EP1014405B1 - Push switch - Google Patents
Push switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1014405B1 EP1014405B1 EP19990125555 EP99125555A EP1014405B1 EP 1014405 B1 EP1014405 B1 EP 1014405B1 EP 19990125555 EP19990125555 EP 19990125555 EP 99125555 A EP99125555 A EP 99125555A EP 1014405 B1 EP1014405 B1 EP 1014405B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- unit
- operation unit
- protrusion
- elastic
- fixed contact
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
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
- H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
- H01H13/20—Driving mechanisms
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
- H01H2215/002—Longer travel
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
- H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
- H01H2215/006—Only mechanical function
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a push switch used for various kinds of electronic apparatuses, and, more particularly, the invention relates to a small push switch having a long operation stroke.
- a switch disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Non-Examined Publication No. H8-203380 is widely known.
- the structure of the conventional push switch as an example is described referring to Fig. 5 which shows the cross sectional front view of the conventional switch, and to Fig. 6 which shows the exploded perspective view of the same.
- a resinous case 310 is formed to have a shape of a box having an opening at the upper side thereof.
- a short fixed contact unit 320 having a terminal 321 and a long contact unit 330 having a terminal 331 are disposed.
- a contact slip 340 is formed by bending a belt shaped elastic thin metal plate to have a shape like a character of U.
- the contact slip 340 has an upward bent portion 341 at one end thereof.
- the other end of the contact slip 340 is formed to have two leg portions 343 and 344.
- the two leg portions 343 and 344 are bent at the bent portions 342 as shown in Fig. 6.
- the two leg portions 343 and 344 have respective movable contact portions 345 and 346 at the respective ends thereof.
- a connecting portion 347 is formed for connecting the two leg portions 343 and 344.
- the movable contact portions 345 and 346 are disposed in the case 310 in such a manner as to touch the inner side of the bottom of the case 310.
- a resinous cover 350 is disposed on the upper side of the case 310 in such a manner as to close the upper side opening of the case 310. At one end of the cover 350 a downward protrusion is formed. A supporting portion 351, viz., the front end of the downward protrusion of the cover 350 presses downward the upward bent portion 341 of the contact slip 340, whereby the movable contact units 345 and 346 elastically contact to the inner side of the bottom of the case 310 with predetermined pressing force.
- a resinous operation unit 360 is disposed in such a manner as to extend from the space between the two leg portions 343 and 344 of the contact slip 340 to the outside of the cover 350 through a hole 352 formed through the central portion of the cover 350. That is, the operation unit 360 is supported to be movable up and down by the hole 352, and, the upper end portion 361 thereof protrudes through the hole 352.
- a pressing portion 362 formed on the outer side-wall of the operation unit 360 touches the upper side of the connecting portion 347 of the contact slip 340. The pressing portion 362 is pressed upward by the elastic force of the contact slip 340 and touches the lower side of the cover 350 as shown in Fig. 5.
- one movable contact portion 345 contacts to the long fixed contact unit 330, but the other movable contact portion 346 does not contact to neither of the contact units, accordingly the terminals 321 and 331 are not electrically connected.
- the pressing portion 362 presses the connecting portion 347 of the contact slip 340 downward, whereby the contact slip 340 rotates on the upward bent portion 341 supported by the supporting portion 351 of the cover 350, whereby the bent portion 342 bends further, also the movable contact portions 345 and 346 are elastically pressed and slide on the inner side of the bottom of the case 310, whereby the movable contact portion 346 comes to contact to the short fixed contact unit 320 in the state that the other movable contact portion 345 is in contact with the long fixed contact unit 330.
- the terminals 321 and 331 are electrically connected through these contact units.
- the operation unit 360 is pressed further downward until the lower end portion 363 of the operation unit 360 touches the inner side of the bottom of the case 310 as shown in Fig. 7 and stop the downward movement.
- the connecting portion 347 presses the pressing portion 362 of the operation unit 360 upward with the elastic restoring force of the contact slip 340, whereby the push switch comes back to the state as shown in fig. 5.
- the stroke of the push switch is constituted with a pre-stroke comprising the move of the operation unit 360 starting from the original state of Fig. 5 till the state that the terminals 321 and 331 are electrically connected by the contact between the movable contact portion 346 of the contact slip 340 and the short fixed contact unit 320, and, an over-stroke comprising the move of the operation unit 360 starting from the state of the above pre-stroke till the state that the lower end portion 363 of the operation unit 360 touches the inner side of the bottom of the case 1. Therefore, the total stroke is considerably long.
