GB2208038A

GB2208038A - Push-button switch

Info

Publication number: GB2208038A
Application number: GB08815221A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masahiko Yamaki
Original assignee: Seikosha KK
Current assignee: Seikosha KK
Priority date: 1987-06-29
Filing date: 1988-06-27
Publication date: 1989-02-15
Also published as: GB8815221D0; JPS644036U

Abstract

A push-button switch for a portable speech synthesizer timepiece comprises a casing (1) having cut-outs (8) therein such as to provide a plurality of resilient arms (9) each of which is integral at one end with the casing (1) and is coupled at is opposite end to a push-button (6), the resilient arms (9) extending outwardly of the push-button (6) and being arranged symmetrically of the latter. An apertured plate overlies the resilient arms (9) and cut outs (8) to prevent them from being seen. <IMAGE>

Description

"PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH" The present invention concerns a push-button switch, e.g. for use in a timepiece or the like.

A push-button switch is known in which a push-button is mounted in a hole in a casing and is urged by a separate spring to an inoperative position in which the switch is open. When the push-button is depressed towards its operative position in which the switch is closed, its movement is guided merely by the said hole and consequently smooth and reliable operation of the switch cannot be ensured. Moreover, if the push-button is large, it may be necessary to use a number of separate springs which increases costs and makes for a complicated construction.

According, therefore, to the present invention, there is provided a push-button switch comprising a casing having cut-outs therein such as to provide a plurality of resilient arms each of which is integral at one end thereof with the casing and is coupled at its opposite end to a push-button, the resilient arms extending outwardly of the push-button and being arranged symmetrically of the latter.

Preferably, the push-button is normally held by the resilient arms in an inoperative position in which the switch is open but is manually movable at right angles to said casing to an operative position in which the switch is closed.

Preferably also a plate is mounted on the casing and has a hole in which the push-button is mounted, the plate overlying the resilient arms and cut-outs to prevent the latter from being seen from the exterior of the switch.

The push-button may be provided with a switch spring, the switch comprising a circuit board having a conductive pattern thereon which is contacted by the switch spring when the push-button is in an operative position thereof.

The invention also comprises a timepiece provided with a push-button switch as set forth above.

Thus the timepiece may be a portable speech symthesizer timepiece.

The push-button may be disposed on one side of the timepiece, time display means being disposed on the opposite side of the timepiece.

A time correcting button may be provided on the said opposite side of the timepiece.

The invention enables a highly reliable push-button switch to be provided which is simple in structure and which can be manufactured economically.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portable speech synthesizer timepiece provided with a push-button switch according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a partially cutaway front elevational view of structure shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a broken-away cross-sectional view of a known push-button switch.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a portable speech synthesizer timepiece T which incorporates a push-button switch according to the present invention and in which the user is informed of the time by spoken words when a button 6 is depressed.

The speech synthesizer timepiece T has a casing 1 made from a synthetic resin. The casing 1 consists of an upper case la and a lower case lb, the terms "upper" and "lower" being with respect to the normal disposition of the timepiece T in use. The outer surfaces of the cases la, 1b are covered with decorative plates 2 and 2a,respectively. A time display portion 3, which comprises a liquid-crystal panel 3a and a front cover 3b, is arranged on the left hand or "upper" side of the timepiece T.

A correcting button 4 for correcting the time has a conductor portion 4a formed on the rear side of a manually operable portion thereof. When the correcting button 4 is depressed, the conductor portion 4a is brought into contact with a pattern (not shown) formed on a circuit board 5, making a circuit. As a result, the time is corrected.

A timepiece circuit (not shown) for controlling the display of the time and the speech telling the time is mounted on the circuit board 5.

As shown in Figure 2, the push-button 6 is formed integrally with the upper case la at the centre of the right hand side of the timepiece T. A switch spring 7 is mounted on a mounting pole 6a which is formed on the rear surface of the upper case la. A switch is formed by the push-button 6, the switch spring 7, and a conductive pattern (not shown) formed on the circuit board 5. Cut-outs 8 are formed externally of the push-button 6 so as to form a plurality of resilient arms 9. Each of the resilient arms 9 is joined integrally to the casing 1 at one end thereof and is integral with or coupled to the push-button 6 at its opposite or outer end.

