JP2002245901A - Swing operating switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a swing operating switch device capable of providing an excellent operating feeling without rattling by causing click feeling at the time of swing operation and capable of being easily reduced in cost and size. SOLUTION: This swing operating switch device comprises a case 1 having a generally dome-shaped guide part 1b upwardly and projectedly installed thereon, an operating knob 2 swingably mounted on the guide part 1b, a click rubber 5a installed between the operating knob 2 and the case 1 and coming into contact elastically with the operating knob 2, a stem 3 formed integrally with the operating knob 2 and extended downward, a locking member 4 having a locking claw 4a snap-fitted to the stem 3 and coming into contact slidably with the rear surface of the guide part 1b, a substrate 8 having a fixed contact pattern 9 installed on the surface thereof facing the inside of the case 1, and a slider 6 having a movable contact 7 coming into contact slidably with the fixed contact pattern 9, engaged with the lower end part of the stem 3, and slidably moving on the substrate 8 according to the inclination operation of the stem 3. The operating knob 2 and the locking member 4 slidably hold the guide part 1b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a swing operation in which a movable contact and a fixed contact are selectively brought into contact with and separated from each other via a slider in a case by swinging an operation knob supported on the case. More particularly, the present invention relates to a swing operation type switch device suitable for use as a mirror control switch of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A swing operation type switch device used for a mirror control switch of an automobile usually swings an operation knob supported on a case in a predetermined direction.
The slider slides within the case in conjunction with the swing operation, and the movable contact provided on the slider contacts a specific fixed contact on the substrate. Therefore, when the operation knob is swung, a plurality of types of signals corresponding to the swing direction can be output, and the up, down, left, and right angles of the mirror can be appropriately adjusted based on these signals. .

Conventionally, in such a swing operation type switch device, a substantially dome-shaped guide portion having an opening is projected from a case, and a stem integrally formed with an operation knob is inserted into the case through the opening of the guide portion. There is a known configuration in which the lower end portion is engaged with a slider while being extended, and a stem is always urged downward by a coil spring incorporated in a case. Since the stem is constantly urged downward by the elastic force of the coil spring, the operation knob can be swingably mounted on the guide portion, and the operation knob is prevented from rattling or falling off. In addition, since the operation knob and the stem are integrally molded, there is an advantage that the stem does not rattle during the swing operation of the operation knob, so that the size can be easily reduced.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional rocking operation type switch device, when the operating knob is pushed in against the elastic force of the coil spring and the operating force is removed, the operation is performed by the elastic force of the coil spring. Since the knob is configured to return to the initial position, a click feeling cannot be generated at the time of the swing operation of the operation knob, and there is a disadvantage that the usability is poor. Further, if a click member is added to obtain a click feeling at the time of the swing operation, the number of components increases, the configuration becomes complicated, and a new problem occurs in that the cost must be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a good operation feeling with no click and no backlash at the time of swinging operation and at a low cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a swing operation type switch device which can be easily made smaller and smaller.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a swing operation type switch device according to the present invention comprises: a case in which a substantially dome-shaped guide portion having an opening at a central portion is protruded upward; An operation knob slidably mounted on the guide portion with a bottom surface slidably in contact with the surface of the guide portion, and a click rubber interposed between the operation knob and the case to elastically contact the operation knob A stem vertically extending downward from the center of the operation knob and penetrating through the opening, a retaining member having a locking claw that is snap-coupled to the stem and slidingly contacting the rear surface of the guide portion; A substrate provided with fixed contacts on a surface protruding into the case, and a slider having a movable contact that can be brought into contact with and separated from the fixed contacts and engaged with a lower end of the stem; A stopper member slides the guide section. It was freely sandwich configuration.

As described above, if the retaining member is snap-coupled to the stem integral with the operating knob and the operating knob and the retaining member are slid on the front and back surfaces of the guide portion of the case, the operating knob does not fall off. The swing can be smoothly performed on the guide portion, and the stem does not rattle during the swing operation of the operation knob. Therefore, a good operation feeling can be obtained even when the slide movement amount of the slider is small due to miniaturization. Further, if the click rubber is elastically contacted with the operation knob from below to provide pretension, the operation knob can be always kept free of play, and a click feeling can be obtained when the operation knob swings. Is generated, so that usability is improved.

In this configuration, if the portion of the operation knob that slides on the surface of the guide portion is formed as a curved surface that comes into surface contact with the guide portion, the operation knob can be swung more smoothly on the guide portion. In addition to the above, the sliding portion of the operation knob is less likely to be worn even if the swing operation is repeated. Similarly, if a portion of the retaining member that slides on the back surface of the guide portion is formed as a curved surface that comes into surface contact with the guide portion, the operation knob can be more smoothly swung on the guide portion, and Even if the moving operation is repeated, the sliding portion of the retaining member is less likely to be worn, so that the life can be extended.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a swing operation type switch device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a line AA in FIG. , FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a main portion of the switch device excluding a bottom portion. FIG. 6 is a perspective view, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom of the switch device, FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where the operation knob is rocked, and FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where the operation knob is rocked. 7 corresponds to FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG.

