GB2225166A

GB2225166A - Push-button switch

Info

Publication number: GB2225166A
Application number: GB8922992A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hideo Kume; Hiroshi Hikida
Original assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-21
Filing date: 1989-10-12
Publication date: 1990-05-23
Also published as: GB8922992D0; JPH0658773B2; KR920003203B1; KR910008761A; DE3934757A1; JPH02112119A

Description

A 1 2 rl-251 66 1 PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH The present invention relates to a

switch, and more particularly to a small switch of the push-button type suitable for mounting on a panel.

A conventional small switch of the push-button type under consideration is constructed to have a high electric rating. Generally, such a switch comprises a manipulating push-button, an automatic return spring, a movable contact element for yielding and operating a movable contact, and fixed contact elements having respective fixed contacts.

In such a conventional small switch, however, the manipulating pushbutton, the return spring, the support base, etc., are prepared as separate parts, and are assembled together to form the switch. Therefore, the number of component parts is large, and this not only prevents miniaturization of the switch, but also prevents the reduction of the manhours required for the assemblage. Further, considerable time and labour are required for mounting the fixed contact elements and their terminals, and particularly when this is done by an insert molding process, more time and labour are required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch composed of a minimum number of component parts that can be assembled easily.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a small push-button switch that is highly reliable in operation.

To achieve these and other objects and 'M accordance with the purpose of the invention, as emboe-"4ed 2 and broadly described herein, the invention comprises a switch encompassing two fixed terminals having a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, respectively, the first and second fixed contacts being disposed in opposed relation to each other. A movable contact element is normally held in contact with the first fixed contact by its own resiliency. A base holds the two fixed terminals and a terminal of the movable contact element, a manipulating member effects contact switching relative to the first and second fixed contacts, and an operating member is responsive to the operation of the manipulating member to cause the movable contact element to contact the second fixed contact. The base, manipulating member and operating member are formed as an integral body, preferably made of an electricallyinsulative, resilient material.

Conveniently the operating member is in the form of a resilient curved plate formed integrally with and extending between the manipulating member and the base. With this construction, upon pushing of the manipulating member, the movable contact element is driven by means of the operating member, thereby switching the contact from the first fixed contact to the second fixed contact. Merely by releasing the manipulating member, the operating member is restored to its initial posture to effect the contact switching again and also to return the manipulating member. Therefore, a small switch is attained which can be assembled with a limited number of component parts in a compact and small-sized manner.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 3 Figs. 1A, 1B and 1C are a cross-sectional view, a side-elevational view, and a bottom view, respectively of one embodiment of a switch of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the switch of Fig. 1A, showing a push- button thereof in a different position, Figs. 3A to 3C are cross-sectional views of modified one-piece molded parts of the switch, respectively, Fig. 4A is a side-elevational view of a further modified one-piece molded part, Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 4B, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view like Fig. 1A of a further embodiment of a switch of the invention.

Figs. 1A to 1C show a preferred embodiment of a switch of the present invention. In these Figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a base for fixing the parts of the switch, reference numeral 2 a manipulating pushbutton, and reference numeral 3 a curved, plate-like operating portion extending between the push-button 2 and the base 1 and having a generally V-shape as shown in the drawings. The base 1, the push-button 2 and the operating portion 3 are formed integrally with one another as a one-piece molded body made, in this embodiment, of an electrically- insulative and resilient resin-type material. Two fixed terminals 4 and 5 for switching purposes and a terminal 7 of a movable contact element 6 are simultaneously incorporated or set into the base 1 when assembling the switch.

4 The fixed terminals 4 and 5 are of a bent shape, and with this configuration, they are immovably held between the base and a cover later described. Fixed contacts 4A and 5A mounted respectively on exposed ends of the terminals 4 and 5 are disposed in opposed relation to each other. In an operative condition as shown in Fig. la, a contact 6a of the movable contact element 6 made of an electrically-conductive, resilient material, is held in contact with the fixed contact 4a by its own resilient force. Reference number 8 denotes a leaf spring for returning the push-button 2, and reference numeral 9 denotes the-cover of a socket- like shape which is fitted on the base 1 from above in such a manner that only the push-button 2 is exposed to the exterior of the cover 9. The cover 9 also serves to hold the terminals 4, 5 and 7, incorporated into the base 1, against disengagement from the base 1.

