JPH097464A - Lever switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain size reduction. CONSTITUTION: A select switch operation part 10 to support a movable contact point 13 is composed of circular elastic rising walls 11a and 11b and a part 12 to be pressed which run along an arranging circle of select fixed contact points 4. When the select switch operation part 10 is push-moved by an actuating part 32 integrally tilting with an operation lever 40, the movable contact point 13 contacts with the select fixed contact points 4. Since there is no need to leave a space for the other members between the mutual adjacent select fixed contact points 4 in the circumferential direction, an interval between these mutual select fixed contact points 4 is possible to be narrowed, and its arranging circle is made diametrically small, and the whole size can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lever switch which operates by tilting an operating lever.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a lever switch shown in FIG. This is because a plurality of fixed contacts 71 are arranged in a circle on the printed circuit board 70, and each fixed contact 71 is arranged.
A rubber switch cover 74 having an elastic flexure portion 73, which is in the shape of a bowl surrounding the movable contact 72 and is fixed to the movable contact 72, is mounted on the back surface, and the fixed contact 71 is provided above the switch cover 74. The operation lever 75 is tiltably supported by being positioned at the center of the disposition circle of, and the flange 76 and the elastic bending portion 73 that are displaced in conjunction with the operation lever 75 are displaced.
A structure in which the operating pin 77 is supported so as to be vertically displaceable between and. When the operation lever 75 of the lever switch is tilted, the flange 76 tilts and the actuating pin 77 is pushed down, so that the elastic bending portion 73 is elastically deformed so as to be crushed and the movable contact 72 comes into contact with the fixed contact 71.

[0003]

In order to reduce the size of the above-mentioned lever switch, it is sufficient to reduce the diameter of the circle where the fixed contacts 71 are arranged.
If the diameter of the arrangement circle is made small, the fixed contacts 71 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction also come close to each other. However, conventionally,
An elastic bending portion 73 for supporting the movable contact 72 is provided so as to surround each fixed contact 71, and a cylindrical support member 78 for supporting the operation pin 77 is provided for each fixed contact 71. ing. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a space for providing the elastically flexible portion 73 or the support member 78 between the fixed contacts 71 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, which hinders the reduction of the diameter. It was

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to reduce the size.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in a circular shape on a circuit board, and the movable contacts are urged in the separating direction with respect to the fixed contacts. In a lever switch that is provided so that the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact in conjunction with the tilting movement of the operation lever arranged at the center of the arrangement circle of the fixed contact, the movable contact is located on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side. It is characterized in that it is supported by elastically rising walls which are formed in a continuous circular shape and are capable of flexural deformation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in a circular shape on the circuit board, and a movable contact is provided by urging the fixed contacts in a separating direction. In a lever switch in which the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact in conjunction with the tilting movement of the operation lever arranged in the center of the circle, the movable contact is fixed to the operation lever by tilting and displacement integrally with the operation lever. It is characterized in that it has a configuration in which an actuating portion that can be pushed to the contact side is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in a circular shape on the circuit board, and a movable contact is provided by urging the fixed contacts in a separating direction. In a lever switch in which the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact by interlocking with the tilting movement of the operation lever arranged at the center of the circle, the movable contact has elastic properties provided in a circular shape on the inner and outer circumference sides. It is supported by a rising wall, and the operating lever is provided with an operating part that can push the movable contact toward the fixed contact side by tilting and displacement integrally with the operating lever. Have.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operation lever is tilted, the movable contact contacts the fixed contact while the elastic rising wall is elastically deformed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the operating lever is tilted, the operating portion pushes the movable contact to bring it into contact with the fixed contact.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the operating lever is tilted, the operating portion pushes the movable contact to contact the fixed contact while elastically deforming the elastic rising wall.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the elastic rising walls for supporting the movable contact are provided in a continuous circular shape on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side of the fixed contact arrangement circle. Therefore, as compared with the case where the movable contact is supported by the support means provided so as to surround each fixed contact, it is possible to narrow the interval between the fixed contacts that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, thereby achieving miniaturization. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the movable contact is pushed by the operating portion provided integrally with the operating lever, not by the operating pin supported separately from the operating lever. Therefore, a support member for supporting the operating pin is unnecessary. Therefore, compared to the case where a tubular support member for supporting the operating pin is provided,
It is possible to reduce the distance between the fixed contacts that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and thus it is possible to reduce the size.

