JP2015095410A - Push button switch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push button switch structure in which a tactile switch is less likely to be damaged, even in a state where a button member is arranged above the tactile switch.SOLUTION: A push button member 2 has a first button member 21 exposed on a housing 1, and a second button member 22 arranged between the first button member 21 and a tactile switch 3. The second button member 22 is constituted of a cooperation member 23 a base of which engages with the first button member 21 and a tip of which abuts against the tactile switch 3 so as to turn the tactile switch 3 on, and a coil spring 24 which contracts to absorb the pressure, when a depression pressure of certain pressure or more exceeding the on operation pressure of the tactile switch 3 is generated in the first button member 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to a push button switch structure suitable for a test button, a reset button, or the like provided in an electric device such as an earth leakage circuit breaker.

  Some button switches such as a test button and a reset button provided in the earth leakage circuit breaker operate a tactile switch provided therein by pressing a button member. For example, in Patent Document 1, a tactile switch is assembled to a printed wiring board, and the tactile switch is turned on by pressing a button member provided on the upper part of the housing, so that the button can be assembled in a limited space. It was.

Japanese Patent No. 5258670

A tactile switch is usually a small switch that is installed on a printed circuit board and is turned on when a pressing operation is performed. Therefore, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the tactile switch is not directly operated by the button member, and an elastic lever is interposed so that the pressing force of the tactile switch is not applied beyond a certain level.
However, in the configuration in which this lever is interposed, since the button member and the tactile switch cannot be installed in an overlapping manner, a large space is required for the arrangement of the button member, and the merit of using the tactile switch has not been fully utilized.

  Therefore, in view of such a problem, the present invention has an object to provide a push button switch structure in which a tactile switch is not easily damaged even when a button member is disposed on the top of the tactile switch.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is arranged in a hole formed in a housing of an electric device including the push button member that is subjected to a depression operation and is operated to be immersed, and disposed in a deep part of the hole. A tactile switch, wherein the tactile switch is turned on when the push button member is pressed, wherein the push button member is exposed on the housing; A second button member disposed between the first button member and the tactile switch, wherein the second button member has a base portion engaged with the first button member and a tip end of the tactile switch. When the first button member is pressed with a cooperation member that contacts and turns on, and a pressing pressure exceeding a certain pressure exceeding the on-operation pressure of the tactile switch, the first button member contracts. Characterized in that it comprises an elastic member for absorbing the pressure in the.
According to this configuration, when the push button member disposed on the upper part of the tactile switch is pressed, the tactile switch is turned on and the tactile switch is turned on, but the second button member that contacts the tactile switch exceeds the on-operation pressure of the tactile switch. When pressed with a force exceeding a certain pressure, it contracts. Therefore, the second button member limits the pressing force of the tactile switch, and even if the push button member and the tactile switch are overlapped and arranged in the minimum space, the tactile switch is not subjected to a stress exceeding a certain pressure, and the tactile switch Can be prevented from being damaged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first aspect, the first button member has a step portion that engages with the housing and regulates a stroke when pressed down by a certain amount.
According to this configuration, since the stroke in the pushing direction of the first button member is limited to a certain amount by the stepped portion, it is possible to prevent the elastic member from contracting beyond the elastic range, and to push in the minimum space. A button can be assembled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first or second aspect, the linkage member is connected to the first button member in a state of being movable in the pressing operation direction and is in contact with the tactile switch. A flat pressing plate is provided on the portion, and the elastic member is a coil spring extrapolated to the link member body between the first button member and the pressing plate.
According to this configuration, since the cooperation member is movable in the pressing direction while being connected to the first button member, it can enter the first button member under the contraction of the coil spring and absorbs pressure well. it can.

