EP0893809A2 - Interrupteur à bouton-poussoir - Google Patents

Interrupteur à bouton-poussoir Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0893809A2
EP0893809A2 EP98304337A EP98304337A EP0893809A2 EP 0893809 A2 EP0893809 A2 EP 0893809A2 EP 98304337 A EP98304337 A EP 98304337A EP 98304337 A EP98304337 A EP 98304337A EP 0893809 A2 EP0893809 A2 EP 0893809A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
metal contact
contact
outer periphery
pushbutton switch
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98304337A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0893809A3 (fr
EP0893809B1 (fr
Inventor
Kazunari Takahashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Alps Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alps Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Alps Electric Co Ltd
Publication of EP0893809A2 publication Critical patent/EP0893809A2/fr
Publication of EP0893809A3 publication Critical patent/EP0893809A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0893809B1 publication Critical patent/EP0893809B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/04—Cases; Covers
    • H01H13/06—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/26—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members
    • H01H13/48—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members using buckling of disc springs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a small and thin pushbutton switch in which a metal contact (movable contact) almost shaped like a circular plate is forced into and out of contact with a fixed contact.
  • a pushbutton switch having the structure shown in Figure 6 has been widely used as this type of pushbutton switch.
  • a pair of fixed contacts 11 and 12 are formed by insert-molding so that they are exposed on the inner bottom of an opening section 10a of a housing 10, and terminals 13 and 14 for external connection led out from these fixed contacts 11 and 12 are exposed on the outside wall surface of the housing 10.
  • a metal contact 15 almost shaped like a circular plate is held in the opening section 10a so that it is always in contact with one of the fixed contacts 11 and is separably opposed to the other fixed contact 12.
  • a flexible film 16 provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the back is bonded to the upper end of the housing 10 and closes the opening section 10a, the metal contact 15 is completely covered with the flexible film 16.
  • the pushbutton switch thus constructed is, though not shown, mounted on a circuit board and placed below an operating member.
  • the metal contact 15 is pressed by a finger or the like through the operating member. That is, when the center of the metal contact 15 is pressed together with the flexible film 16 with a predetermined stroke by an operating force exerted from above, since the metal contact 15 is inverted into contact with the fixed contact 12, both the fixed contacts 11 and 12 are electrically connected via the metal contact 15, thereby switching a switch circuit from the off state to the on state.
  • the metal contact 15 When the operating force exerted from above is removed in such an on state, the metal contact 15 returns to its initial shape by its own elasticity, and separates from the fixed contact 12, whereby the switch circuit returns to the off state, and the flexible film 16 is pushed up to its initial position.
  • the conventional pushbutton switch described above adopts a dustproof structure in which the opening section 10a of the housing 10 is closed by the flexible film 16, a foreign substance such as dust is not apt to enter a contact portion inside the opening section 10a, and reliability is not apt to be decreased due to the entry of the foreign substance.
  • a pushbutton switch having a structure in which a caulking wall is formed around an opening section of a housing and the outer periphery of a metal contact held in the opening section is caulked by the caulking wall, thereby omitting the above-mentioned flexible film.
  • a pushbutton switch in which a metal frame 17 having an opening 17a is joined to a flexible film 16 and the outer periphery of the housing 10 by caulking, as shown by an alternate long and two short dashes line in Fig. 6, has also been used hitherto. Since the addition of such a metal frame 17 results in an increase in number of components and man-hours for assembly and an increase in thickness of the product, however, it is not preferable in promoting the reduction in size, thickness, and costs.
  • the present invention provides a small and thin pushbutton switch having high operability in assembly and mounting and a high resistance to dust by caulking a fall-preventive member, which covers at least the entire outer periphery of a metal contact, by a housing.
  • a pushbutton switch of the present invention includes a housing in which a caulking wall is located around an opening section, a pair of fixed contacts formed so that they are exposed at the inner bottom of the opening section, a metal contact almost shaped like a circular plate and held in the opening section always in contact with one of the fixed contacts and separably opposed to the other fixed contact, and a fall-preventive member having a larger diameter than that of the metal contact to cover at least the outer periphery of the metal contact, and fixedly held in the housing by being caulked by the caulking wall on the periphery thereof, wherein the fall-preventive member is always in tight contact with the entire metal contact.
  • annular elastic plate for covering the outer periphery of the metal contact is used as the fall-preventive member, and the entire inner periphery of the annular elastic plate is held in elastic contact with the outer periphery of the metal contact by caulking the outer periphery of the annular elastic plate by the caulking wall of the housing.
  • the annular elastic plate covers the entire outer periphery of the metal contact in elastic contact therewith, the tight contact between the metal contact and the annular elastic plate is maintained even when the metal contact is pressed, and a high resistance to dust can be obtained. Still furthermore, since the metal contact is not covered with a flexible film, the number of components is small and the reduction in size and thickness is not hindered even if the annular elastic plate is added.
