JP2001229774A - Two stage push button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push button switch with excellent operation performance by extending the stroke of a key top for switching the switch part. SOLUTION: In the two stage push button switch, a cushion member 12 or 13 is disposed on at least one of first and second click springs 7 and 8, and either one of the click springs is pushed by way of the cushion member. Therefore, the pushing stroke A1 of the first stage can be extended.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a two-stage push button switch suitable for use in a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional two-stage push button switch is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-24101. The structure of the switch will be described with reference to FIGS. , The second and third switch sections S3, S4, S5
Are arranged. Then, the first switch unit S3 includes:
As shown in FIG. 34, it is constituted by a membrane switch in which a sheet 53 provided with a fixed contact and a movable contact is bent, and an insulating sheet 54 having an opening is interposed therebetween. Further, the second switch section S4 is configured by a membrane switch in which a fixed contact provided on the sheet 52 and a movable contact provided on the sheet 53 are opposed to each other via an opening of the insulating sheet 54.

In the case 51, a plate-like support member 55 is disposed, and the support member 55 is provided with an operating member 56.
Is attached. And this operating member 56 is
An attachment portion 56a attached to the support member 55; an elastic portion 56b coupled to the attachment portion 56a;
6b, a protrusion 56c provided at one end thereof, and a mounting portion 56
a working part 56e connected to a through a hinge part 56d
And a convex portion 56f provided at an end of the operating portion 56e, and a convex portion 56g provided at a lower portion of a central portion of the operating portion 56e.

[0004] The sheet 53 is bent in a U-shape, and a first switch portion S1 formed at the tip is disposed on the upper surface of the operation portion 56e, and an operation force is applied on the first switch portion S3. And a dome-shaped click spring 57 having a small diameter. In addition, three sheets 52, 5
The second switch unit S4 formed by laminating the second switch unit 4 and the second switch unit 53 is disposed on the upper surface of the support member 55, and has a large operating force and a large diameter on the second switch unit S4 below the convex portion 56g. A large dome-shaped click spring 58 is placed, and a third switch section S5 is arranged below the convex portion 56f.

[0005] The key top 59 includes an operation portion 59a and two projections 59b and 59c provided below the operation portion 59a.
And a support portion 59d provided at one end of the operation portion 59a.
And a locking portion 59e provided at the other end of the operation portion 59a, and the key top 59 is mounted with a support portion 59d supported in a cantilever manner. And key top 59
Is attached, the operation portion 59a is exposed from the opening 51a of the case 51, and the protrusion 59b is
The projection 59c abuts on the click spring 57, and the locking portion 59e is locked on the inner surface of the case 51 by the elasticity of the elastic portion 56b of the operating member 56.

Next, the operation of the conventional two-stage push button switch will be described.
When the key top 59 is pressed, the key top 59 tilts around the support portion 59d as a fulcrum, and the protrusion 56c and the click spring 5c are pressed.
7 are pressed simultaneously. Then, first, the click spring 57 having a small operating force reverses, and the click spring 57 presses the sheet 53 (the folded portion) to bring the movable contact into contact with the fixed contact of the sheet 53, and the first switch portion S3 Is turned on. At this time, the stroke A and the operating force B of the key top 59 draw a curve C3 as shown in FIG. 35, and the stroke A3 is short.

Further, if the key top 59 is continuously pressed in this state, the operating portion 56e of the operating member 56 is tilted via the hinge portion 56d.
g presses the click spring 58. Then, the click spring 58 having a large operating force reverses, and the click spring 58 presses the sheet 53 to bring the movable contact into contact with the fixed contact of the sheet 52, thereby turning the second switch portion S4 to the O position.
Set to N state. At this time, the stroke A of the key top 59
As shown in FIG. 35, the operating force B draws a curve C4.

[0008] Further, the tilting of the operating portion 56e causes the protrusion 5
6f operates the third switch unit S5 so that the third switch unit S5 switches from the ON state to the OFF state. Next, when the pressing of the key top 59 is released, the key top 59 is pushed back by the elastic portion 56b, the operating portion 56e is returned to the original state by the hinge portion 56d, and the click springs 57, 58 Inverting operation to the original state is performed by the spring property, whereby the first and second switch units S3 and S4 are turned off and the third switch unit S5 is returned to the on state.

