.

In order to assemble the above-described multidirectional input device of the present invention, first, the arched first interlock member

2

is inserted into the frame

1

from the open bottom side, the part operating portion

2

c

is inserted in the circular hole (not shown) of the side wall

1

c,

and the support portion

2

b

is inserted in the circular hole

1

g

of the side wall

1

d,

whereby the first interlock member

2

is placed inside the frame

1

.

Next, the cylindrical portion

4

c

of the control shaft

4

is placed in the center opening

5

c

of the second interlock member

5

, and the oval shaft portions

4

f

are placed on the side walls

5

b.

When the control shaft

4

is pressed into the center opening

5

c

by a jig (not shown), the side walls

5

b

are elastically deformed and are stretched outward, and the shaft portions

4

f

are snap-fitted in the circular holes

5

d

formed in the side walls

5

b.

The control shaft

4

is thereby turnably supported by the second interlock member

5

.

Next, grease is injected into grease storing portions

10

(see FIG.

10

), formed by spaces formed between linear portions on both sides of the oval shaft portions

4

f

and the circular holes

5

d,

in order to prevent problems, such as jarring, in a sliding portion between the control shaft

4

and the second interlock member

5

. Moreover, grease also spreads and is stored in the grease storing portions

4

k

of the control shaft

4

, thereby preventing problems such as jarring.

Subsequently, the grip portion

4

a

of the control shaft

4

turnably supported by the second interlock member

5

is passed through the slot

2

a

of the first interlock member

2

, and is protruded outward from the operating hole

1

f

of the frame

1

so that the circular root portion

4

b

is placed at the slot

2

a.

The support portion

5

h

of the first arm portion

5

f

of the second interlock member

5

is inserted in the circular hole

1

g

of the side plate

1

a

of the frame

1

, the part operating portion

5

j

at the leading end is protruded outward from the side plate

1

a,

and the support portion

5

k

of the second arm portion

5

g

is placed at the support portion

1

h

of the side plate

1

b

of the frame

1

.

The frame

1

, in which the first and second interlock members

2

and

5

are laid, is inverted so that the open bottom side points upward. The urging member

7

is inserted and held in the holding portion

4

d

of the cylindrical portion

4

c

of the inverted control shaft

4

.

When the shaft hole

6

c

of the operating member

6

is fitted on the shaft support portion

4

g

of the control shaft

4

, the boss portion

6

b

of the operating member

6

is spline-connected to the interior of the cylindrical portion

4

c

of the control shaft

4

, is movably fitted therein, and is elastically contacted with the urging member

7

.

The bottom plate

8

, in which the pushbutton switch

9

is temporarily mounted on the part mounting portion

8

c,

is inverted and placed on the inverted frame

1

. Then, the bottom plate

8

is positioned on the frame

1

with the end of the side plate

1

c

guided by the guide portions

8

d,

and the part presser bars

1

j

of the side plate

1

b

are placed on the upper surface of the casing

9

of the pushbutton switch

9

, whereby the pushbutton switch

9

is fixed on the bottom plate

8

.

By caulking the plural tongues

1

m

formed in the side plates

1

a

and

1

b

of the frame

1

, the bottom plate

8

is fixedly combined with the frame

1

, the bottom of the operating member

6

is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face

8

b

of the bottom plate

8

, and the control shaft

4

is placed into the neutral upright position, as show in

FIGS. 8

,

9

, and

12

.

The operating portion

3

e

of the variable resistor

3

is engaged with the part operating portion

5

j

of the second interlock member

5

that protrudes outward from the circular hole

1

g

of the side plate

1

a,

and the variable resistor

3

is snap-fitted in the plural square holes (not shown) formed in the side plate

1

a,

whereby the variable resistor

3

is retained by the side plate

1

a.

Furthermore, the operating portion

3

e

of the variable resistor

3

is similarly engaged with the part operating portion

2

c

of the first interlock member

2

protruding outward from the side plate

1

c,

and the variable resistor

3

is retained by the side plate

1

c.

Assembling of the multidirectional input device of the present invention is then completed.

While the electric parts formed of the variable resistors

3

are mounted on the frame

1

after the first and second interlock members

2

and

5

are mounted in the frame

1

in the above-described assembly operation, the variable resistors

3

may be mounted on the discrete frame

1

before the first and second interlock members

2

and

5

are mounted therein.

