JP2002184263A - Rubber switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To press with small force while keeping durability, and to certainly actuate a switch means. SOLUTION: This rubber switch device is composed of the switch means 3, and a rubber sheet member 4 molded of elastic material and formed from a sheet shaped base portion 5 and a key top portion 6 integrally bulged on the base portion 5 in such way as to oppose to the switch means 3. The key top portion 6 comprises a cylindrical elastic displacement portion 7 raised from the base portion 5 corresponding to the switch means 3, an operating portion 8 successively provided so as to structure a ceiling portion of the elastic displacement portion 7, an actuating portion formed on an inner surface of the operating portion 8 to open/close the switch means 3 oppositely disposed, and an opening portion 10 formed over the base portion 5 and the elastic displacement portion 7. Elastic force accumulated on the elastic displacement portion 7 is released by the opening portion 10, thereby reducing operating force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rubber sheet member comprising a sheet-shaped base portion and a bottomed cylindrical key-top portion formed integrally with a material having elasticity such as rubber.
The present invention relates to a rubber switch device comprising: a switch means arranged to face the key top portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various electronic devices and the like, a rubber switch device which is small, lightweight, has a simple structure and can be formed into a relatively free shape is often used for a switch portion. The conventional rubber switch device 50 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a rubber sheet member 53 is assembled to the housing so as to face a wiring board 51 mounted inside a housing (not shown) and having, for example, a tact switch 52 mounted on the surface thereof.

[0003] The rubber sheet member 53 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, synthetic rubber or elastomer.
The rubber sheet member 53 constitutes a sheet-shaped base portion 54, a cylindrical elastic displacement portion 55 formed to stand up from the base portion 54 so as to face the tact switch 52, and a ceiling portion of the elastic displacement portion 55. The operation unit 56 includes a switch operation unit 57 formed on the inner surface of the operation unit 56 and the like. A function display piece 58 is attached to the surface of the operation unit 56 on the rubber sheet member 53. In the rubber sheet member 53, a mounting portion (not shown) for assembling with a housing and a positioning portion for positioning with the wiring board 51 are formed on the base portion 54.

[0004] The elastic displacement portion 55 is formed so as to be thin on the whole and to have the opening dimension gradually reduced toward the operation portion 56 so as to rise up to the base portion 54. The elastic displacement portion 55 is formed on the base portion 54 so as to surround the outer peripheral portion above the tact switch 52. The operation portion 56 is a thick portion, and the switch operation portion 57 is integrally formed on the inner surface thereof as described above. The switch operating portion 57 functions as an operating portion whose bottom surface 57 a presses the actuator of the tact switch 52. The switch actuating section 57 is moved by the elastic displacement section 55
Normally, as shown in the drawing, it is held in a state separated from the tact switch 52.

According to the rubber switch device 50 constructed as described above, when the operation portion 56 of the rubber sheet member 53 is pressed, the elastic displacement portion 55 is elastically displaced, so that the switch operating portion 57 is lowered. It hits the tact switch 52. According to the rubber switch device 50,
When the operation unit 56 is further pressed, the arc actuator of the tact switch 52 is operated by the switch operation unit 57 to operate the built-in switch.
According to the rubber switch device 50, when the pressing operation of the operation unit 56 is stopped, the operation unit 56 and the switch operation unit 57 return to the initial position by the elastic force accumulated in the elastic displacement unit 55, and the tact switch 52 is opened.

[0006]

By the way, in the rubber switch device 50, the elastic force stored in the elastic displacement portion 55 which is elastically displaced by the pressing operation of the operation portion 56 is:
The size gradually increases as the operation unit 56 is pressed.
In the rubber switch device 50, the elastic force accumulated in the elastic displacement portion 55 acts as a reaction force to the pressing force of the operation portion 56. In the rubber switch device 50, a spring for returning the arc tutor to the initial position is also built in the tact switch 52. The spring is resilient to the elastic force of the spring and the elastic force of the elastic displacement portion 55. An operating force sufficient to push down the switch operating section 57 to a predetermined position is required.