When such a two-stage push-button switch is used in a digital camera, the first switch section S3 is operated by the first-stage pressing operation to focus on the camera, and the second-stage push-button switch is focused. The second switch section S4 is operated by pressing the step.
By operating the shutter, the shutter is activated. However, the conventional two-stage push-button button switch immediately presses the click spring 57 from the state where the key top 59 is in contact with the click spring 57 and immediately reverses the click spring 57. As shown, the stroke A3 of the first-stage pressing operation is shortened. Therefore, the pressing stroke at the time of focusing is short,
The operation is difficult and the operability deteriorates.

[0010]

The conventional two-stage push button switch is such that the click spring 57 is pressed immediately after the key top 59 is in contact with the click spring 57, and the click spring 57 is immediately reversed. Therefore, there is a problem that the stroke A3 of the first-stage pressing operation is shortened. When such a two-stage push button switch is used in a digital camera, the pressing stroke at the time of focusing is short, the operation is difficult to perform, and the operability is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a two-stage push button switch with good operability by extending the stroke of a key top for switching a switch section.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems As a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a first click spring reversing by a first operating force and an operation by reversing the first click spring are provided. A first switch unit,
A driving body which is located opposite to the click spring and presses the click spring; a second switch disposed on the driving body; and a second operating force different from the first operating force. A second click spring for inverting operation of the second switch unit and a key top for pressing the second click spring; and at least one of the first and second click springs A cushion member is arranged on the upper part of the device so that one of the click springs is pressed via the cushion member.

As a second solution, the cushion member is provided above the second click spring. As a third solution, the cushion member is provided above the first click spring.

As a fourth solution, a case for holding the key top is provided, and an operation part of the key top is exposed from an opening of the case, and the key top is held by the cushion member by the cushion member. Repression,
The configuration was supported. As a fifth solution,
The first operating force of the first click spring is configured to be larger than the second operating force of the second click spring.

As a sixth solution, the diameter of the first click spring is made smaller than that of the second click spring, and the plate thickness of the first click spring is made smaller than that of the second click spring. The thickness was also increased. As a seventh solution, the first and second click springs are formed of metal leaf springs, and the first and second click springs are respectively connected to the first and second switch portions. The structure also serves as a movable contact.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flexible insulating substrate provided with fixed contacts of the first and second switch portions, and the flexible insulating substrate is bent in an S-shape to form the first insulating member. And the second click spring. Further, as a ninth solution means, there is provided a support member for supporting the first switch portion, the support member being provided with a plurality of guide projections extending in a direction in which the key top is pressed. Thereby, the driving body is slid in the pressing direction.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a two-stage push button switch according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the two-stage push button switch of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flexible insulating substrate according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a guide member according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a front view of the guide member of the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a guide member according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG.
0 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 6, FIG. 11 is a plan view of a driving body according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention,
12 is a front view of a driver according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a side view of the driver according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is 14-14 in FIG.
FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a state where the guide member and the driving body according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a key top according to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention, FIG. 17 is a front view of a key top according to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention,
FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the key top according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, FIG. 19 is a side view of the key top according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 0-20, and FIG. 21 is a graph showing a relationship between a stroke and an operating force according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the guide member according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention, and FIG. 23 is related to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention. Front view showing another embodiment, FIG. 24 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention, and a bottom view showing another embodiment of the guide member, and FIG. 25 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 26-26 of FIG. 22, and FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 27-27 of FIG.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing a two-stage push button switch according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 29 is a plan view showing a two-stage push button switch according to the present invention. FIG. 30 is a front view showing another embodiment, FIG. 30 is a bottom view showing another embodiment of a driving body relating to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention, and FIG. 31 is a sectional view taken along line 31-31 of FIG. is there.