Description will now be given of the operation of the multidirectional input device of the present invention. When an operating force is not applied to the grip portion

4

a

of the control shaft

4

(i.e., when no load is imposed), the operating member

6

is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face

8

b

of the bottom plate

8

by elastic force of the urging member

7

, the saucerlike bottom face of the base portion

6

a

is in the horizontal position, and the control shaft

4

is in the neutral upright position, as shown in

FIGS. 8 and 12

. In this neutral state, the projection

8

e

of the bottom plate

8

is placed inside the recess

6

e

of the operating member

6

.

When the control shaft

4

in this neutral position is tilted along the slit

2

a

of the first interlock member

2

in the direction B—B in

FIGS. 8 and 12

, the second interlock member

5

is turned on the support portions

5

h

and

5

k

of the first and second arm portions

5

f

and

5

g,

the bottom face of the base portion

6

a

in the operating member

6

moves in sliding contact with the inner bottom face

8

b

of the bottom plate

8

, as shown in

FIG. 13

, and the operating member

6

tilts while the arc-shaped face portion

6

f

on the lower periphery of the base portion

6

a

contacts the taper portion of the projection

8

e

of the bottom plate

8

.

The boss portion

6

b

of the operating member

6

is pressed into the holding portion

4

d

of the cylindrical portion

4

c

of the control shaft

4

against the elastic force of the urging member

7

.

In this case, in the neutral state shown in

FIG. 12

, clearances K

1

and K

2

(serving as play) are formed on the right and left sides of the control shaft

4

between the control shaft

4

and the second interlock member

5

because of the connection structure therebetween.

When the control shaft

4

is initially tilted, the clearance K

1

on the tilting side is lost, and the clearance K

2

on the opposite side increases.

When the tilting operation is continued, the arc-shaped face portion

6

f

of the operating member

6

slides while running on the taper portion of the projection

8

e,

which regulates the movement of the operating member

6

. For this reason, even when the operating member

6

is tilted by a given angle, the arc-shaped face portion

6

f

does not slip on the bottom plate

8

in the direction of the arrow D in FIG.

13

. This allows the tilting operation to be performed while the state of the clearance K

2

is maintained.

When the second interlock member

5

is turned, the sliding-element supporting member

3

d

of the variable resistor

3

engaged with the part operating portion

5

j

of the first arm portion

5

f

is turned to change the resistance.

When the control shaft

4

is tilted in the direction of the arrow B, it contacts the end of the slit

2

a

of the first interlock member

2

, and stops the tilting operation.

When the operating force applied to the control shaft

4

is removed, the operating member

6

automatically returns to the horizontal state because of the elastic force of the urging member

7

, and the control shaft

4

automatically returns to the neutral upright position.

In contrast, when the control shaft

4

is tilted along the center opening

5

c

of the second interlock member

5

in the direction A—A in

FIG. 9

, the first interlock member

2

turns on the support portion

2

b

and the part operating portion

2

c.

When the first interlock member

2

turns, the sliding-element supporting member

3

d

of the variable resistor

3

mounted on the side plate

1

c

and engaged with the part operating portion

2

c

is turned, thereby changing the resistance of the variable resistor

3

. The operation of the operating member

6

in this case is the same as the above-described operation when the control shaft

4

is tilted in the direction B—B, and therefore the description thereof has been omitted.

When the control shaft

4

is tilted in the direction of the arrow A, the projections

4

n

move in the recesses and abut on the stopper portions

5

e,

which thereby constitute stoppers.

The control shaft

4

can be tilted throughout a range of 360°. The control shaft

4

in the tilted state can also be turned in the direction of the arrow E in FIG.

1

. In this case, the operating member

6

spline-connected to the control shaft

4

turns together, and the bottom of the base portion

6

a

of the operating member

6

turns in a rolling manner without slipping on the bottom plate

8

even when there is friction therebetween due to elastic pressing by the urging member

7

.

Description will now be given of the operation of the pushbutton switch

9

serving as an electric part in addition to the variable resistors

3

. First, the control shaft

4

is pressed down in the direction of the arrow C (see FIG.

8

). Pressing force is thereby applied to the circular holes

5

d

of the second interlock member

5

, and the second arm portion

5

g

turns downward on the support portion

5

h

of the first arm portion

5

f.

