JP2002170456A - Rubber switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rubber switch having so called over stroke where the switch is turned on by bringing one end part of an inclined contact surface into contact with a fixed contact point before the other end part by pressing on a top part of a rubber spring. SOLUTION: In the device, a moving contact point 3 is provided with the contact surface 3a which is formed inclined with a specified angle α. In this case, this contact surface 3a is inclined so that one end part 3b is brought close to the fixed contact point which is formed on a film member 4 and the other end part 3c is brought further away from the fixed contact point so that when the moving contact point 3 is lowered by pressing on a pressing part 2c on the top part of the rubber spring, one end part 3b is brought into contact with the fixed contact point before the other end part 3c and conduction is produced. After that, the other end part 3c is lowered to the side of the fixed contact point with the one end part 3b as a supporting point and the top part of the rubber spring 2 is further lowered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rubber switch, and more particularly, to a rubber switch having an overstroke that can be pressed even after a switching operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional rubber switch 21 of this type is shown in FIG.
In the following, a dome-shaped rubber spring 22 made of an elastic member such as rubber is provided. The rubber spring 22 has a flange portion 22a formed on an outer peripheral portion thereof.
A dome-shaped elastically deformable peripheral wall 22b is formed in a portion surrounded by the flange portion 22a, and a pressing portion 22c protruding above the peripheral wall 22b and a ceiling portion inside the cavity are formed at the upper center of the peripheral wall 22b. A downwardly projecting stem portion 22d is formed.

A movable contact 23 is formed at the lower end of the stem 22d. A film member 24 having a fixed contact (not shown) is provided below and opposite to the movable contact 23. The film member 24 is mounted on a plate-like base 25 made of a metal plate or the like. The flange portion 22a is attached to the film member 24 with an adhesive or a holder member (not shown).

The rubber switch 21 has a movable contact 23
The contact area of the film member 24 is formed to have a large area so that even if it comes into contact with the fixed contact of the film member 24, the conduction failure does not occur. The diameter of the stem portion 22d is the same as that of the movable contact 23 and is thick. The lower surface of the movable contact 23 facing the film member 24 is
4 are formed in parallel. And rubber switch 2
In the first switching operation, as shown in FIG. 8, when the pressing portion 22c is pressed below the arrow A, the peripheral wall 22b is elastically deformed, and the stem portion 22d is lowered to the lower film member 24 side. Then, the movable contact 23 comes into contact with a fixed contact (not shown) formed on the film member 24 to be turned on.

[0005]

However, in the conventional rubber switch 21, since the stem portion 22d is formed to have the same thickness as the movable contact 23, the stem portion 22d does not elastically deform when the pressing portion 22c is pressed. In addition, even after the movable contact 23 comes into contact with the fixed contact and becomes conductive, there is no so-called overstroke that can further depress the pressing portion 22c. Therefore, when the conventional rubber switch 21 is used in a place where the pressing portion 22c is always mechanically pushed down to the same height position to perform a switching operation, for example, the movable contact 23 is worn and the thickness of the movable contact 23 is reduced. When the thickness is reduced, a minute gap is generated between the movable contact 23 and the fixed contact, so that conduction between the movable contact 22c and the fixed contact becomes unstable, and there is a problem that a normal switching operation cannot be performed.

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the contact surface of the movable contact is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the fixed contact, and the upper surface of the rubber spring is pressed to be inclined. One end of the contact surface is brought into contact with the fixed contact before the other end to turn on the switch, and then the other end of the contact surface is lowered to the fixed contact side, so that the upper portion of the rubber spring is further lowered. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rubber switch having an overstroke.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rubber switch according to the present invention, which is formed on a dome-shaped rubber spring whose lower part is released, and on a ceiling inside the rubber spring. A movable contact; and a fixed contact disposed at a lower position facing the movable contact. The movable contact has a contact surface formed by being inclined at a predetermined inclination angle, and the contact surface has one end portion. Closer to the fixed contact, the other end is separated from the fixed contact to form the angle of inclination, pressing the upper part of the rubber spring to lower the movable contact, the one end is first with the fixed contact In this configuration, the other end portion is turned to the fixed contact side with the one end portion as a fulcrum and descends, and the upper portion of the rubber spring further descends.

As a second means for solving the above problem, the rubber spring has a pressing portion projecting upward from the dome-shaped upper portion, and pressing the pressing portion to connect the movable contact. By lowering, the pressing portion rotates in the same direction as the rotating direction of the other end in conjunction with the rotation of the other end.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the movable contact has a center line extending vertically from a center, and the pressing portion is shifted from the center line toward the one end. The rubber spring is formed above the rubber spring.

[0010] As a fourth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the pressing portion has a configuration in which a tip portion is formed in a conical shape.

