Input device with simplified installation of the associated contact part, which is mounted in a vibration-capable manner, and associated assembly method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12505964-B2
Application number	US-202318180990-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2023
Priority date	Mar 9, 2022
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an input device, including a carrier; a contact part; a spring disposed between the carrier and the contact part, wherein the spring is adapted to mount the contact part on the carrier in an, along a deflection direction (RA), elastically self-resetting and a vibration-capable manner; wherein the spring is configured such that it is fixed by a positive fit by an insertion in a first direction into at least one carrier-side first accommodating portion of the carrier, and that it is fixed on the contact part by a positive fit by an insertion in a second direction into at least one contact part-side second accommodating portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An input device, comprising:
a carrier; a contact part; and a spring disposed between the carrier and the contact part, wherein the spring is adapted to mount the contact part on the carrier in an, along a deflection direction (R A ), elastically self-resetting and a vibration-capable manner; wherein the spring is fixed by a positive fit by an insertion in a first direction (R 1 ) into at least one carrier-side first accommodating portion of the carrier, and that it is fixed on the contact part by a positive fit by an insertion in a second direction (R 2 ) into at least one contact part-side second accommodating portion; wherein the spring is configured as an integrally formed spring sheet part with a connecting web and with a plurality of first arms for insertion into, in each case, one of the at least one first accommodating portion, and with a plurality of second arms for insertion into, in each case, one of the at least one second accommodating portion; and wherein the connecting web is configured as a ring, and the first direction (R 1 ) corresponds to a circumferential direction of the ring, and the second direction (R 2 ) corresponds to an opposite circumferential direction of the ring.

2 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction (R 1 ) and the second direction (R 2 ) point in an opposite direction to each other.

3 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction (R 1 ) and the second direction (R 2 ) are orthogonal to the deflection direction (R A ).

4 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is configured such that it is fixed by latching in at least one of: the at least one first accommodating portion and the at least one second accommodating portion.

5 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier, the contact part and the spring are configured such that, after initially disposing the spring between the carrier and the contact part in a non-fixed manner, the spring is fixed on the contact part by moving the contact part in the opposite direction to the second direction (R 2 ), and the contact part can be fixed via the spring on the carrier by moving the contact part together with the spring in the first direction (R 1 ).

6 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first arms are all rooted in a first edge of the connecting web and the plurality of second arms are all rooted in a second edge of the connecting web opposite the first edge.

7 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting web is configured so as to meander about the plurality of first arms and the plurality of second arms.

8 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein a free end of each of the plurality of first arms snaps in, respectively, behind a carrier-side first latching tab, and a free end of each of the plurality of second arms snaps in, respectively, behind a contact part-side second latching tab.

9 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first arms and the plurality of second arms are arranged in a uniformly distributed manner along a circumference of the connecting web configured as a ring, and free ends of the plurality of first arms and free ends of the plurality of second arms extend along the circumferential direction of the ring, wherein the free ends of the plurality of first arms and the free ends of the plurality of second arms point in opposite directions.

10 . The input device according to claim 1 , further comprises an electronic pixel matrix display, wherein the contact part is configured to accommodate the electronic pixel matrix display in a fixing manner.

11 . The input device according to claim 1 , further comprises an electrically controllable actuator, wherein the electrically controllable actuator is configured to drive the contact part along the deflection direction to generate a haptic feedback.

12 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the input device is used in a motor vehicle.

13 . An assembly method for an input device with the following steps:
loosely arranging a spring between a carrier and a contact part, the carrier having at least one first accommodating portion for insertion of the spring in a first direction (R 1 ) and for positively fixing the spring and the contact part having at least one second accommodating portion for insertion of the spring in a second direction (R 2 ) and for positively fixing the spring; and moving the contact part in an opposite direction to the second direction to insert the spring into the second accommodating portion and fix it on the contact part by positive fit, and moving the contact part together with the spring in the first direction to insert the spring into the first accommodating portion and fix it on the carrier by positive fit, wherein the contact part is mounted on the carrier by the spring in an, along a deflection direction (R A ), elastically self-resetting and vibration-capable manner; wherein the spring is configured as an integrally formed spring sheet part with a connecting web and with a plurality of first arms for insertion into, in each case, one of the at least one first accommodating portion, and with a plurality of second arms for insertion into, in each case, one of the at least one second accommodating portion; and wherein the connecting web is configured as a ring, and the first direction (R 1 ) corresponds to a circumferential direction of the ring, and the second direction (R 2 ) corresponds to an opposite circumferential direction of the ring.

14 . The assembly method according to claim 13 , wherein the first direction (R 1 ) and the second direction (R 2 ) point in an opposite direction to each other.

15 . The assembly method according to claim 14 , wherein movements of the contact part are, in each case, a rotary movement.

Assignees

• Preh Gmbh

Inventors

• Jordan Michael
• Schultheis Thilo
• Wuest Joachim

Classifications

• H01H9/02

  Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) · CPC title

• H01H1/14

  by abutting · CPC title

• G05G1/10

  Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles {(G05G1/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G05G5/03

  Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) · CPC title

• H01H3/38 Primary

  using spring or other flexible shaft coupling · CPC title