JP2009123358A - Thin electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compactly integrate a push-button in a narrow space. <P>SOLUTION: The thin electronic device includes a rear cover 2 that is fit in the front panel and composed of a back plate 2A and a peripheral frame 2B, wherein the upper plate 2a of the peripheral frame 2B is tiltd aslant toward outside at a predetermined angle α of gradient in the direction of the front panel, a button hole 3 is provided through the upper plate 2a, and a synthetic resin push-button 4 is arranged in the button hole 3. The push-button 4 has a button body 4A inserted in the button hole 3 and a pair of elastically displaceable back and forth elastic arms 4E and 4F that extend outward from the peripheral edge of the button body 4A. The playing ends of both the elastic arms 4E and 4F are built in one body via a common substrate 4G. The button body 4A is inserted into the button hole 3 by pressure-fitting each of the lock holes 19a and 19b of the common substrate 4G to the lock pins 21a and 21b protruded from the underside of the upper plate 2a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a thin electronic device such as a portable navigator, and more particularly to a push button that can be compactly incorporated in a narrow space.

A thin electronic device is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5, which is a portable navigator, which has a front panel 1 having a liquid crystal display screen 1a and a width t in the front-rear directions a and b (for example, t =
A synthetic resin rear cover 2 having a small size of 10 to 20 mm is fitted, and the rear cover 2
Is composed of a back plate 2A parallel to the front panel 1, and an outer peripheral frame 2B that is integrally projected on the outer peripheral edge of the back plate 2A and fits to the front panel. An upper plate (button attachment plate) 2a is inclined obliquely outward at a predetermined inclination angle α toward the front panel 1, and a button hole 3 is provided substantially through the center of the front and rear directions a and b of the upper plate 2a. A synthetic resin push button 4 is disposed in the button hole 3.

6 to 10 are conventional structures of thin electronic devices, FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, FIG. 7 is a view taken along arrow B-B in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view thereof. 9 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of the main part, FIG.
0 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the inappropriately incorporated state, FIG. 10 (b) is a longitudinal sectional view showing another example of the inappropriately incorporated state, and FIG. 10 (c) is the inappropriately incorporated state. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows another example of these.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the push button 4 has a button body 4 </ b> A inserted into the button hole 3,
The elastic body 4C includes a pair of elastic arms 4C and 4D that are elastically displaceable outwardly extending from the outer peripheral edge of the flange 4B that is formed integrally with the lower end of the button body 4A. , 4
A lock hole 6 is provided at the rear end of D, and the outer surface facing angle β of both elastic arms 4C and 4D is made to substantially coincide with the inner surface facing angle θ between the upper plate 2a and the cradle 7.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, a pair of left and right receiving bases 7 are integrally projected at a predetermined interval on the inner peripheral surface of the back plate 2 </ b> A by approaching the button hole 3, and each of the receiving bases 7. A lock pin 8 is integrally projected on the vertical side surface 7a. In FIG. 6, 9 is a switch fixed on the printed circuit board 10 and is in contact with or close to the lower surface of the button body 4A.

The procedure for assembling the push button 4 will be described. The push button 4 is inserted into the rear cover 2,
Each elastic arm 4C, 4D is press-fitted into the lock pin 8 to lock each elastic arm 4C, 4D.
, 4D abuts the side surface 7a of each cradle 7 and elastically displaces the front ends of the elastic arms 4C, 4D to insert the button body 4A into the button hole 3 (see FIG. 6).

In the above configuration, both elastic arms 4C and 4D can be obtained by pressing the button body 4A with a finger.
The switch 9 is turned on and off. In addition, there exists what was described in patent document 1 as a related technique.
JP 2006-164748 A

In the conventional configuration described above, the button hole 3 is directed in the vertical direction, whereas each lock pin 8 is
Are oriented in the front-rear directions a and b, so that the lock holes 6 are press-fitted to the lock pins 8 and at the same time the front ends of the elastic arms 4C and 4D are elastically deformed so that the button body 4A is formed into the button hole 3. It is necessary to forcibly push in, and it takes time and effort to incorporate it.

Since the rear cover 2 and the push button 4 are integrally formed of synthetic resin and are easily deformed, a dimensional error may occur between the inner surface facing angle θ of the rear cover 2 and the outer surface facing angle β of the push button 4. As shown in (a), when the outer surface facing angle β is smaller than the inner surface facing angle θ (β <θ), the button main body 4A falls into the button hole 3 by the interval h, and the appearance The upper appearance is worse and the usability is bad. As shown in FIG. 10 (b), when the outer surface facing angle β is larger than the inner surface facing angle θ (β> θ), the button body 4 </ b> A may be caught on the lower edge inner periphery of the button hole 3. As shown in FIG.
When the diameter e of the button hole 3 is increased to facilitate the insertion of the button body 4A into the button hole 3, dust easily enters the rear cover 2 from the button hole 3.