According to the invention of claim 3, for the same reason as the invention of claim 1 and the invention of claim 2, the movable contact is supported and the operation pin is supported by the supporting means provided so as to surround each fixed contact. As compared with the case where a cylindrical support member for this purpose is provided, it is possible to reduce the interval between the fixed contacts that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and this enables size reduction.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. A rectangular printed circuit board (circuit board, which is a constituent of the present invention) 2 having circuit components such as an IC, a transistor, a resistor, and a capacitor (not shown) mounted on the back is fixed in a shallow tray-shaped rectangular case 1. Has been done. One fixed contact 3 for setting is arranged on the surface of the printed circuit board 2, and eight select contacts are arranged at an equal angular interval of 45 ° on the circumference of the fixed contact 3 for setting. The fixed contact 4 is arranged.

A switch cover 5 made of rubber having electrical insulation and elasticity is fixed to the surface of the printed circuit board 2. The switch cover 5 has a thin film shape as a whole and covers the entire surface of the printed circuit board 2.
At a position corresponding to the set fixed contact 3 described above, a set switch operating unit 6 is formed which is always bulged so as to be separated from the surface of the printed circuit board 2.

The set switch operating portion 6 is located at a thin elastic rising portion 7 rising in a tapered cylindrical shape from the surface of the switch cover 5 so as to surround the fixed contact 3 for setting, and a projecting end of this elastic rising portion 7. It consists of a circular head 8. A disk-shaped movable contact 9 made of a conductive rubber material is fixed to the back surface of the head 8. In the set switch operating unit 6, the elastic rising portion 7 is always standing up and the movable contact 9 is separated from the set fixed contact 3, and when the head 8 is pushed, the elastic rising portion 7 is elastically deformed. Meanwhile, the movable contact 9 comes into contact with the set fixed contact 3 to make the set fixed contact 3 conductive. Further, when the pressure on the head 8 is released, the elastic restoring force of the elastic rising portion 7 causes the movable contact 9 to return to the state of being separated from the set fixed contact 3.

Further, the switch cover 5 has the eight fixed contacts 4 for selection, with the fixed contact 3 for setting as a center.
The select switch operation unit 10 is formed in a circular shape corresponding to the circle (hereinafter referred to as the arrangement circle) that is the arrangement reference of No. 1 and bulges so as to be separated from the printed circuit board 2.

The select switch operating unit 10 is concentric with the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection, and extends from the switch cover 5 along a circle closer to the inner circumference and closer to the outer circumference than the fixed contact 4 for select. The elastic rising walls 11a and 11b, which are thin and stood up, and both elastic rising walls 1 are formed in an annular shape with a constant width along the arrangement circle of the fixed contact 4 for selection.
It comprises a pressed portion 12 provided so as to connect the rising ends of 1a and 11b, and has a trapezoidal cross section. Then, on the back surface of the pressed portion 12, eight disk-shaped movable contacts 13 made of a conductive rubber material are fixed so as to be directly above the fixed contacts 4 for selection.

In the select switch operating portion 10, the elastic rising walls 11a and 11b are always raised so that all the movable contacts 13 are separated from the fixed fixed contact 4 for selecting, and the pressed portion 12 is in the circumferential direction. When it is partially pressed at, the select switch operating unit 10 elastically deforms so that the pressed portion is recessed. Then, the movable contact 13 fixed to the recessed portion comes into contact with the fixed selection contact 4 located therebelow to make the fixed fixed contact 4 conductive. When the pressure on the pressed portion 12 is released, the elastic rising wall 11
The elastic restoring force of a and 11b restores the select switch operating unit 10 to its original shape, so that the movable contact 13 is separated from the select fixed contact 4.

On the switch cover 5, a dome-shaped base 15 which is concentric with the arrangement circle of the fixed selection contacts 4 and has an open ceiling is positioned by the pressing portion 51 of the cover 50 whose peripheral portion is described later. It is fixed in the closed state. Square rim wall 16 formed on the opening edge of the base 15
Includes a pair of coaxial support shafts 18 protruding inward,
18 is formed. A common axis line of the both support shafts 18 and 18 is orthogonal to a virtual perpendicular line that rises from the center of the arrangement circle of the eight select fixed contacts 4 on the plate surface of the printed circuit board 2.

