JP2004253171A - Push-button device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push-button device simply and easily enabling a stable and accurate switching operation and capable of improving assembling workability. <P>SOLUTION: A button body 14 composed of a first regulating part 142 regulating an operation volume at the surrounding part of a switch operating part 141 of the button body 14, a second regulating part 143 regulating a tilting angle at an operating position, a third regulating part 147 regulating a position of the switch 12 to an initial position in free pressing operation, and an elastically deforming part 146 giving the button body 14 a biasing force for returning from the switch operating position to the initial position is mounted to the switch 12 loaded on a printed wiring board 11 so as to be freely pressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a push button device used for electronic equipment such as a nurse call device used for a care receiver such as an inpatient to call a nurse.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in this type of push button device, a frame member is attached to a case, and an operating portion of a switch is connected to the frame member. Then, a push button is combined with the frame member so as to be able to be pressed from the outside of the case (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
According to the above configuration, when the push button is pressed at the distal end protruding from the case, the frame member is pressed against its elastic force to operate the operating portion of the switch. Then, when the pressing operation is released, the push button is returned to the initial position by the return force of the frame member, and the operation of the operating portion of the switch is released here.
[0004]
However, in the above push button device, due to its structure, when pressing the push button, too much force is applied, and when the pushing amount is too large, the operating portion of the switch may be damaged, or depending on the pressing operation direction, the switch may not be operated. There is a danger that it does not operate, and the switching operability is poor.
[0005]
Further, according to this, there is also a problem that the assembling work is very troublesome because the apparatus is composed of a plurality of components.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 50630/1995
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional push button device has the inconvenience that the switching operability is poor and the assembling work is troublesome.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a push button device capable of easily and easily realizing a stable and accurate switching operation and improving assembly workability. The purpose is to:
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is directed to a button body having a switch operation section for switching the switch, which is arranged to be capable of being pressed to face a switch, and an operation amount of the button body formed around the switch operation section of the button body. A plurality of first regulating portions that are formed around a switch operation portion of the button body, and a plurality of second regulation portions that regulate an inclination angle at an operation position of the button body; A plurality of third restricting portions for restricting the position of the switch to an initial position so as to be freely operable, and a plurality of the third restricting portions supported on the button body so as to be elastically deformable; The push button device is provided with an elastic return portion for applying an urging force for returning the switch from the switch operation position to the initial position.
[0010]
According to the above configuration, the operation amount of the button body is regulated by the first regulating section, the tilt angle at the operation position is regulated by the second regulating section, and the initial position with respect to the switch is regulated by the third regulating section. Is regulated, a highly accurate switch switching operation by the switch operation unit is realized. Then, when the pressing operation is released at the operation position, the button main body is cooperatively returned to the initial position by the third regulating portion and the elastic return portion so as to be freely pressable. Therefore, it is possible to realize a simple assembling operation of assembling the button main body in such a manner that the button body is opposed to the switch, and also realize a highly reliable and accurate switch switching operation.
[0011]
Further, in the present invention, the switch operation unit is configured such that an operation surface is formed in a substantially spherical shape. According to this, in conjunction with the pressing operation of the button main body, the switch operation unit makes a point contact with the switch, thereby enabling a highly accurate switch switching operation.
[0012]
Further, in the present invention, the button body is further provided with a reverse mounting preventing portion for regulating a mounting direction. According to this, by the action of the reverse attachment preventing portion, the button body can be accurately attached in a desired direction, and the assembling workability can be improved.
[0013]
Further, in the present invention, the elastic return portion is configured by providing a plurality of elastic deformation portions around the switch operation portion. According to this, at the operation position, the urging force is uniformly applied by the plurality of elastically deforming portions at the operation position, and the button body is returned to the initial position while maintaining a desired posture.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a push-button device according to an embodiment of the present invention. An apparatus main body 10 constitutes, for example, a nurse call device, and a printed wiring board 11 is provided therein. A switch 12 called, for example, a tact switch is mounted on the printed wiring board 11, and an electronic circuit mounted via the switch 12 is selectively switched and set.
[0016]
A cover member 13 is attached to the device main body 10. A button mounting hole 131 is provided in the cover member 13 so as to face the switch 12 of the printed wiring board 11, and the button main body 14 is inserted into the button mounting hole 131 so as to be freely pressed. Here, the button body 14 is prevented from being detached since its peripheral edge is opposed to the peripheral edge of the button mounting hole 131.