Moreover, since both elastic arms 4C and 4D are formed in a substantially L shape in a side view and the structure is complicated, the structure of the molding die becomes complicated and the cost of the mold is high.

According to Patent Document 1, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 11, the push button 4 is elastically displaceable extending outward from the button body 4A and the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 4B formed integrally with the button body 4A. A pair of left and right frontal substantially L-shaped elastic arms 4C, 4D, each elastic arm 4C,
The button body 4 </ b> A is fitted in the fitting hole 18 of the exterior panel 16 by fitting the engagement hole 15 penetrating the end of 4 </ b> D to the engagement pin 17 projecting from the back surface of the exterior panel 16. .

According to the above configuration, since both elastic arms 4C and 4D are independent from each other, for example, a right-handed person regularly and repeatedly presses the position on the right side of the central portion of the button body 4A with a finger,
When a load is repeatedly applied to the right elastic arm 4D in a concentrated manner, the right elastic arm 4D causes elastic fatigue relatively early to reduce the elastic restoring force, thereby supporting the button body 4A elastically and reliably. There is a risk that it will not be possible.

Further, since the push button 4 is formed in line symmetry with respect to the center line P passing through the center of the button body 4A, and its lateral width m is relatively large, the push button 4 is compactly incorporated in the thin electronic device targeted by the present invention. Is difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thin electronic device in which a push button can be compactly incorporated in a narrow space in view of the above-described conventional drawbacks.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a synthetic resin rear cover having a small width in the front-rear direction is fitted to a front panel, and the rear cover is parallel to the front panel; The outer peripheral frame is integrally projected on the outer peripheral edge of the back plate, and the button mounting plate of the outer peripheral frame is inclined obliquely outward at a predetermined inclination angle toward the front panel. In a thin electronic device in which a button hole is provided in a mounting plate, and a synthetic resin push button is disposed in the button hole, the push button is inserted into the button hole from the outer periphery of the button body. A pair of front and rear elastic arms capable of elastic displacement extending outward, the free ends of both elastic arms being formed integrally with each other via a common substrate, and a lock hole penetrating the common substrate; A cradle is integrally projected on the back surface of the button mounting plate adjacent to the hole, and a lock pin is integrally projected on the cradle. The lock hole is press-fitted into the lock pin, and a common substrate is mounted. The button main body is inserted into the button hole by abutting against the cradle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the lock pin is provided in a pair of front and rear directions, and the axial center of the rear lock pin is in the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The elastic arms are positioned on or in front of the imaginary line passing along the same line, and both elastic arms are formed in a substantially U shape with the same length.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a synthetic resin rear cover having a small width in the front-rear direction is fitted to the front panel, and the rear cover is integrated with the back plate parallel to the front panel and the outer peripheral edge of the back plate. The button mounting plate of the outer peripheral frame is inclined obliquely outward at a predetermined inclination angle toward the front panel, and the button hole penetrates the button mounting plate. In a thin electronic device provided with a synthetic resin push button in the button hole, the push button can be elastically displaced extending outward from the button body inserted into the button hole and the outer periphery of the button body. A pair of front and rear elastic arms, and the free ends of the two elastic arms are integrally formed with each other via a common substrate, and a pair of front and rear lock holes are formed through the common substrate, adjacent to the button holes. The A cradle is integrally projected on the back surface of the tongue mounting plate, and a pair of front and rear lock pins are integrally projected on the cradle. The axial center of the rear lock pin is defined as the longitudinal direction of the button hole. Positioned on or in front of an imaginary line passing along the right-and-left direction perpendicular to each other, the both elastic arms have the same length and are substantially U-shaped, and each lock pin is press-fitted to each lock pin. The button body is inserted into the button hole by bringing the common substrate into contact with the cradle.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the lock hole is press-fitted into the lock pin, at the same time, the button body is automatically inserted into the button hole, and the assembling work can be performed easily and reliably.

In addition, since both elastic arms are formed in a straight line when viewed from the side, and the structure is simple, the structure of the mold for forming the push button is simplified and the cost of the mold is reduced.

Furthermore, since the free ends of both elastic arms are integrally formed with each other via a common substrate,
For example, by repeatedly and repeatedly pressing the position off the center of the button body with the finger, even if a load is repeatedly applied to one elastic arm, the load is shared by the other elastic arm. Only the elastic arm does not cause elastic fatigue comparatively early and does not lower the elastic restoring force, and the elastic elastic force can be reliably supported for a long time by both elastic arms.