- the contact slip 340 is formed in such a manner that an elastic thin metal plate is bent to have a shape like a character of U having thin two leg portions 343 and 344. Therefore, careful attention have to be paid in handling during transport and assembling for preventing the intertwining and the deformation of the contact slip 340. Furthermore, the assembling of the switch is difficult and inefficient because the assembling is performed in such a manner that the contact slip 340 is set in the case 310 pressing the contact slip 340 with the supporting portion 351 of the downward protrusion of the cover 350 and the pressing portion 362 of the operation unit 360.
- JP-A-10092260 discloses a push-on switch comprising a substrate with a switch contact thereon, composed of an outer fixed contact, a central contact and a movable contact.
- a cap-shaped push bottom is on top of a dome-shaped spring member made of elastic material. If the push bottom is pressed down, the lower end portion of the dome-shaped spring member is deflected, and a central projecting portion of the spring member pushes down a tongue member of the movable contact member such that an electrical contact is achieved.
- the material of the cap member and the upper part of the spring member is elastic with a constant elasticity factor, thus that an increase of the pressing force does not provide for a "finger feeling" on whether the contact is already closed or not.
- the present invention addresses the above problems in the conventional push switch, and aims to provide a push switch in which the component parts are handled without difficulty, and assembling productivity is superior, also operation stroke is long.
- Fig. 1 is a cross sectional front view showing a push switch in an exemplary embodiment in the present invention
- Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the push switch in the same.
- a shallow cavity 111 is formed in the cavity 111.
- a central fixed contact unit 120 is disposed at the central position of the cavity 111, and two outer fixed contact units 130 are disposed symmetrically about the central fixed contact unit 120 at the positions outer than the central fixed contact unit 120.
- the contact units 120 and 130 are fixed to the substrate 110 by insert formation, and are exposed from the upper side of the switch substrate 110, also have substantially same height.
- contact terminals 121 and 131 are disposed on outer sides of the switch substrate 110.
- One terminal 121 is electrically connected to the central fixed contact unit 120, and the other terminal 131 is electrically connected to the outer fixed contact unit 130.
- a movable contact unit 140 formed with an elastic thin metal plate has a shape shown in Fig. 2. That is, the movable contact unit 140 comprises an outer annular portion 141, a tongue shaped portion 142 disposed at the central position of the outer annular portion 141. The tongue shaped portion 142 bends upward at a connecting portion 143 which connects the tongue shaped portion 142 to the outer annular portion 141.
- the outer annular portion 141 is placed on the outer fixed contact units 130.
- the tongue shaped portion 142 is disposed in such a manner as to face toward the central fixed contact unit 120 forming a predetermined insulation gap between the tongue shaped portion 142 and the central fixed contact unit 120.
- An elastic unit 150 formed with an elastic insulating material comprises a thin conical portion 151 which has an opening at the lower side thereof, an upward protrusion 153 which is formed on the upper side of the conical portion 151 and has predetermined dimensions, and a downward protrusion 156 which protrudes downward from the upper end of the opening of the conical portion 151 and has predetermined dimensions.
- a round cavity 155 having predetermined dimensions is formed, and at the lower end side of the downward protrusion 156, a round cavity 157 having predetermined dimensions is formed.
- the diameters and the depth of the cavities 155 and 157 are determined in such a manner that, when the elastic unit 150 is deformed by pressing downward the upper end side 154 of the upward protrusion 153, the thin conical portion 151 bends backward first, next the downward protrusion 156 compressibly deforms, last the upward protrusion 153 compressibly deforms.
- the lower end portion 152 of the conical portion 151 of the elastic unit 150 is placed on the outer annular portion 141 of the movable contact unit 140, and presses downward the outer annular portion 141 onto the outer fixed contact units 130.
- a resinous operation unit 160 is disposed on the upward protrusion 153 of the elastic unit 150.
- the upward protrusion 153 engages with a cavity 161 formed at the lower side of the operation unit 160.
- the flat surface of the upper end side 154 of the upward protrusion 153 touches the flat surface of the lower side of the upper portion of the operation unit 160.
- the operation unit 160 further comprises two protrusions 162 on the two different positions of the outer side-wall thereof and a protrusion 163 which protrudes outward from the lower end of the outer side-wall thereof.