Next, the structure of a two-stage push button switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 21. A support member 1 made of a metal plate or the like has four mounting holes 1a provided on the outside. And three mounting holes 1b provided inside.
Flexible insulating substrate 2 made of polyester film
Particularly, as shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular base 2a, a band 2c extending by providing cuts 2b on one side of the base 2a, and a base 2a at a position perpendicular to the band 2c. It has a strip-shaped drawer 2d extending from one side.

The flexible insulating substrate 2 has a base 2
a, two mounting holes 2f provided inside the mounting holes 2e, and a circular hole 2g provided in an intermediate portion of the strip 2c. And a pair of rectangular holes 2h and 2j provided at an interval from the hole 2g to the leading end of the strip 2c. A conductive pattern is formed on the upper surface of the flexible insulating substrate 2 by printing a conductive paste such as silver or the like, and a pair of first fixed contacts 3 are provided at the center of the base 2a. In addition, a pair of holes 2 at the tip portion of the belt-shaped portion 2c.
A pair of second fixed contacts 4 are provided between h and 2j. Further, these fixed contacts 3 and 4 are pulled out to a lead portion 2 d by a lead conductor 5. On the upper surface, first and second fixed contacts 3, 4
And an insulating resist layer 6 (hatched portion in FIG. 5) formed on the portion except for the end portion of the lead conductor 5.

The dome-shaped first click spring 7 also serving as the first movable contact is formed of a stainless steel leaf spring having a spring property, for example, having a plate thickness of 0.07 mm and a diameter of 5 mm.
mm dome shape.
Is mounted on the base 2 a of the flexible insulating substrate 2 so as to face the first fixed contact 3, and a pair of first
One of the fixed contact points 3 is always in contact with one of the contact points located outside, and the other contact point located at the center is arranged at an interval.

The first click spring 7 is attached to the flexible insulating substrate 2 so as to cover the outer surface with an insulating sheet (not shown) having one surface coated with an adhesive. The first click spring 7 and the first fixed contact 3 constitute a first switch section S1, and the click spring 7 reverses with a relatively large operating force, and the center of the click spring 7 The portion comes into contact with and separates from a contact portion located at the center of the first fixed contact 3.

The dome-shaped second click spring 8 also serving as the second movable contact is formed of a stainless steel leaf spring having a spring property, for example, a plate thickness of 0.05 mm and a diameter of 6 mm.
The first click spring 7 is formed in a dome shape larger than the first click spring 7, and the click spring 8 is mounted on the end of the strip 2 c of the flexible insulating substrate 2 so as to face the second fixed contact 4. And a pair of second fixed contacts 4
One of the contact portions located outside is always in contact with the other, and the other contact portion located at the center is disposed with a space therebetween.

The second click spring 8 is, like the first click spring 7, covered with an insulating sheet (not shown) coated with an adhesive on one side so that the outer surface is covered with a flexible insulating material. It is attached to the substrate 2. The second click spring 8 and the second fixed contact 4 constitute a second switch section S2, and the click spring 8
The reverse operation is performed with a smaller operating force than the click spring 7 so that the center of the click spring 8 comes into contact with or separates from the contact portion located at the center of the second fixed contact 4.

The base 2a of the flexible insulating substrate 2 having such a configuration is placed on the support member 1 with its mounting holes 2e and 2f aligned with the mounting holes 1a and 1b of the support member 1, respectively. And the strip 2c
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the base can be bent in an S-shape using the base 2a as a support.

The case 9 made of a molded product of synthetic resin has a cylindrical side wall 9a, a flange 9c having a circular opening 9b provided at the upper end of the side wall 9a, and projects downward from the lower end of the side wall 9a. And four projections 9d. In the case 9, the lower end of the side wall 9a is placed on the flexible insulating substrate 2 with the projection 9d inserted into the mounting holes 2e and 1a, and the tip of the projection 9d is thermally attached to the lower surface of the support member 1. By caulking, attaching the case 9 to the support member 1,
The base 2 a of the flexible insulating substrate 2 is mounted on the support member 1.