The swing operation type switch device shown in these figures is used as a mirror control switch of an automobile.
An operation knob for mirror angle adjustment mounted on the top and capable of swinging in a cross direction (four directions) corresponding to four pressing operation parts 2a, a stem 3 formed integrally with the operation knob 2, Reference numeral 4 denotes a retaining member that snap-fits to the stem 3 to prevent the operation knob 2 from falling off. Reference numeral 5 denotes a click rubber 5a protruding at four corners, and is interposed between the case 1 and the operation knob 2. An elastic rubber member, 6 is a first slider that can reciprocate in the cross direction via the lower end of the stem 3 in conjunction with the operation knob 2, 7 is a movable contact attached to the first slider 6, and 8 is a case. 1 is a substrate on which fixed contact patterns 9, 10 and the like are arranged on a surface protruding into 1; 11 is a mirror selection knob mounted on the case 1 and capable of swinging in a seesaw shape; A steel ball that generates a click feeling when operating 11 The second slider is possible reciprocal linear movement in conjunction with the mirror selection knob 11, the 14 second
Movable contacts 15 and 16 attached to the slider 13 of FIG.
Is a connector for connecting to an external circuit, 17 is a cover member that accommodates the board 8 and the connectors 15 and 16 and constitutes an outer shell of the switch device together with the case 1, and 18 is a cover member for attaching the switch device to external equipment. 3 shows an attachment plate formed of a fitted leaf spring.

A recess 1a for fitting an elastic rubber member 5, a substantially dome-shaped guide 1b for swingably mounting the operation knob 2, and a stem 3 are inserted through the upper surface of the case 1. An opening 1c formed in the center of the guide portion 1b and a support shaft 1d for swingably supporting the mirror selection knob 11 are provided. A central annular portion 2b protrudes from the back side of the operation knob 2 so as to surround the stem 3, and the bottom surface of the central annular portion 2b is a curved sliding contact surface 2c that makes surface contact with the surface of the guide portion 1b. I have. The click rubber 5a of the elastic rubber member 5 placed in the recess 1a is elastically in contact with the back surface of the operation knob 2 to apply upward pretension by the click rubber 5a. No. 2 is always kept without play. Furthermore, since the pressing operation portion 2a is designed to be located substantially at the center of the adjacent click rubbers 5a, the two click rubbers 5 are used when the operation knob 2 swings.
a, while pressing and bending a, the pressing operation portion 2 located in the middle
a, so that the operation knob 2 can be operated stably without fear of swinging in an undesired direction.
A click feeling is generated when the click rubber 5a buckled by a predetermined amount is buckled, so that the usability is also good.
Note that a through hole 5b through which the stem 3 is inserted is formed in the center of the elastic rubber member 5. A pair of concave notches 3a are provided in the upper part of the stem 3, and a pair of locking claws 4a of the retaining member 4 are snap-fitted to these notches 3a, so that the stem 3
A retaining member 4 is extrapolated / fixed to the upper part of the device. Further, the retaining member 4 is provided with a through hole 4b through which the stem 3 is inserted, and a spherical curved sliding contact surface 4c that comes into surface contact with the back surface of the guide portion 1b around the through hole 4b. .
In other words, the guide portion 1b of the case 1 is sandwiched between the retaining member 4 and the central annular portion 2b of the operation knob 2, and when the operation knob 2 swings, the guide portion 1b curves along the front and back surfaces of the guide portion 1b. The surface 2c and the curved sliding contact surface 4c slide.

The first slider 6 is slidably mounted on the fixed contact pattern 9 forming area of the substrate 8 with the movable contact 7 disposed on the bottom side, and is incorporated in the first slider 6. A spring 19 constantly urges the movable contact 7 toward the substrate 8. The first slider 6 is provided with an insertion hole 6a into which the lower end of the stem 3 is inserted, and an engagement projection 6b that engages with the stem 3 in the insertion hole 6a. Is pivoted, the lower end of the stem 3 is tilted in the insertion hole 6a, so that the first slider 6 driven by the stem 3 through the engaging projection 6b
It slides on top. On the other hand, the second slider 13 is slidably mounted on the fixed contact pattern 10 formation region of the substrate 8 with the movable contact 14 disposed on the bottom side, and a spring incorporated in the second slider 13 is provided. 20 constantly biases the movable contact 14 toward the substrate 8. On one side of the second slider 13, a leg 11a protruding from the bottom surface of the mirror selection knob 11 is provided.
Is provided with an engagement concave portion 13a for fitting the
When the mirror selection knob 11 is swung about the support shaft 1d, the second slider 13 driven by the leg 11a slides on the substrate 8. A spring 21 and a steel ball 12 are provided at the center of the mirror selection knob 11.
When the mirror selection knob 11 is swung, the steel ball 12 pushed into the spring 21 is
When the user gets over the chevron 1e, a click feeling is generated.