- a resinous cover 170 On the inner side-wall of a resinous cover 170, two grooves corresponding to the two protrusions 162 of the operation unit 160 are formed, and a surrounding wall 172 having a cavity corresponding to the protrusion 163 are formed, at the respective corresponding positions.
- the two protrusions 162 of the operation unit 160 engage with the two grooves of the cover 170, and the protrusion 163 of the operation unit 160 engages with the cavity of the surrounding wall 172 of the cover 170.
- the cover 170 is fixed to the switch substrate 110 by caulking after inserting protrusions 112 formed on the periphery of the upper side of the switch substrate 110 into the cuttings 173 formed at the lower end periphery of the cover 170.
- the assembling of the push switch in this exemplary embodiment having the above structure is performed in such a manner that the component parts are placed on the switch substrate 110 in the order of the movable contact unit 140 first, next the elastic unit 150, then the operation unit 160, last the cover 170 and these are fixed by the above caulking. Therefore the assembling is simple and the respective component parts have shapes which hardly deform, whereby the handling of the component parts is not difficult, and automatic assembling can be realized without difficulty.
- Fig. 1 shows the state of switch-off.
- the operation unit 160 moves straight downward with the guidance of a hole 171 of the cover 170 and the inner side of the surrounding wall 172, whereby the flat lower side of the upper portion of the operation unit 160 presses downward the flat upper end side 154 of the upward protrusion 153 of the elastic unit 150.
- the thin conical portion 151 of the elastic unit 150 elastically deforms and bends backward, whereby the lower end side of the downward protrusion 156 of the elastic unit 150 presses downward the tongue shaped portion 142 of the movable contact unit 140, whereby the tongue shaped portion 142 contacts to the central fixed contact unit 120 disposed on the switch substrate 110, whereby the central contact unit 120 and the outer fixed contact units 130 (i.e., terminals 121 and 131) are electrically connected and comes to the state of switch-on as shown in Fig. 3A.
- the above operation constitutes a pre-stroke.
- the operation unit 160 When the operation unit 160 is further pressed, the operation unit 160 further moves downward, and the downward protrusion 156 elastically deforms as shown in Fig. 3B. Last, the upward protrusion 153 of the elastic unit 150 deforms as shown in Fig. 3C, and the operation unit 160 stops the downward movement when the protrusion 163 at the lower end periphery of the operation unit 160 touches upper side of the switch substrate 110.
- the occurrence of slippage between the operation unit 160 and the elastic unit 150 can be prevented because the upper portion of the elastic unit 150 engages with the cavity 161 formed at the lower side of the operation unit 160. Furthermore, the touching portions of both have flat surfaces, whereby the elastic unit 150 is pushed substantially vertically downward and elastically deforms without tilt.
- round cavities 155 and 157 are respectively formed on the upper end side 154 of the upward protrusion 153 and at the lower end side of the downward protrusion 156 of the elastic unit 150 for setting the predetermined resilient force and compressible dimension of the respective protrusions (153,156).
- the same effect can be obtained by replacing each of the cavities 155 and 157 with a cross-shaped cutting 181 which are symmetrical about the center thereof as shown in Fig. 4A, or a round cavity having two-cutting 182 as shown in Fig. 4B, or a round cavity having four-cutting 183 as shown in Fig. 4C.
- the same effect can be obtained by supporting the operation unit with the cover to be movable up and down without rotation by shaping the outer side-wall of the operation unit and either of the hole formed through the upper central portion of the cover or the inner side of the surrounding wall into non-round.
