# US 12,110,051 B2 · Input device, movable body, and steering shaft system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,051 B2 - Document ID: US12110051B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/845,687 - Filed: 2022-06-21 - Published: 2022-10-06 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-23 - Assignees: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shinichiro Sasaki; Toshio Osawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110051B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/16: Steering columns - B60R 16/02: electric {constitutive elements} - H01H 21/22: Operating parts, e.g. handle - B60Q 1/1461: {Multifunction switches for dimming headlights and controlling additional devices, e.g. for controlling direction indicating lights} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An input device includes: a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which a turn lever unit that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft; and a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion. The tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post, and in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An input device comprising: a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which an operation portion that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft; a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion; and a rotation restriction member that is disposed between the brim portion and the column post in the central axis direction of the tubular portion, and restricts rotation of the tubular portion in a circumferential direction relative to the column post, wherein: the tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post, in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction, the rotation restriction member restricts rotation of the tubular portion by engaging with the brim portion in the circumferential direction and engaging with the column post in the circumferential direction, in a state in which the biasing member is located between the rotation restriction member and the brim portion, the rotation restriction member includes: a base; and a projection in contact with the column post, the projection projecting from the base, the rotation restriction member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by the projection being in contact with the column post, the column post includes a first recess in which the projection is put, the first recess being recessed in a central axis direction of the column post, the first recess has a bottom surface, the bottom surface including a non-sloping bottom surface and a sloping bottom surface, the non-sloping bottom surface is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the column post, the sloping bottom surface has a slope that increases a depth of the first recess with distance from the non-sloping bottom surface, and when the input device is attached to the steering shaft, the rotation restriction member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by the projection of the rotation restriction member, which is put in the first recess and faces the sloping bottom surface, sliding along the sloping bottom surface and moving onto the non-sloping bottom surface along with rotation of the casing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the base of the rotation restriction member includes a rotation engaging portion that bends in the central axis direction of the tubular portion, the rotation engaging portion projecting toward the column post, the column post further includes a second recess that is recessed in the central axis direction of the column post, and in which the rotation engaging portion is put, and when the input device is attached to the steering shaft, the rotation engaging portion of the rotation restriction member that is put in the second recess is put into the first recess by moving while bending along with rotation of the casing, and the projection put into the first recess engages with one of two lateral surfaces of the first recess, and the rotation engaging portion put into the first recess engages with a remaining one of the two lateral surfaces of the first recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a ring-shaped plate member, and curves in the central axis direction of the tubular portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation restriction member is a ring-shaped member having one or more insertion holes, and a protrusion provided on the brim portion of the tubular portion is put into each of the one or more insertion holes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A movable body comprising: the input device according to claim 1; the steering shaft; and the column post. ### Claim 6 An input device comprising: a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which an operation portion that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft; a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion; and a rotation pressing member disposed between the brim portion and the column post in the central axis direction of the tubular portion, wherein: the tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post, in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction, and the rotation pressing member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by rotating in a state in which the biasing member is located between the rotation pressing member and the brim portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The input device according to claim 6, wherein the rotation pressing member includes: a base; and at least one pressing portion that projects from the base and comes into contact with the biasing member, and the rotation pressing member presses and elastically deforms the biasing member by the at least one pressing portion coming into contact with the biasing member along with rotation of the rotation pressing member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The input device according to claim 7, wherein when the input device is attached to the steering shaft, the at least one pressing portion comes into contact with, presses, and elastically deforms the biasing member by the rotation pressing member rotating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The input device according to claim 6, wherein the brim portion of the tubular portion includes a restricted portion that projects or is recessed in the central axis direction, the column post includes a restricting portion that is recessed or projects in a central axis direction of the column post, and rotation of the tubular portion in a circumferential direction relative to the column post is restricted in a state in which the restricted portion is engaged with the restricting portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The input device according to claim 6, wherein the biasing member is a ring-shaped plate member, and curves in the central axis direction of the tubular portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The input device according to claim 6, wherein the rotation pressing member includes a rotation operation portion on an outer circumference. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) A movable body comprising: the input device according to claim 6; the steering shaft; and the column post. ### Claim 13 An input device comprising: a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which an operation portion that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft; and a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion, wherein: the tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post, in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction, and the biasing member is a ring-shaped plate member, and curves in the central axis direction of the tubular portion.