  • a flexible film with a pressure-sensitive adhesive for covering the entire metal contact may be used as the fall-preventive member and may be bonded to the periphery of the opening section of the housing and the top surface of the metal contact with the pressure-sensitive adhesive.
  • the pushbutton switch shown in these figures is a small and thin contact switch.
  • the pushbutton switch includes a housing 1 in which a caulking wall 1b is formed around an opening section 1a, a pair of fixed contacts 2 and 3 formed so that they are exposed at the inner bottom of the opening section 1a, terminals 4 and 5 for external connection that are led out from the fixed contacts 2 and 3 and exposed from the outer wall of the housing 1, a metal contact 6 substantially or almost shaped like a circular plate and held in the opening section la always in contact with one of the fixed contacts 2 and separably opposed to the other fixed contact 3, and an annular elastic plate 7 formed of an annular flat plate having a larger diameter than that of the metal contact 6 so that its inner periphery covers the outer periphery of the metal contact 6 in elastic contact therewith.
  • annular elastic plate 7 The entire outer periphery of the annular elastic plate 7 is joined to the caulking wall 1b by caulking. Therefore, the annular elastic plate 7 is securely held and fixed on the housing 1. Furthermore, since the annular elastic plate 7 is slightly bent by caulking as shown in Fig. 3 and thereby generates pressure, its entire inner periphery is in elastic contact with the outer periphery of the metal contact 6.
  • the pushbutton switch thus constructed is mounted on a circuit board and placed below an operating member, though not shown, and the metal contact 6 is pressed by the finger or the like through the operating member. That is, when the center of the metal contact 6 is pressed with a predetermined stroke by an operating force exerted from above (shown by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 4), since the metal contact 6 is inverted into contact with the fixed contact 3, both the fixed contacts 2 and 3 are electrically connected via the metal contact 6, thereby switching a switch circuit from the off state to the on state.
  • the metal contact 6 returns to its initial shape by its own elasticity, and therefore, separates from the fixed contact 3, whereby the switch circuit returns to the off state.
  • the annular elastic plate 7 covers the entire outer periphery of the metal contact 6 in elastic contact therewith, and the inner periphery of the annular elastic plate 7 can be caused to follow the elastic deformation of the outer periphery of the metal contact 6. Therefore, even if the metal contact 6 is pressed, the tight contact between the metal contact 6 and the inner periphery of the annular elastic plate 7 can be maintained, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As a result, the pushbutton switch is given a dustproof structure in which a foreign substance such as dust will not enter the opening section la, and conduction failure that may occur when a foreign substance adheres to a contact portion, or the like is avoided, which achieves high reliability.
  • the metal contact 6 in this pushbutton switch is not directly caulked, and therefore, the operating characteristics of the metal contact 6 are not affected even if the outer periphery of the annular elastic plate 7 is strongly caulked. Consequently, there is no need to strictly control the caulking, and high assembly ability and high productivity can be expected.
  • this pushbutton switch does not have the conventional general structure in which the metal contact is covered with a flexible film for dust protection and fall prevention, and the annular elastic plate 7 for covering the outer periphery of the metal contact 6 ensures the functions of dust protection and fall prevention. Therefore, though the annular elastic plate 7 is added, the number of components is small and the reduction in size and thickness is not hindered. In addition, since the caulking condition is not strict as mentioned above, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.
  • the annular elastic plate 7 formed of an annular flat plate without the need for drawing and the like, and its material is not specifically limited. Therefore, it can be formed at a considerably low cost.
  • a metal plate is used as the annular elastic plate 7, it is preferable that the metal plate be treated in an equivalent manner to the surface material of the metal contact 6 in order to prevent electrolytic corrosion.
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the principal part of a pushbutton switch according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which portions corresponding to those in Figs. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same numerals.
  • the pushbutton switch shown in Fig. 5 is structured so that a flexible film 8 for covering an entire metal contact 6 is bonded to the periphery (the upper end) of an opening section la of a housing 1 and the top surface of the metal contact 6 with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the back thereof and so that the entire outer periphery of the flexible film 8 is caulked by a caulking wall 1b of the housing 1. Therefore, there is no fear in this pushbutton switch that the end of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the flexible film 8 (the pressure-sensitive adhesive) will be exposed on the periphery of the housing 1 and will cause undesired sticking, that is, that it will stick to a carrier tape and will interfere with the mounting operation.
  • the pushbutton switch can be manufactured at a low cost, and its reduction in size and thickness is not hindered. Furthermore, since a sufficient high caulking strength can be obtained by the caulking wall 1b in this pushbutton switch even if the bonding strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesive of the flexible film 8 is insufficient, the flexible film 8 is securely held and fixed on the housing 1, and there is no fear that the flexible film 8 will separate from the housing 1 and decrease reliability.
  • the present invention is carried out by the embodiments described above, and has the following advantages.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP98304337A 1997-07-23 1998-06-02 Interrupteur à bouton-poussoir Expired - Lifetime EP0893809B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP9197090A JPH1139985A (ja) 1997-07-23 1997-07-23 押釦スイッチ
JP197090/97 1997-07-23
JP19709097 1997-07-23

