JP2008112634A - Push-button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push-button switch that has a very long service lifetime and allows stable operation while whose operational force or operational feeling remains unchanged from its initial state. <P>SOLUTION: The push-button switch is equipped with a switch body 16, which is composed of a case 1, having an opening part 1A formed at its upper part, and a case cover 13 covering the case 1, and a plunger 12 that protrudes from the upper face of the case cover 13 while a contact mechanism part is provided inside the switch body 16. Opening/closing of an electrical circuit is executed by linking vertical movements of the plunger 12 with the contact mechanism part while guiding the vertical movements inside the switch body 16. Each vertical groove 6 is provided at four corners of the external faces 3 of the case 1. Each metal round pin 11 having a smaller friction coefficient is fixed to each vertical groove 6. The switch body 16 is composed of the case cover 13 that is provided with the case 1 and the plunger 12. An operation button 25 covering the switch body 16 is arranged while being fitted with the plunger 12 by recess-projection fitting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a push button switch, and more particularly to a push button switch suitable for use with a device having a high operation frequency, which has a long life and makes the operation stable and smooth.

  Conventional push button switches generally use a resin such as polyacetal or fiber reinforced plastic with excellent durability for the sliding portion between the operation button and the switch body. In addition, a smooth material such as grease is applied to the sliding portion particularly in an apparatus that is frequently operated and requires a smooth operation feeling.

  If a plunger or case made of a resin with a low coefficient of friction is used in equipment that is operated frequently, the surface may be shaved due to friction between the resins, or a durability problem may occur, causing backlash of the operation buttons. There is a problem that the size becomes large or the operational feeling is impaired by the play. In particular, for pushbutton switches used in the field of broadcasting equipment, a stable operating force and a feeling of operation are always required, and furthermore, there is a market for pushbutton switches with extremely good operability that do not get tired even during operation. I was requesting.

Furthermore, the present applicant has developed a device in which a round pin is arranged between the case and the plunger, and the plunger is moved with respect to the case by using the round pin as a rail to generate a smooth operation feeling (Patent Document 1 below). ).
JP 2005-93254 A

  However, the above-described conventional pushbutton switch using a round pin as a rail has engaging grooves in the longitudinal direction of the inner wall of the case and the outer wall of the plunger, and the round pin is loosely fitted in the engaging groove. It was.

  In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch that has a long life and is extremely stable in operation, and whose operating force and operational feeling are the same as in the initial state.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
[1] A switch body composed of a case having an opening on the upper side and a case cover covering the case, and a plunger that protrudes from the hole of the case cover to the contact mechanism portion in the switch body, A pushbutton switch that guides the vertical movement of the plunger within the switch body and opens and closes the electric circuit in conjunction with the contact mechanism, and has vertical grooves at the four corners of the outer surface of the case. A metal round pin with a small coefficient is fixed, and a switch main body comprising the case and the case cover having the plunger is provided, and an operation button covering the switch main body is arranged in a concave and convex manner with the plunger. It is characterized by that.

  [2] The pushbutton switch according to [1], wherein the vertical groove is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the round pin, and the round pin is disposed in a press-fitted state in the vertical groove.

  [3] In the pushbutton switch described in [1] above, by engaging the round pin with the inner surface of the operation button, the operation button is guided in the vertical direction, and the operation button is stable without play. It is characterized by having a recess capable of obtaining the characteristics.

  As described above, the pushbutton switch of the present invention not only guides the vertical movement of the plunger within the switch body, but also has vertical grooves at the four corners of the outer surface of the case, and the vertical grooves are made of metal with a low friction coefficient. Since the round pin is fixed and the switch body is covered with the operation button, the switch body guides the vertical movement of the operation button, and the round pin and the inner surface of the operation button are in linear contact. A pushbutton switch with extremely stable operation force and operation feeling can be obtained without applying excessive force in other directions to the vertical movement. Furthermore, since a recess that engages with the round pin is provided on the inner surface of the operation button, this recess serves as a guide in the vertical direction of the operation button, and has a very stable operability with no play of the operation button. A button switch can be provided.