Guide member 10 formed of a synthetic resin molded product
In particular, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, a ring-shaped connecting portion 10 a, a plurality of (four) flexible guide protrusions 10 b projecting upward from the connecting portion 10 a, and the guide protrusion 10 b A hook 10c in the form of a claw, which protrudes in the direction of the center, three protrusions 10d which protrude downward from the connecting portion 10a, and which protrude in the lateral direction from the connecting portion 10a. And an L-shaped support portion 10f having a groove 10e provided therebetween.

The guide member 10 has a projection 10
d through the mounting holes 2f and 1b,
Is placed on the flexible insulating substrate 2 and the protrusions 10
The tip portion of d is thermally caulked to the lower surface of the support member 1 to attach the guide member 10 to the support member 1, and the base 2a of the flexible insulating substrate 2 is supported on the support member 1. Further, when the guide member 10 is attached, the guide member 10 is arranged in the case 9 and the first switch portion S1 is located in the space at the center of the connecting portion 10a. . Since the flexible insulating substrate 2 is pressed against the support member 1 by the connecting portion 10a of the guide member 10, the first switch portion S1 does not float.

The driving body 11 made of a synthetic resin molded product is
In particular, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 14,
A plurality of (four) guide portions 11b each formed of a notch provided on an outer peripheral portion of the flat portion 11a;
An L-shaped latching portion 11c provided at one end of 1a and partially projecting to the upper surface side, and a latching portion provided at a position facing the latching portion 11c and protruding from an end surface of the flat plate-shaped portion 11a. It has a portion 11d and a pressing portion 11e formed of a convex portion provided at the center lower portion of the flat plate portion 11a.

The latch 11 of the driving body 11
c, the hole 2h of the flexible insulating substrate 2 is hooked, and the hook 2d is hooked with the hole 2j. The second switch S2 provided on the strip 2c is placed on the flat plate 11a in a state in which is removed. In addition, the flexible insulating substrate 2
Is bent along the lower side of the driving body 11 so that the pressing portion 11e is inserted into the hole 2g and the base portion 2a is bent.
The belt-like portion 2c located on the side of the
e and is supported by the support portion 10f.

Then, the driver 11 having the belt-like portion 2c of the flexible insulating substrate 2 hooked thereto is positioned between the plurality of guide protrusions 10b with the guide protrusions 10b of the guide member 10 bent outward. Thereafter, the guide projection 10b is disengaged and the guide projection 10b is fitted to the guide portion 11b. Then, the driving body 11 can move up and down by using the guide projection 10b as a guide, and
The hook portion 10c provided at the upper end of the portion b prevents the driving body 11 from falling off and regulates the position of the driving body 11. When the driving body 11 is attached,
As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible insulating substrate 2 is bent in an S-shape as a whole. The pressing portion 11 e of the driving body 11 is connected to the hole 2 of the flexible insulating substrate 2.
By inserting the flexible insulating substrate 2 into the g, the elasticity of the flexible insulating substrate 2 bent in an S-shape is maintained, and the flexible insulating substrate 2 can be held at a stable position.

First and second cushion members 12 and 13
Is made of sponge rubber (foamed flexible rubber) or sponge-like foamed polyurethane (polyurethane foam). The first and second cushion members 12 and 13 are weaker than the operating force of the second click spring 8. The sponge body is elastically deformed (compressed) by force. The first cushion member 12 is attached to the upper surface of the first click spring 7 (strictly, the upper surface of the insulating sheet (not shown) that covers the outside of the first click spring 7) with a double-sided adhesive tape or the like. The driving member 11 is constantly pressed upward by the first cushion member 12 to press the driving member 11 against the hook portion 10c. Similarly, the second cushion member 13 is not shown. The second click spring 8 covered with the insulating sheet is adhered to the upper surface with a double-sided adhesive tape or the like.

Key top 14 made of molded synthetic resin
As shown in FIGS. 16 to 20, in particular, a circular dome-shaped operation portion 14a, a ring-shaped flange portion 14b protrudingly provided on an outer peripheral portion of the operation portion 14a,
4b, and a pressing portion 14d formed of a projection provided at a lower portion at the center of the operation portion 14a. The key top 14 is housed in the case 9, and is held in a state where the surface of the operation portion 14 a is exposed from the opening 9 b and the flange 14 b is locked on the inner surface of the flange 9 c of the case 9. Have been.