Landscapes
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP36263798A JP3890789B2 (ja) | 1998-12-21 | 1998-12-21 | プッシュスイッチ |
JP36263798 | 1998-12-21 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1014405A2 EP1014405A2 (en) | 2000-06-28 |
EP1014405A3 EP1014405A3 (en) | 2001-12-05 |
EP1014405B1 true EP1014405B1 (en) | 2007-02-14 |
Family
ID=18477369
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19990125555 Expired - Lifetime EP1014405B1 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 1999-12-21 | Push switch |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1014405B1 (ja) |
JP (1) | JP3890789B2 (ja) |
DE (1) | DE69935119T2 (ja) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2004134117A (ja) | 2002-10-08 | 2004-04-30 | Alps Electric Co Ltd | 多段押し操作スイッチ装置 |
DE10331947A1 (de) * | 2003-07-15 | 2005-02-24 | Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst Gmbh & Co. Kg | Griff für Türen oder Klappen an Fahrzeugen |
DE102008064212A1 (de) * | 2008-12-22 | 2010-06-24 | Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst Gmbh & Co. Kg | Griff für Türen oder Klappen, insbesondere an Fahrzeugen |
JP5284883B2 (ja) * | 2009-06-16 | 2013-09-11 | ミック電子工業株式会社 | 押しボタンスイッチ |
CN107851530B (zh) * | 2015-07-24 | 2020-05-19 | 信越聚合物株式会社 | 按钮开关用部件 |
KR101759170B1 (ko) * | 2016-01-25 | 2017-07-18 | 현대자동차주식회사 | 듀얼 타입 스위치 및 이를 포함하는 차량 |
US11222757B2 (en) * | 2018-02-01 | 2022-01-11 | Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd. | Key switch mechanisms, user input devices and methods of fabricating a key switch mechanism |
JP7291866B2 (ja) * | 2019-11-19 | 2023-06-16 | ミック電子工業株式会社 | 押しボタンスイッチ |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3603756A (en) * | 1970-01-29 | 1971-09-07 | Sperry Rand Corp | Snap action switch |
CH645205A5 (de) * | 1978-12-01 | 1984-09-14 | Maag Gummi | Schaltmatte. |
DE3447085A1 (de) * | 1984-12-22 | 1986-07-03 | Marquardt Gmbh, 7201 Rietheim-Weilheim | Tastenschalter |
JPS645327U (ja) * | 1987-06-30 | 1989-01-12 | ||
FR2650432A1 (en) * | 1989-07-27 | 1991-02-01 | Eaton Controls Sa | Flexible electrical contact element and application of this flexible element |
DE4112754C2 (de) * | 1991-04-19 | 1999-06-02 | Marquardt Gmbh | Drucktastenschalter |
JP3794068B2 (ja) * | 1996-09-17 | 2006-07-05 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | プッシュオンスイッチ |
US5899617A (en) * | 1997-10-09 | 1999-05-04 | Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd. | Flexible component reinforcing mechanism |
-
1998
- 1998-12-21 JP JP36263798A patent/JP3890789B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1999
- 1999-12-21 EP EP19990125555 patent/EP1014405B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-12-21 DE DE69935119T patent/DE69935119T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69935119T2 (de) | 2007-06-06 |
EP1014405A3 (en) | 2001-12-05 |
DE69935119D1 (de) | 2007-03-29 |
JP3890789B2 (ja) | 2007-03-07 |
JP2000188037A (ja) | 2000-07-04 |
EP1014405A2 (en) | 2000-06-28 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6180903B1 (en) | Tact Switch | |
US4484042A (en) | Snap action push button switch | |
US5895901A (en) | Long-stroke push-on switch with reduced height | |
US6756554B1 (en) | Tact switch | |
US6323449B1 (en) | Touch sensitive multiple electrical switch | |
EP0721196A1 (en) | Push lock switch | |
US7745744B2 (en) | Multidirectional switch | |
US6114644A (en) | Tact switch | |
EP1014405B1 (en) | Push switch | |
JPH0927241A (ja) | 薄型スイッチ | |
GB2113920A (en) | Push-button electrical switch | |
US5278370A (en) | Push switch | |
EP1372169B1 (en) | Push-button switch for switching heavy-current | |
EP1918956A1 (en) | Switch | |
US20060037851A1 (en) | Side push switch | |
US6392177B1 (en) | Tact switch connector | |
US4055736A (en) | Push switch | |
US6262383B1 (en) | Tact switch and its movable contact piece | |
EP1037226B1 (en) | Push switch | |
CA1103728A (en) | Low cost miniature caseless slide-action electric switch having stiffened base member | |
EP1037224B1 (en) | Push switch | |
CN114141564A (zh) | 按钮开关 | |
US6274834B1 (en) | Push-button switch with part to a wire rod exposed to an inside bottom of housing to form a contact portion | |
US4426559A (en) | Push button switch having two resilient contacts operated at different times | |
US20040238341A1 (en) | Tact switch |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): DE FR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20020304 |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Free format text: DE FR |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): DE FR |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 69935119 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 20070329 Kind code of ref document: P |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20071115 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST Effective date: 20081020 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20071231 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20091217 Year of fee payment: 11 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R119 Ref document number: 69935119 Country of ref document: DE Effective date: 20110701 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20110701 |