The bearing body 20 in the form of a rectangular cylinder is mounted on the base 15 such that the bearing holes 21 and 21 formed coaxially on mutually parallel surfaces are fitted to the support shafts 18 and 18 so that the bearing body 20 can freely rotate. It is supported. Coaxial shaft fitting holes 22, 22 are formed on the other parallel surfaces of the bearing body 20 where the bearing hole 21 is not formed. Both shaft fitting holes 2
The common axis lines 2 and 22 are orthogonal to the virtual perpendicular line rising from the center of the arrangement circle of the fixed fixed contacts 4 for selection on the plate surface of the printed circuit board 2 and the common axis line of the support shaft 18. .

On the bearing body 20, a tilting body 30 having a rectangular shape is rotatably supported by fitting rotary shafts 31, 31 protruding from the outer surface thereof into the shaft fitting holes 22, 22. Has been done. Since the tilting body 30 is supported by the support shaft 18 and the rotating shaft 31 which are orthogonal to each other, the base 1 is centered on the orthogonal point of the axes of both the shafts 18 and 31.
Inclination in any direction with respect to 5 is possible.

On the outer periphery of the lower end edge of the tilting body 30, there is formed a conical operation portion 32 which projects obliquely downward and outward. In the neutral state of the tilting body 30, the actuating portion 32 comes into contact with the upper surface of the pressed portion 12 of the select switch operating portion 10 over the entire circumference. Further, a pressing portion 33 is formed on the peripheral edge of the operating portion 32 so as to project outward obliquely upward in the neutral state. As described above, the select switch operating unit 10 includes the elastic rising walls 11a, 11
Since the elastic restoring force of b is biased in the rising direction, the tilting body 30 is always kept in the neutral state by this biasing force. When the tilting body 30 tilts, a portion in the tilting direction at the peripheral edge of the operating portion 32 is displaced downward to press the pressed portion 12 of the select switch operating portion 10, and the tilting force acting on the tilting body 30 is released. Then, the tilting body 30 is returned to the neutral state by the elastic restoring force of the select switch operating unit 10.

The tilting body 30 has a cross-shaped cross section, and a support hole 34 in a direction orthogonal to the printed circuit board 2 in the neutral state (vertical direction in FIG. 2) is formed so as to penetrate from the upper end surface to the lower end surface. There is. The leg portion 41 of the operating lever 40, which is formed by forming a tapered tubular knob portion 42 on the upper end of the leg portion 41 having a cross-shaped cross section, is fitted into the support hole 34. As a result, the operating lever 40 moves the leg portion 41 with respect to the tilting body 30.
Is supported so that it can freely move in the length direction and cannot rotate about the length direction, and the operating lever 40 tilts integrally with the tilting body 30. In addition, the operating lever 40 has a knob portion 42 on the base 15.
The flared portion 46 is formed by flaring in the shape of an umbrella toward the side. The outer surface of the expanded portion 46 has the support shaft 18
Is a spherical surface centered on a point orthogonal to both axes of the rotating shaft 31.

The operating lever 40 is biased upward by a return spring 44, which is a compression coil spring mounted between the back surface of the knob portion 42 and the upper end surface of the tilting body 30 while being fitted onto the leg portion 41 of the operating lever 40. However, the locking portion 45 formed at the lower end of the leg portion 41 is always held in a state of being locked at the lower end surface of the tilting body 30. The lower end surface of the leg portion 41 of the operation lever 40 in this state is the head portion 8 of the set switch operating portion 6.
A predetermined space is provided between and. The operating lever 40 resists the urging of the return spring 44 to move the leg portion 41 to the tilting body 3.
When it is moved in the direction of pushing into 0, the lower end surface of the leg portion 41 contacts the head portion 8 and pushes it toward the printed circuit board 2 side, whereby the movable contact 9 comes into contact with the set fixed contact 3. ing.

A cover 50 is covered and fixed to the case 1 so as to cover the above-mentioned components. On the front surface (upper surface in the figure) of the cover 50, the base 15
A window hole 52 having a larger diameter than the knob portion 42 of the operating lever 40 is formed in a concentric circle, and the knob portion 42 is exposed from the window hole 52. Further, there is a slight gap between the edge of the window hole 52 and the outer surface of the expanded portion 46 of the operation lever 40.

Further, in this embodiment, the printed circuit board 2 is provided with two fixed contacts 54 in addition to the set fixed contacts 3 and the select fixed contacts 4. As the operation button 56 exposed through the window 55 of the cover 50 is pressed and released, the movable contact (not shown) provided in the switch operating portion 57 of the switch cover 5 is replaced with the fixed contact 5.
It comes in contact with and separates from No. 4.