In the rubber switch device 50, a maximum operating force is required when the switch operating section 57 operates the tact switch 52, and if the force is released halfway, the tact switch 52 cannot be operated reliably. There was something. In the rubber switch device 50, since the normal tact switch 52 and the switch actuating portion 57 are kept separated, the elastic displacement portion 55 is provided with a certain thickness so as to have a certain rigidity. As a result, in the rubber switch device 50, the elastic force stored in the elastic displacement portion 55 increases, and accordingly, a large operating force is required. In the rubber switch device 50, a larger operation force was required as the operation unit 56 was smaller. In the rubber switch device 50, when rigidity is large, there is also a problem that elastic fatigue occurs in the elastic displacement portion 55 and durability is deteriorated.

[0008] In electronic equipment and the like, the more miniaturized, the more reliable the switching operation by so-called feather touch is required for the switch device. In the rubber switch device 50, a measure to reduce the operating force by reducing the thickness of the elastic displacement portion 55 is considered. However, when the rubber switch device 50 has the above-described problem and is particularly required to be small and have a small stroke. Is liable to malfunction.

In the rubber switch device 50, as a measure for reducing the operating force, for example, it is considered that the rubber sheet member 53 is formed of an elastic material having a low hardness, or that the elastic material contains silicon or the like. However, the rubber switch device 50 has various problems such as a problem that it is not suitable for a housing design because the material is limited, and the above-described malfunction due to durability or being too soft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a rubber switch device in which a pressing operation is performed with a small force while maintaining durability and a switch means can be opened and closed reliably. is there.

[0011]

A rubber switch device according to the present invention that achieves this object has a switch means, a sheet-like base formed of an elastic material, and an integral part of the base corresponding to the switch means. And a rubber sheet member comprising a key-top portion bulging out.
The rubber sheet member has an operation in which each key-top portion is connected to form a cylindrical elastic displacement portion rising from the base portion corresponding to the switch means and a ceiling portion of the elastic displacement portion. And an operating portion formed on the inner surface of the operating portion to open and close switch means disposed opposite to each other, and an opening formed over the base portion and the elastic displacement portion.

[0012] According to the rubber switch device of the present invention configured as described above, the rubber sheet member is combined with the key top portion facing the switch means. According to the rubber switch device, when the operating portion is pressed, the elastic displacement portion is elastically displaced, and the operating portion opens and closes the switch means. According to the rubber switch device, the opening acts as a relief for the elastic force stored in the elastically displaceable portion that is elastically displaced, thereby reducing the reaction force to the pressing force of the operation portion. According to the rubber switch device, the switch means is reliably opened and closed by a slight operation force.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. A rubber switch device 1 shown as an embodiment has a basic configuration substantially equivalent to that of the above-described conventional rubber switch device 50, and is installed inside a casing (not shown) as shown in FIG. A wiring board 2 on which a tact switch 3 is mounted, for example, and a rubber sheet member 4 which is mounted on the housing so as to face the wiring board 2.

In the rubber switch device 1, a plurality of tact switches 3 are appropriately mounted on the main surface of the wiring board 2, and a plurality of tact switches 3 whose details will be described later are provided on the rubber sheet member 4 in correspondence with each tact switch 3. The key top portion 6 is formed integrally. The tact switch 3 may be of a type in which an internal switch is opened / closed by pressing an arc tutor, or a so-called push-push type in which, for example, an operating state is maintained even when the arc tutor is opened.

The rubber sheet member 4 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, synthetic rubber or an elastomer, and has a sheet-like base portion 5 and only one base member 5 in the drawing. 5 and a plurality of key top portions 6 integrally bulging out from the key top portion 6. In the base part 5,
Although not shown, a mounting portion for assembling with the housing, a stud for positioning and assembling with the wiring board 2 and the like are integrally formed.