  According to the present invention, a switch body comprising a case having an opening at the top and a case cover covering the case, a contact mechanism portion disposed in the switch body, and a plunger protruding from the upper surface of the case cover are provided. Is a pushbutton switch that guides the vertical movement of the switch in the switch body and opens and closes the electric circuit in conjunction with the contact mechanism, and is provided with vertical grooves at the four corners of the outer surface of the case, and the vertical groove has a coefficient of friction. A switch body comprising the case cover having the case and the plunger is fixed with a small number of metal round pins, and an operation button that covers the switch body is provided by engaging and disengaging the plunger. Unreasonable force is not applied in the other direction with respect to the vertical movement of the button, and the play of the operation button is suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  1 is an exploded perspective view of a pushbutton switch showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the pushbutton switch, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the switch body of the pushbutton switch, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the inside of the switch body with the case cover of FIG. 5 removed.

  In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a case, 1A denotes an opening of the case 1, 2 denotes a flange protruding outward from the lower surface of the case 1, 3 denotes an outer surface of the case 1, and 4 denotes a coil spring protruding to the center of the case 1. Cylindrical projections for guiding 8, 5 A is a storage portion (connector storage), 5 B is a storage portion (switch element storage), 6 is vertical grooves formed at the four corners of the outer surface 3 of the case 1, and 7 is the case 1. Fixing portions formed on both side surfaces of the outer side surface 3, 9 is a connector, 10 is a switch element, 11 is a metal round pin with a low friction coefficient fixed to the longitudinal groove 6, and 12 is disposed on the coil spring 8. The plunger 12A has a cylindrical portion of the plunger 12, 12B has a square portion of the plunger 12, and 13 has a round hole 14 in which the plunger 12 is mounted and a hanging portion 15 having a square hole fitted in the fixing portion 7. Case cover, 16 Switch body comprising the case 1, plunger 12 and case cover 13 described above, 17 is a holding plate for the holder 21, 18 is a flexible printed circuit board, 19 is a printed circuit board, 20 is a light emitting diode (RGB), 21 is a holder, and 22 is a diffuser. Member (diffuser), 23 is an interconnector (zebra connector), 24 is a liquid crystal display element, 25 is an operation button (push button), 26 is a display section, 27 is associated with the round pin 11 at the four corners of the inner surface of the operation button 25. In other words, this is a recess for providing a stable operability without backlash while providing guidance for the operation button 25 in the vertical direction.

  In this way, the case body 13 fitted with the case 1 and the plunger 12 is concavo-convexly fitted to form the switch body 16, and the storage portion 5A is formed in the switch body 16, and the connector 9 is provided in the storage portion 5A. Installed. The connector 9 is inserted with an end of a flexible printed circuit board 18 to be described later. In addition, a switch element 10 that forms a contact mechanism portion is disposed in the storage portion 5B on the opposite inner surface where the connector 9 in the switch body 16 is disposed.

  A plunger 12 having a cylindrical portion 12A and a square portion 12B is disposed in the switch main body 16, and the cylindrical portion 12A of the plunger 12 is provided with a round hole 14 provided at a substantially central portion of the case cover 13 constituting the switch main body 16. More protruding. A cylindrical projection 4 provided at the center of the bottom surface of the case 1 constituting the switch body 16 guides the coil spring 8 disposed on the lower surface of the plunger 12, and the switch element is moved by the vertical movement of the plunger 12. 10 is turned on and off to open and close the electric circuit.

  Longitudinal grooves 6 are provided at the four corners of the outer surface 3 of the case 1 constituting the switch body 16, and metal round pins 11 having a small friction coefficient are disposed between the case 1 and the case cover 13 in the longitudinal grooves 6. Further, the round pin 11 is firmly fixed to the vertical groove 6 in a press-fit state so that the diameter of the vertical groove 6 provided in the case 1 constituting the switch body 16 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the round pin 11. Thereby, the vertical movement of the operation button 25 described later becomes stable and smooth, and a push button switch with a long life and extremely stable operation force and operation feeling can be obtained.

  Furthermore, by forming a recess 27 that engages with the round pin 11 on the inner surface of the operation button 25, the operation button 25 can be prevented from rattling, and can be guided more stably and smoothly in the vertical direction. Can do.

