JP2002231103A - Member for switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a member for switch capable of providing a good click feeling of an operating button, keeping durability, and guaranteeing stable switch performance, even under a condition where a pressing force having a certain angle with respect to an axial core direction of an inverse-bowl-like elastic pressing member acts via the operating button. SOLUTION: In the members for switch, the pressing force is applied from the outside to elastic pressing members 4a and 4b to elastically deform the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b to contact movable contacts 6a and 6b with fixed contacts 3a and 3b, and the pressing force is released to elastically restore the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b to original shapes to separate the movable contacts 6a and 6b from the fixed contacts 3a and 3b. The operating button 7 as an operating member for applying the external force to the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b and a transfer piece 10 as an acted part of the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b contacting with the button are mutually slidable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation switch such as a power window of a car or a rearview mirror.
The present invention relates to a switch member incorporated in a so-called seesaw switch in which an operation button swings about a specific support shaft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of seesaw switch is
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a substrate 2 on which various electronic components are mounted is provided in a case 1, and fixed contacts 3a and 3b are formed on the upper surface of the substrate 2 by a circuit pattern. The elastic pressing members 4a and 4b are provided corresponding to the positions above the fixed contacts 3a and 3b. The elastic pressing members 4a and 4b have an inverted bowl shape,
Are formed with movable contacts 6a and 6b that can contact the fixed contacts 3a and 3b when pressed downward. That is,
When a pressing force is applied from above the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b toward the substrate 2, the entire structure is deformed so that the height is reduced, and when the pressing force is released, the movable contact is caused by the elastic restoring force. 6a and 6b can be returned to their original positions.

A part of the case 1, which is located above the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b, is formed with a through hole 8 slightly larger than the planar shape of the operation button 7. On the side surface, a support shaft 9 that supports the operation button 7 so as to swing left and right is protruded.

Further, in the conventional seesaw type switch shown in the drawing, as shown in FIG. 6A, a transmitter 10 is interposed between the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b and the operation button 7. I have. That is, the top surface 11 of the elastic pressing members 4a, 4b
The transmission element 10 is placed on the transmission elements 10a and 11b. Specifically, the pressing plate 12 below the transmission element 10 contacts the top surfaces 11a and 11b of the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b. An upwardly extending pressing shaft 13 passes through a shaft hole 17 in an upper surface 16 of a protective case 15 surrounding the switch member 14 so as to be able to contact a bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7.

[0005]

However, in the above conventional seesaw switch, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the operation button 7 is a switch which swings around the support shaft 9. When the pressing force acts on the operation button 7, the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7 moves so as to gradually increase its inclination from the horizontal position. This works in an oblique direction with respect to the axis of the pressing shaft 13.

Therefore, in the conventional seesaw switch, the force acting on the transmission element 10 is applied to the elastic pressing member 4.
The shaft hole 17 provided in the protective case 15 cannot be made sufficiently long due to the provision of the pressing plate 12 having a large contact surface in order to reliably transmit the contact holes a and 4b.

Therefore, as described above, when the operation button 7 is pressed down and a force in an oblique direction acts on the axis of the pressing shaft 13, the pressing shaft 13 is rotated by the gap between the pressing shaft 13 and the shaft hole 17. It will be inclined with respect to the axis of the hole 17. On the other hand,
Pressing plate 12 and elastic pressing members 4a, 4b made of elastic material
Since the frictional force of the contact surface with the transmission member 10 is large, the transmission element 10 and the elastic pressing members 4a, 4b move integrally while maintaining the relative positional relationship.
b, the movable contacts 6a, 6b formed on the ceiling 5 of the elastic pressing members 4a, 4b.
Does not contact the entire surface of the fixed contacts 3a and 3b on the substrate 2,
There is a problem that a so-called one-sided contact state occurs, which causes a contact failure and contact instability, deteriorates a click feeling, and generates an abnormal sound.

