JP2002117748A - Multiple button type switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive multiple button type switch device of irradiation type with excellent assemblability and stable quality. SOLUTION: First and second buttons 2 and 3 are integrally molded with a button frame 12, and a third button 6 is integrated with a button cover 7 through the button frame 12, so that a button group unit 13 is previously formed with the button frame 12, the third button 6 and the button cover 7 and built in an opening 1a of a nose member 1. A transparent hole 9b is formed in each swelled part 9a of a rubber contact 9, and the light of an LED 10 is guided from the transparent hole 9b of the swelled part 9a through the inside of actuator parts 5d, 5e and 7d to irradiation parts 2a, 3a and 6a, so that the respective buttons 2, 3 and 6 can be molded with a simple die without molding them with double colors. Additionally, a shading wall 8b overlapping with a flange part 7a of the button cover 7 is formed on a button holder 8, so that the light of the respective LEDs 10 is prevented from intruding into the inside of the adjoining actuator parts 5d, 5e and 7d by the shading wall 8b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multiple button type switch device in which a plurality of buttons exposed in an opening of a nose member are turned on / off by pressing a plurality of buttons. The present invention relates to a multiple-button switch device in which two or more buttons and other independent buttons are combined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 5 to 7 show a conventional example of this type of a multiple button type switch device. FIG. 5 is a plan view, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a button frame provided in the switch device, and FIG. 8 is a rear view of the button frame.

In these figures, reference numeral 20 denotes an opening 2
The nose member 20 is provided on an instrument panel or the like in the vehicle. Inside the nose member 20, triple-type buttons 21, 22, 23 exposed in the opening 20a, a button holder 24 for locking the group of buttons 21, 22, 23 to the nose member 20, and each button 2
A printed circuit board 27 on which a plurality of tact switches 25 and LEDs 26 corresponding to 1, 2, 23 are mounted, and the button holder 24 and the printed circuit board 27 are nose-fitted by means such as screwing or snap connection. It is fixed to the member 20.

The button 21 on the left side of the figure is formed by two-color molding of an actuator part 21a made of a transparent resin such as acrylic and a key top 21b made of an opaque resin (for example, milky white). Contacting the tact switch 25. Similarly, the buttons 22 and 23 on the center and right sides in the figure are also the actuator parts 22a and 23.
a and the key tops 22b, 23b are molded in two colors, and the tips of the actuator sections 22a, 23a are in contact with the corresponding tact switches 25, respectively. Also,
Illumination portions 21c, 22c, and 23c representing characters, figures, and the like are formed on the surface of each of the key tops 21b, 22b, and 23b, and these illumination portions 21c, 22c, and 23c cover the entire surface of the key tops 21b, 22b, and 23b. Is partially removed by laser trimming or the like, and overlaps the corresponding tact switch 25 in a planar manner.

However, of the buttons 21, 22, 23, the two buttons 21, 23 on both sides are integrated in advance to form a button frame 28, and the remaining buttons 22 are incorporated in the button frame 28. ing. At this time, a through hole 28 is provided at the center of the button frame 28.
a is drilled, and the key top 22b of the center button 22 is provided.
Is arranged between the buttons 21 and 23 of the button frame 28, and the actuator portion 22 a of the button 22 is inserted into the through hole 28 a and is in contact with the push switch 25. The peripheral portions of the button frame 28 and the central button 22 are formed in a flange shape so as to be engaged with the peripheral portion of the opening 20 a, and the flange portion is brought into contact with the button holder 24 inside the nose member 20. The buttons 21, 22, and 23 are incorporated in the nose member 20 so as not to fall off from the opening 20a by being in contact with each other.

In the three-button switch device configured as described above, when the user presses, for example, the top surface of the button 21 on the left side in the figure, the button frame 28 holds the tip of the actuator portion 23a of the button 23 on the right side in the figure. Seesaw works as a fulcrum,
The corresponding tact switch 25 is turned on by the actuator section 21a of the button 21. Similarly, when the user presses the top surface of the right button 23 in the figure, the button frame 28 performs a seesaw operation with the tip of the actuator section 21a of the left button 21 as a fulcrum, and the actuator section 23 of the button 23
The corresponding tact switch 25 is turned on by a. When the user presses the top of the button 22 in the center of the figure, the key top 22b of the button 22 moves straight between the two buttons 21 and 23 of the button frame 28, and the key top 22b of the button 22 is actuated by the actuator 22a of the button 22. The tact switch 25 is turned on.

