JP2008226599A - Button device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a button device capable of suppressing the generation of abnormal sounds (collision sounds) when a button is returned to the original position having a more stable structure. <P>SOLUTION: This button device S includes a pressed button 3 and a rubber switch 2 for energizing the button 3 in the direction reverse to the pressing direction when the pressing is released and having locking parts 25 which prevent the button 3 from escaping by abutting against stopper parts 33 installed on the button 3. The rubber switch 2 is made of a cushioning material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present application relates to a technical field such as a button device having a pressed button, a button structure, and the like.

  When the button (operation button) in this type of button device is pushed back to the original position (when the button is restored), the button and the button holding part (or the storage part) hit each other to cause abnormal noise ( There is a problem that a collision sound is generated. In order to reduce the occurrence of such abnormal noise, it has been proposed to apply the grease to the portion where the button slides to prevent the abnormal noise using the viscosity of the grease.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, the housing is provided with a guide cylinder, and the guide cylinder of the housing is fitted and pressed so as to be able to move up and down while being prevented from escaping by an escape prevention portion that contacts the locking pieces at both ends thereof In a key switch having a plunger having a key top attached to the upper end portion, a technology that reduces the collision sound generated when the key top is restored by providing the plunger escape prevention portion with flexibility. It is disclosed.
JP-A-5-190052

  However, applying grease to the part where the button slides adds to the grease application process, and furthermore, quality control is difficult due to the protrusion of the grease, and therefore there is a problem that the cost is increased.

  On the other hand, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the inclined surface of the contact portion in the escape prevention portion and the corner portion of the locking piece in the guide tube of the housing are in line contact, particularly the size control of the inclined surface of the contact portion. Is considered difficult. Moreover, it can be said that it is unstable as a stopper because the escape prevention part itself bends.

  Therefore, the present application aims to provide a button device capable of suppressing the generation of an abnormal sound (collision sound) generated when the button is returned with a more stable structure, with the solution of such a problem as one of the problems. And

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a button to be pressed, and when the pressing is released, the button is urged in a direction opposite to the pressing direction and is provided in the button. A holding device having a locking portion that abuts against the released locking portion to prevent the button from escaping, wherein at least the locking portion in the holding means is made of a cushioning material. It is characterized by becoming.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the button device according to the present embodiment, FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the main part of the button device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. It is a top view of a switch.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the button device S includes a substrate 1, a rubber switch 2 as an example of a holding unit, and a button 3, and a structure (design case) 4. It consists of a retained structure.

  The substrate 1 includes a contact portion 11 such as a copper foil pattern.

  The rubber switch 2 is made of an elastic material (an example of a buffer material) such as a contact rubber, and includes a convex portion 22 via a flexible skirt portion 21. A conductive portion 23 is provided on the bottom surface of the convex portion 22 (that is, the surface facing the contact portion 11). Further, the rubber switch 2 is formed with a through hole 24 through which a through part 32 described later passes.

  The button 3 includes a pressing portion 31 that can press the conductive portion 23, and includes a through portion 32 that penetrates a part of the rubber switch 2 and a part of the substrate 1. The through portion 32 can slide through the through hole 24 of the rubber switch 2 when the button 3 is pressed, and a stopper portion having a hook shape that comes into contact with the rubber switch 2 at the tip of the through portion 32. 33 (an example of a show-locking portion) is provided. When the pressing of the button 3 is released, the stopper portion 33 comes into contact with a portion (locking portion) 25 in the vicinity of the through hole 24 of the rubber switch 2 (in this example, contact with the surface), The escape of the button 3 is prevented, whereby the button 3 is held in the case 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a slit 26 is formed in the through hole 24 of the rubber switch 2, so that when the button 3 is assembled into the rubber switch 2, the stopper portion 33 is easily penetrated. Yes.

  In such a configuration of the button device S, the button 3 is urged in a direction opposite to the pressing direction by the skirt portion 21 and the convex portion 22 of the rubber switch 2 before being pressed (FIG. 2A), The hook portion of the stopper portion 33 of the button 3 is held in a state of being in close contact with and locked to the rubber switch 2.

  For example, when the button 3 is pressed by the operator (pressed in the pressing direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2B), the conductive portion 23 of the rubber switch 2 is contacted with the substrate 1 by the pressing of the pressing portion 31 of the button 3. At the same time, the hook portion of the stopper portion 33 of the button 3 is separated from the rubber switch 2.

  Thereafter, when the pressing of the button 3 is released (for example, when the operator releases the finger from the button 3), the button 3 is restored to the original (the pressing direction described above) by the restoring force (biasing force) of the skirt portion 21 of the rubber switch 2. (That is, the pressing portion 31 of the button 3 is urged by the convex portion 22 of the rubber switch 2), and at the same time, the hook portion of the stopper portion 33 of the button 3 is restored and the rubber switch 2 ( It will contact the locking part 25). The energy generated by the restoring force of the skirt portion 21 of the rubber switch 2 (in other words, the impact when the hook portion of the stopper portion 33 hits the rubber switch 2) is caused by the elastic material of the rubber switch 2 serving as a buffer material. As a result, the generation of abnormal noise (collision noise) accompanying the return of the button 3 is suppressed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the button device S pushes the button 3 in the direction opposite to the pressing direction when the button 3 is pressed, and when the pressing is released, A rubber switch 2 having a locking portion 25 that abuts against the provided stopper portion 33 to prevent the button 3 from escaping, and the rubber switch 2 is made of a cushioning material. When the hook portion of the portion 33 hits the rubber switch 2 (the locking portion 25) when the button 3 is returned (when the button 3 is released), the elastic material becomes a cushioning material, so there is no need for a grease application step. Thus, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise (collision noise) that occurs when the button 3 is returned with a more stable structure.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, since the stopper part 33 which acts as a stopper of the button 3 is not a structure which bends, it can be made to act stably as a stopper, and also the hook part of the stopper part 33 and the rubber switch 2 Since it makes contact with the (locking portion 25) on the surface, there will be no adverse effects such as difficulty in dimensional control.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the efficiency of the manufacturing process of the button apparatus S can be achieved by comprising so that the rubber switch 2 whole may consist of elastic materials.

  Further, in order to allow the hook portion provided in the stopper portion 33 of the button 3 to penetrate the rubber switch 2, slits 26 are formed on both sides of the surface with which the hook portion of the rubber switch 2 comes into contact. The insertion workability into the can be improved.

  In addition, the button apparatus S in the said embodiment is applicable with respect to all the electronic devices as which the button (key) movable back and forth (or up and down) is employ | adopted.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the button apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of the button apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a top view of a rubber switch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Board | substrate 2 Rubber switch 3 Button 4 Case 11 Contact part 21 Skirt part 22 Convex part 23 Conductive part 24 Through hole 25 Locking part 26 Slit 31 Press part 32 Through part 33 Stopper part S Button device

Claims (3)

The button to be pressed, and when the pressing is released, the button is urged in the direction opposite to the pressing direction, and the button is released by coming into contact with the engagement portion provided on the button. A holding device having a locking portion to prevent, a button device comprising:
The button device according to claim 1, wherein at least the locking portion of the holding means is made of a cushioning material. The button device according to claim 1,
The button includes a penetrating portion that penetrates a part of the holding means, and the leading end of the penetrating portion is provided with the hook engaging portion having a hook shape,
The button device according to claim 1, wherein a slit is formed in a through hole that penetrates the through portion in the holding unit. The button device according to claim 1 or 2,
The button device, wherein the holding means is made of an elastic material.

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