Multifunction operation tool and armrest operation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9315103-B2
Application number	US-201514664004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2014
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A multifunction operation tool includes a swing body swingably supported in a front/back direction of a vehicle body and implementing acceleration control on a transmission by swinging in a forward direction and implementing deceleration control on the transmission by swinging in a rearward direction. A grip body arranged on a free end portion of the swing body. A grip part arranged on a first lateral area of the grip body in a transverse direction of the vehicle body and having a convex surface. A vertical lateral surface arranged on a second lateral area of the grip body and which is a lateral surface of the grip part. An operator-facing surface arranged on the second lateral area of the grip body and extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle body from a bottom edge of the vertical lateral surface. Operation switch groups are arranged on the vertical lateral surface and the operator-facing surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multifunction operation tool controlling a work vehicle with speed changing capability, the multifunction operation tool comprising:
a swing body swingably supported at least in a front/back direction of a vehicle body for implementing acceleration control and deceleration control;
a grip body arranged on a free end portion of the swing body;
a grip part arranged on the grip body and being defined by a convex surface arranged on a first lateral area of the grip body and a vertical lateral surface;
a second lateral area arranged on the grip body and being located on an opposite lateral side of the vertical lateral surface of the grip part;
an operator-facing surface arranged on the second lateral area of the grip body and extending to the vertical lateral surface; and
operation switches,
wherein at least one operation switch is arranged on the vertical lateral surface and two or more operation switches are arranged on the operator-facing surface.

2. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 1 , wherein the work vehicle comprises a work apparatus and a transmission.

3. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 1 , wherein forward swinging movement of the swing body is utilized in acceleration control and rearward swinging movement of the swing body is utilized in deceleration control.

4. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 1 , wherein the operation switches comprises groups of operation switches.

5. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 1 , wherein the grip part comprises an outwardly protracting hypothenar rest arranged on a bottom portion of the grip part.

6. The multifunction operation tool of claim 5 , wherein the operation switches comprise at least one of:
a travel operation switch group coupled to or providing control to a transmission;
a work operation switch group coupled to or providing control of a work apparatus; and
at least one travel operation switch and at least one work operation switch arranged on the operator-facing surface.

7. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of:
the at least one operation switch is arranged on the vertical lateral surface is a specific function switch; and/or
a specific function switch is arranged on another lateral surface of the grip body,
wherein the specific function switch is configured to enable a specific function when operated simultaneously with another operation switch.

8. An armrest operation device comprising:
the multifunction operation tool according to claim 5 ; and
an armrest support base having a front area, a middle area, and a rear area oriented in a front/back direction of the vehicle body,
wherein the multifunction operation tool is arranged in the front area and the middle area includes an engine control switch group and a work vehicle hydraulic control switch group.

9. The multifunction operation tool of claim 1 , wherein the operation switches comprise at least one of:
a travel operation switch group coupled to or providing control to a transmission;
a work operation switch group coupled to or providing control of a work apparatus; and
at least one travel operation switch and at least one work operation switch arranged on the operator-facing surface.

10. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of:
the at least one operation switch is arranged on the vertical lateral surface is a specific function switch; and/or
a specific function switch is arranged on another lateral surface of the grip body,
wherein the specific function switch is configured to enable a specific function when operated simultaneously with another operation switch.

11. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the at least one operation switch is arranged on the vertical lateral surface is a specific function switch; and/or
a specific function switch is arranged on another lateral surface of the grip body,
wherein the specific function switch is configured to enable a specific function when operated simultaneously with another operation switch.

12. An armrest operation device comprising:
the multifunction operation tool according to claim 11 ; and
an armrest support base having a front area, a middle area, and a rear area oriented in a front/back direction of the vehicle body,
wherein the multifunction operation tool is arranged in the front area and the middle area includes an engine control switch group and a work vehicle hydraulic control switch group.

13. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 1 , wherein the operation switches comprise a travel operation switch group that includes:
a shuttle switch which switches between forward travel and reverse travel, said shuttle switch being arranged on the operator-facing surface adjacent to the vertical lateral surface; and
a shuttle permission switch which enables/disables a function of the shuttle switch and is arranged on an opposite lateral surface of the grip body with respect to the vertical lateral surface.

14. The multifunction operation tool according to claim 13 , wherein the shuttle permission switch is a specific function switch.

15. An armrest operation device comprising:
the multifunction operation tool according to claim 1 ; and
an armrest support base having a front area, a middle area, and a rear area oriented in a front/back direction of the vehicle body,
wherein the multifunction operation tool is arranged in the front area and the middle area includes an engine control switch group and a work vehicle hydraulic control switch group.

16. A multifunction operation tool controlling a work vehicle with speed changing capability, the multifunction operation tool comprising:
a swing body portion swingably supported at least in a front/back direction of a vehicle body for implementing acceleration control and deceleration control;
a grip body arranged on an upper end of the swing body portion;
said grip body comprising:
a convex grip surface;
a vertical lateral surface; and
an operator-facing surface extending to the vertical lateral surface; and

operation switches,
wherein at least one operation switch is arranged on the vertical lateral surface and two or more operation switches are arranged on the operator-facing surface.

17. A multifunction operation tool controlling a work vehicle with speed changing capability, the multifunction operation tool comprising:
a swing body portion swingably supported at least in a front/back direction of a vehicle body for implementing acceleration control and deceleration control;
a grip body arranged on an upper end of the swing body portion;
said grip body comprising:
an upward facing convex grip surface;
a vertical lateral surface; and
an operator-facing surface extending to the vertical lateral surface and being angled with respect to an imaginary horizontal surface; and

operation switches,
wherein at least one operation switch is arranged on the vertical lateral surface and two or more operation switches are arranged on the operator-facing surface.

Assignees

• Kubota Kk

Inventors

• Yamauchi Teruhito
• Inaoka Motonari

Classifications

• B60Y2200/415

  Wheel loaders · CPC title

• G05G1/06

  Details of their grip parts {(G05G1/10 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60K20/08

  Dashboard means · CPC title

• B60Y2200/221

  Tractors · CPC title

• B60K2026/029

  Joystick type control devices for acceleration · CPC title