Each key top section 6 includes an elastic displacement section 7, an operation section 8, a switch operation section 9, and a plurality of openings 10. Each key top portion 6 is formed as a convex portion having a fan-shaped appearance, but is not limited to such a shape. The elastic displacement part 7 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical member has a substantially fan-shaped cross-sectional shape which is formed so as to rise from the base portion 5 so as to face the tact switch 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic displacement portion 7 is formed as a trapezoidal cylindrical portion having a thin overall thickness and an opening dimension gradually reduced upward from the base portion 5. The elastic displacement portion 7 is formed on the base portion 5 so as to surround the outer peripheral portion above the tact switch 3.

The operating section 8 is a flat, slightly thick section integrally formed so as to constitute the ceiling of the elastic displacement section 7. The operation section 8 has a key top section 6 on its surface.
A function display piece 11 for displaying the function or the like is attached.
The function display piece 11 is formed by printing on the operation unit 8 or forming the rubber sheet member 4 by a so-called 2.
It may be formed integrally with the operation unit 8 by a color molding method.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switch operating section 9
It is located substantially at the center of the inner surface of the operation unit 8 and is integrally formed as a protruding portion having a horizontally long rectangular shape. The switch operation unit 9 has an operation unit 9 a whose bottom surface operates the tact switch 3 as described later. Switch operating part 9
The operation force acts uniformly on the tactile switch 3 regardless of which of the operation units 8 the key top unit 6 having a horizontally long fan shape is pressed. The switch operating unit 9 is
The operation section 9a is formed on the operation section 8 so as to be slightly higher than the bottom surface of the base section 5. Accordingly, when the rubber sheet member 4 is combined with the wiring board 2, the switch operating section 9 is maintained in a state where the operating section 9 a is separated from the actuator of the tact switch 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the openings 10 are located on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the key top portion 6, and open over the elastic displacement portion 7 and the base portion 5.
The openings 10 are formed at symmetrical positions and have the same shape so that the elastic displacement portions 7 are uniformly elastically deformed on both side surfaces. Each opening 10 substantially reduces the length (width) of the base of the elastic displacement portion 7 formed upright from the base 5. Each opening 10 adjusts the magnitude of the elastic force stored in the elastic displacement unit 7 as described later.

The key top portion 6 is formed with the opening 10 so that the elastic force stored in the elastic displacement portion 7 which is elastically deformed when the switch is operated is released to the opening 10 as described later. Be composed. It is a matter of course that a plurality of key top portions 6 may be formed with the opening portions 10 located on both side surfaces in the width direction of the elastic displacement portion 7. The size, quantity, or position of the opening 10 of the key top portion 6 is appropriately set according to the material hardness of the rubber sheet member 4, the size of the operation portion 8 or the like, or the pressing force specification of the switch operation.

By forming the opening 10 as described above, the key top portion 6 can perform switch operation without requiring a large operation force even if the elastic displacement portion 7 is formed with a certain thickness. Become. By increasing the thickness of the elastic displacement portion 7 of the key top portion 6, the elastic displacement portion 7 has a so-called stiffness and is given mechanical rigidity. Therefore, the key top unit 6 holds the operation unit 8 and the switch operation unit 9 at a predetermined height position in the normal state. The key top portion 6 prevents the tactile switch 3 from malfunctioning by keeping the switch operating portion 9 and the tactile switch 3 apart.

In the rubber switch device 1 configured as described above, each key top portion 6 is opposed to each tact switch 3, and the rubber sheet member 4 is assembled by superposing the base portion 5 on the wiring board 2. . When the rubber switch device 1 is assembled so as to close a switch opening formed in the housing, each key top portion 6 is exposed on the housing surface.