Then, the part operating portion

5

m

of the second arm portion

5

g

protruding outward from the support portion

1

h

of the side plate

1

b

moves vertically, and presses the stem portion

9

a

of the pushbutton switch

9

to turn the pushbutton switch

9

on and off.

The control shaft

4

may be pressed in the direction of the arrow C not only in the neutral position, but also when it is tilted to control the resistance of the variable resistor

3

.

While the shaft portions

4

f

of the control shaft

4

are formed of oval projections and the second interlock member

5

has the circular holes

5

d

in the above description of the embodiment, the shaft portions

4

may be recessed and the circular holes

5

d

may be replaced with projections.

While both the control shaft

4

and the second interlock member

5

are made of an elastically deformable resin material or the like, one of the control shaft

4

and the second interlock member

5

may be made of metal by die-casting.

While the variable resistors

3

and the pushbutton switch

9

are adopted as the plural electric parts, they may be replaced with rotary electric parts, such as an encoder, or electric parts to be operated by pushing.

While the cylindrical portion

4

c

of the control shaft

4

is open at the bottom and is surrounded by the outer wall, a part of the outer wall excluding the portions having the shaft portions

4

f

may be open. In this case, the shaft portions

4

f

are more likely to be elastically deformed, which improves workability in snap-fitting.

While the projection

8

e

of the bottom plate

8

is conical, it may have at least a tapered portion in the direction in which the control shaft

4

is turnably supported by the second interlock member

5

, that is, in the first interlock member forming direction. This prevents the tactile feel in tilting the control shaft

4

due to the clearances K

1

and K

2

existing in the turnable support direction.

The inner wall of the shaft hole

6

c

of the operating member

6

and the outer wall of the shaft support portion

4

g

of the control shaft

4

may be spline-connected.

The grease storing portions

4

k

and the like may be provided in a sliding portion between the control shaft

4

and the first or second interlock member

2

or

5

in order to prevent jarring or the like.

The stopper portions

5

e

formed of recesses for receiving the projections

4

n

of the control shaft

4

may be provided at appropriate positions in the second interlock member

5

.

According to the multidirectional input device of the present invention, the surface of the bottom plate

8

facing the bottom of the operating member

6

is provided with the projection

8

e

having a taper portion that gradually rises from the outer periphery toward the center, and the operating member

6

tilted with the tilting operation of the control shaft

4

contacts the projection

8

e

to regulate the motion of the operating member

6

. Therefore, the operating member

6

does not slip, which differs from the conventional art, and this makes it possible to provide a multidirectional input device with a good operability in which a tactile feel is not produced in the tilting operation.

The control shaft

4

is turnably supported by the first or second interlock member

2

or

5

in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and the projection

8

e

has at least a taper portion in the support direction. Therefore, the operating member

6

can be prevented from slipping due to the clearances K

1

and K

2

between the control shaft

4

and the first or second interlock member

2

or

5

. This makes it possible to provide a multidirectional input device with a good operability.

Since the taper portion of the projection

8

e

is conical, the operating member

6

is prevented from slipping in the operation of tilting the control shaft

4

throughout a range of 360°, which provides a multidirectional input device with a good operability.

The operating member

6

has a recess

6

e

on the surface facing the bottom plate

8

, and the projection

8

e

is placed in the recess

6

e.

This makes it possible to provide a compact multidirectional input device that shows a high space factor.

The operating member

6

has an arc-shaped face portion

6

f

on the outer periphery facing the bottom plate

8

, and the arc-shaped face portion

6

f

is in contact with the taper portion of the projection

8

e.

This makes it possible to provide a multidirectional input device in which the operating member

6

smoothly moves and smoothly runs onto the taper portion, and the manipulation feeling is preferable.

While the present invention has been described with reference to what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Number	Name	Date
3308675	Jonsoon	Mar 1967
3394611	Beurrier	Jul 1968
3918021	Nishioka et al.	Nov 1975
4439648	Reiner et al.	Mar 1984
4469330	Asher	Sep 1984
4590454	Zettergren	May 1986
4620176	Hayes	Oct 1986
4689449	Rosen	Aug 1987
4912997	Malcolm et al.	Apr 1990
5176041	Meier et al.	Jan 1993
5229742	Miyamoto et al.	Jul 1993
6078247	Shimomura	Jun 2000

Multidirectional input device

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (12)

Foreign Referenced Citations (1)