JPS6345711Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a push-button switch used in keyboards such as electronic typewriters, word processors, and terminal keyboards, and particularly relates to a push-button switch that has both a click feeling and a click sound.

[Prior art and its problems] From ergonomics standpoints, it is desirable for push button switches used in keyboards to have tactile feedback. In other words, when the switch is pressed, a click is felt at the same time as the switch is turned on, and this click allows the operator to know that the switch has been turned on.This allows the operator to press the switch any further after the switch is turned on. There is no need to do so. Therefore, it is possible to create a keyboard that is easy for the operator to operate and reduces fatigue.

This type of push-button switch was first introduced in 1974.
34071 and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 56-90322, there are some that use snap action leaf springs to give a click feeling.

However, there were problems in that the click feel was only felt by the fingers, the tactile feedback was insufficient, and the feel of the keys when operating the keyboard was somewhat poor.

However, in the conventional example, there is only a click feeling;
It was difficult to generate a clicking sound.

[Purpose of the invention] The object of the invention is to provide a push button switch which generates a click sound at the same time as a click feeling to make the tactile feedback more clear and has a key touch with good feel.

[Structure of the invention] The present invention provides an iterated spring that integrates an upright part that comes into contact with the inner surface of the side wall of the case, a bent part that is bent from the upright part, and a click spring part that extends downward from the bent part toward the stem. is provided, and when the click protrusion provided at the tip of the click spring part is pressed by the stem, the bent part reciprocates, causing the upright part of the leaf spring to collide with the inner surface of the side wall of the case, thereby causing the click. This is a push-button switch that produces a clicking sound at the same time as the button feels.

[Embodiment of the invention] FIGS. 1 to 5 show embodiments of the invention, which will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, 1 is an upper case made of synthetic resin such as PBT, 2 is a stem made of synthetic resin such as nylon, 3 is a lower case made of the same material as the upper case, 5 is a membrane type switch element, and 6 is stainless steel. 7 is a spring made of stainless steel or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the stem is not pressed, and the steps 1a and 1b of the upper case 1 shown in FIG.
The stem 2 is inserted between them, and a coil spring 4 is interposed between the protrusion 3a provided on the lower case 3 and the protrusion 2a provided on the stem 2, so that the stem 2 can reciprocate.

The lower case 3 is attached to the upper case 1 by snap-ins (not shown) after each component described below is housed in the upper case 1.

A switch element 5 is disposed between the stepped portion 1a of the upper case 1 and the inner surface of the side wall 1c, and a pressure spring 6 is attached to the switch element 5 for turning on the switch element 5 by pressing the stem 2.

Then, the leaf spring 7 is arranged at a position facing the switch element 5 via the stem 2, and the leaf spring 7
As shown in FIG. 4, it consists of a standing part 7a and a click spring part 7c, and has a shoulder part 7f in the middle of the standing part 7a, and has a bent part 7b above the shoulder part 7f. A click spring portion 7c extends obliquely downward at the bent portion 7b.

The lower part of the click spring part 7c is divided into two parts,
Furthermore, a protrusion 7d is provided at each lower end. The upright part 7a of the leaf spring 7 is disposed between the step part 1d of the upper case 1 and the inner surface of the side wall 1e, and the click spring part 7c is disposed on the stem 2 side, so that the click spring part 7c is pressed by the stem 2. is configured to be pressed. The tip of the stem 2 is in contact with the click spring portion 7c of the leaf spring 7 and the pressing spring 6, so that the upright portion 7a of the leaf spring 7 is urged against the inner surface 11 of the side wall of the case 1.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained. Figures 2 and 3 show the operation when the stem 2 is pressed. Figure 2 shows the state in the middle of pressing the stem 2, and Figure 3 shows the state when the stem 2 is fully pressed. It shows the condition.

When the stem 2 is pressed, the stem 2 first presses the slope portion 7e of the click protrusion 7d, but the stem 2 is pressed from the upper part of the leaf spring 7, that is, near the bent portion 7b.
Bend forward so as to fall to the side and lift the standing part 7 of Itabane 7.
a is separated from the side wall inner surface 1d of the case 1, and the leaf spring 7 contacts the protrusion 1f of the upper case 1 near the bent portion 7b.

At this time, the pressing spring 6 is also pressed at the same time, but the switch element 5 has not yet been turned on. When the stem 2 is further pressed, the stem 2 rides on the click protrusion 7d of the leaf spring 7, as shown in FIG. 3, and a click feeling is obtained.

At this time, the stem 2 acts to press the click protrusion 7d in the lateral direction, thereby pressing the leaf spring 7 toward the inner surface 1e of the side wall, and the upright portion 7a of the leaf spring 7 collides with the inner surface 1e of the side wall. This collision produces a collision sound, which forms a click sound. At the same time, the pressing spring 6 presses the switch element 5 to turn on the switch. That is, as soon as the switch is turned on, a clicking feeling and a clicking sound occur.

Next, when the pressure on the stem 2 is released, the coil spring 4 pushes the stem 2 upward, and the stem 2 separates from the click protrusion 7d, turning off the switch element 5. That is, the state returns to the state shown in FIG.

Note that the distance between the step 1d of the case 1 and the inner surface 1e of the side wall is formed to be larger than the plate thickness of the leaf spring 7, but as shown in FIG. Even if the movement is restricted by the portion 1d, the portion above the shoulder portion 7f is not restricted by the stepped portion 1d, so this interval may be equal to the thickness of the leaf spring 7. In short, any structure is sufficient as long as the upper part of the leaf spring 7 can reciprocate.

In addition, in the embodiment, the switch element 5 is pressed by the pressing spring 6.
However, the switch element 5 may be another switch element such as a reed switch, and is not particularly limited to one using a pressing spring.

[Effects of the invention] As described above, in the present invention, when the stem is pressed and rides on the click protrusion of the leaf spring, the upper part of the leaf spring reciprocates and the upright part of the leaf spring collides with the inner surface of the side wall of the case. Because of this structure, it is possible to generate a click sound at the same time as the click feeling to the finger.

Therefore, when the switch is turned on, the operator can hear two things: a clicking sensation in his finger and a clicking sound in his ear.
This makes it possible to provide a push-button switch that is easy to operate, reduces fatigue, and has a good-feeling key touch.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 5 all relate to the present invention; Figure 1 is a sectional view of the push button switch when the stem is not pressed; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the push button switch in the middle of pressing the stem in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view when the stem in Figure 2 is fully pressed, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the leaf spring,
FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the upper case seen from the bottom. 1...Upper case, 1a, 1b, 1d...Stepped portion,
1c, 1e... Inner side wall, 3... Lower case, 5...
. . . Switch element, 7 . . . Leaf spring, 7a .

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has a case, a switch element arranged in the case, a stem inserted into the case, and a leaf spring arranged in the case so as to face the switch element via the stem,
The leaf spring integrally includes a raised portion that abuts against the inner surface of the side wall of the case, a bent portion bent from the raised portion, and a click spring portion that extends downward from the bent portion toward the stem. A click protrusion that protrudes toward the stem is provided at the tip of the click spring, and the stem is in constant contact with the click spring to urge the upright portion against the inner surface of the case side wall. When the stem is pressed, the stem presses the slope of the click protrusion to bend the leaf spring forward toward the stem, and then the stem rides on the click protrusion and The spring is pressed laterally to cause the upright portion to collide with the inner surface of the side wall of the case, and the switch element is moved by the stem.
A push button switch that is turned on.