In a bright place such as daytime, each LED 26
When is turned off, the user can use each key top 21b, 2
The illumination portions 21c, 22c, and 23c can be visually recognized by the contrast between the colors (milky white) of 2b and 23b and the colored paint (black). On the other hand, in a dark place such as at night,
6 is turned on, the light of each LED 26 is transmitted from the actuator units 21a, 22a, 23a to the key top 21.
b, 22b, 23b, and the illumination units 21c, 22c, 2
3c, the user illuminates the illuminator 2 in the dark.
1c, 22c, and 23c can be visually recognized.

[0008]

In the above-described conventional three-button switch device, two buttons 21 and 23 on both sides of the necessary three buttons are integrated in advance to form a button frame 28. Therefore, the entire structure can be simplified as compared with a case where the three buttons 21, 22, and 23 are incorporated into the nose member 20 in a single product independent of each other. However, the center button 22 is simply inserted into the through hole 28a of the button frame 28, and since the button 22 and the button frame 28 are prevented from dropping out of the opening 20a by the button holder 24, the button 22 When the button frame 28 and the button frame 28 are incorporated in the opening 20a, there is a problem that the two 22, 22 are separated and the assembling workability is reduced. That is, the button 22 and the button frame 2
In the case where 8 is incorporated in the opening 20a, the button 22 and the button frame 28 are respectively dropped into the opening 20a with respect to the nose member 20 which is upside down from FIG. 6, and then the locking button holder 24 is attached. The procedure of fixing to the nose member 20 is performed, but since the button 22 is not stopped at all from the button frame 28 during such assembling, for example, after the button 22 is dropped into the center of the opening 20a, A complicated operation of dropping the button frame 28 into the opening 20a while taking care not to displace the button 22 and thereby disposing the center button 22 between the buttons 21 and 23 was required.

In the above-described conventional three-button switch device, the actuator portions 21 of the buttons 21, 22, 23 are provided.
Since the tact switch 25 is turned on / off by the switches a, 22a and 23a, the illuminators 21c and 2 formed on the key tops 21b, 22b and 23b are formed.
The LED 26 cannot be arranged directly below the 2c, 23c, and a plurality of LEDs arranged around the tact switch 25
26 light are respectively transmitted to the actuator units 21a, 22a,
From 23a, it leads to key tops 21b, 22b, and 23b. For this reason, the buttons 21 and 23 integrated with the button frame 28 and the remaining buttons 22 need to be all formed by two-color molding.
There is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the devices 2 and 23 rises.

Further, the actuator portion 22a of the center button 22 is inserted through the through hole 28a of the button frame 28, and the button frame 28 near the through hole 28a is connected to the key tops 21b and 23.
b, made of an opaque resin such as milky white, for example, an LED disposed around the tact switch 25 on both sides.
The light 26 passes through the button frame 28 and enters the central actuator portion 22a, and such light leakage causes a problem that the brightness of each of the illumination portions 21c, 22c, and 23c becomes uneven. Conventionally, as a countermeasure against such light leakage, as shown in FIG.
The light-shielding ink 29 is applied to surround the button frame 28. However, since this light-shielding ink 29 is formed on a part of the back surface of the button frame 28 and is necessarily post-processed by hand, Therefore, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost rises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a multiple button type switch device excellent in assembling workability. An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and stable illumination type multiple button type switch device.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a plurality of button groups exposed in an opening of a nose member are provided with a button frame in which first and second buttons facing each other through a through hole are integrally formed. A third button disposed between the first and second buttons, and a button cover integrated with the third button via a button frame. A flange that can be engaged is provided at the periphery of the through hole. With this configuration, the button frame having the first and second buttons and the third button are unitized in advance by the button cover, so that the unit product can be easily incorporated into the opening of the nose member. .

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a multiple button type switch device according to the present invention, a nose member having an opening, a plurality of button groups exposed in the opening, and a plurality of switch elements mounted on a printed circuit board are provided. A multiple button switch device, wherein the switch element is pressed by the button group, wherein the button group is formed integrally with first and second buttons facing each other through a through-hole, A third button disposed between the first and second buttons, and a button cover integrated with the third button via the button frame, wherein the third button and the Each of the button covers is provided with a flange portion that can be engaged with the peripheral portion of the through hole.

