JP2002304933A - Slide switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slide switch capable of preventing the shaving of a cam ridge in the assembling of a slide member, obtaining good click feeling, and making the switch small. SOLUTION: This slide switch is equipped with a housing 1 having a housing part 1a; the slide member 7 slidably installed in the housing part 1a; and a click spring 9 held in the housing 1, and generating click feeling by coming in contact with a cam face 7a formed in the cam member 7, according to the sliding move of the sliding member 7. The click spring 9 is formed by bending a wire having a circular cross section in a spring shape, and at least the cross section of the holding part 9b held in the housing 1 is formed in an elliptic shape thinner than the diameter of the wire.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a thin slide switch used as various operation switches of a thin electronic device such as a portable communication device and an audio device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A slide switch used as a switch for various operations of a conventional electronic device has a structure in which a plurality of fixed contacts are provided on an inner bottom surface and a movable contact which slides on the fixed contacts. The housing includes a slide member slidably disposed within the housing, a click spring that slides on the slide member during the slide movement to create a sense of moderation, and a cover mounted on the housing.

[0003] The housing is formed in a box shape with a bottom using an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and the housing is provided with a storage portion. The movable contact and the slide member are accommodated in the accommodation portion, and a cover is fitted on the upper surface side of the housing so as to cover the accommodation portion, thereby preventing the movable contact and the slide member from jumping out.

The slide member is provided with a cam ridge which is in sliding contact with the click spring, and when the slide is moved, the cam ridge is slid in contact with the protrusion of the click spring, whereby the click spring is bent and a click feeling is obtained. It is something that can be done.

This conventional click spring is formed by bending a metal plate made of a plate material having a rectangular cross section as a leaf spring, or formed by bending a metal wire made of a wire having a circular cross section as a wire spring. Was usually used.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional slide switch structure, the switch is assembled by fixing the click spring in a fixing groove formed in the housing and then attaching the click spring. Since the slide member is built into the housing from above while resisting the force, if the click spring is made of a leaf spring, the cam ridge of the slide will be cut off at the time of installation due to edges and burrs, resulting in a good feeling of moderation. (Click feeling)
There is a problem that can not be obtained.

When the click spring is formed of a round wire spring, the wire diameter must be increased in order to obtain the same load as that of the leaf spring, so that the width of the fixing groove formed in the housing becomes large. And hinder miniaturization.

Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and eliminates the scraping of the cam ridge when the slide member is assembled.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide switch that can provide a good moderation feeling and can be downsized.

[0009]

According to the present invention, as a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a housing having a storage portion, a slide member slidably disposed in the storage portion, and the housing are provided. And a click spring that elastically contacts a cam surface provided on the slide member to create a sense of moderation as the slide member slides, and the click spring bends a wire having a circular cross section. It is characterized in that it is formed in a spring shape and at least the cross section of the holding portion held by the housing is formed in an oval shape thinner than the diameter of the wire.

As a second means, the contact portion of the click spring elastically contacting the cam surface has a flat portion facing the cam surface by crushing a round wire having a circular cross section. And

As a third means, when the slide member is housed in a housing portion of the housing at a lower end portion of a cam ridge forming a cam surface of the slide member, the slide member slides with the click spring to slide the cam member. It is characterized in that an inclined surface for guiding to the surface is formed.

[0012]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of a slide switch according to the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a slide switch of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a housing, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state where a slide member is incorporated in a housing to which a click spring is fixed.
5 is a plan view of the click spring, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 shows a sliding operation state of the sliding member, FIG. 7A is an initial state, FIG. FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing a state after the operation.

In FIG. 1, a housing 1 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin and is formed in a rectangular box shape having an open upper surface. In the center of the housing 1 is a storage section 1
a is formed, and side walls 1b are formed on four sides so as to surround the inner bottom surface of the storage portion 1a. In addition, steps 1c and 1d are formed in the side wall 1b at positions one step lower than the upper end surface of the side wall 1b along the inside of the side wall 1b. A through hole 1e penetrating through the bottom surface side of the housing 1 is formed in a pair of opposed step portions 1c on the short side of the step portions 1c and 1d.

A bent piece 8b provided on a cover 8 described later is fitted and fixed to the through hole 1e, and the housing 1 is inserted into the through hole 1e.
A slightly wide insertion hole 1g is formed continuously on the bottom side of. A punch, which is a jig for caulking (not shown), is inserted through the insertion hole 1g from the bottom surface side of the housing 1 and the bent piece 8b is expanded or bent, so that the cover 8 is attached to the housing 1. It is attached to the steps 1c and 1d of the side wall 1b.

One of the pair of steps 1d opposed to each other on the long side of the steps 1c and 1d is provided with the step 1
A long groove portion 1f lower than the long groove portion 1d is formed, and a spring engaging portion 1h formed of a groove portion lower than the long groove portion 1f is formed on the other step portion 1d opposed thereto. I have.