[0008] Therefore, especially in the case where a high pressing force of 200 mN is applied to the operation button 7 such as a seesaw switch for electric equipment, there arises a problem not only in failure due to malfunction but also in durability of the switch itself. Therefore, the improvement is required.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made under the condition that a pressing force having a certain angle with respect to the axial direction of an inverted bowl-shaped elastic pressing member acts via an operation button. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a switch member that can obtain a good click feeling of an operation button, maintain durability, and guarantee stable switch performance.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a movable contact is provided at a position opposed to a fixed contact disposed on a substrate with a space therebetween. The elastic pressing member is elastically deformed by applying a pressing force to the elastic pressing member from the outside, the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact, and the pressing force is released. By doing so, the elastic pressing member is elastically restored to its original shape and the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact. In a switching member, the elastic pressing member comes into contact with an action member for applying an external force to the elastic pressing member. The affected part of the elastic pressing member can slide with each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a plurality of convex portions are formed on the operated portion,
It is characterized in that the contact area with the working member is reduced.

[0012] The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In addition to the above configuration, the operated portion is formed of a material having a friction coefficient smaller than a friction coefficient of the elastic pressing member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the operated portion has a plurality of friction coefficients smaller than a friction coefficient of the elastic pressing member embedded in the elastic pressing member. , The protruding tips of the plurality of particles form a contact surface that generates only a small frictional force.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect, since the fitting body having the operated portion is fitted on the upper portion of the elastic pressing member, the affected portion can be replaced. Can be.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect, the elastic pressing member and the operated portion are integrally formed.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[First Embodiment of the Invention] First, a first embodiment of a switch member according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a seesaw switch showing a state in which a first example of a first embodiment of a switch member according to the present invention is incorporated.

In the first example of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, a friction coefficient smaller than the friction coefficients of the elastic pressing members 4a, 4b is formed on the upper portions of the inverted pressing members 4a, 4b. A smooth layer 19 as an affected part made of a material having

Specifically, for example, the elastic pressing members 4a, 4
When elastic soft silicone is used for b,
Hard resin with a smaller coefficient of friction than this (elastic modulus 700M
(Pa or more) is preferably used as the smooth layer 19.

Here, the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b and the smooth layer 19 as the operated portion may be formed as separate and independent members and fixed with an adhesive, but different materials may be injected. It is desirable to form them integrally by molding or the like.
This eliminates the need for a bonding step as a subsequent step, so that there is no risk of bonding leakage or bonding failure, and also the productivity is improved.

The elastic pressing members 4a, 4b may be provided independently for each of the fixed contacts 3a, 3b. However, in order to facilitate the assembly, the necessary number of pressing members 4a, 4b are formed of elastic soft silicone. It is desirable to form the switch member S by continuously and integrally forming the same. Similarly, the elastic pressing member 4
It is preferable that the movable contacts 6a and 6b formed on the ceiling 5 of the a and 4b are also integrally formed using a conductive resin or the like.

The upper end of the pressing shaft 13 of the transmitter 10 which comes into contact with the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7 is formed in a hemispherical shape with the convex surface facing upward, so that friction with the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7 is achieved. I try to reduce my power.

Next, the operation of the first example of the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1B shows a state in which a pressing force is applied to the left end of the operation button 7.

First, as the pressing force acts on the operation button 7, the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7 which has been in the horizontal state gradually tilts inward. Then, the pressing shaft 1 of the transmitter 10
A force is applied to the element 3 to move the transducer 10 inward (to the right in FIG. 1B). At this time, since the pressing plate 12 of the transmitter 10 is in contact with the smooth layer 19 as an affected part, the transmitter 1
0 means horizontal movement inward without resistance, and the pressing shaft 1
3 is pressed inside the shaft hole 17. Thereafter, as the pressing force progresses, the pressing shaft 13 descends while being pressed against the inside of the shaft hole 17, and finally the movable contact 6a provided in the elastic pressing member 4a becomes the fixed contact 3a on the substrate. And its movement is stopped.

Therefore, the transmission element 10 is lowered in a steady state posture in which no pressing force acts on the operation button 7, and the elastic pressing member 4 is maintained while the pressing plate 12 is kept horizontal.
a, the elastic pressing member 4a is deformed about its axis, and the movable contact 6a formed on the ceiling 5 of the elastic pressing member 4a is fixed to the fixed contact 3 on the substrate 2.
a can be in contact with the entire surface.