[0014] With this configuration, the third frame is provided via the button frame.
By integrating the button and the button cover, the button frame having the first and second buttons and the third button are unitized in advance, so that this unit can be easily incorporated into the opening of the nose member. be able to.

In the above configuration, it is possible to use a tact switch as a switch element. However, in the case of an illuminated type multiple button type switch device, a button holder and a printed board disposed inside a nose member are used. A rubber contact having a plurality of bulging portions is interposed therebetween, and a switch element is constituted by a movable contact provided in these bulging portions and a fixed contact provided on a printed board, and on a printed board. It is preferable that the light of the mounted LED is guided to the illumination part of each button through the bulging part. With this configuration, since the light of the LED can be directly guided to the illuminating portion of each button, it is not necessary to form each button in two colors, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In this case, three holes are formed in the button holder so as to face the respective bulging portions of the rubber contact, and protrude to the side of the collar portion of the button cover between the center hole and the holes on both sides. When the light-shielding wall is provided, the light leakage of the adjacent LED can be reliably prevented by the light-shielding wall, and the light-shielding wall can be formed integrally with the button holder to simplify the structure.

In the above configuration, the button frame may be formed as an integrally molded product. However, the button frame is composed of an upper button frame and a lower button frame which are integrated with each other. It is preferable that the inside of the lower button frame has a hollow structure. With this configuration, a relatively free hollow portion can be formed inside the upper button frame and the lower button frame.
D light can be reliably guided from the hollow portion to the illumination portion.

[0018]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a triple-button switch device according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the switch device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a provided button group unit.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes an opening 1a.
The nose member 1 is attached to the front of an audio device such as a CD player, and is exposed in a vehicle compartment when the audio device is installed on an instrument panel or the like in a vehicle. An upper button frame 4 having first and second buttons 2 and 3 inside the nose member 1
A lower button frame 5 integrated with the upper button frame 4;
And a third button 6 disposed between the second buttons 2 and 3, a button cover 7 integrated with the third button 6, a button holder 8
A rubber contact 9 having a plurality of bulging portions 9a;
A printed board 11 on which a plurality of LEDs 10 are mounted is provided, and the button holder 8 and the printed board 11 are screwed and fixed inside the nose member 1 via rubber contacts 9.

The upper button frame 4 is integrally formed with a first button 2 and a second button 3 having a hollow structure with an open lower surface, and the first and second buttons 2 and 3 are formed through a central through hole. They face each other through the hole 4a. The upper button frame 4 is made of an opaque resin such as milky white, and by removing a part of the colored paint (for example, black) applied to the entire surface by laser trimming or the like, the upper and lower buttons 4 and 3 Illumination parts 2a, 3 on the surface
a is formed (see FIG. 1). On the other hand, the lower button frame 5 is made of a light-shielding resin such as black, and the button frame 12 is formed by integrating the above-described upper button frame 4 and the lower button frame 5 by snap connection. The lower button frame 5 is provided with a pair of annular walls 5b, 5c standing through a central through hole 5a. When the upper button frame 4 and the lower button frame 5 are integrated, these annular walls 5b, 5c are formed. Is inserted into the first and second buttons 2 and 3. Further, a pair of hollow cylindrical actuator parts 5d and 5e are suspended from the lower button frame 5, and the upper open ends of the actuator parts 5d and 5e reach portions surrounded by the annular walls 5b and 5c, respectively. ing.

The third button 6 is made of an opaque resin such as milky white similarly to the upper button frame 4, and a part of the colored paint (for example, black) applied to the entire surface thereof is removed by laser trimming or the like. An illumination portion 6a is formed on the surface (see FIG. 1). The third button 6 is provided with through holes 4a, 5
The third button 6 is disposed between the first and second buttons 2 and 3 so as to face the through hole 4a.
A pair of flanges 6b that can be engaged with the upper button frame 4 on the periphery of a are formed, and a pair of recesses 6c are formed on the inner wall of the hollow structure. On the other hand, the button cover 7 is made of a light-shielding resin such as black similarly to the lower button frame 5, and the third button 6 and the button cover 7 are snap-joined via the above-mentioned button frame 12 to be integrated with each other. The button frame 12, the third button 6, and the button cover 7 constitute a button group unit 13.
A flat flange 7a is formed on the button cover 7, and the outer shape of the flange 7a is set to be large enough to engage with the lower button frame 5 on the periphery of the through hole 5a. A projection wall 7c having a pair of projections 7b is formed on the flange 7a. When the projection wall 7c is inserted into the third button 6, the projection 7
The b snaps into the recess 6c, and the third button 6 and the button cover 7 are integrated. Further, a hollow cylindrical actuator 7d is suspended from the flange 7a, and an upper open end of the actuator 7d reaches the inside of the protruding wall 7c.