In the switch of the above construction, during the inoperative condition in which the push-button is not depressed, the operating portion 3 is maintained in a Vshaped condition and held away from the movable contact element 6, so that the contact 6A is held in contact with the first fixed contact 4A under the resilient force of the movable contact element 6. When the push-button 2 is depressed, the operating portion 3 is deformed against its own resiliency and the bias of the spring 8, so that an operating section 3A of the operating portion 3 urges the movable contact element 6 transversely. As a result, the movable contact 6A is moved away from the first fixed contact 4A and is brought into contact with the second fixed contact 5A, thereby establishing a second electrical connection condition as shown in Fig. 2.

Modified operating portions will now be described with reference to Figs. 3A to 3C. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1A, the operating portion 3 is beforehand 4 1 mdintained in such a configuration that when the operating portion 3 is set into the cover 9 together with the push-button 2, the operating section 3A can be so positioned as to easily press against the movable contact element 6. However, in the embodiments shown in Figs. 3A to 3C, operating portions 13 may be formed straight at the time of the molding so that the molding operation can be carried out easily. In this case, the operating portion is bent into a V-shape when it is set in the cover 9. Further, in the embodiments shown in Figs. 3B and 3c, corrugations (alternate projections and grooves) 13A and 13B are formed in the straight operating portion 13 by engraving so as to achieve enhanced flexibility and restoring force.

In the above embodiments, in order that the operating portion and the push-button can be more easily returned to their initial positions, each operating portion 3, 13 has resiliency, and also the separate leaf spring 8 is provided. However, it is not always necessary to provide the leaf spring 8, but it will be appreciated that the provision of the leaf spring 8 ensures that at least a positive restoring force can be maintained for a prolonged period of time. Further, although not shown in the drawings, the leaf spring may be of a special shape well known in the art, so that upon manipulation of the push-button so as to effect the contact opening and closing operations, a feeling of click can be obtained.

Figs. 4A and 4B show a further preferred embodiment of the present invention in which in addition to the operating portion 3, a return spring portion 14 is also formed integrally with the base 1 and the pushbutton 2 so as to provide a one-piece body of a resilient resin-type material. Therefore, in this embodiment, the 6 return spring portion 14 performs the function of the leaf spring 8 shown in Fig. IA.

Fig. 5 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the force for restoring the push-button 2 and an operating portion 23 depends mainly on the resiliency of the movable contact element 6. Therefore, the operation portion 23 does not need to be much flexed as a whole. Upon depression of the push-button 2, the operating portion 23 is slightly deformed into a bent configuration, so that its operating section 23A which is in contact with contact element 6 operates the movable contact element 6 to bring the contact 6A of the movable contact element 6 into contact with the second contact 5A. When the hand is released from the push-button 2, the operating portion 23 is returned to its original shape due to the resiliency of the movable contact element 6, so that the push-button 2 is returned to its initial condition, i.e., the nondepressed condition.

As described above, the manipulating member for effecting a contact switching between the two fixed contacts, the operating member responsive to the operation of this manipulating member for driving the movable contact element, and the base for holding the terminals of the fixed contact elements and movable contact element between the base and the case, are jointly formed as a one-piece body made of an electricallyinsulative and resilient material. Therefore, the number of the components parts can be markedly reduced, and the overall construction can be small and simple, and the positioning of the parts and the assemblage can be carried out easily.

