EP1009000B1 - Three-dimensional centering- and positioning system for push button - Google Patents

Description

The present invention applies to a wedging system and three-dimensional centering of push button floating in an orifice of a vehicle dashboard type panel, from the outer surface from which it can be activated.

Push buttons are more and more frequently used in vehicle controls: they are found for example in computer menu scrolling systems currently integrated into the dashboards, in the vehicles equipped with them, or in some option commands available since said dashboards, and requiring only a brief contact characteristic of a push button.

The object of the present invention is to improve comfort the use of these push button commands, by guiding and centering the movable pusher itself so that the movement is as flexible and uniform as possible, including when the bearing area is flush with the surface of the dashboard.

Push buttons have by definition a spring effect that allows them to return to their original position for use higher. In the current components made of plastic materials molded, in order to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs, the spring consists of a single piece with the pusher, for example in the form of blades progressively diverging from said button. The recall force then moves in a direction that depends including the configuration of these blades, and also the location their attachment areas to the body of the pusher.

When these lamés are for example integral with the pusher at one of ends of it, and gradually move away from it as one gets closer to the other end, it is clear that the restoring force can not be parallel to the axis of the thrust. This is why the insertion hole of the button necessarily plays a guiding role, so that the button can return to its original position by making a course opposite to that which is generated by the thrust, usually perpendicular to the external surface of the dashboard.

In classical configurations, the offset between the geometry of guiding the orifice made perpendicularly to the dashboard and the course that would naturally tend to borrow the mechanical system consisting of the plunger and spring blades leads to friction and / or to a offset of the pusher in its orifice.

The main objective of the invention is to remedy this disadvantage.

Another object of the invention is to propose, for this purpose, a solution simple to implement, and inexpensive to manufacture as to mounting. It necessarily involves the use of a molded part unique offering the spring function in the body of the push button.

The invention therefore relates to a wedging and centering system three-dimensional push button floating in a hole of a panel of vehicle dashboard type, the outer surface of which it is activatable, and it is characterized in that the push button has surfaces beveled around the periphery of a soleplate disposed at the base of the pusher itself, said surfaces being oriented on the one hand all in direction of the orifice made in the panel and, secondly, in two perpendicular directions, with at least one surface in each of the four possible directions, these beveled surfaces being intended to cooperate with beveled surfaces of opposite orientation on parts integral with the panel.

Calibration is then well done in three dimensions, because of the orientation and the particular distribution of beveled surfaces. The one or integral guiding surfaces of the instrument panel are not reduced to natural outline of the push button hole, but have areas improving the guiding function, and providing a centering function.

The integral pieces of the panel are pillars of pace perpendicular to the latter, the distal end of the panel comprises at minus a beveled surface that adapts surfacically to at least one corresponding surface of the push button, during the movement of reminder of the latter towards its rest position, movement of parallel pace to the axis of the thrust.

This surface adaptation leads to fixing the position of the pusher by compared to the dashboard not only by centering it in the orifice but still according to the axis of the thrust.

Preferably, the push button has three wedging zones / centering corresponding, on the one hand, to three peripheral cuts of its sole and, on the other hand, with three pillars integral with the panel and adapting to these cuts.

Two of these cuts are made at the two corners of one of the longitudinal ends of the sole, the third cut being practiced centrally, between the two preserved corners of the other longitudinal end, each of the cuts having oriented bevelled faces perpendicular to each other.

This configuration has, in fact, been designed to "lock" any deflection in a plane parallel to that of the dashboard when the push button is in the initial position.

In the particular geometry given to the push button, described previously, the pusher comprises a base plate, which comprises at least minus a spring blade for pushing the push button in the direction of the panel.

Preferably, said sole has two spring blades oriented under and along the longitudinal edges of the sole.

According to one possibility, said spring blades are attached to the sole at level of the preserved corners limiting the third central cut.

So we have a push button configuration such as spring blades apply to a supporting surface (for example, that which includes the microswitch on which comes act the base of the sole) so eccentric, and they therefore exert a non parallel parallel force to the axis of the thrust, but rather oblique.

According to a possible configuration of the invention, the upper part of the push button is flush with the outer surface of the panel when the surfaces beveled are in contact with each other.

In this position, as in positions in which the pushers form protuberances beyond the plane formed by the dashboard, the centering in the orifice is ensured, and the flexibility of the displacement enhances the use of the control buttons.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un bouton poussoir selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 montre une vue en perspective, sous un angle différent, du bouton poussoir et des piliers de guidage / centrage, en représentation de type éclatée ; et
• la figure 3 représente, toujours en perspective mais vue du dessous, le bouton poussoir et les piliers en phase de coopération.

The invention will now be described in more detail, in particular with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a push button according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, at a different angle, of the push button and the guiding / centering pillars, in exploded type representation; and
• 3 shows, still in perspective but seen from below, the push button and the pillars in the cooperation phase.

In Figure 1, the pusher (1) itself surmounts a sole (2) pace rectangular one of whose ends comprises two corner cutouts (3, 4), while the second end is provided with a central cutout (5).