The button holder 8 is made of a light-shielding resin such as black.
Three circular holes 8a opposing e and 7d are formed, and the button group unit 13 described above is prevented from dropping from the nose member 1 by the button holder 8. The button holder 8 is provided with a pair of light-shielding walls 8b opposed to each other via a central circular hole 8a. The light-shielding walls 8b protrude toward the button cover 7 and overlap with the side of the flange 7a. ing. An annular light-shielding wall 8c is provided upright around the two circular holes 8a on both sides, and these light-shielding walls 8c protrude in the directions of the actuator portions 5d and 5e of the lower button frame 5, respectively.

The rubber contact 9 is made of a highly elastic insulating material such as silicon rubber. The rubber contact 9 has a plurality of bulging portions 9a so as to cover the LEDs 10 mounted on the printed circuit board 11. These bulging portions 9
a is inserted into each circular hole 8a of the button holder 8 and abuts on the lower end of each actuator section 5d, 5e, 7d, so that each bulging section 9a corresponds to the corresponding actuator section 5d, 5d.
e, 7d are urged upward in FIG.
And the periphery of the button group unit 13 is locked to the periphery of the opening 1a. Each bulging portion 9a has a through hole 9b.
Are formed, and these through holes 9b communicate with the hollow portions of the corresponding actuator portions 5d, 5e, 7d. Further, a movable contact 14 is provided inside each bulging portion 9a (see FIG. 2), and a fixed contact 15 is provided on the printed circuit board 11 corresponding to each movable contact 14.

Next, a brief description will be given of an assembling process of the above-mentioned triple button type switch device. First, the upper button frame 4 and the lower button frame 5 are snap-connected to form a button frame 12, and then the third button 6 and the button cover 7 are snap-connected via the through holes 4a and 5a of the button frame 12. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, a button group unit 13 in which the button frame 12, the third button 6, and the button cover 7 are unitized is obtained. Here, the third button 6
Since the flange 6b of the button cover 7 protrudes outward of the through hole 4a, and the flange 7a of the button cover 7 protrudes outward of the through hole 5a, the third button 6 and the button cover 6 pass through the through holes 4a, 5a. 7, the central part of the button frame 12 is the third button 6 and the button cover 7
And the button frame 12, the third button 6, and the button cover 7 can be handled as one unit product. Then, after the button group unit 13 is dropped into the opening 1a of the nose member 1 upside down from FIG. 2, the button holder 8, the rubber contact 9 and the printed board 11 are sequentially assembled from the button group unit 13. For example, a three-button switch device as shown in FIG. 2 can be assembled.

In the three-button switch device configured as described above, when the user presses, for example, the top surface of the first button 2, the button frame 12 is moved to the tip of the actuator 5 e of the second button 3. , The actuator portion 5 d of the first button 2 crushes the corresponding bulging portion 9 a of the rubber contact 9, so that the movable contact 14 provided in the bulging portion 9 a , And the switch is turned on. Similarly, when the user presses the top surface of the second button 3, the button frame 12 performs a seesaw operation using the tip of the actuator 5 d of the first button 2 as a fulcrum, and the actuator 5 e of the second button 3. Since the corresponding bulging portion 9a is crushed, the movable contact 14 in the bulging portion 9a comes into contact with the fixed contact 15 on the printed circuit board 11 to be turned on. When the user presses the top surface of the third button 6, the third button 6 and the button cover 7 move straight with respect to the button frame 12, and the actuator 7d of the button cover 7 Since the protruding portion 9a is crushed, the movable contact 14 in the protruding portion 9a comes into contact with the fixed contact 15 on the printed circuit board 11 to be turned on.

