JP2005243443A - Surface protection body for pressure-sensitive switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surface-protection body for a pressure-sensitive switch capable of suppressing and preventing problems concerning abrasion resistance, texture, a sense of clicking, etc. even if a small electric device is provided with the pressure-sensitive switch. <P>SOLUTION: This surface protection body provided with a flexible transparent film layer 10 covering the pressure-sensitive switch 3 of a cellular phone, a transparent elastomer layer 12 laminated on the transparent film layer 10 and a surface coating layer 13 laminated on the elastomer layer 12, protects the pressure-sensitive switch 3 of the cellular phone. Since the surface-protection body covering the pressure-sensitive switch 3 comprises a three-layer structure of the transparent film layer 10 regulating unnecessary deformation of the elastomer layer 12, the elastomer layer 12 securing the sense of clicking and the surface coating layer 13 securing proper hardness and smoothness, good abrasion resistance, texture and the sense of clicking can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a surface protector for a pressure sensitive switch capable of effectively ensuring wear resistance, touch and click feeling of a pressure sensitive switch such as a mobile phone or a remote controller.

In recent years, various technologies of existing electronic devices have been applied to mobile phones, and one of them is a pressure-sensitive switch for a touch pad mounted on a notebook personal computer. This pressure-sensitive switch (also referred to as a pressure-sensitive sensor) is provided, for example, on the side part of the casing constituting the mobile phone, instead of the side key or together with the side key, and the pointer is controlled by a finger sliding operation. Therefore, it is expected to ensure the zoom-up function of the camera (see Patent Document 1).
JP 05-292167 A

  However, the size, operation area, frequency of use, etc. differ greatly between personal computers and mobile phones, so simply installing a pressure-sensitive switch on a mobile phone will provide wear resistance, feel when operated with a finger, and click. There is a problem with the feeling.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even if a pressure-sensitive switch is provided in a small electronic device, the surface protection of the pressure-sensitive switch can suppress and prevent problems related to wear resistance, touch, click feeling, and the like. The purpose is to provide a body.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a pressure-sensitive switch is protected, a flexible transparent film layer facing the pressure-sensitive switch, and an elastic elastomer provided to overlap the transparent film layer It is characterized by comprising a layer and a surface coat layer provided on the elastomer layer.

In addition, a pattern can be formed by making a transparent film layer into thickness of 12.5-200 micrometers.
The elastomer layer can also be a see-through silicone rubber having a hardness of 20 ° to 80 ° Hs.

  Here, the pressure-sensitive switch in the claims is provided in various small electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a remote controller of a car navigation system, a touch panel, and the like. A transparent adhesive layer or the like can be interposed between the transparent film layer and the elastomer layer and between the elastomer layer and the surface coat layer.

  Examples of the pattern include various characters, figures, symbols, a combination thereof, or a combination of these with a color indicating a pressure-sensitive switch. If the elastomer layer is transparent, it does not matter whether it is transparent or translucent. The surface coat layer can be formed to a thickness of 1 to 100 μm by blending at least a hard resin with a slidable filler. The surface protector of the pressure sensitive switch according to the present invention is formed into a long and narrow rectangle or a short shape depending on the shape and size of the pressure sensitive switch.

  According to the present invention, the surface protector covering the pressure-sensitive switch includes a transparent film layer that regulates unnecessary deformation of the elastomer layer, an elastomer layer that secures a click feeling, and a surface that secures appropriate hardness and slipperiness. Since it has a multilayer structure including a coat layer, relatively good wear resistance, feel and click feeling can be obtained even if a pressure sensitive switch is provided in a small electronic device.

  According to the present invention, even if a pressure sensitive switch is provided in a small electronic device, it is possible to effectively suppress or prevent problems related to wear resistance, touch, click feeling, and the like.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surface protective body of the pressure sensitive switch according to the present embodiment includes a pressure sensitive switch 3 of a cellular phone 1. A transparent film layer 10 to be covered, a see-through elastomer layer 12 laminated on the transparent film layer 10, and a surface coat layer 13 laminated on the elastomer layer 12 and operated to slide with a finger. The small and thin pressure sensitive switch 3 of the mobile phone 1 is protected.