The end with central cut (5) is the place of the junction of the blades spring (6, 7) in one piece with the sole (2) and the pusher (1), and which deviate from said sole as one approaches the other end at the cut corners (3, 4).

Each cutout (3, 4, 5) is provided with bevelled surfaces: the cuts in the corner (3, 4) each comprise two bevelled surfaces (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) upwards, whereas the central cutout (5) has three (5a, 5b, 5c). In addition to the upward orientation, that is to say substantially in the direction in which the pusher (1) develops, these surfaces (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b; 5a, 5b, 5c) are oriented in two substantially parallel directions alongside a theoretical rectangle containing the sole (2), and following four meaning two to two opposites.

The cuts of the surfaces (3a, 4a, 3b, 5b, 4b, 5c) thus have the same orientation, the last two couples each referring to surfaces which are each of opposite orientation to that of the other couple. Note the surfaces (3b, 4b) are outwardly oriented, whereas the surfaces same orientation (5b, 5c) are facing each other, which can give rise to a configuration in which the centering / setting is immediate.

With reference to FIG. 2, the push button is represented with the external centering / wedging elements, namely pillars (10, 11, 12). The beveled surfaces of these elements (10, 11, 12) are shown with the same references as those of the sole (2) with which they cooperate, with a bonus: 3a 'is therefore intended to cooperate with 3a, 3b 'with 3b etc ...

In operation, the sole (2) with its cutouts (3, 4, 5) is either at contact of the pillars (10, 11, 12) through these surfaces (3a, 3a '; 3b, 3b'; 4a, 4a 'etc ...), that is, near, the surfaces deviating more each other on the side of the corner cuts due to the configuration of the spring blades (6, 7) and especially because of their mooring on the other side.

The pillars have frustoconical ends (13, 14, 15) in the extension of the "useful" surfaces (3a ', 4a' ... 5c '), having surfaces of higher than that of the latter, making it even easier to centering.

Figure 3 shows, from below, all the elements of the rigging system / centering of the invention in the interaction phase, that is to say with the surfaces beveled (3a, 3b, 4a, ... 5c) of the push button in contact with those of pillars (10, 11, 12). It is therefore a rest phase, button in position initial inactivated.

This figure 3 also appears, beyond the free end of spring blades (6, 7) having a hemispherical protrusion (20) for activate a microswitch placed on a circuit board under the button pusher (not shown), by pressing on it.

The relative positioning of the pillars (10, 11, 12) and the sole (2), rendered required by the bevelled surfaces, allows a perfect centering said sole, and therefore the entire push button, in the frame formed by the pillars (10, 11, 12). These can be in one piece with the dashboard, or brought on it. In general, described parts are made by molding plastic type materials.

The example described with reference to the figures can not be considered as a limitation of the invention, which on the contrary comprises other variants of form and construction within the reach of those skilled in the art, included in the domain traced by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. System for wedging and three-dimensional centring of a push-button (1) which floats in an opening in a panel of a vehicle dashboard type, from the outer surface of which it can be activated, the said push-button comprising bevelled surfaces (3a,3b,4a,4b,5a,5b,5c) which are distributed on the periphery of a bearing plate (2) disposed at the base of the thruster itself, the said surfaces being oriented firstly all in the direction of the opening provided in the panel, and secondly in two perpendicular directions, with at least one surface in each of the four possible directions, these bevelled surfaces (3a,3b,4a,4b,5a, 5b,5c) being designed to co-operate with bevelled surfaces (3a',3b',4a',4b',5a',5b',5c') with opposite orientation provided on parts (3a',3b',4a',4b',5a', 5b',5c') integral with the panel, characterised in that the parts which are integral with the panel are posts (10,11,12) with alignment perpendicular to the latter, the distal end of which comprises at least one bevelled surface which matches at least one corresponding surface of the push-button during the return displacement of the latter towards its rest position, which displacement is aligned parallel to the axis of the thrust.
2. System for wedging and three-dimensional centring according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the push-button (1) comprises three wedging/centring areas, corresponding firstly to three peripheral cut-outs (3,4,5) in its bearing plate, and secondly to three posts (10,11,12) which are integral with the panel and match these cut-outs.
3. System for wedging and three-dimensional centring according to the preceding claim, characterised in that two of these cut-outs (3,4) are provided at the two corners of one of the longitudinal ends of the bearing plate, the third cut-out (5) being provided centrally between the two preserved corners of the other longitudinal end, each of the cut-outs having bevelled surfaces which are oriented perpendicularly to one another.
4. System for wedging and three-dimensional centring according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bearing plate (2) of the push-button comprises at least one spring plate (6,7) which is designed to thrust the push-button back in the direction of the panel.
5. System for wedging and three-dimensional centring according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the bearing plate comprises two spring plates (6,7) which are oriented beneath and along the longitudinal edges of the bearing plate.
6. System for wedging and three-dimensional centring according to either of claims 4 and 5, characterised in that the spring plates (6,7) are attached to the bearing plate (2) at the level of the preserved corners (5a,5b,5c) which delimit the third, central cut-out.
7. System for wedging and three-dimensional centring according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper part of the push-button (1) is flush with the outer surface of the panel when the bevelled surfaces are in contact with one another.

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