JP2006221975A - Push-button switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push-button switch device capable of miniaturization which comprises an operating body which is pushed and moved directly, a supporter in which the operating body is inserted and which supports it capable of direct movement, and a means which regulates movement of the operating body in the crossing direction orthogonal to the direct movement direction by a recess and a projection parts provided at the side face of the operating body and the inner face of the supporter. <P>SOLUTION: The means to regulate movement of the operating body 5 in X direction out of the crossing directions (X, Y directions) which cross at right angles the direct movement direction (Z direction) of the operating body 5 are constructed of a guide groove 10 provided at the inner side face of the supporter 4 and a guide projection 11 which is provided at the outer side face of the operating body 5 and is inserted capable of sliding in the guide groove 10, and the means which are made to be opposed to each other interposing the operating body 5 in the Y direction and regulate the movement of the operating body 5 are made projection parts 12 which are provided at the operating body 5 and contact the inner side face of the supporter 4 capable of sliding, and are adjoined to the guide projection 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides an operating body that is provided with a push button and is operated to be pressed, a support body that is inserted with the operating body and supports the operating body so as to be linearly movable, and a switch element that operates in conjunction with the pressing operation of the operating body. And a means for restricting the movement of the operating body in the cross direction orthogonal to the linear motion direction by means of irregularities provided on the outer side surface of the operating body and the inner side surface of the support body.

  As a prior art of the push button switch device, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. This prior art operates in conjunction with an operating body provided with a push button and operated to be pressed, a support body into which the operating body is inserted and supported so that the operating body can be moved linearly, and a pressing operation of the operating body. And a switch element. Further, a first restricting means for restricting movement of the operating body in the first orthogonal direction among the cross directions composed of the first and second orthogonal directions orthogonal to the linear motion direction of the operating body, and a second orthogonal And a second restricting means for restricting movement of the operating body in the direction.

The operation body is formed of a rectangular parallelepiped member, and the support body is formed of a prismatic cylinder having a rectangular end surface. A guide groove extending along the linear movement direction of the operating body is formed on each inner side surface of the support body facing each outer surface of the operating body. Guide protrusions that are slidably inserted in the guide grooves in the linear motion direction are formed on the outer surfaces of the operating body. That is, the first restricting means is composed of a guide groove and a guide projection, and is provided at two positions facing each other with the operating body in the second orthogonal direction. The second restricting means is also composed of a guide groove and a guide projection, and is provided at two positions facing each other with the operating body in the first orthogonal direction.
JP 2001-135186 A

  In the above-described prior art, the first restricting means is provided at two positions facing each other with the operating body sandwiched in the first orthogonal direction among the cross directions composed of the first and second orthogonal directions orthogonal to the linear motion direction of the operating body. The guide groove and the guide projection constituting the second restricting means are provided at two positions facing each other with the operating body sandwiched in the second orthogonal direction. For this reason, there has been a problem that the size of the operation body and the support body is increased in each of the cross directions orthogonal to the linear movement direction of the operation body, and accordingly, the push button switch device is increased.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described actual situation, and is an operation body that moves linearly by being pressed, a support body that is inserted and supports the operation body so as to be capable of linear movement, and a linear motion direction. Provided is a push button switch device that includes a means for restricting movement of an operating body in a cross direction perpendicular to each other by unevenness provided on an outer surface of the operating body or an inner surface of a support, and can be downsized. It is in.

  [1] In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides an operating body that is provided with a push button and is operated to be pressed, a support body that is inserted with the operating body and supports the operating body so as to be movable, The switch element that operates in conjunction with the pressing operation of the operating body, and the operation in the first orthogonal direction among the cross directions including the first and second orthogonal directions orthogonal to the linear movement direction of the operating body. A push button switch device comprising: a first restricting means for restricting movement of a body; and a second restricting means for restricting movement of the operating body in a second orthogonal direction, wherein the first restricting means comprises the operation A guide groove provided on one of the outer side surface of the body and the inner side surface of the support body and extending along the linear movement direction of the operating body, and provided on the other side and slidably inserted into the guide groove. And a guide protrusion. Provided at two positions facing each other across the operating body in the orthogonal direction, and the second restricting means is provided on either the outer side surface of the operating body or the inner side surface of the support body, and can slide on the other side. And is provided adjacent to each of the first restricting means.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the first restricting means for restricting the movement of the operating body in the first orthogonal direction is provided at the second position facing the operating body in the second orthogonal direction. Second restricting means for restricting movement of the operating body in the orthogonal direction is provided adjacent to each first restricting means. That is, no guide groove or guide protrusion is provided on the outer side surface of the operating body or the inner side surface of the support body facing in the first orthogonal direction. Thereby, the dimension of the operation body and the support body in one of the cross directions orthogonal to the linear motion direction (first linear motion direction) can be reduced, and thus the push button switch device can be miniaturized.

