JP2002093262A - Function member with metallic cap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function member having metallic cap capable of preventing malfunction of a circuit caused by static electricity. SOLUTION: In this function member with a metallic cap (push button 10) formed by covering a surface 13a of a pressing operating part 13 with the metallic cap 15, one end part of the metallic cap 15 is extended to form an arm-shaped contact piece 15a, and the contact piece 15a is provided with elasticity in the direction to be abutted to a ground contact 22 of an electric base 20 at all time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an operation member whose operation surface is covered with a metal cap.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various devices have a structure in which the outer surface of an operating member made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin is covered with a metal cap suitable for the appearance of the device in consideration of the design of the entire device. Has been adopted. However, since metal has conductivity, when a user operates the operation member, static electricity flows to the electric board inside the device via the metal cap, and there is a possibility that sparks may be generated on the electric board. This spark causes a malfunction of a circuit provided on the electric board.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an operation member with a metal cap which can prevent a malfunction of a circuit due to static electricity based on the above problem awareness.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized in that it comprises an operating member, a metal cap for covering the operating surface of the operating member, and grounding means for grounding the metal cap to ground. According to this configuration, since the static electricity conducted through the metal cap flows to the ground, no spark is generated on the electric board inside the device, and malfunction of the circuit can be avoided.

[0005] Preferably, the grounding means is formed integrally with the metal cap. More specifically, it is preferable that an arm-shaped contact piece having one end portion of the metal cap extended is used as the grounding means, and the contact piece is provided with elasticity in a direction of constantly contacting the ground contact surface.

The above operating member with a metal cap is applicable to, for example, a push button type switch.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a push-button switch. The push button 10 made of an elastic material such as rubber has a substantially Ω-shaped cross section, and has an annular portion 11 fixed on the electric board 20 and a truncated cone-shaped elastically deforming leg portion extending upward from the annular portion 11 at the center. 12 and a pressing operation unit 13 provided above the elastic deformation leg 12. This pressing operation unit 13
Due to the elasticity of the elastically deformable legs 12, the elastically deformable legs 12 are supported so as to be able to protrude and retract from the cover 30, that is, to be capable of being pressed. On the back surface 13b of the pressing operation unit 13, a switch unit 14
Is provided. The switch portion 14 is formed of a conductive material such as conductive rubber, and is normally separated from the electric board 20 by the elasticity of the elastically deformable leg portion 12 (FIG. 1). Then, the switch contacts the switch contact 21 provided on the electric board 20 to perform a switching action.

In the push button 10 having the above structure, the entire surface 13 a of the push operation section 13 is covered with the metal cap 15.
The metal cap 15 has an arm-shaped contact piece 15 a formed by extending one end of the metal cap 15, and the contact piece 15 a is provided with elasticity in a direction of constantly contacting the ground contact 22 of the electric board 20. The contact piece 15a and the ground contact 22
Is in contact with the metal cap 15, which is equivalent to the fact that the metal cap 15 is grounded to the ground of the electric board 20, and the static electricity charged on the metal cap 15 can be conducted to the ground of the electric board 20. For this reason, static electricity conducted through the metal cap 15 does not spark on the electric board 20, and malfunction of the circuit due to the spark can be avoided.

[0009]

According to the present invention, since the static electricity conducted through the metal cap flows to the ground, malfunction of the circuit due to the static electricity can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a push button type switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Push button 11 Annular part 12 Elastic deformation leg 13 Pressing operation part 14 Switch part 15 Metal cap 15a Contact piece 20 Electric board 21 Switch contact 22 Ground contact 30 Cover

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operation member with a metal cap, comprising: an operation member; a metal cap that covers an operation surface of the operation member; and grounding means that grounds the metal cap to ground. 2. The operating member with a metal cap according to claim 1, wherein the grounding means is formed integrally with the metal cap. 3. The operating member with a metal cap according to claim 2, wherein the grounding means is an arm-shaped contact piece extending one end of the metal cap, and the contact piece is always in contact with a ground contact surface. An operation member with a metal cap provided with elasticity in the direction of movement. 4. The operating member with a metal cap according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is a push button type switch.