Operating unit for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12087519-B2
Application number	US-202117928555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2021
Priority date	Jun 16, 2020
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

The operating unit for a vehicle includes an operating element having an operating surface movable in an actuating direction from a rest position into a function-triggering position and from the function-triggering position back to the rest position by means of depressing. A parallel guiding device ensures that the operating surface moves in parallel. The parallel guiding device is provided with at least one pair of engaging first and second levers which are mounted in an articulated manner with play on support elements being in turn connected to the operating element. The support elements are axially guided on a carrier element. The levers are pivotably mounted on bearing blocks, substantially free of play, so that the operating element behaves substantially free of play in directions transverse to the depressing movement. The parallel guiding device is designed in compliance with tolerances that are comparatively easy to realize in terms of manufacture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An operating unit for a vehicle, comprising
an operating element having an operating surface, which operating element is guided movably in an actuating direction from a rest position into a function-triggering position and back by means of depressing, and
a parallel guiding device for parallel guidance of the operating element during its movement in the actuating direction and in the opposite direction,
the parallel guiding device being provided with
a carrier element having an upper side facing the operating element and a lower side facing away from the operating element,
a lever assembly having at least one first lever and at least one second lever,
a bearing assembly having at least a first bearing block, on which the first lever is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis extending transversely to the actuating direction, and having at least one second bearing block, on which the second lever is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis extending transversely to the actuating direction,
the pivot axes of both levers being parallel to each other, and
two opposing support elements for the operating element, which protrude from the operating element in the actuating direction and extend through passage openings in the carrier element and/or laterally past the carrier element up to beyond its lower side,
the lever assembly and the bearing assembly being located below the carrier element as well as between the two support elements,
each lever having a first lever arm extending from its pivot axis and a second lever arm extending from its pivot axis opposite to the first lever arm,
the first lever arm of the at least one first lever being received in an articulated manner by an articulated recess, provided with a recess opening, of the one support element,
the first lever arm of the at least one second lever being received in an articulated manner by an articulated recess, provided with a recess opening, of the other support element, and
the second lever arm of the at least one first lever and the at least one second lever being in pivoting engagement with each other.

2. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the articulated recesses of both support elements each have a geometry which, when the at least one first lever and the at least one second lever are pivoted within the articulated recess by moving the actuating element, permits a sliding movement of the respective first lever arm in a direction of the recess opening and in the opposite direction thereto and prevents a movement of the respective first lever arm within the articulated recess in the actuating direction of the actuating element and in the opposite direction thereto.

3. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein second lever arms of the at least one first lever and of the at least one second lever each have an articulated end, one of these two articulated ends having an articulated recess into which the other articulated end is plunged, preventing movement in the actuating direction as well as in the opposite direction within the articulated recess and allowing a sliding movement orthogonal to the actuating direction.

4. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein second lever arms of the at least one first lever and of the at least one second lever each have an articulated end, wherein these two articulated ends are interlocked.

5. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein the at least one first lever and the at least one second lever are each formed to be plate-like and torsionally stiff.

6. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly comprises several first bearing blocks and several second bearing blocks, wherein the first bearing blocks and the second bearing blocks are arranged distributed along a length of the pivot axis of the respective lever.

7. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the operating element is guided in a plane extending transversely to the actuating direction and is secured by a tongue-and-groove or pin-and-hole-receiving guide.

8. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the operating element is guided on the carrier element in a plane extending transversely to the actuating direction and is secured by a tongue-and-groove or pin-and-hole-receiving guide.

9. The operating unit according to claim 1 , comprising a housing having a front side with a recess in which the operating element is arranged, the carrier element being mounted in and/or to the housing.

10. The operating unit according to claim 1 , comprising a housing mounted to the carrier element.

11. The operating unit according to claim 1 , comprising
a mechanical switch having a switch housing and a switch actuating member,
wherein the switch housing is arranged on the upper side or on the lower side of the carrier element and its switch actuating member is adapted to be actuated by the operating element upon its movement from the rest position into the function-triggering position, or
wherein the switch housing is arranged on the lower side of the carrier element and its switch actuating member is adapted to be actuated by one of the two second lever arms being in pivoting engagement with each other, or
wherein the switch housing is arranged on one of the two second lever arms being in pivoting engagement with each other and its switch actuating member is adapted to be actuated upon movement of the operating element from the rest position into the function-triggering position by means of the carrier element, or
wherein the switch is arranged below one of the support element and its switch actuating member is adapted to be actuated upon movement of the operating element from the rest position into the function-triggering position either by the respective support element or by a counterface in extension of the respective support element.

12. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein each first lever arm has an articulated end received by one of the articulated recesses, and wherein each articulated recess has a receiving space adjoining the recess opening, which encompasses the articulated end of the respective first lever arm for preventing movements of the articulated end of the first lever arm within the receiving space in the actuating direction of the operating element and in the opposite direction thereto and guides the articulated end of the respective first lever arm for permitting sliding movements of the articulated end of the first lever arm within the receiving space as a link.

13. The operating unit according to claim 12 , wherein each articulated recess is substantially U-shaped.

14. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the operating element has a substantially rectangular contour with two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges.

15. The operating unit according to claim 14 , wherein the support elements protrude along the two transverse edges or along the two longitudinal edges of the operating element in the actuating direction.

16. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein each support element comprises two support bars spaced apart from each other, wherein the four support bars protrude from the operating element facing in the actuating direction, and wherein each support bar comprises an articulated recess.

17. The operating unit according to claim 16 , wherein each articulated end of the first lever arms of the at least one first lever and of the at least one second lever comprises two articulated end protrusions being plunged into the articulated recesses of the support

Assignees

• Behr Hella Thermocontrol Gmbh

Inventors

• Fust Winfried

Classifications

• B60K2360/143

  Touch sensitive instrument input devices · CPC title

• B60K2360/128

  Axially displaceable input devices for instruments · CPC title

• B60K2360/126

  Rotatable input devices for instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/10 Primary

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• H01H2239/014

  on both sides · CPC title