As a fifth solution for solving the above-mentioned problems, a dome-shaped rubber spring whose lower part is released, an operation part projecting downward from a ceiling inside the rubber spring, and an operation part A switch member whose contacts are switched by pressing operation of the switch member, the operation unit has an operation surface capable of pressing the switch member, the operation surface has one end portion close to the switch member,
The other end has a predetermined inclination angle away from the switch member, and when the operating portion is lowered by pressing the upper portion of the rubber spring, the one end portion presses the switch member first to form the contact point. The switching is performed, and thereafter, the other end is turned around the one end as a fulcrum toward the switch member and descends, and the upper portion of the rubber spring further descends.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the switch member has upper and lower film members opposed to each other and separated from each other, and a movable contact is formed on the upper film member. Forming a fixed contact on the lower film member and pressing the upper portion of the rubber spring, the upper film is pressed by the one end of the operation surface, the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact and conducts, The contact is switched.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A rubber switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a top view and a main part sectional view of a first embodiment of a rubber switch according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a principal part for explaining the operation of the rubber switch shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a principal part of a rubber switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

First, in a rubber switch 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a dome-shaped rubber spring 2 whose lower part is released is provided. The rubber spring 2 is made of a member having elasticity such as silicon rubber, and has a ring-shaped thick flange 2a formed on the outer periphery, and a hollow inside is formed on the inner periphery surrounded by the flange 2a. The peripheral wall 2b is formed to be thin and elastically deformable.

A pressing portion 2c is formed to protrude upward from the upper portion of the dome-shaped peripheral wall 2b. The pressing portion 2c
As shown in FIG. 1B, the upper part of the rubber spring 2 whose center is shifted by the dimension C from the center line B extending vertically from the center of the movable contact 3 described later to the one end 3b side of the movable contact 3 as shown in FIG. Has formed. That is, the pressing portion 2c is formed so as to be shifted from the center line B of the movable contact by the dimension C toward the one end 3b. Further, the pressing portion 2c is formed in a conical shape at the distal end, and has a small contact area with, for example, a flat pressing member (not shown) that presses the distal end of the pressing portion 2c. Therefore, when the tip of the pressing portion 2c is pressed by the flat pressing member, the frictional resistance when the pressing portion 2c rotates can be reduced.

An inclined projection 2d is formed on the ceiling of the peripheral wall 2b below the portion where the pressing portion 2c is formed. On the lower surface of the flange portion 2a, ventilation grooves 2e connecting the inside and the outside of the dome-shaped cavity are formed in four directions at a predetermined depth, and when the dome-shaped peripheral wall 2b is elastically deformed, the air inside the cavity becomes outside. To escape to. The inclined projection 2d
Is formed with a movable contact 3 made of a conductive material such as carbon. When the movable contact 3 is printed on the inclined protrusion 2d or when the rubber spring 2 is formed, the movable contact 3 is simultaneously in close contact with the inclined protrusion 2d. Installed.

The movable contact 3 has a contact surface 3 inclined at a predetermined inclination angle α with a film member 4 described later.
The contact surface 3a has one end 3b on the right side in the drawing.
The left side in the figure is the other end 3c. And the oblique angle α
The contact surface 3a which is inclined at a point is in contact with a fixed contact (not shown) to be described later so as to be electrically conductive. One end 3b is brought close to the fixed contact, and the other end 3c is moved away from the fixed contact. It is inclined. A fixed contact (not shown) formed on the upper surface by printing or the like is provided below the movable contact 3.
Is provided. The film member 4 is mounted on a base 5 made of, for example, a metal plate. And the rubber spring 2
The flange 2a is attached to the film member 4 by the switch holder 6.

When the rubber switch 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention performs a switching operation by pressing the pressing portion 2c with, for example, a human finger, the one end 2b of the movable contact 3
When the switch is turned on by first contacting the fixed contact formed on the film member 4, a reaction force is applied to the finger pressing the pressing portion 2c, and a click feeling is created. Thereafter, the pressing portion 2c is further pressed downward by the inertial force of the finger that is to be pressed downward, and the other end 3c is rotated toward the fixed contact and descends, so that an overstroke is formed. ing.

The operation when the rubber switch 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used in, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (not shown) will be described with reference to FIGS.
Explaining with reference to FIG. 5, in the floppy disk drive, the lower base 5 is also configured as a chassis made of a metal plate. In addition, rubber spring 2
The pressing portion 2c can be pressed by a vertical movement of the disk cartridge K containing the magnetic disk in the directions of arrows D and F. The base 5 has a stopper 7.
Is provided so that the disk cartridge K does not descend below a predetermined value.