As a result, the switching function by the movable contact 6a and the fixed contact 3a can work normally. In addition, the elastic restoring force generated when the pressing force acting on the operation button 10 is released and the movable contact 6a returns to the original position also acts along the axis of the elastic pressing member 4a. It can be said that the click feeling at the time of operation is good without any problem.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a second example of the first embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, by forming a plurality of convex portions 20 on the surface of the smooth layer 19 as the affected portion, the contact area of the transmitter 10 as the acting member with the pressing plate 12 is reduced. Then, the frictional force acting on the smooth layer 19 and the pressing plate 12 is reduced to further promote relative sliding.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part showing a third example of the first embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the elastic pressing members 4a,
A plurality of granules 21 made of a material having a smaller friction coefficient than the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b are embedded in the upper part of the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b, and a part of the granules 21 is partially elastically pressed.
To form a smooth layer 19 as an affected part. Here, the granular body 21 is a spherical body, a cylindrical body, an elliptical body, or another granular three-dimensional object.
It is desirable to embed a plurality of granules 21 so that a plane connecting the tips protruding from the upper portions of a and 4b can be formed. It is desirable that the granules 21 be capable of rolling while being embedded in the elastic pressing members 4a and 4b, but they may be fixed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a fourth example of the first embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the fitting body 22 having the smooth layer 19 as an affected part is connected to the elastic pressing members 4a, 4b.
It is fitted on the upper part. The fitting body 22 is an elastic pressing member 4
It is desirable to use a material having a friction coefficient smaller than the friction coefficients of
a and 4b are fixed by using an adhesive as needed. As a result, the smooth layer 19 as the affected part can be changed to one having various conditions, and the optimum one can be selected according to the use environment.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the switch member according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a direct method without the interposition of a transmission element.
4b, the pressing shafts 23a and 23b extending to the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7 are integrally provided, so that the pressing shaft 23
A smooth layer 19 as an acted surface is formed at the tip of each of the a and b so that the smooth layer 19 can directly contact the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7. Here, the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7
The distal ends of the pressing shaft portions 23a and 23b that are in contact with each other are formed in a hemispherical shape with the convex surface facing upward, so that the frictional force with the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7 is reduced.

A box-shaped protective case 15 surrounding the switch member S fixed on the substrate 2 is provided around the switch member S, but there is no need to provide a space therefor since the transmitter 10 does not exist. . Therefore, in the second embodiment, a relatively long bearing portion 24 is provided so that the pressing shaft portions 23a and 23b integrally projecting from the upper portions of the pressing members 4a and 4b can slide up and down substantially along the axis. Is provided inside the upper surface 16 of the protective case 15.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

In the second embodiment, for example, when a pressing force acts on the left end of the operation button 7 shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 7 which has been in a horizontal state gradually tilts inward. However, since there is a smooth layer 19 as an affected part that is in contact with the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 2, relative movement is performed while the bottom surface 18 of the operation button 2 and the upper end of the left pressing shaft portion 23a slide. Go on. Therefore, with the movement of the operation button 7, a force acts to move the pressing shaft portion 23 a inward (to the right in FIG. 5), and the upper end of the pressing shaft portion 23 a is moved within the gap between the pressing shaft portion 23 a and the bearing portion 24. Trying to tilt inward, but operation button 2
In the contact portion between the bottom surface 18 and the smooth layer 19 at the upper end of the pressing shaft portion 23a, slip occurs, so that the force of the upper end portion of the pressing shaft portion 23a inclining inward is canceled.

As a result, as the pressing force progresses, the pressing shaft portion 23a descends in the bearing portion 24, and finally the movable contact 6a provided in the elastic pressing member 4a becomes the fixed contact 3a on the substrate. And its movement is stopped. Therefore, since the pressing shaft portion 23a moves while maintaining a substantially vertical state, the elastic pressing member 4a is deformed and restored around its axis, and the elastic pressing member 4a is mounted on the ceiling 5 of the elastic pressing member 4a. The formed movable contact 6a can contact the entire surface of the fixed contact 3a on the substrate 2.

Therefore, even under a condition in which a pressing force having a certain angle with respect to the axial direction of the inverted bowl-shaped elastic pressing members 4a and 4b acts via the operation button 7, the operation button 7 can be properly operated. It is possible to provide a switch that can provide a click feeling, maintain durability, and guarantee stable switch performance.

In the second embodiment, it is needless to say that a longer bearing 24 for supporting the pressing shaft 23a is advantageous.