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0893809A2 true EP0893809A2 (fr) 1999-01-27
EP0893809A3 EP0893809A3 (fr) 1999-08-18
EP0893809B1 EP0893809B1 (fr) 2004-03-24

Family

ID=16368569

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98304337A Expired - Lifetime EP0893809B1 (fr) 1997-07-23 1998-06-02 Interrupteur à bouton-poussoir

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0893809B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH1139985A (fr)
KR (1) KR100324784B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1104016C (fr)
DE (1) DE69822565T2 (fr)
TW (1) TW388045B (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9310916B2 (en) 2011-01-14 2016-04-12 Apple Inc. Display to touch crosstalk compensation

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4331851A (en) * 1980-06-16 1982-05-25 Texas Instruments Incorporated Printed circuit board having data input devices mounted thereon and input devices therefor
FR2503446A1 (fr) * 1981-04-02 1982-10-08 Secme Commutateur miniature notamment pour circuit imprime
EP0396755A1 (fr) * 1988-05-25 1990-11-14 Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd Ressort a disque conique
DE3917659A1 (de) * 1989-05-31 1990-12-06 Merit Werk Merten & Co Kg Schalter, insbesondere rueckfahrlichtschalter, getriebeschalter, temperaturschalter fuer kraftfahrzeuge, endschalter oder dergleichen

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3498429B2 (ja) * 1995-06-27 2004-02-16 松下電器産業株式会社 プッシュスイッチ

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4331851A (en) * 1980-06-16 1982-05-25 Texas Instruments Incorporated Printed circuit board having data input devices mounted thereon and input devices therefor
FR2503446A1 (fr) * 1981-04-02 1982-10-08 Secme Commutateur miniature notamment pour circuit imprime
EP0396755A1 (fr) * 1988-05-25 1990-11-14 Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd Ressort a disque conique
DE3917659A1 (de) * 1989-05-31 1990-12-06 Merit Werk Merten & Co Kg Schalter, insbesondere rueckfahrlichtschalter, getriebeschalter, temperaturschalter fuer kraftfahrzeuge, endschalter oder dergleichen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR100324784B1 (ko) 2002-05-09
CN1104016C (zh) 2003-03-26
JPH1139985A (ja) 1999-02-12
TW388045B (en) 2000-04-21
DE69822565T2 (de) 2004-08-05
CN1206209A (zh) 1999-01-27
KR19990014023A (ko) 1999-02-25
EP0893809A3 (fr) 1999-08-18
DE69822565D1 (de) 2004-04-29
EP0893809B1 (fr) 2004-03-24

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