On the substrate 8, fixed contact patterns 9, 10 and lead patterns (not shown) and solder lands 22 are formed. Terminal portions 15a, 16a of connectors 15, 16 are soldered to the solder lands 22. . The cover member 17 is provided with a positioning pin 17a which is inserted into the through-hole 8a of the substrate 8 for positioning.

In the swing operation type switch device configured as described above, the second slider 13 slides and moves on the fixed contact pattern 10 by swinging the mirror selection knob 11 in either direction. The contact position of the movable contact 14 changes, and the right or left mirror can be set in a state where the angle can be adjusted. Thereafter, when one of the four pressing operation sections 2a is pushed in to swing the operation knob 2, as described above, the click rubber 5a is deflected to generate a click feeling and tilt. The first slider 6 slides via the stem 3 to be moved, and the contact position of the movable contact 7 on the fixed contact pattern 9 changes. Can be adjusted in any of up, down, left and right directions. For example, when the operator pushes the pressing operation portion 2a on the left side (the lower side in FIG. 1) of the operation knob 2 in FIG. 2, the stem 3 tilts toward the pushed-in side. The first slider 6 slides rightward in FIG. 2 to the state shown in FIG. 7, and a drive signal for rotating the selected mirror downward is output. In FIG. 4, the operator presses the operation knob 2a on the left side of the operation knob 2 (the left side in FIG. 1).
Is pushed, the first slider 6 driven to the lower end of the stem 3 slides rightward in FIG. 4 to a state as shown in FIG. 8 and rotates the selected mirror to the left. A drive signal is output.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the retaining member 4 is snap-fitted to the stem 3 integrated with the operating knob 2, and the operating knob 2 and the retaining member 4 are connected to the guide portion 1b of the case 1. The operating knob 2 can be smoothly swung on the guide portion 1b without fear of falling off, and the stem 3 does not rattle when the operating knob 2 is swung. In addition, a good operation feeling can be obtained even if the amount of sliding movement of the first slider 6 decreases with the downsizing. Also, since the click rubber 5a is elastically contacted with the operation knob 2 from below to apply pretension, the operation knob 2 can always be kept in a state of no play, and the operation knob 2 can be swung. Since a click feeling is sometimes generated, the usability is improved. In addition, since the curved sliding contact surface 2c of the operation knob 2 and the curved sliding contact surface 4c of the retaining member 4 are respectively in surface contact with the front and back surfaces of the guide portion 1b, the operation knob 2 can be extremely smoothly moved on the guide portion 1b. In addition to being able to swing, even when the swing operation is repeated, the curved sliding contact surfaces 2c and 4c have a small sliding resistance and thus are not easily worn, so that a stable swing operation can be performed for a long period of time.

[0016]

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

A retaining member is snap-coupled to a stem integral with the operating knob, and the operating knob and the retaining member are slid on the front and back surfaces of the guide portion of the case, and click rubber is pretensioned on the operating knob from below. The operation knob can be smoothly swung on the guide part without the risk of backlash or falling off, and a good operation feeling can be obtained even when the slider slide amount is small due to miniaturization. In addition, since a click feeling is generated at the time of the swing operation of the operation knob, it is possible to realize a swing operation type switch device having good usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a swing operation type switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the switch device excluding a bottom portion.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a bottom portion of the switch device.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing a state in which the operation knob is swung.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 4 and showing a state in which the operation knob is swung.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 1b Guide part 1c Opening 2 Operation knob 2a Pressing operation part 2c Curved sliding contact surface 3 Stem 3a Notch 4 Retaining member 4a Locking claw 4c Curved sliding contact surface 5 Elastic rubber member 5a Click rubber 6 Slider 6a Insertion hole 6b Engagement protrusion 7 Movable contact 8 Substrate 9 Fixed contact pattern 17 Cover member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A case in which a substantially dome-shaped guide portion having an opening at a central portion is projected upward, and a bottom surface is slidably mounted on the guide portion by slidingly contacting a surface of the guide portion. An operating knob, a click rubber interposed between the operating knob and the case and elastically contacting the operating knob, a stem vertically downwardly extending from a central portion of the operating knob and passing through the opening, A retaining member having a locking claw that is snap-coupled to the stem and slidingly in contact with the back surface of the guide portion, and a substrate having fixed contacts disposed on a surface protruding into the case;
A slider having a movable contact that can be brought into contact with and separated from the fixed contact and engaged with a lower end portion of the stem, wherein the operation knob and the retaining member sandwich the guide portion slidably. A swing operation type switch device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The swing operation switch device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the operation knob that slides on the surface of the guide portion is a curved surface that comes into surface contact with the guide portion. 3. The swing operation type according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the retaining member that slides on the back surface of the guide portion is a curved surface that makes surface contact with the guide portion. Switch device.