Next, the operation of the select switch in the lever switch having the above structure will be described. This operation is performed by grasping the knob portion 42 of the operation lever 40 and moving it in a direction substantially parallel to the printed circuit board 2. When the moving direction of the knob portion 42 is perpendicular to the support shaft 18, the operating lever 40 is tilted around the support shaft 18 integrally with the tilting body 30 and the bearing body 20, and the moving direction is the rotating shaft 31. In the case of a right angle, the operation lever 40 is tilted around the rotating shaft 31 integrally with the tilting body 30, and the moving direction is 45 ° with respect to both the support shaft 18 and the rotating shaft 31. In this case, the operating body 40 is rotated around the support shaft 18, and the tilting body 30 is relatively rotated around the rotating shaft 31 with respect to the rotating bearing body 20, while the operating lever 40 is rotated. And tilt together. In any of the above-described operation directions, the operation lever 40 and the tilting body 30 tilt about a point orthogonal to both axes of the support shaft 18 and the rotation shaft 31.

When the tilting body 30 tilts, as shown in FIG. 3, a portion in the tilting direction on the periphery of the operating portion 32 is displaced downward to push the pressed portion 12, and the portion is fixed to the pressed portion. The movable contact 13 is moved downward to contact the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection, and the circuit including the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection is switched to the ON state. At this time, one movable contact 13 has two adjacent fixed contacts 4 for selection.
Even if the four contacts 4 are simultaneously contacted, only the circuit including one of the fixed fixed contacts 4 is turned on by the compensation circuit provided in the main circuit, and the circuit including the other fixed fixed contact 4 is left in the off state. It is designed to be kept.

When the movable contact 13 is in contact with the fixed selection contact 4, the lower surface of the pressing portion 33 is in a horizontal posture and presses the upper surface of the pressed portion 12. Thereby, the movable contact 13 also comes into contact with the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection in a horizontal posture, and the movable contact 13 can reliably short-circuit the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection.

From this state, the knob portion 42 of the operating lever 40
When is released, the tilting body 30 and the operating lever 40 are united by the elastic restoring force of the select switch operation unit 10 to return from the tilted posture to the neutral state, and the movable contact 13 is separated from the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection. Switches to the off state.

When the operating lever 40 is tilted and returned, the outer surface of the expanded portion 46 is a spherical surface which is concentric with the tilt center of the operating lever 40.
Does not interfere with the edge of the window hole 52 of the. Further, during tilting of the operation lever 40, only a small gap is constantly left between the hole edge of the window hole 52 and the expanded portion 46, so that a foreign substance enters inside through this gap. There is little fear.

As described above, in this embodiment, as means for supporting the movable contact 13 for the select switch, the elastic rising walls 11a and 11b are provided on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side of the arrangement circle of the fixed contact 4 for selection. Since it is arranged in a circle in the above, it is necessary to reduce the interval between the fixed fixed contacts 4 for selection in the circumferential direction as compared with the case where the elastic rising part of the bowl shape is provided so as to surround each fixed fixed contact 4 for selection. Is possible. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the diameter dimension of the arrangement circle of the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection and to downsize the entire lever switch.

Moreover, the movable contact 1 for the select switch
As a means for pushing 3, the operating pin 32 is provided so as to be tiltable integrally with the operating lever 40 instead of providing the operating pin for each fixed contact 4 for selection so as to be vertically movable. Since it is pushed, a support member for supporting the actuating pin is unnecessary.
Therefore, as compared with a case where a tubular support member for supporting the operation pin is provided for each of the fixed fixed contacts for selection, it is possible to narrow the interval between the fixed fixed contacts 4 for selection that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. From this point as well, it is possible to reduce the diameter dimension of the arrangement circle of the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection and to downsize the entire lever switch.

When the pressing portion pushes the pressed portion to bring the movable contact into contact with the selection fixed contact, the lower surface of the pressing portion becomes horizontal and the upper surface of the pressed portion is pressed to move the movable contact. Since the contact has a horizontal posture so as to face the fixed fixed contact for selection, the contact operation of the movable contact to the fixed fixed contact for selection can be stably performed.

Further, since the operating portion 32, which is integrally displaced with the operating lever 40, is inclined and displaced in a region lower than the tilt center thereof, when the select switch operating portion 10 is pressed, the tip of the operating portion 32 is pushed. The pressing portion 33 is displaced from the outer peripheral side to the center side in the arrangement circle of the fixed fixed contact 4 for selection. Therefore, compared with the case where the pressing part is displaced to the outer peripheral side and presses the select switch operating part,
It is possible to reduce the diameter dimension of the arrangement circle of the fixed contact 4 for selection.