  [2] The present invention is the invention according to [1], wherein the operation body is an end opposite to a side to which a pressing force is applied by a pressing operation of at least one of both side portions opposed to each other in the first orthogonal direction. The portion has a notch.

  In the present invention configured as described above, components such as a light emitting element can be arranged in the space formed by the notch. Thereby, the freedom degree of arrangement | positioning of the components in a support body can be improved.

  [3] The present invention provides the invention according to [1], wherein the operating body includes a pair of plate portions forming both side portions of the operating body in the second orthogonal direction, and the straight plate between the pair of plate portions. It has a connecting portion that extends along the moving direction and connects the pair of plate portions, and is formed so that the shape viewed from the end side in the linear moving direction is an H shape. .

  In the invention configured as described above, the pair of plate portions are connected to each other by the connecting portion, and the shape of the operating body viewed from the end portion in the linear motion direction is formed in an H shape. Thereby, when the operation body is resin-molded, it is possible to prevent the side portion of the operation body where the guide groove or the guide protrusion is provided, that is, the plate portion, from being distorted inward (in the connecting portion direction). Therefore, the movement of the operating body in the cross direction orthogonal to the linear motion direction can be more reliably regulated.

  In addition, since components such as light emitting elements can be arranged in the recesses formed on both sides of the operating body in the first orthogonal direction, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the components in the support body can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the size of the operating body and the support body in one of the cross directions orthogonal to the linear motion direction of the operating body can be reduced, and thus the pushbutton switch device can be reduced in size.

  An embodiment of a push button switch device of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment with the push button shown in FIG. 1 removed, and FIG. 3 is the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, with the support shown in FIG. 1 removed.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a push button 1 is provided, an operation body 5 made of a synthetic resin that is pressed together with the push button 1, and this operation body 5 is inserted. 1 is connected to the synthetic resin support 4 that can move in the vertical direction (Z direction) in FIG. 1, the switch element 6 that operates in conjunction with the pressing operation of the operation body 5, and the switch element 6 is connected. The circuit board 9 is provided.

  The push button 1 includes a pressing portion 2 that is pressed by an operator's finger and a convex portion 3 that protrudes from the lower surface of the pressing portion 2. The operating body 5 is formed of a prismatic cylinder having a rectangular end surface. The support body 4 is also formed of a prismatic cylinder having a rectangular end surface. The operation body 5 is inserted into the support body 4 from below as shown in FIGS. The convex portion 3 of the push button 1 is fitted into the operating body 5 inserted into the support body 4 from above. A circuit board 9 is fixed to the lower end of the support 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch element 6 is disposed in the support body 4 at a position to be pressed by the lower end surface of the operation body 5.

  The switch element 6 has, for example, an operation portion 8 that protrudes from the upper surface of the case 7 and can be moved directly in the vertical direction (Z direction). When the operation portion 8 is pressed and moved downward, the switch element 6 is turned on. It turns off when the operation unit 8 returns upward. An elastic member (not shown) that urges the operation unit 8 upward is provided inside the switch element 6 so that the operation unit 8 that is no longer pressed is automatically returned. The elastic force of the elastic member that returns the operation unit 8 is large enough to push back the operation body 5 together with the operation unit 8.

  Further, the first embodiment is a cross direction composed of first and second orthogonal directions (X direction, Y direction) orthogonal to the vertical direction (Z direction) of FIG. The first restricting means for restricting the movement of the operating body 5 in the first orthogonal direction and the second restricting means for restricting the movement of the operating body 5 in the second orthogonal direction are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first restricting means is provided on either the outer surface of the operation body 5 or the inner surface of the support body 4, for example, the inner surface of the support body 4. The guide groove 10 extends along the direction, and the guide protrusion 11 is provided on the outer surface of the other operation body 5 and is slidably inserted into the guide groove 10. The first restricting means is provided at two positions facing each other with the operating body 5 in the second orthogonal direction Y.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the second restricting means is provided on one of the outer surface of the operation body 5 and the inner surface of the support body 4, for example, the outer surface of the operation body 5. It consists of the protrusion part 12 which touches the sliding contact surface 13 which is a side surface so that sliding is possible. The protrusion 12 is provided adjacent to each guide protrusion 11. For example, the protrusions 12 are provided on both sides of each guide projection 11 in the first orthogonal direction (X direction).