  The pressure-sensitive switch 3 of the mobile phone 1 is formed in, for example, an elastic film shape, and a plurality of pressure-sensitive switches 3 are provided on the side portion of the housing 2 constituting the mobile phone 1. Moreover, the transparent film layer 10, the elastomer layer 12, and the surface coat layer 13 which form a surface protective body are stuck like FIG. 2 using an adhesive agent, for example, applying heat.

  The transparent film layer 10 is made of a predetermined film having flexibility, and a plurality of patterns 11 indicating the function of the pressure-sensitive switch 3 are printed on the lower surface with black ink. Covered and functions to prevent unnecessary deformation of the stretchable elastomer layer 12 in the lateral direction. The material of the transparent film layer 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is a transparent film having printability, deformability, and the like, but is an inexpensive PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film excellent in availability and heat resistance. Is preferred.

  The transparent film layer 10 is formed to a thickness of 12.5 to 200 μm, preferably 50 to 150 μm. This is because, when the thickness of the transparent film layer 10 deviates from such a range, it may be deformed over a wide range, or the finger pressing force acting on the surface coat layer 13 may not be properly transmitted to the pressure sensitive switch 3. Because there is.

  The elastomer layer 12 is formed into a substantially plate-shaped cross section having a thickness of about 0.6 to 2 mm, preferably about 0.8 mm, using an elastic resin in order to ensure an appropriate click feeling. The material of the elastomer layer 12 is not particularly limited, such as acrylic rubber or silicone rubber, but silicone rubber having excellent availability, durability, and transparency is optimal.

  The elastomer layer 12 has a hardness of 20 ° to 80 ° Hs, preferably 40 ° to 60 ° Hs, more preferably about 50 ° Hs. This is because if the hardness of the elastomer layer 12 falls outside the range, the force that transmits the pressing force to the pressure-sensitive switch 3 must be increased. Further, it is deformed in a wide range and adversely affects the decomposability of the pressure sensitive switch 3.

  The surface coat layer 13 is formed into a substantially plate-shaped cross section having a predetermined thickness by blending a slidable filler with a hard resin. The material of the surface coat layer 13 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a material in which a sliding fluorine-based filler or an inorganic filler is blended in a polyurethane or polyester resin binder. As the binder, urethane is preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring wear resistance and contamination resistance.

  An example of the inorganic filler is a silica filler. The silica filler is 40 to 80 parts by mass, preferably 50 to 70 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder. The surface coat layer 13 is formed to a thickness of 1 to 100 μm, preferably 20 to 50 μm. This is based on the reason that if the thickness is less than 1 μm, there is a problem in abrasion resistance, and conversely if it exceeds 100 μm, there is a possibility of breaking without following the deformation of the elastomer layer 12.

  According to the above configuration, the surface protector covering the pressure sensitive switch 3 has the three-layer structure of the transparent film layer 10, the elastomer layer 12, and the surface coat layer 13 having the above characteristics. Even if the small pressure-sensitive switch 3 is provided, it is possible to obtain a very good wear resistance, feel and click feeling. Further, when the elastomer layer 12 can be seen through, the pattern 11 printed on the transparent film layer 10 can be clearly grasped, so that the operability of the mobile phone 1 can be remarkably improved. Furthermore, since the switch button does not protrude from the surface of the housing 2, the switch button does not get in the way.

It is explanatory drawing which shows embodiment of the surface protection body of the pressure-sensitive switch which concerns on this invention. It is a section explanatory view showing an embodiment of a surface protection object of a pressure sensitive switch concerning the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 2 Case 3 Pressure sensitive switch 10 Transparent film layer 11 Pattern 12 Elastomer layer 13 Surface coat layer

Claims (3)

  A surface protective body of a pressure sensitive switch for protecting the pressure sensitive switch, a flexible transparent film layer facing the pressure sensitive switch, an elastic elastomer layer provided on the transparent film layer, and the elastomer layer A surface protector for a pressure-sensitive switch, comprising a surface coat layer provided on the surface of the pressure-sensitive switch.   2. The surface protective body for a pressure-sensitive switch according to claim 1, wherein the transparent film layer has a pattern with a thickness of 12.5 to 200 [mu] m. The pressure-sensitive switch surface protector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastomer layer is made of a see-through silicone rubber having a hardness of 20 ° to 80 ° Hs.

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