Further, since the terminals of the movable contact element and fixed contact elements are suitably 7 bent and held between the base and the cover, these terminals can be positively and firmly retained utilizing the base of limited area and thickness.

a

Claims

1. A switch comprising: first and second fixed terminals having a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, respectively, said first and second fixed contacts being disposed in opposed relation to each other; a resilient movable contact element having a terminal, said resiliency of said movable contact element normally holding said movable contact element in contact with said first fixed contact; a base for holding said first and second fixed terminals and said terminal of said movable contact element; a manipulating member for selecting said first and second fixed contacts; and an operating member responsive to the selection of said first fixed contact by said manipulating member to cause said movable contact element to contact said first fixed contact and upon selection of said second fixed contact by said manipulating member to cause said movable contact element to contact said second fixed contact; said base, said manipulating member, and said operating member being formed as an integral body.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1, in which said operating member is in the form of a curved plate, and deformable upon pushing of said manipulating member so that said operating member moves said movable contact element from an inoperative position where said movable contact element is in contact with said first fixed contact to an operative position where said movable contact element is in contact with said second fixed contact, said movable contact element and said manipulating member being returned to said inoperative is 9 position responsive to releasing the pushing operation of said manipulating member.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 2, further including a return spring for returning said manipulating member and said movable contact member to said inoperative position.

4. a switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said return spring comprises a leaf spring.

5. A switch as claimed in claim 1, further including a cover fitted on said base to enclose said first and second fixed terminals, said first and second contacts, said movable contact element, and said operating member, in such a manner that only said manipulating member is exposed to an exterior surface of said cover.

6. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating member extends between said manipulating member and said base.

7. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said manipulating member comprises a push-button.

8. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integral body comprises an electrically insulative material.

9. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integral body comprises a resilient, resin-type material.

10. A switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said integral body comprises a resilient, resin-type material.

11. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating member is substantially V-shaped.

12. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating member includes a straight portion.

13. A switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein said straight portion of said operating member is corrugated.

14.

A switch comprising: a fixed terminal having a fixed contact; a movable contact element having a terminal and being movable between a closed position wherein said movable contact is in contact with said fixed contact, and an open position wherein said movable contact element does not contact said fixed contact, said movable contact element being normally held in said open position; a base holding said fixed terminal and said terminal of said movable contact element; a manipulating member for, selecting said open position or said closed position for said movable contact element; and an operating member responsive to the selection of said closed position by said manipulating member for moving said movable contact element to contact said fixed contact; said base, said manipulating member, and said operating member being formed as an integral body.

15. A switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein said operating member is in the form of a curved plate, and is deformable upon pushing of said manipulating member so that said operating member moves said movable contact element from said open position to said closed position, said movable contact element and said manipulating member being returned to said open position, upon releasing the pushing operation of operation of said manipulating member.

ZI 1 11

16. A switch as claimed in claim 15, further including a return spring for returning said manipulating member and said movable contact element to said open position.

17. A switch as claimed in claim 16, wherein said return spring comprises a leaf sPring.

18. A switch as claimed in claim 14, further including a cover fitted on said base to enclose said fixed terminal and fixed contact, said movable contact element and said operating member, in such a manner that only said manipulating member is exposed to an exterior surface of said cover.

19. A switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein said operating member extends between said manipulating member and said base.

20. A switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein said manipulating member comprises a push-button.

21. A switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein said integral body comprises an electrically insulative material.

22. A switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein said integral body comprises a resilient, resin-type material.

23. A switch as claimed in claim 21, wherein said integral body comprises a resilient, resin-type material.

24. A switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein said operating member is substantially V-shaped.

25. A switch as claimed is claim 14, wherein said operating member includes a straight portion.

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26. A switch as claimed in claim 25, wherein said straight portion of said operating member is corrugated.

27. A switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1A, IB, IC and 2, or as modified by Figure 3A, or Figure 3B, or Figure 3C, or Figures 4A and 4B of the accompanying drawings.

28. A switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Q Published 1990atThe Patent Office-State House. 66 71 High HolbornLondon WC1R4TP Further copies mkVbe obtained from The Patent Ofice Sales Branch, St Ma_-; Cray'. Orpng-cr.. Ken'. ERE 3RE Printei Ity Multiplex techniques ltd. S' Ma-y Cray. Ken' Con 1 8,