First, the disk cartridge K shown in FIG.
Is inserted into a disk holder (not shown) of the floppy disk drive, the disk cartridge K and the pressing portion 2c of the rubber spring 2 are separated by a predetermined size. When the disk cartridge K is slid in the direction of arrow G from this initial state and is moved to a position above a turntable (not shown), the disk cartridge K is held by a disk holder by a cam mechanism (not shown). , As shown in FIG. Then, the lower surface of the disk holder K contacts the pressing portion 2c of the rubber switch 1.

Next, when the disk cartridge K is lowered from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the rubber switch 1 moves the pressing portion 2c which is displaced from the center line B of the movable contact 3 downward. And the peripheral wall 2b on the right side in the figure of the rubber spring 2 is elastically deformed, and one end 3b of the movable contact 3 comes into contact with a fixed contact (not shown) of the film member 4 before the other end 3c. Switch on
Is done. By turning on this switch, it is possible to detect that the disk cartridge K is mounted on the turntable.

Thereafter, the disk cartridge K is
When the pressing portion 2c is further pressed further downward from the state shown in FIG. 3A, the other end 3c of the contact surface 3a pivots and descends toward the fixed contact with the one end 3b in contact with the fixed contact as a fulcrum. . Then, the contact surface 3a of the movable contact 3 that has been inclined with the inclination angle α comes into close contact with the fixed contact of the film member 4. Further, the lower surface of the disk cartridge K comes into contact with the stopper portion 7, and the lowering of the disk cartridge K is stopped. Then, the magnetic disk housed in the disk cartridge K is mounted (chucking) on the turntable, and when the turntable rotates, the magnetic disk also rotates to enable recording and reproduction.

When the disc cartridge K is raised by operating an eject member (not shown) from the state shown in FIG. 5, the rubber switch 1 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. 2 and is turned off. Then, it is possible to detect that the chucking of the disc cartridge K to the turntable has been released.

In the rubber switch 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the contact surface 3a of the movable contact 3 is inclined at an inclination angle α, one end 3b comes into contact with the fixed contact and the switch is switched. A so-called overstroke that can further lower the pressing portion 2c from when it is turned on until the other end portion 3c rotates and contacts the movable contact side can be formed. For this reason, even if one end 3b of the movable contact 3 is worn, for example, the contact surface 3 between the one end 3b and the other end 3c due to overstroke.
Since a always contacts the fixed contact, it is possible to prevent troubles such as poor conduction between the movable contact 3 and the fixed contact during the switching operation.

A rubber switch 11 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6. A rubber spring 12 has a flange 12a on the outer periphery and a dome-shaped interior with the lower part being released. Peripheral wall 12b formed in cavity
And a pressing portion 1 protruding upward from the top of the peripheral wall 12b.
2c are formed. The rubber spring 12
Is formed with an operation portion 13 protruding downward from a ceiling inside the cavity, and the operation portion 13 has an operation surface 13a inclined at an inclination angle α. The operation surface 13a includes:
One end 13b is inclined so as to approach a switch member 14 described later, and the other end 13c is inclined away from the switch member 14, and the angle is formed by an inclination angle α.

In the lower part of the rubber spring 12,
A switch member 14 including a membrane switch whose contacts are switched by a pressing operation of the operation unit 13 is provided. The switch member 14 includes upper and lower film members 14b and 14c which are opposed to and separated from each other with a film-shaped spacer 14a interposed therebetween. The spacer 14a has a contact forming hole 14e formed therethrough, and a movable contact 15 is formed on the upper film member 14b at a portion where the contact forming hole 14e is formed, and a lower film member at a position where the movable contact 15 faces. A fixed contact 16 is formed on 14c, and the movable contact 15 and the fixed contact 16 are each formed by printing a conductive material made of carbon or the like. Such a switch member 14 is mounted on a base 17 made of a metal plate or the like, and the rubber spring 12 is mounted on the switch member 14.

Then, the operating portion 1 is pressed by pressing the pressing portion 12c.
3 is lowered, the one end portion 13b is first switched to the switch member 1.
By pressing the upper film member 14b of No. 4, the movable contact 15 comes into contact with the fixed contact 16 to conduct, and the switch is turned on from the switch OFF state, and the contact is switched.
After that, the other end 12b pivots toward the switch member 14 with the one end 13b in contact with the switch member 14 as a fulcrum and descends.
An overstroke can be formed during the pressing operation of 2c. In the rubber switch 11 according to the second embodiment, the movable contact 3 does not have to be formed inside the cavity of the rubber spring 2 by printing or the like as described in the first embodiment. Is easy to manufacture.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the fixed contacts are formed on the film members. However, the fixed contacts are formed on a printed board made of a thick and hard material such as an epoxy resin. It may be something. That is, in the rubber switch of the present invention, the member on the side forming the fixed contact only needs to be an insulating member, and the material selection range is widened,
The degree of freedom of design can be expanded.