When the key top 14 is held in the case 9, the linear portion 14 c abuts against a linear portion (not shown) provided in the case 9 to prevent the key top 14 from rotating. At the same time, the pressing portion 14 d comes into contact with the second cushion member 13, and the key top 14 is constantly pressed upward by the second cushion member 13, and the flange portion 14 is pressed.
d is pressed against the flange 9c to suppress and support the key top 14 so that there is no backlash.

Next, the operation of the two-stage push button switch of the present invention will be described.
When the key top 4a is pressed, the key top 14 moves while elastically deforming and contracting the first and second cushion members 12, 13. At this time, the second cushion member 13 is elastically deformed and contracted by the pressing portion 14d of the key top 14, and the first cushion member 12 is configured such that the driving body 11 pressed by the key top 14 By being guided and sliding, the pressing portion 11e of the driving body 11 elastically deforms and contracts.

When the pressing operation of the key top 14 is continued, the first and second cushion members 12 and 13 are further elastically deformed. Second click spring 8 with small power
Is pressed to perform a reversing operation. Then, the second switch portion S2 is turned on by the second click spring 8. At this time, the stroke A of the key top 14 and the operating force B
As shown in FIG. 21, the (force applied to the key top 14) draws a smooth curve C1, and its stroke A1 becomes longer.

Further, if the pressing operation of the key top 14 is continued in this state, as the driving body 11 moves in the pressing direction while being guided by the guide member 10, the first click spring Press 7. Then, next, the first click spring 7 having a large operating force reverses, and the click spring 7 turns on the first switch unit S1. At this time, the stroke A and the operating force B of the key top 14 are, as shown in FIG.
2 is drawn.

Next, when the pressing of the key top 14 is released, the first and second click springs 7 and 8 are reversed by their own spring properties to the original state, whereby the first and second click springs 7 and 8 are rotated. The switches S1 and S2 are turned off,
Due to the elastic return of the first cushion member 12, the driving body 1
1 is returned upward to be in a state of being locked to the hook portion 10c, and the elastic return of the second cushion member 13 causes the key top 14 to return upward and the flange portion 14b
Is pressed by the flange 9c. In this way,
The operation of the two-stage push button switch of the present invention is performed.

When such a two-stage push-button switch of the present invention is used in a digital camera, the first switch is operated to operate the second switch section S2 to focus on the camera. The shutter is operated by operating the first switch section S1 by the second-stage pressing operation. In such a two-stage push button switch of the present invention, when the key top 14 is pressed, first, a relatively long stroke having a desired operating force (elastic force) is obtained by the cushion members 12 and 13. At the same time, by inverting the second click spring 8, a long stroke A as a whole is obtained in the first stage.
1 is obtained. Also, the cushion member 12,
When the key 13 is compressed, the operation unit 14a of the key top 14
Is applied to the second click spring 8, the curve C1 has a continuous and smooth characteristic, and the operation feel is comfortable when the first-stage pressing operation is performed. Can be obtained. For this reason, the pressing stroke at the time of focusing is long, the operation becomes easy,
Operability is improved.

FIGS. 22 to 27 show the guide member 10.
7 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the guide member 1 in the above embodiment is shown.
In this embodiment, the connecting portion 10a has a narrow width, while the connecting portion 10a having a width of 0 is wide. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIGS. 28 to 31 show another embodiment of the driving body 11, in which the driving body 11 in the above-described embodiment has a guide portion 11b formed of a cutout portion. In the example, this guide part 11b is lost,
This is to reduce the size of the external shape. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The driving member 11 shown in FIGS. 28 to 31 is used in combination with the guide member 10 shown in FIGS. 22 to 27. The driving member 11 is supported by the flexible insulating substrate 2. With almost no rotation
The outer periphery of the flat portion 11a of the driving body 11 is guided by the plurality of guide protrusions 10b, and slides in the pressing direction of the key top 14.