[0017]
The button main body 14 is formed by resin molding into a rectangular parallelepiped bottomed cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 using a resin material such as ABS resin, for example. Is formed. The flange 140 is opposed to the inner wall of the periphery of the button mounting hole 131 of the cover member 13 and prevents the button body 14 from coming off the button mounting hole 131 of the cover member 13.
[0018]
A switch operation section 141 is provided on the bottom of the button body 14 so as to protrude in correspondence with the operated section 121 of the switch 12. The switch operating section 141 has a switch contact surface formed in a substantially spherical shape, and even when the switch operating section 141 comes into contact with the operated section 121 of the switch 12 slightly inclined as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Point contact is made with the operated portion 121.
[0019]
As a result, the switch 12 performs a stable and accurate switching operation of the operated portion 121. For example, in the case of a tact switch structure, when the switch operation unit 141 pushes the operated portion 121 of the switch 12 obliquely with respect to the axial direction, the switch operation unit 141 may be damaged. By the point contact of 141, breakage can be effectively prevented.
[0020]
Further, on the bottom surface of the button body 14, a plurality of, for example, two first regulating portions 142 for regulating the operation amount are arranged around the switch operating portion 141 with the switch operating portion 141 interposed therebetween. Operating direction).
[0021]
Further, a plurality of, for example, four restricting second restricting portions 143 for restricting the inclination angle are provided at the opening end of the button main body 14 at four positions at four corners so as to protrude toward the switch operating portion (pressing direction). . For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the pressing position of the button body 14 is biased to one side as shown in FIG. At a desired angle.
[0022]
At two opposite sides of the opening side end of the button body 14, mounting portions 144 are provided at substantially the center thereof so as to protrude toward the switch operating portion (pressing direction). A substantially central portion of a long side of, for example, a substantially rectangular frame portion 145 is connected between the mounting portions 144.
[0023]
The frame-like portion 145 is provided with substantially curved elastic deformation portions 146 constituting elastic return portions, for example, at four positions in total at both ends of the mounting portion 144, and the four corners thereof are used for initial position regulation. The third regulating portion 147 is formed so as to protrude in the direction of the switch operating portion (pressing operation direction). The third restricting portion 147 is elastically abutted on the printed wiring board 11 by the action of the elastic deformation portion 146 at the initial position of the button main body 14, and presses the button main body 14 by a pressing operation. Position to the possible initial position.
[0024]
In addition, the button main body 14 is formed with a reverse attachment prevention rib 148 that constitutes a reverse attachment prevention portion that regulates the assembly direction, corresponding to the display portion 149 provided on the outer wall on the bottom surface.
[0025]
The reverse mounting prevention rib 148 is accommodated in a groove (not shown) corresponding to, for example, a groove (not shown) provided in the button mounting hole 131 of the cover member 13. As a result, the button body 14 is mounted and arranged inside the device body 10 with the display unit 149 facing the desired direction.
[0026]
In the above configuration, the button main body 14 is placed with its switch operation section 141 facing the switch 12 of the printed wiring board 11 housed in the device main body 10. In this state, the cover member 13 is mounted on the device main body 10 by inserting the button main body 14 into the button mounting hole 131 thereof. At this time, the mounting direction of the button body 14 is adjusted such that the reverse mounting preventing rib 148 is inserted into a groove (not shown) of the button mounting hole 131 of the cover member 13, and the display portion 149 is moved to the cover member 13. 13 is installed in the correct orientation.
[0027]
In this assembled state, the button body 14 has a frame-like shape in a state where the flange portion 140 thereof is opposed to the inner wall of the periphery of the button mounting hole 131 of the cover member 13 so that the button main body 14 is prevented from being detached from the button mounting hole 131. The third regulating portion 147 of the portion 145 is elastically abutted on the printed wiring board 11 by the action of the elastically deforming portion 146, and the position is regulated to the initial position where the pressing operation can be performed.
[0028]
When the button body 14 is pressed, the button body 14 is pushed in against the urging force of the elastic deformation part 146 of the frame-shaped part 145, and the switch operation part 141 presses the operated part 121 of the switch 12. At this time, the first regulating portion 142 of the button body 14 is brought into contact with the printed wiring board 11, the operation amount of the switch operating portion 141 is set to a desired value, and the second regulating portion 143 is The tilt angle at the operation position is set to a desired value by abutting on the printed wiring board 11.