Further, since the tilt center of the operation lever 40 is located at a relatively high position, the length of the arm from the tilt center to the position where the operating portion 32 pushes the select switch operating portion 10 is long. Therefore, even if the operation angle of the operation lever 40 is small, the switch operation can be surely performed.

In the above embodiment, the supporting hole 34 of the tilting body 30 and the leg portion 4 of the operating lever 40 fitted into the supporting hole 34.
The tilting body 3 of the operating lever 40 has a cross-sectional shape of 1
Since it is configured to prevent rotation with respect to 0, it is less likely that an operation error such as tilting in the wrong direction due to rotation when the knob 42 of the operation lever 40 is picked up occurs. Further, by disabling the rotation of the operation lever 40, it is possible to display on the upper surface of the knob portion 42 of the operation lever 40, such as indicating the tilting direction. By providing such a display, it becomes possible to guide the tilting direction and the like, and thus the operability can be improved.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the select switch operating portion is constituted by the elastic rising wall and the pressed portion, and the select switch operating portion is directly pushed by the operating portion which tilts integrally with the operating lever. However, according to the present invention, the configuration may be such that the select switch operating part is formed into a protuberance shape surrounding each fixed contact for selection similarly to the set switch operating part and is directly pushed by the operating part. Alternatively, the select switch operation unit may be configured by an elastic rising wall and a pressed portion, and may be configured to be pushed by an operation pin that is vertically displaced independently of the operation lever.

(2) In the above embodiment, the case where the set switch mechanism which is turned on / off by pushing the operation lever is provided is described, but the present invention does not have the set switch mechanism and the operation lever is provided. The present invention can also be applied to a device provided with only a select switch mechanism that is turned on / off by a tilting operation.

(3) In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the axes of the support shaft for supporting the operation lever in a tiltable manner and the rotary shaft intersect at right angles at one point. For example, the axis line of the support shaft and the axis line of the rotation shaft may intersect so as to separately pass through positions displaced in the length direction of the operation lever.

(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the number of fixed contacts for selection is eight has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to the case where the number of fixed contacts for selection is other than eight. You can

(5) In the above embodiment, the supporting hole of the tilting body and the leg portion of the operation lever fitted into the tilting body are formed in a cross shape to prevent the operation lever from rotating with respect to the tilting body. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the cross-sectional shapes of the support hole and the leg portion are non-circular shapes other than the cross shape. Further, it is also applicable to the case where the cross-sectional shape is circular when it is not necessary to make the operation lever non-rotatable with respect to the tilting body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in a neutral state.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a state in which the operation lever is tilted.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a select switch operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the select switch operation unit showing the shape of the movable contact.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Printed circuit board (circuit board) 4 ... Fixed contacts for selection 11a, 11b ... Elastic rising wall 13 ... Movable contact 32 ... Actuator 40 ... Operation lever

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in a circular shape on a circuit board, and a movable contact is provided by urging the fixed contacts in a separating direction, and the movable contacts are arranged at the center of the arrangement circle of the fixed contacts. In the lever switch in which the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact in association with the tilting movement of the operating lever, the movable contact is formed in a circular shape continuous to the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side, respectively. The lever switch is supported by an elastic rising wall capable of flexural deformation. 2. A plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in a circular shape on a circuit board, and a movable contact is provided by urging the fixed contacts in a separating direction, and the movable contacts are arranged at the center of the arrangement circle of the fixed contacts. In the lever switch in which the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact in conjunction with the tilting motion of the operating lever, the operating lever is provided with the movable contact by tilting and displacement integrally with the operating lever. A lever switch having an actuating portion that can be pushed toward the fixed contact side. 3. A plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in a circle on a circuit board, and a movable contact is provided by urging the fixed contacts in a separating direction, and the movable contacts are arranged at the center of the arrangement circle of the fixed contacts. In the lever switch in which the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact in conjunction with the tilting motion of the operating lever, the movable contact has an elastic rising edge provided in a circular shape on the inner and outer peripheral sides thereof. While being supported by a wall, the operating lever is provided with an operating portion capable of pushing the movable contact toward the fixed contact side by tilting and displacing integrally with the operating lever. Lever switch to do.