The resilient arms 9 are I shaped symmetrically and extend outwardly of the push-button 6 so as to be arranged symmetrically both with respect to the push-button switch 6 and with respect to the upper case la. The resilient arms 9 act as a spring for returning the push-button 6 to its outer or inoperative position. Normally, the resilient arms 9 retain the push-button 6 at its outer position. Since the front surface of the upper case la is covered by the decorative plate 2 which has a hole 2' through which the push-button 6 is exposed, the cut-outs 8 and the resilient arms 9 cannot be seen from the outside.

When the push-button 6 is depressed, it moves substantially at right angles to its outer surface and is guided by the resilient arms 9 which are formed symmetrically.

Then, the switch spring 7 is brought into contact with the said pattern, thus closing the switch. When the depressing force is removed, the resilient arms 9 resiliently move the button 6 back to its upper position thereby opening the switch.

It is to be understood that the shape and other features of the resilient arms 9 are not limited to those shown in the drawings, since various changes and modifications can be made.

In order to illustrate the advantages of the present invention, a known push-button switch is shown in Figure 3 in which a push-button a is loosely mounted in a hole c formed in a casing b.

A rubber switch d serves as a spring for returning the push-button a, to the normal position shown after it has been depressed. Therefore, the switch d normally holds the button a at its upper position. When the push-button a is depressed, it moves down while being guided by the hole c in the casing b. Then, a conductor portion e on the switch d comes into contact with a pattern (not shown) formed on a circuit board f, so that the switch is closed. When the depressing force is removed, the resilient force of the rubber switch d restores the button a to its normal position.

The construction shown in Figure 3, however, has the disadvantage that the push-button a may not move smoothly, because it is guided by the hole c in the casing b. Moreover, when the push-button a is large, additional rubber switches d must be provided or the shape must be modified; otherwise, the switch would not be actuated when depressed at an inappropriate position.

In contrast, in the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the resilient arms 9 are formed integrally with the casing 1 and consequently the number of parts of the push-button switch can be reduced by comparison with the Figure 3 construction in which the rubber switch d is separate from the casing b.

Moreover, in the construction of Figures 1 and 2, the push-button 6 is arranged to move substantially at right angles to its outer surface and consequently the reliability of the switching does not deteriorate if the push button is made larger.

Claims

1. a push-button switch comprising a casing having cut-outs therein such as to provide a plurality of resilient arms each of which is integral at one end thereof with the casing and is coupled at its opposite end to a push-button, the resilient arms extending outwardly of the push-button and being arranged symmetrically of the latter.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the push-button is normally held by the resilient arms in an inoperative position in which the switch is open but is manually movable at right angles to said casing to an operative position in which the switch is closed.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which a plate is mounted on the casing and has a hole in which the push-button is mounted, the plate overlying the resilient arms and cut-outs to prevent the latter from being seen from the exterior of the switch.

4. A switch as claimed in any preceding claim in which the push-button is provided with a switch spring, the switch comprising a circuit board having a conductive pattern thereon which is contacted by the switch spring when the push-button is in an operative position thereof.

5. A push-button switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A timepiece provided with a push-button switch as claimed in any preceding claim.

7. A timepiece as claimed in claim 6 in which the timepiece is a portable speech synthesizer timepiece.

8. A timepiece as claimed in claim 7 in which the push-button is disposed on one side of the timepiece, time display means being disposed on the opposite side of the timepiece.

9. A timepiece as claimed in claim 8 in which a time correcting button is provided on the said opposite side of the timepiece.

10. A timepiece provided with a push-button switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel integer or step, or combination of integers or steps, hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings, irrespective of whether the present claim is within the scope of, or relates to the same or a different invention from that of, the preceding claims.

12. A structure of push-button switch comprising: a plurality of resilient arms formed integrally with a casing through cut-outs; a push-button coupled to front ends of said resilient arms; a switch actuated by a movement of said push-button in the direction of the thickness of said casing via said resilient arms; and a decorative plate that covers the front face of the casing and has a hole through which the push-button is exposed; and wherein said resilient arms are located outside the push-button and extend through said casing in such a way that they are arranged symmetrically.