[0029]
As described above, the switch operating section 141 of the button main body 14 is brought into contact with the operated section 121 of the switch 12 by point contact, and switches the operated section 121 of the switch 12 reliably.
[0030]
In this operation position, the button body 14 is deformed by the third restricting portion 147 abutting on the printed wiring board 11, whereby the elastically deforming portion 146 of the frame portion 145 is deformed. An urging force is applied in the return direction via the third regulating portion 147. Thus, when the pressing operation is released, the button main body 14 is returned to the initial position where the pressing operation can be performed by the elastic deformation portion 146 and the third restricting portion 147 of the frame portion 145.
[0031]
As described above, the push button device includes the first restricting portion 142 that regulates the operation amount around the switch operating portion 141 of the button body 14, the second restricting portion 143 that regulates the tilt angle at the operation position, A third restricting portion 147 that regulates the position of the switch 12 so that it can be pressed to the initial position, and an elastic deformation portion 146 that applies an urging force to return the button body 14 from the switch operation position to the initial position are formed on the button body 14. Thus, the button body 14 is configured to be mounted on the switch 12 mounted on the printed wiring board 11 such that the button body 14 can be pressed freely.
[0032]
According to this, the operation amount of the button main body 14 is regulated by the first regulating portion 142, the tilt angle at the operation position is regulated by the second regulating portion 143, and the third regulating portion 147 is regulated. As a result, the initial position with respect to the switch 12 is regulated, so that a highly accurate switch switching operation by the switch operation unit 141 is realized. Then, when the pressing operation is released at the operation position, the button main body 14 is returned to the initial position in cooperation with the third restricting portion 147 and the elastic deformation portion 146.
[0033]
As a result, a simple assembling operation in which the button body 14 is assembled and arranged facing the switch 12 is realized, and a highly reliable and highly accurate switch switching operation is realized.
[0034]
In the above embodiment, the first regulating portion 142 is provided at two locations, the second regulating portion 143 is provided at four locations, the third regulating portion 147 is provided at four locations, the elastically deforming portion 146 is provided at four locations, and the button body is provided. Although the description has been made in the case of such a configuration, the present invention is not limited to this number, and the first regulating part 142 may be provided at two or more places, the second regulating part 143 may be provided at two or more places, 147 may be provided at two or more places, and the elastically deformable portion 146 may be provided at a plurality of places.
[0035]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the button body 14 is formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this shape structure. Is also applicable.
[0036]
Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment includes inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.
[0037]
For example, even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effects described in the effects of the invention can be obtained. In this case, a configuration from which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a push button device which can realize a simple and easy switching operation with stability and high accuracy, and can improve the assembly workability. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a push button device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the button main body of FIG. 1 is taken out of the device main body and viewed from a pressing operation side.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the button main body of FIG. 1 is taken out from the device main body and viewed from the device main body side.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a switch operation unit of the button body of FIG. 1 and an operated portion of the switch.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the button main body of FIG. 1 is pressed from a position deviated in one direction.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 device main body 11 printed wiring board 12 switch 121 operated portion 13 cover member 131 button mounting hole 14 button main body 140 flange portion 141 switch operation portion 142 first regulating portion 143 second Control part 144 ... Mounting part 145 ... Frame part 146 ... Elastic deformation part 147 ... Third control part 148 ... Reverse mounting prevention rib 149 ... Display part

Claims (4)

A button body formed with a switch operation unit for switching the switch, which is arranged to be capable of being pressed to face the switch,
A plurality of first regulating portions formed around a switch operation portion of the button body and regulating an operation amount of the button body;
A plurality of second restricting portions formed around a switch operating portion of the button main body and restricting a tilt angle at an operation position of the button main body;
A plurality of third restricting portions for restricting the position of the button body so that the button main body can be pressed to the initial position with respect to the switch;
An elastic return portion that elastically deforms the plurality of third restricting portions on the button main body and applies an urging force for returning the button main body from the switch operation position to the initial position. A push button device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The push button device according to claim 1, wherein the switch operation section has an operation surface formed in a substantially spherical shape. The push button device according to claim 1, further comprising a reverse mounting preventing portion that controls a mounting direction on the button body. The push button device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic return portion includes a plurality of elastic deformation portions provided around the switch operation portion.

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