Other configurations and operations in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the first and second embodiments, the transmitter 10 or the operation button 7 as the action member and the elastic pressing member 4a,
Since a sufficient contact surface is ensured at a contact portion of the smooth layer 19 as an actuated portion of the operation button 4b to realize mutual slipperiness, the pressing force acting on the operation button 7 is reduced by the elastic pressing member 4
Since the pressure is effectively transmitted as the pressing force for depressing a and 4b, the pressing force acting on the operation button 7 can be used for applications such as a seesaw switch for electrical equipment where the pressing force is relatively large.

[0045]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when an external pressing force is applied to the elastic pressing member, the elastic pressing member is elastically deformed, and the movable contact contacts the fixed contact. Then, by releasing the pressing force, the elastic pressing member is elastically restored to its original shape and the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact.In a switch member, an action member for applying an external force to the elastic pressing member is provided. Since the contacted portions of the elastic pressing members that are in contact with each other can slide with each other, a condition in which a pressing force having a certain angle with respect to the axial direction of the inverted bowl-shaped elastic pressing members acts via the operation button. However, since the positional relationship between the acting member and the acted portion of the elastic pressing member is automatically changed, the elastic pressing member is elastically deformed and restored along the axial direction thereof. , Good click feeling of operation button Durability can be provided a stable switching member for switching performance can be guaranteed can be maintained with it is.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects described in the above, since a plurality of convex portions are formed on the operated portion to reduce the contact area with the operating member, the elasticity of the operating member and the elasticity can be reduced without employing another member in addition to the elastic pressing member. It is possible to make the affected part of the pressing member slippery.

According to the invention described in claim 3, according to claim 1
Or, in addition to the effect described in 2, since the affected part is formed of a material having a friction coefficient smaller than the friction coefficient of the elastic pressing member, the contact area of the affected part of the elastic pressing member with the operating member is changed. It can be slippery without it.

According to the invention described in claim 4, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects described in the above, since the affected portion is formed of a plurality of particles having a friction coefficient smaller than the friction coefficient of the elastic pressing member embedded in the elastic pressing member, the acting member and the elastic pressing member Since the contact area with the affected part is small and the frictional force acting on the contact surface is also small, the slipperiness is large.

According to the invention set forth in claim 5, according to claim 3,
In addition to the effects described in (1), since the fitting body having the affected part is fitted on the upper part of the elastic pressing member, it can be easily slipped by applying to the elastic pressing member of the existing switch member.

According to the invention of claim 6, according to claim 3,
In addition to the effects described in the above, since the elastic pressing member and the affected portion are integrally formed, unlike the case where a separate member is attached, a bonding step as a post-process is not required, so that there is no danger of poor bonding or the like. Productivity is also improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a switch member according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main portion of a seesaw switch showing a state in which the first example of FIG.
(B) shows the time of use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a second example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a third example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a fourth example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a seesaw switch showing a state in which Embodiment 2 is incorporated.

6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of main parts of a conventional seesaw switch, in which FIG. 6A shows a non-use state and FIG. 6B shows a use state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Substrate 3a, 3b Fixed contact 4a, 4b Elastic pressing member 5 Ceiling 6a, 6b Movable contact 7 Operation button 9 Support shaft 10 Transmitter S Switch member

Claims (6)

[Claims] An inverted bowl-shaped elastic pressing member having a movable contact therein is provided at a position opposed to a fixed contact disposed on a substrate at an interval, and an external pressing force is applied to the elastic pressing member from outside. When the elastic pressing member is elastically deformed, the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact, and when the pressing force is released, the elastic pressing member is elastically restored to its original shape and the movable contact is restored. A switch member separated from the fixed contact, wherein an operating member for applying an external force to the elastic pressing member and an affected portion of the elastic pressing member that are in contact with each other can slide with each other. Parts. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of convex portions are formed on the affected portion,
2. The switch member according to claim 1, wherein a contact area with the operation member is reduced. 3. The switch member according to claim 1, wherein the operated portion is formed of a material having a friction coefficient smaller than a friction coefficient of the elastic pressing member. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operated portion is formed of a plurality of particles having a friction coefficient smaller than a friction coefficient of the elastic pressing member embedded in the elastic pressing member. The switch member according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. The switch member according to claim 3, wherein a fitting body having the operated part is fitted on an upper part of the elastic pressing member. 6. The switch member according to claim 3, wherein said elastic pressing member and said operated portion are integrally formed.