  The flexible printed circuit board 18 is formed with a through hole 18A from which the cylindrical portion 12A of the plunger 12 protrudes, and circuit patterns are formed at both ends of the flexible printed circuit board 18. The circuit pattern is connected and fixed to the back surface of the printed circuit board 19. An IC chip is mounted on the printed board 19 and a light emitting diode is disposed on the upper surface. A square holder 21 is provided on the printed circuit board 19, and the protrusions on the lower surface of the holder 21 are arranged in an uneven relationship with the printed circuit board 19. Further, a multicolor (red, green, blue, etc.) light emitting diode 20 is disposed on the holder 21. Further, on the side of the holder 21 where the light emitting diode 20 is not disposed, a protruding portion 21A is formed facing both sides, and a long hole 21B is formed inside thereof. An interconnector (zebra connector) 23 is mounted on the circuit pattern on the upper surface of the printed board 19 through the long hole 21B, and a liquid crystal display element 24 is disposed above the interconnector (zebra connector) 23. Further, a diffusion member 22 is disposed in a space on the holder 21 inside the interconnector (zebra connector) 23. And the operation button 25 is provided so that the above-mentioned assembly may be covered, and the display part 26 which consists of a translucent member is formed in the center part of the operation button 25. As shown in FIG. The plunger 12 is also elastically fitted in the space of the operation button 25, and the liquid crystal display element 24 to the flexible printed circuit board 18 are accommodated in the operation button 25 as described above. Composed.

  A switch element 10 serving as a contact mechanism is disposed in the switch body 16 and projects an operating shaft (not shown) that drives the switch element 10.

  The shaft 17A protruding downward from the presser plate 17 and the plunger 12 are connected so as to be able to transmit the operating force. Further, the flexible printed circuit board 18 is bent, penetrates the plunger 12 through the through hole 18 </ b> A of the flexible printed circuit board 18, and the circuit pattern at one end of the flexible printed circuit board 18 is connected to the connector 9.

  With the above configuration, power is supplied from the terminals of the connector 9 to the printed circuit board 19 through the flexible printed circuit board 18, and further, electricity is supplied to the light emitting diode 20 and the liquid crystal display element 24 through the IC chip. . Driving control of the light emitting diode 20 and the liquid crystal display element 24 is performed by an IC chip, and various characters and pictures can be displayed and various color tones can be changed.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the round pins 11 are arranged at the four corners of the outer side surface 3 of the case 1 of the switch body 16, and the round pins 11 are arranged to protrude outward. When the operation button 25 is attached, the round pin 11 stabilizes and smoothly moves the operation button 25 up and down, thereby obtaining a long-life operation force and operation feeling.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible based on the meaning of this invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

  The push button switch of the present invention realizes a push button switch whose operating force and feeling are the same as in the initial state, and is particularly suitable for a push button switch in the field of broadcasting equipment.

  Moreover, not only can a push button switch with a stable operating force and operational feeling be obtained, but it can also be used in various applications such as devices that are frequently operated.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the pushbutton switch which shows the Example of this invention. It is a top view of the pushbutton switch which shows the Example of this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view of the switch main body of the pushbutton switch which shows the Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the inside of the switch main body which removed the case cover of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 1A Case opening part 2 Case collar part 3 Case outer surface 4 Cylindrical protrusion 5A Storage part (connector accommodation)
5B storage (switch element storage)
6 Vertical grooves formed at the four corners of the outer surface of the case 7 Fixing portion 8 Coil spring 9 Connector 10 Switch element 11 Metal round pin with a small coefficient of friction fixed in the vertical groove 12 Plunger 12A Plunger cylindrical portion 12B Plunger square shape Part 13 Case cover 14 Round hole 15 Hanging part 16 Switch body 17 Holding plate 17A Shaft 18 Flexible printed circuit board 18A Through hole 19 Printed circuit board 20 Light emitting diode (RGB)
21 Holder 21A Protruding part 21B Long hole 22 Diffusion member (diffuser)
23 Interconnector (zebra connector)
24 Liquid crystal display element 25 Operation buttons (push buttons)
26 Display 27 Recess

Claims (3)

  A switch body comprising a case with an opening at the top and a case cover covering the case, and a contact mechanism is disposed in the switch body, and a plunger projecting upward from the hole of the case cover is provided. A pushbutton switch that guides the vertical movement in the switch body and opens and closes the electric circuit in conjunction with the contact mechanism, and has vertical grooves at the four corners of the outer surface of the case, and the vertical grooves have a low coefficient of friction. A metal round pin is fixed, and a switch main body comprising the case cover having the case and the plunger is provided, and an operation button covering the switch main body is provided in a concave and convex manner with the plunger. A push button switch featuring.   2. The pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein the vertical groove is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the round pin, and the round pin is press-fitted into the vertical groove.   By engaging the round pin with the inner surface of the operation button, the operation button is provided in a vertical direction, and has a recess capable of obtaining stable operability without play of the operation button. The push button switch according to claim 1.

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