In the invention according to claim 2, since the button mounting plate of the rear cover is inclined obliquely outward at a predetermined inclination angle toward the front panel, the rear projecting width of the rear elastic arm is set large. Then, the rear elastic arm may come into contact with the button mounting plate and hinder the elastic displacement of the rear elastic arm.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the axis of the rear lock pin is positioned on or in front of the imaginary line passing through the axis of the button hole along the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Since the push button is formed asymmetrically around the line, and the rear projecting width of the rear elastic arm is set small, there is no possibility that the rear elastic arm contacts the button mounting plate,
Thereafter, the button elastic body can be elastically supported in a predetermined manner by smoothly elastically displacing the side elastic arm.

Further, if the lateral width of the push button is set to be large, it becomes difficult to incorporate the push button into a narrow internal space in the rear cover.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, both elastic arms are formed in a substantially U shape with the same length, and the lateral width of the push button is set small. It can be easily incorporated into a narrow internal space.

In short, since the push button of the present invention has a small exclusive range in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, it can be compactly incorporated even in a narrow space in the rear cover.

The invention according to claim 3 corresponds to one embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 4), and according to this, the same effect as the invention according to claims 1 and 2 can be obtained. it can.

1 to 4 show a thin electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a portable navigator, FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, and FIG. 2 is an arrow AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view, FIG. 4 is an exploded vertical sectional view of the main part showing the assembling procedure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the button 4 is inserted into the button hole 3, and the button body 4 </ b>A;
A pair of elastic front and rear elastic arms 4E, 4F that extend outward from the outer peripheral edge of the flange 4B integrally formed at the lower end of the button body 4A, and the free ends of the elastic arms 4E, 4F Are formed integrally with each other via a common substrate 4G wider than both elastic arms 4E and 4F.
A pair of front and rear lock holes 19a and 19b are formed through the common substrate 4G.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a cradle 20 is integrally protruded along the front-rear direction a and b on the lower surface of the upper plate 2 a adjacent to the button hole 3, and is formed on the horizontal lower surface 20 a of the cradle 20. A pair of front and rear lock pins 2
1a and 21b are integrally projected, and the axis O1 of the rear side lock pin 21a passes through the axis O2 of the button hole 3 along the left and right directions c and d perpendicular to the front and rear directions a and b ( Or the front lock pin 21b is positioned at the front a with a predetermined interval k from the rear lock pin 21a, and the elastic arms 4E and 4F are formed in a substantially U shape with the same length. Has been. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 22 denotes a support base integrally provided on the lower surface of the upper plate 2 a with the button hole 3 interposed therebetween, and the flange portion 4 </ b> B is brought into contact with the horizontal lower surface 22 a of the support base 22. Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as the configuration shown in FIGS.

The procedure for assembling the push button 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the push button 4 is inserted into the rear cover 2 and lifted, and the lock holes 19a and 19b are press-fitted into the lock pins 21a and 21b. The button body 4A is inserted into the button hole 3 by bringing 4G into contact with the lower surface 20a of the cradle 20 (see FIG. 1).

According to the above configuration, since the button hole 3 and the lock pins 21a and 21b face in the same direction, when the lock holes 19a and 19b are press-fitted into the lock pins 21a and 21b, at the same time, The main body 4A is automatically inserted into the button hole 3, and the assembling work can be performed easily and reliably.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, since both elastic arms 4E and 4F are formed in a straight line when viewed from the side, and the structure is simple, the structure of the molding die of the push button 4 is also simplified. Mold cost is cheap.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, since the free ends of both elastic arms 4E and 4F are integrally formed with each other via a common substrate 4G, for example, the position where the finger part is removed from the central part of the button body 4A is customary. By repeatedly pushing repeatedly, even if a load is repeatedly applied to one elastic arm 4E (or 4F), the load is also shared by the other elastic arm 4F (4E), so that one elastic arm 4E (or 4F) does not cause elastic fatigue relatively early and the elastic restoring force does not decrease, and the elastic body 4E, 4F can elastically and reliably support the button body 4A over a long period of time.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, since the upper plate 2a of the rear cover 2 is inclined obliquely outward at a predetermined inclination angle α toward the front panel 1, the rear elastic arm 4E protrudes toward the rear b. If the width is set large, the rear elastic arm 4E may come into contact with the lower surface of the upper plate 2a and hinder the elastic displacement of the rear elastic arm 4E.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the axis O1 of the rear lock pin 21a.
Is positioned on an imaginary line S passing through the axial center O2 of the button hole 3 (or forward a),
The push button is formed asymmetrically around the imaginary line S, and the protruding width g of the rear elastic arm 4E toward the rear b is set small, so that the rear elastic arm 4E is formed on the upper plate 2a. There is no risk of contact with the lower surface, and the elastic body 4E on the rear side is smoothly elastically displaced to make the button body 4A.
Can be elastically supported as prescribed.