The spring engaging portion 1h is formed in a narrow groove shape on both ends, and a spring engaging portion 1i for engaging holding portions 9b at both ends of the click spring 9 described later; 1i
An opening 1j is formed at the center between the openings so as to open in the direction of the storage portion 1a, and protrudes the protrusion 9a of the click spring 9 toward the storage portion 1a.

The elongated groove 1 is formed in the step 1d.
f, and by providing the spring engaging portion 1h including a groove portion, when an outer peripheral edge of the cover 8 described later is placed on the step portion 1d facing the long side, the outer peripheral edge of the cover 8 Even when dust or the like intrudes from the gap, the dust or the like can be retained in the long groove portion 1f and the spring engaging portion 1h, and it is possible to prevent the dust and the like from entering the inside of the storage portion 1a. .

At the center of the inner bottom surface of the housing 1a, a common fixed contact 3 made of a conductive metal plate is disposed with one side exposed, and is located at a position opposed to the common fixed contact 3 therebetween. A pair of individual fixed contacts 4, 4 also made of a conductive metal plate are disposed with one side exposed. The common fixed contact 3 and the individual fixed contacts 4, 4 are connected to the housing 1.
Are integrally formed on the inner bottom portion by insert molding or the like.

Connection terminals 5 and 6 that are connected to a circuit pattern such as a circuit board (not shown) are formed to protrude from opposite sides of the long side of the housing 1. Are arranged in the inner bottom portion of the housing 1 in a state of being electrically connected to the common fixed contacts 3 and the individual fixed contacts 4, 4.

The slide member 7 is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The slide member 7 is housed in the housing portion 1a of the housing 1 and is slidably disposed. An operation unit 7b is formed to protrude from the unit 7a and is operated by a finger or the like.

A cam ridge 7c is formed at the center of one side in the long side direction of the substrate portion 7a so as to project therefrom.
A projecting portion 9a of a click spring 9, which will be described later, comes into contact with the cam surface 7d at the tip of c to make sliding contact. An inclined surface 7e tapering downward is formed at the lower end of the cam ridge 7c.

As shown in FIG. 4, by providing the cam ridge 7c with the inclined surface 7e, when the slide member 7 is stored in the storage portion 1a of the housing 1, the inclined surface 7e is clicked as described later. Since the click spring 9 is smoothly guided to the cam surface 7d by sliding with the spring 9, the incorporation can be easily performed.

A movable contact made of a conductive metal material (not shown) is held on the substrate portion 7a. When the operating portion 7b is operated, the movable contact is brought into contact with the common fixed contact 3 and The individual fixed contacts 4 and 4 are slid on each other to switch the contacts.

The click spring 9 is formed by bending an elastic wire having a circular cross section into a substantially V-shape. At the center of the click spring 9, a projecting portion 9a, which is a contact portion elastically contacting the cam surface 7d of the slide member 7, is formed.
A pair of holding portions 9b provided on the stepped portion 1d and locked by the spring locking portions 1i of the spring engaging portions 1h formed of grooves.
Are formed.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the click spring 9 is configured such that the cross section of the pair of holding portions 9b held by the housing 1 reduces the diameter of the wire by crushing the wire with a press or the like. Is formed in a thin oval shape, and a pair of flat portions 9c are formed so as to face each other in the long side direction of the oval shape.

Since the cross section of the holding portion 9b held by the housing 1 is formed in an elliptical shape so as to be thinner than the diameter of the wire, the housing 1 holding the click spring 9 is formed. Since there is no need to make the groove width of the spring locking portion 1i larger than when using a leaf spring,
The spring load can be increased by using a large-diameter round wire spring, a desired moderation (click feeling) can be easily obtained, and the size of the switch can be reduced.

Similarly, the projecting portion 9a which is in elastic contact with the cam surface 7d is formed into an elliptical shape so as to be thinner than the diameter of the wire, and the flat portion 9c is provided. Even when a round wire having a circular cross section is used, the contact area facing the cam surface 7d can be increased in the same manner as when a leaf spring having a rectangular cross section is used. Click feeling) can be further improved.

The click spring 9 is formed in an oval shape such that a portion of the wire is crushed by a press or the like so as to be thinner than the diameter of the wire. May be formed in an elliptical shape so as to be thin over the entire surface. In this case, processing is further facilitated, and workability is improved. Further, the protrusion 9
Since a flat portion can be formed on both the holding portion 9a and the holding portion 9b at the same time, no inclination with respect to the cam surface occurs in the assembled state.

The cover 8 is formed in a substantially square shape by a thin metal plate, and a square window hole 8a is provided at the center of the cover 8. The operation portion 7b of the slide member 7 is inserted through the window hole 8a so as to be slidable.

Also, on both short sides of the cover 8,
A pair of bent pieces 8b bent in an L shape are formed on the lower side to face each other. At the center of the bent piece 8b, a pair of projections 8c are provided in parallel with each other so as to abut on the inner wall of the through hole 1e and maintain a predetermined distance between the bent piece 8b and the inner wall. ing. The lower end of the bent piece 8b is expanded or bent by a jig (not shown) or the like, so that the bent piece 8b is fixed to the through hole 1e.