In the above embodiment, the first and second
In the above description, the cushion member 12.13 is used, but only one of the first and second cushion members 12, 13 may be used, and only the first cushion member 12 is used. First, key top 1
The driving body 11 is slid by the pressing operation of 4, the first cushion member 12 is elastically deformed and contracted by the driving body 11, and then the second click spring 8 having a small operating force is reversed. When only the second cushion member 13 is used, first, the second cushion member 13 is elastically deformed and contracted by the pressing operation of the key top 14, and thereafter, the second cushion member 13 having a small operating force is used. The click spring 8 of FIG.

In the above embodiment, the first and second click springs 7 and 8 have been described as also serving as movable contacts. However, the first and second click springs 7 and 8 need not serve as movable contacts. Is composed of a so-called membrane switch in which contacts formed on a film substrate are opposed to each other.
The membrane switch may be operated by the reversing operation of the second click springs 7, 8.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the plurality of guide protrusions 10b of the guide member 10 are connected by the connecting portion 10a.
b may be formed individually, and the number of guide projections 10b is not limited to four, but may be two if the shape is an arc.

In the above embodiment, the guide portion 11b of the driving body 11 has been described as being formed with a notch, but the guide portion 11b formed by a hole or the guide portion 11b formed by the outer peripheral end of the driving body 11 may be used. good. In the above embodiment, the key top 14 is inserted through the opening 9 b of the case 9, and the pressing portion 14 d is placed and held on the second cushion member 13. It is a matter of course that various holding configurations such as providing a hinge portion, fixing the hinge portion to the inner surface of the case 9 and elastically deforming the hinge portion can be applied.

[0050]

The two-stage push button switch of the present invention is
Since the cushion member 12 or 13 is disposed above at least one of the first and second click springs 7 and 8, one of the click springs is pressed via the cushion member. It is possible to provide a two-stage push button switch that can lengthen the first-stage pressing stroke A1. Thereby, when such a two-stage push button switch is used in a digital camera, the pressing stroke at the time of focusing can be lengthened, and the operation is easy,
Good operability can be provided.

By providing the cushion member 13 above the second click spring 8, it is possible to provide a two-stage push button switch that can lengthen the first-stage pressing stroke A1. Further, since the key top 14 and the second click spring 8 do not directly contact each other, even if the key top 14 is rattled, no contact sound is generated between them. In addition, when the cushion member 12 is provided above the first click spring 7, the first-stage pressing stroke A1 can be lengthened, and when the cushion member 13 placed on the second click spring 8 is combined, it is further enhanced. Thus, it is possible to provide a two-stage push button switch that can lengthen the first-stage pressing stroke A1.

The case 9 for holding the key top 14
Since the operation portion 14a of the key top 14 is exposed from the opening 9b of the case 9 and the key top 14 is pressed and supported by the case 9 by the cushion member 13, the cushion member 13 At the same time, rattling of the key top 14 can be prevented, the number of parts can be reduced, and an inexpensive one can be provided.

Also, since the first operating force of the first click spring 7 is made larger than the second operating force of the second click spring 8, after the upper second click spring 8 is first inverted, The lower first click spring 7 is reversed, and the driving body 11 can be stably supported by the lower click spring 7 having a large operating force.

Further, the diameter of the first click spring 7 is made smaller than that of the second click spring 8 and the plate thickness of the first click spring 7 is made larger than that of the second click spring 8. The operating force of the click spring 7 can be reliably increased to be larger than the operating force of the second click spring 8, and a reliable operation can be provided.

The first and second click springs 7, 8 are formed of metal leaf springs, and the first and second click springs 7, 8 are respectively connected to the first and second switch sections S.
Since it also serves as a movable contact for S1 and S2, the number of parts is small,
An inexpensive product with good assemblability can be provided.

The first and second switch sections S1, S2
Since the flexible insulating substrate 2 provided with the fixed contacts 3 and 4 is bent in an S-shape and arranged to face the first and second click springs 7 and 8, Since the fixed contacts 3 and 4 can be formed on the same surface of the flexible insulating substrate 2, the productivity is good.