In the rubber switch device 1, a predetermined key top portion 6 is selected, and the operation portion 8 is pressed. In this way, the rubber switch device 1 lowers the switch operating unit 9 toward the wiring board 2 integrally with the operation unit 8 by causing the elastic displacement unit 7 to be gradually elastically displaced in the thickness direction. In the rubber switch device 1, the switch operating unit 9 hits the tact switch 3 by pressing the operation unit 8 to a predetermined position. In this state, the rubber switch device 1 further presses the operation unit 8 so that the switch operating unit 9 operates the arc tutor of the tact switch 3 to operate the built-in switch.

In the rubber switch device 1, the elastic displacement amount of the elastic displacement portion 7 increases as the operation portion 8 is pressed, and the elastic force gradually accumulates inside, but the opening portion 10 also deforms. This allows the stored elastic force to escape from the opening 10. Therefore,
In the rubber switch device 1, even if the elastic displacement portion 7 is slightly thick, the operation portion 8 can be pressed with a relatively small pressing force.

When the pressing operation of the operation unit 8 is stopped, the rubber switch device 1 restores the elastic displacement unit 7 to the initial state by the stored elastic force. The rubber switch device 1
Thereby, the operation unit 8 and the switch operation unit 9 return to the initial position, and the tact switch 3 is opened.

The rubber switch device 20 shown in FIG.
The fan-shaped key tops 22a and 22b are formed in the base 21 so as to protrude adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction. In the rubber switch device 20, unlike the rubber switch device 1 described above, a space for forming an opening on both longitudinal side surfaces of each key top portion 22 is not secured. Therefore, in the rubber switch device 20, the openings 24a and 24b are formed on both sides in the width direction of the respective elastic displacement portions 23a and 23b and straddle the base 21. The rubber switch device 20 is also capable of operating
a, 25b are reduced.

The rubber switch device 30 shown in FIG.
A circular key top portion 32 is formed by swelling on the base portion 31. In the rubber switch device 30, a plurality of openings 34 are formed at equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical elastic displacement portion 33 over the base portion 31. In the rubber switch device 30, the pressing force of each operation unit 35 can be reduced by such a configuration.

In each of the above-described rubber switch devices, the tact switch 3 mounted opposite to the wiring board 2 is opened and closed by the switch operating portion of the rubber sheet member. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. There is no. The rubber switch device is formed, for example, by forming a pair of lands at intervals on the main surface of the wiring board 2 and joining a conductive piece that short-circuits between the lands to the surface of the switch operating portion of the rubber sheet member. You may.

[0029]

As described above in detail, according to the rubber switch device of the present invention, since the opening is formed over the base portion and the elastic displacement portion of the rubber sheet member, the opening is formed in this opening. The elastic force accumulated in the elastic displacement part that is elastically displaced by operating the operation part is released, the reaction force against the pressing force of the operation part is reduced, and the switch means is reliably opened and closed with a slight operation force. It becomes possible to operate. According to the rubber switch device, the rigidity of the operation unit and the like is sufficiently maintained, and deterioration of durability due to stress concentration is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a rubber switch device shown as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a main part of the rubber switch device.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a main part of another rubber switch device.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a main part of another rubber switch device.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a conventional rubber switch device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rubber switch device 2 Wiring board 3 Tact switch 4 Rubber sheet member 5 Base part 6 Key top part 7 Elastic displacement part 8 Operation part 9 Switch operation part 10 Opening

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rubber sheet member comprising: switch means; a sheet-like base formed of an elastic material; and a key-top formed integrally with the base in such a manner as to correspond to the switch. The key top portion, a cylindrical elastic displacement portion rising from the base portion, an operation portion continuously provided to constitute a ceiling portion of the elastic displacement portion, and an operation portion of the operation portion. An operating portion formed on the inner surface to open and close the switch means disposed opposite to the opening portion; and an opening formed over the base portion and the elastic displacement portion, wherein the opening presses the operation portion. A rubber switch device, wherein the rubber switch device acts as a relief portion for a reaction force generated in the elastic displacement portion when the elastic displacement portion is elastically displaced by operating the switching portion by the operating portion.