Moreover, in the structure shown in FIG. 11, since the horizontal width m of the push button 4 is set comparatively large,
It becomes difficult to incorporate the push button 4 in a narrow internal space in the rear cover 2.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, both elastic arms 4E and 4F are formed in a substantially U shape with the same length, and the lateral width r of the push button 4 in the left and right directions c and d. Is set to be small, the push button 4 can be easily incorporated into a narrow internal space in the rear cover 2.

In short, the push button 4 of the present invention has a small exclusive range in the front and rear directions a and b and the left and right directions c and d, so that it can be compactly incorporated in a narrow space in the rear cover 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the push button 4 is attached to the upper plate 2a of the outer peripheral frame 2B is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case where the push button 4 is attached to the side plate of the outer peripheral frame 2B. Applied.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the thin electronic device which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is an AA arrow line view of FIG. It is the same perspective view. It is a decomposition | disassembly longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part which shows the same incorporating procedure. It is a perspective view which shows a thin electronic device. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a prior art example. It is a BB arrow line view of FIG. It is the same perspective view. It is a decomposition | disassembly longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part. (A) is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the improperly assembled state, (b) is a longitudinal sectional view showing another example of the improperly assembled state, and (c) is still another example of the inappropriately assembled state. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows another prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Front panel 2 Rear cover 2A Back cover back plate 2B Rear cover outer frame 2a Upper plate (button mounting plate)
3 Button hole 4 Push button 4A Button body 4E Rear elastic arm 4F Front elastic arm 4G Common substrate 19a, 19b Lock hole 20 Receiving base 21a, 21b Lock pin S Virtual line O1 Axle of rear lock pin O2 Axis of button hole Centers a, b Front-back direction c, d Left-right direction t Rear cover width

Claims (3)

A synthetic resin rear cover with a small width in the front-rear direction is fitted to the front panel, and the rear cover is integrally projected on the back plate parallel to the front panel and the outer peripheral edge of the back plate and fitted to the front panel The button mounting plate of the outer peripheral frame is inclined obliquely outward at a predetermined inclination angle toward the front panel, the button mounting plate has a button hole penetrating the synthetic resin in the button hole. In a thin electronic device in which a push button is arranged, the push button has a button body inserted into the button hole and a pair of front and rear elastic arms capable of elastic displacement extending outward from the outer periphery of the button body. The free ends of the two elastic arms are integrally formed with each other through a common substrate, a lock hole is formed through the common substrate, and a cradle is integrally projected on the back surface of the button mounting plate adjacent to the button hole. Setting In addition, a lock pin is integrally projected on the cradle, and the button body is inserted into the button hole by press-fitting the lock hole to the lock pin and bringing the common substrate into contact with the cradle. A thin electronic device characterized by the above. A pair of front and rear lock pins are provided, and an axial center of the rear lock pin is positioned on or in front of an imaginary line passing through the axial center of the button hole along the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Are formed in a substantially U-shape with the same length.
Thin electronic device as described in 2. A synthetic resin rear cover with a small width in the front-rear direction is fitted to the front panel, and the rear cover is integrally projected on the back plate parallel to the front panel and the outer peripheral edge of the back plate and fitted to the front panel The button mounting plate of the outer peripheral frame is inclined obliquely outward at a predetermined inclination angle toward the front panel, the button mounting plate has a button hole penetrating the synthetic resin in the button hole. In a thin electronic device in which a push button is arranged, the push button has a button body inserted into the button hole and a pair of front and rear elastic arms capable of elastic displacement extending outward from the outer periphery of the button body. The free ends of the two elastic arms are integrally formed with each other through a common substrate, and a pair of front and rear lock holes are formed through the common substrate, and a cradle is mounted on the back surface of the button mounting plate adjacent to the button hole. A pair of front and rear locking pins are integrally projected on the cradle, and the axis of the rear locking pin passes through the axis of the button hole along the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The elastic arms are positioned on or in front of the line, and both elastic arms have the same length and are substantially U-shaped. The lock holes are press-fitted into the lock pins to bring the common substrate into contact with the cradle. A thin electronic device characterized in that the button body is inserted into the button hole.

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