Further, there is provided a support member 1 for supporting the first switch portion S1.
A plurality of guide projections 10b extending in the pressing direction are provided, and the driving body 11 is slid in the pressing direction by the guides of the guide projections 10b. Therefore, the space for supporting the driving body 11 is small, and the size can be reduced. The sliding movement of the driving body 11 can be made smooth.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a flexible insulating substrate according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a guide member according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a guide member according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a guide member according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a driver according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a driver according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a driver according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a state in which a guide member and a driver according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention are combined.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a keytop according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a key top according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of a key top according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a key top according to the two-stage push button switch of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20-20 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention;
4 is a graph showing a relationship between a stroke and an operating force.

FIG. 22 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the guide member.

FIG. 23 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention;
The front view which shows the other Example of a guide member.

FIG. 24 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention;
The bottom view showing other examples of a guide member.

FIG. 25 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention;
The side view showing other examples of a guide member.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along line 26-26 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken along line 27-27 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 28 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the driving body.

FIG. 29 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention.
The front view which shows the other example of a drive body.

FIG. 30 relates to a two-stage push button switch of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing another embodiment of the driving body.

FIG. 31 is a sectional view taken along line 31-31 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of a conventional two-stage push button switch.

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional two-stage push button switch.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a first switch unit according to a conventional two-stage push button switch.

FIG. 35 is a graph showing a relationship between a stroke and an operating force in a conventional two-stage push button switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 support member 1a mounting hole 1b mounting hole 2 flexible insulating substrate 2a base 2b cut 2c strip 2d lead-out portion 2e mounting hole 2f mounting hole 2g hole 2h hole 2j hole 3 first fixed contact 4 second fixed contact 5 lead conductor Reference Signs List 6 resist layer 7 first click spring 8 second click spring 9 case 9a side wall 9b opening 9c flange 9d projection 10 guide member 10a connecting part 10b guide projection 10c hook part 10d projection 10e groove part 10f support part 11 driver 11a Flat portion 11b Guide portion 11c Latch portion 11d Latch portion 11e Press portion 12 First cushion member 13 Second cushion member 14 Key top 14a Operation portion 14b Flange portion 14c Linear portion 14d Press portion S1 First switch Part S2 Second switch part

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5G006 AA01 AB25 BA01 BA02 BB03 CB01 CB02 CD07 DB01 DB03 FB04

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first click spring that reverses with a first operating force, a first switch that is operated by the reverse operation of the first click spring, and a first switch that faces the first click spring. , A driving body that presses the click spring, a second switch unit disposed on the driving body, and a reversing operation with a second operating force different from the first operating force, A second click spring for operating the second switch section; and a key top for pressing the second click spring. A cushion member is provided on at least one of the first and second click springs. A two-stage push button switch, wherein one of said click springs is pressed through said cushion member. 2. The two-stage push button switch according to claim 1, wherein said cushion member is provided above said second click spring. 3. The two-stage push button switch according to claim 1, wherein said cushion member is provided above said first click spring. 4. A case for holding the key top, wherein an operation portion of the key top is exposed from an opening of the case, and the key top is elastically pressed and supported by the case by the cushion member. The two-stage push button switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first operating force of the first click spring is larger than a second operating force of the second click spring. Two-stage push button switch. 6. The diameter of the first click spring is adjusted to the second click spring.
6. The two-stage push button switch according to claim 5, wherein the first click spring has a thickness smaller than that of the second click spring. 7. The first and second click springs are formed of metal leaf springs, and the first and second click springs also serve as movable contacts of the first and second switch units, respectively. The two-stage push button switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: 8. A flexible insulating substrate provided with fixed contacts for the first and second switch portions, and the flexible insulating substrate is bent into an S-shape to form the first and second click springs. The two-stage push button switch according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the two-stage push button switch is arranged to face each other. 9. A support member for supporting the first switch portion, wherein the support member is provided with a plurality of guide projections extending in a direction in which the key top is pressed, and the drive by the guide of the guide projections. 9. The two-stage push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the body is slid in the pressing direction.