  The first embodiment configured as described above operates as follows.

  When the operator presses the push button 1, the operating body 5 moves downward together with the push button 1 and presses the operation portion 8 of the switch element 6. Thereby, the switch element 6 is turned on. When the operator stops pressing the push button 1, the switch element 6 pushes back the operation unit 8 and the operation body 5 upward by the built-in elastic member, and turns off.

  The movement of the operating body 5 in the linear motion direction (Z direction) is guided by the guide groove 10 and the guide protrusion 11. At this time, when the force in the first orthogonal direction (X direction) is included in the force that presses the operating body 5, the guide protrusion 11 is inserted into the guide groove 10, and thus the first of the operating body 5 The movement in the orthogonal direction is restricted, thereby reducing the play of the operating body 5 in the first orthogonal direction. In addition, when the force in the second orthogonal direction (Y direction) is included in the force that presses the operation body 5, the protrusion 12 is in contact with the inner surface of the support body 4. The movement in the two orthogonal directions is restricted, and thereby the play of the operating body 5 in the second orthogonal direction is reduced.

  According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, the first restricting means for restricting the movement of the operating body in the first orthogonal direction (X direction), that is, the guide groove 10 and the guide protrusion 11 are arranged in the second orthogonal direction (Y direction). The second restricting means for restricting the movement of the operating body in the second orthogonal direction, that is, the projecting portion 12 is provided adjacent to each first restricting means. That is, the guide groove 10 and the guide protrusion 11 are not provided on the outer side surface of the operation body 5 and the inner side surface of the support body 4 that face each other in the first orthogonal direction. Thereby, the dimension of the operation body 5 and the support body 4 in one of the cross directions orthogonal to the linear motion direction of the operation body 5 (first linear motion direction) can be reduced, and thus the pushbutton switch device can be downsized. be able to.

  Although the first embodiment is an example in which the guide groove 10 is provided in the support body 4 and the guide protrusion 11 is provided in the operation body 5, the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide groove 10 is provided in the operation body. 5 and the guide protrusion 11 may be provided on the support 4.

  Moreover, although 1st Embodiment is an example which provided the protrusion part 12 in the operation body 5, this invention is not restricted to this, What provided the protrusion part 12 in the support body 4 may be used.

  Moreover, although 1st Embodiment is an example which provided the protrusion part 12 in the both sides of the guide protrusion 11 in a 1st orthogonal direction (X direction), this invention is not limited to this, The guide protrusion 11 of The protrusion 12 may be provided only on one of the both sides.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the second embodiment with the push button removed, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment with the support removed. In these FIGS. 5 and 6, the same reference numerals as those shown in the above-mentioned drawings are assigned the same reference numerals.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the operating body 5 is given a pressing force by a pressing operation on at least one of the opposite side portions in the first orthogonal direction (X direction), for example, one. A notch 20 is provided at the end opposite to the side (lower side in FIG. 6).

  A light emitting element 21 for illuminating the push button 1 is disposed in the space formed by the notch 20. The light emitting element 21 is made of an LED, for example, and is connected to the circuit board 9. The distance between the upper edge of the notch 20 and the upper end of the light emitting element 21 is set to a length that does not hinder the downward movement of the operating body 5 sufficient to press the switch element 6.

  Since the configuration of the second embodiment other than the points described above is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the guide groove 10 and the guide protrusion are formed on the inner surface of the operation body 5 and the outer surface of the support body 4 that face each other in the second linear movement direction (Y direction). 11, the guide grooves 10 and the guide protrusions 11 are not provided on the outer surface of the operation body 5 and the inner surface of the support body 4 that face each other in the first orthogonal direction (X direction). Thereby, the dimension of the operation body 5 and the support body 4 in one of the cross directions orthogonal to the linear motion direction of the operation body 5 (first linear motion direction) can be reduced, and thus the pushbutton switch device can be downsized. be able to.