At this time, the bent piece 8b of the cover 8
Since a pair of the projections 8c for forming a predetermined interval between the inner wall of the through hole 1e and the inner wall of the through hole 1e are formed, the bent piece 8b does not adhere to the inner wall of the through hole 1e. Since the gap is maintained, the punch 8b, which is a jig for caulking (not shown), can be reliably brought into contact with the bent piece 8b.
Can be securely fixed to the through hole 1e.

Next, the operation of the slide switch having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C. FIG. 7A shows an initial state. In this state, the cam ridge 7c of the slide member 7 is in elastic contact with the left side of the projection 9a of the click spring 9 in the drawing, and the slide member 7 is in a standby state on the left side in the drawing.

In this state, when the operation portion 7b of the slide member 7 is operated rightward in the figure with a finger or the like, as shown in FIG. 9a is moved rightward in the figure while pressing upward in the figure. At this time, the slide member 7 moves against the urging force of the click spring 9,
A feeling of overpressure is obtained.

In this state, when the operating portion 7b of the slide member 7 is further operated rightward in the figure with a finger or the like,
As shown in C, the cam surface 7d of the cam ridge 7c is disengaged from the projecting portion 9a of the click spring 9, moves to the right in the drawing, and is brought into a state of elastic contact, and the switching is completed. At this time, the cam ridge 7c of the slide member 7 moves from the left side to the right side in the drawing while elastically contacting the projecting portion 9a of the click spring 9 while moving. The moderation (click feeling) at the time of switching can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the click feeling is maintained by being held by the housing 1 and making elastic contact with the cam surface 7d of the slide member 7 as the slide member 7 slides. The click spring 9 to be created is formed by bending a wire having a circular cross section into a spring shape, and at least the projecting portion 9a elastically contacting the cam surface 7d and the holding portion 9b held by the housing 1. Since the cross section is formed in an oval shape thinner than the diameter of the wire, the cross section is oval and has no corners. Therefore, when the slide member 7 is incorporated, the cam ridge 7c is prevented from being scraped. As a result, a good moderation feeling (click feeling) is obtained, and the groove width of the spring engaging portion 1h of the spring engaging portion 1h formed by the groove formed in the housing 1 is increased. Since there is no necessity, it has become a thing of the switch miniaturization of can be achieved.

[0036]

As described above, the slide switch according to the present invention comprises a housing having a storage portion, a slide member slidably disposed in the storage portion, and a slide of the slide member held by the housing. A click spring that elastically contacts the cam surface provided on the slide member to create a sense of moderation with the movement, and the click spring forms a spring by bending a wire having a circular cross section,
At least the cross section of the holding part held by the housing,
Since it is formed into an oval shape that is thinner than the diameter of the wire, the cross section is oval and has no corners. A feeling (click feeling) is obtained, and it is not necessary to increase the groove width of the locking portion of the spring engaging portion formed by the groove formed in the housing, so that the size of the switch can be reduced.

The abutting portion of the click spring which is in elastic contact with the cam surface forms a flat portion facing the cam surface by crushing a round wire having a circular cross section. Even when a round wire is used, the contact area with the cam surface can be increased as in the case of using a leaf spring having a rectangular cross section, so that the click feeling can be further improved. Becomes possible.

Further, at the lower end of the cam ridge forming the cam surface of the slide member, an inclined surface which slides with a click spring and guides to the cam surface when the slide member is stored in the housing portion of the housing is formed. Therefore, when the slide member is stored in the storage portion of the housing, the inclined surface slides with the click spring, so that the click spring is smoothly guided to the cam surface, so that the assembling can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a slide switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the slide switch of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a housing of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a slide member is incorporated in a housing to which a click spring according to the present invention is fixed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a click spring of the present invention.

6 is a sectional view of the present invention taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a sliding operation state of the sliding member of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 1a Storage part 1b Side wall part 1c, 1d Step part 1e Through hole 1f Groove part 1g Insertion hole 1h Spring engagement part 1i Spring locking part 1j Opening part 3 Common fixed contact 4 Individual fixed contact 5, 6 Connection terminal 7 Slide member 7a Substrate part 7b Operation part 7c Cam ridge 7d Cam surface 7e Inclined surface 8 Cover 8a Window hole 8b Bend piece 8c Projection 9 Click spring 9a Projection (contact part) 9b Holding part 9c Flat part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a storage portion, a slide member slidably disposed in the storage portion, and a slide member held by the housing and provided on the slide member as the slide member slides. A click spring that elastically contacts the cam surface to create a sense of moderation, wherein the click spring is formed by bending a wire having a circular cross section into a spring shape, and at least forming a cross section of a holding portion held by the housing. A slide switch formed in an oval shape thinner than the diameter of the wire rod. 2. The contact portion of the click spring, which resiliently contacts the cam surface, forms a flat portion facing the cam surface by crushing a round wire having a circular cross section. Slide switch. 3. An inclined surface that slides with the click spring and guides to the cam surface when the slide member is housed in the housing portion of the housing at a lower end portion of a cam ridge forming a cam surface of the slide member. 3. The slide switch according to claim 1, wherein the slide switch is formed.