Then, in a bright place such as daytime, each LED 10
Is turned off, the user can visually recognize the illuminating portions 2a, 3a, 6a by the contrast between the color (milky white) of each of the buttons 2, 3, 6 and the colored paint (black). On the other hand, when each LED 10 is turned on in a dark place such as at night, the light of the LED 10 passes through the through holes 9b of the bulging portion 9a and the inside of the actuator portions 5d, 5e, and 7d, and the illumination portion 2
Since they are guided to a, 3a, and 6a, the user can visually recognize the illuminating units 2a, 3a, and 6a that illuminate in a dark place. At this time, a pair of light-shielding walls 8b opposed to each other via the central circular hole 8a are provided upright on the button holder 8, and these light-shielding walls 8b overlap with the side of the flange 7a of the button cover 7. A part of the light emitted from each LED 10 is bulged 9a.
, And the light does not enter the adjacent actuators 5d, 5e, 7d, and the illuminating portions 2a, 3 due to the light leakage of the LED 10.
The luminance unevenness of a and 6a is reliably prevented.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the third button 6 is provided via the button frame 12 having the first and second buttons 2 and 3.
By integrating the button frame 7 with the button frame 7,
2 and the third button 6 and the button cover 7
3, the button group unit 13
Can be easily incorporated into the opening 1a of the nose member 1, and the assembling workability can be improved. Further, a through hole 9b is formed in each bulging portion 9a of the rubber contact 9, and
The light of D10 passes from the through hole 9b of the bulging portion 9a to the inside of the actuator portions 5d, 5e, 7d, and the illuminating portions 2a, 3a,
Since it is guided to 6a, it is not necessary to mold each of the buttons 2, 3, and 6 in two colors, and it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs including mold costs and processing costs. Further, since the button holder 8 is provided with the light shielding wall 8b which overlaps with the flange portion 7a of the button cover 7, the light of each LED 10 is adjacent to the actuator portion 5.
The light-shielding wall 8b can prevent the light from entering the interiors of d, 5e, and 7d, and the uneven brightness of the illuminating portions 2a, 3a, and 6a due to light leakage of the LED 10 can be reliably prevented.

[0028]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

By integrating the third button and the button cover via a button frame having the first and second buttons, the button frame, the third button, and the button cover are previously unitized. Therefore, the unit product can be easily incorporated into the opening of the nose member, and a multiple-button switch device excellent in assembling workability can be provided.

Further, when the present invention is applied to an illuminated type multiple button type switch device, if the light of the LED is guided to the illuminated portion of each button through the bulging portion of the rubber contact,
Since the light of the LED can be directly guided to the illuminating portion of each button, it is not necessary to form each button in two colors, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. By providing an overlapping light-shielding wall, light leakage of an adjacent LED can be reliably prevented by the light-shielding wall, and the light-shielding wall can be formed integrally with the button holder to simplify the structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a triple-button switch device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the switch device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a button group unit provided in the switch device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a multiple button switch device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a button frame provided in the switch device.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the button frame. It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 nose member 1a opening 2 first button 2a illuminating section 3 second button 3a illuminating section 4 upper button frame 4a through hole 5 lower button frame 5a through hole 5b, 5c annular wall 5d, 5e actuator section 6 third Button 6a Illumination part 6b Flange part 7 Button cover 7a Flange part 7d Actuator part 8 Button holder 8a Circular hole 8b Light shielding wall 9 Rubber contact 9a Swelling part 9b Through hole 10 LED 11 Printed circuit board 12 Button frame 13 Button group unit 14 Mobile contact 15 Fixed contacts

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A nose member having an opening, a plurality of button groups exposed in the opening, and a plurality of switch elements mounted on a printed circuit board, wherein each of the switch elements is pressed by the button group. In the multiple button type switch device, the button group is disposed between a button frame integrally formed with first and second buttons facing each other through a through hole, and the first and second buttons. A third button, and a button cover integrated with the third button via the button frame. The third button and the button cover are respectively associated with a peripheral portion of the through hole. A multiple button type switch device, wherein a matable flange is provided. 2. The nose member according to claim 1, further comprising: a button holder provided inside the nose member for preventing the button group from falling off, and a plurality of bulging portions between the button holder and the printed circuit board. A rubber contact is provided, and the switch element is configured by a movable contact provided in the bulging portion and a fixed contact provided on the printed board, and a switch from the LED mounted on the printed board is provided. A multiple-button switch device, wherein light is guided to each of the buttons through the bulging portion. 3. The button cover according to claim 2, wherein the button holder has three holes facing the respective bulging portions of the rubber contact, and the button cover is provided between a center hole and holes on both sides. A multiple button type switch device, characterized in that a light shielding wall protruding to the side of the flange portion is provided. 4. The button frame according to claim 2, wherein the button frame comprises an upper button frame and a lower button frame integrated with each other, and the interior of the upper button frame and the lower button frame has a hollow structure. A multiple button type switch device characterized by the following.