  In the second embodiment, components such as the light emitting element 21 can be arranged in the space formed by the notch 20. Thereby, the freedom degree of arrangement | positioning of the components in the support body 4 can be improved.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the third embodiment with the push button removed, and FIG. 8 is a side view of the third embodiment with the support removed. 7 and 8, the same reference numerals as those shown in the previous drawings are given the same reference numerals as those shown in the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the third embodiment includes an operating body 30 having a shape different from that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the operating body 30 includes a pair of plate portions 31 and 32 that form both side portions of the operating body 30 in the second orthogonal direction (Y direction), and the pair of plate portions 31 and 32. It has a connecting portion 33 that extends in the linear motion direction (Z direction) and connects the pair of plate portions 31 and 32 to each other. The shape of the operating body 30 viewed from the end side in the linear motion direction is an H shape. Although not shown, the convex portion 3 of the push button 1 is formed with a groove that fits the connecting portion 33 in correspondence with the H-shaped operating body 30.

  A light emitting element 21 for illuminating the push button 1 is disposed in one of the concave portions 34 and 35 formed on both side portions of the operation body 30 in the first orthogonal direction (X direction).

  Since the configuration of the third embodiment other than the points described above is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  According to the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  Also in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the guide groove 10 and the guide protrusion are formed on the outer surface of the operation body 30 and the inner surface of the support body 4 that face each other in the second linear movement direction (Y direction). 11, the guide groove 10 and the guide protrusion 11 are not provided on the outer side surface of the operation body 30 and the inner side surface of the support body 4 that face each other in the first orthogonal direction (X direction). Thereby, the dimension of the operation body 30 and the support body 4 in one of the cross directions orthogonal to the linear movement direction of the operation body 30 (first linear movement direction) can be reduced, and thus the pushbutton switch device can be downsized. be able to.

  In the third embodiment, the pair of plate portions 31 and 32 are connected to each other by the connecting portion 33, and the shape of the operating body 30 viewed from the end side in the linear motion direction (Z direction) is formed in an H shape. It is. Thereby, when the operation body 30 is resin-molded, it is possible to prevent the side portions of the operation body on which the guide protrusion 11 is provided, that is, the plate portions 31 and 32 from being distorted inward (in the direction of the connecting portion 33). Therefore, the movement of the operating body 30 in the cross direction (X, Y direction) orthogonal to the linear motion direction can be more reliably regulated.

  In the third embodiment, since components such as the light emitting element 21 can be arranged in the recesses 34 and 35 formed on both sides of the operating body 30 in the first orthogonal direction, the components in the support 4 The degree of freedom of arrangement can be improved.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows 1st Embodiment of the pushbutton switch apparatus of this invention. It is a top view of the state which removed the pushbutton shown in FIG. 1 from 1st Embodiment. It is a side view of the state which removed the support body shown in FIG. 1 from 1st Embodiment. It is IV-IV sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view of the state which removed the pushbutton from 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view of the state which removed the support body from 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view of the state which removed the pushbutton from 3rd Embodiment. It is a side view of the state which removed the support body from 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Push button 2 Press part 3 Convex part 4 Support body 5 Operation body 6 Switch element 7 Case 8 Operation part 9 Circuit board 10 Guide groove (1st control means)
11 Guide protrusion (first regulating means)
12 Protrusion (second regulating means)
13 Sliding contact surface 20 Notch portion 21 Light emitting element 30 Operating body 31, 32 Plate portion 33 Connecting portion 34, 35 Recessed portion

Claims (3)

An operating body that is provided with a push button and is operated to be pressed, a support body that is inserted with the operating body and supports the operating body so as to be linearly movable, a switch element that operates in conjunction with a pressing operation of the operating body, A first restricting means for restricting movement of the operating body in the first orthogonal direction out of the cross direction composed of the first and second orthogonal directions orthogonal to the linear motion direction of the operating body, and a second orthogonal direction A push button switch device comprising: a second restricting means for restricting movement of the operating body to
The first restricting means is provided on one of the outer side surface of the operating body and the inner side surface of the support, and extends along the linear movement direction of the operating body, and the guide is provided on the other side. A guide projection inserted into the groove so as to be slidable, and provided at two positions facing each other with the operation body interposed therebetween in the second orthogonal direction,
The second restricting means is provided on one of the outer side surface of the operating body and the inner side surface of the support body, and includes a protruding portion that is slidably in contact with the other, and is adjacent to the first restricting means. A push button switch device characterized by being provided.   The operation body has a notch portion at an end portion on a side opposite to a side to which a pressing force is applied by a pressing operation, at least one of both side portions facing each other in the first orthogonal direction. The pushbutton switch device described.   The operating body extends along the linear motion direction between a pair of plate portions forming both side portions of the operating body in the second orthogonal direction, and connects the pair of plate portions to each other. The push button switch device according to claim 1, wherein the push button switch device is formed so as to have an H shape when viewed from the end side in the linear motion direction.

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