[0029]

According to the rubber switch of the present invention, when the movable contact is lowered by pressing the upper part of the rubber spring, one end comes into contact with the fixed contact first to conduct, and thereafter, the other end is supported by one end. As a result, the upper portion of the rubber spring is further lowered and the upper portion of the rubber spring is further lowered, so that an overstroke can be formed at the time of the switching operation, and conduction failure between the movable contact and the fixed contact can be eliminated.

Further, the rubber spring has a pressing portion projecting upward from a dome-shaped upper portion. By pressing this pressing portion to lower the movable contact, the rubber spring is interlocked with the rotation of the other end. Since the pressing portion rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of the other end portion, a proper overstroke can be formed, and a rubber switch with good operability without poor conduction can be provided.

Also, the movable contact has a center line extending vertically from the center, and the pressing portion is formed on the upper portion of the rubber spring shifted from the center line to one end side. , And one end contacts the fixed contact to create a click feeling, and then the other end rotates toward the fixed contact due to inertia during the pressing operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a rubber switch having a click feeling and a good operation feeling at the time of the switching operation.

Further, since the tip of the pressing portion is formed in a conical shape, when the pressing portion is mechanically pressed by a flat pressing member, friction between the tip of the pressing portion and the pressing member is reduced. Resistance can be reduced, and the pressing portion can be reliably rotated with respect to the pressing member.

Further, a contact member is switched by a pressing operation of the operation portion, and a switch member is provided. When the operation portion is lowered by pressing the upper portion of the rubber spring, one end portion presses the switch member first to switch the contact. After that, the other end is rotated down to the switch member side with the one end as a fulcrum, and the upper portion of the rubber spring is further lowered, so that it is not necessary to print and form a movable contact on the rubber spring. A rubber switch that can easily manufacture a spring can be provided.

Further, the switch member has upper and lower film members opposed to and separated from each other, a movable contact is formed on the upper film member, a small contact is formed on the lower film member, and a rubber spring upper portion is formed. When you press
The upper film is pressed by one end of the operation surface, the movable contact is conducted to the fixed contact, and the contact is switched.
An appropriate overstroke can be formed, and a rubber switch with good operability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view and a main part cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a rubber switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part explaining the operation of the rubber switch shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part explaining the operation of the rubber switch shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a main-portion cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the rubber switch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part explaining the operation of the rubber switch shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a rubber switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view and a sectional view of a main part of a conventional rubber switch.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part explaining the operation of a conventional rubber switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rubber switch of 1st Embodiment 2 Rubber spring 2a Flange 2b Peripheral wall 2c Pressing part 2d Inclined projection 3 Movable contact 3a Contact surface 3b One end 3c Other end 4 Film member 5 Base 6 Holder member 7 Stopper portion

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A dome-shaped rubber spring whose lower part is released, a movable contact formed on a ceiling inside the rubber spring, and a fixed contact disposed at a lower position facing the movable contact, The movable contact has a contact surface formed by being inclined at a predetermined inclination angle, and this contact surface is
When the one end is moved closer to the fixed contact and the other end is moved away from the fixed contact to form the angle of inclination and press the upper part of the rubber spring to lower the movable contact, the one end is fixed first. It comes into contact with the contact and conducts,
A rubber switch, wherein the other end is pivoted down to the fixed contact with the one end as a fulcrum, and the upper portion of the rubber spring is further lowered. 2. The rubber spring has a pressing portion that protrudes upward from the dome-shaped upper portion, and presses this pressing portion to lower the movable contact, thereby rotating the other end. 2. The rubber switch according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is rotated in the same direction as the rotation direction of the other end portion in conjunction with. 3. The movable contact has a center line extending vertically from a center, and the pressing portion is formed on an upper portion of the rubber spring shifted from the center line toward the one end. The rubber switch according to claim 2. 4. The rubber switch according to claim 2, wherein the pressing portion has a tip portion formed in a conical shape. 5. A dome-shaped rubber spring whose lower part is released, an operating part projecting downward from a ceiling inside the rubber spring, and a switch member for switching a contact by a pressing operation of the operating part. The operation unit has an operation surface capable of pressing the switch member, the operation surface has one end close to the switch member,
The other end has a predetermined inclination angle away from the switch member, and when the operating portion is lowered by pressing the upper portion of the rubber spring, the one end portion presses the switch member first to form the contact point. The rubber switch is characterized in that the switching is performed, and thereafter, the other end pivots toward the switch member with the one end serving as a fulcrum and descends, and the upper portion of the rubber spring further descends. 6. The switch member has upper and lower film members opposing and spaced apart from each other, forming a movable contact on the upper film member, and forming a fixed contact on the lower film member. When the upper portion of the rubber spring is pressed, the upper film is pressed by the one end portion of the operation surface, the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact to conduct, and the contact is switched. Rubber switch according to 5.