  According to the present invention, when the push button member disposed at the upper part of the tactile switch is pressed, the tactile switch is turned on and the tactile switch is turned on. When pressed with a force exceeding a certain pressure, it contracts. Therefore, the second button member limits the pressing force of the tactile switch, and even if the push button member and the tactile switch are overlapped and arranged in the minimum space, the tactile switch is not subjected to a stress exceeding a certain pressure, and the tactile switch Can be prevented from being damaged.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing an example of a push button switch structure according to the present invention, before a pressing operation. FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view after a pressing operation in FIG. 1.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing an example of a push button switch structure according to the present invention, and shows a steady state in which no pressing operation is performed. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a housing of an earth leakage breaker, 2 is a push button member, 3 is a tactile switch, 4 is a printed circuit board on which the tactile switch is assembled. Used for reset button. The following description will be made with the pressing direction of the push button 2 as the downward direction.

The push button member 2 is exposed on the housing 1 and the upper surface of the push button member 21 is pressed by an operator. The push button member 2 is disposed below the first button member 21 and has a hole 11 formed in the housing 1. And a second button member 22 whose lower end contacts the tactile switch 3 to turn on the tactile switch 3.
The second button member further includes a cooperation member 23 connected to the first button member 21 and a coil spring 24 for returning the pressed first button member 21 and restricting the pressing force to the tactile switch 3. Has been.

  The first button member 21 includes a button portion 21 a that is formed in a cylindrical shape and the upper portion is exposed from the housing 1, and an insertion portion 21 b that is similarly formed in a cylindrical shape in the lower portion and is inserted into the hole 11 of the housing 1. Have. The button portion 21a is formed with a diameter larger than the diameter of the hole 11, and a step portion 21c is provided between the button portion 21a and the insertion portion 21b. The insertion of the first button member 21 into the hole 11 is restricted by the stepped portion 21c.

An engagement hole 21d for connecting the second button member 22 is recessed in the lower surface of the insertion portion 21b. The engagement hole 21d is formed to have a wider inside, and an engagement step portion 21e that engages with the inserted second button member 22 is formed.
The widened internal space is formed so that the inserted second button member 22 can slide up and down by a certain amount in an engaged state.

On the other hand, the second button member 22 is formed of a cooperation member 23 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and having one end connected to the first button member 21 and a coil spring 24, and the cooperation member 23 is formed on the upper portion of the first button member 21. It has the connection part 23a in which the claw piece 23b for inserting and connecting to the engagement hole 21d was formed.
In the connecting portion 23a, a slit 23c is formed in the diameter direction from the upper end to the depth reaching the center in the vertical direction. The slits 23c are brought into close contact with each other to reduce the diameter so that the slits 23c can be inserted into the engagement holes 21d of the first button member 21. As for the cooperation member 23 inserted in the engagement hole 21d, the claw piece 23b engages with the engagement step portion 21e and is prevented from coming off.

  The lower portion of the linkage member 23 is enlarged in diameter to form a pressing plate 23d having a flat lower surface for pressing the tactile switch, and the periphery of the body of the second button member 23 between the pressing plate 23d and the first button member 21 A coil spring 24 is extrapolated to the outside. Further, the pressing plate 23 d is formed with a diameter larger than that of the hole 11, and the connection between the first button member 21 and the second button member 22 is performed through the hole 11 of the housing 1.

In a state where the first button member 21 and the linkage member 23 are connected, the coil spring 24 is in a contracted state so as to always exert an urging force in the extending direction, and the first button member 21 and the linkage member 23 are always in a direction in which they are separated from each other. It is energized.
The coil spring 24 is selected so that its elasticity (restoring force) is larger than the on-operation pressure of the tactile switch 3, and when the first button member 21 is pressed, the cooperation member 23 biased downward is tactile. The switch 3 is pressed to turn on.
However, the coil spring 24 is turned on when the tactile switch 3 is pressed. However, the coil spring 24 contracts when a pressing force exceeding a predetermined pressure exceeding the pressing force is applied to the tactile switch 3, and the tactile switch 3 is more than a certain amount. One having elasticity that does not apply the pressure is selected and operates to prevent damage to the tactile switch 3.

The specific operation of the push button formed in this way is as follows. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a state in which the push button is pressed and turned on, and will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, an arrow P indicates the pressing direction.
When the button portion 21a exposed on the housing 1 is pressed, the second button member 22 that is in contact with the tactile switch 3 moves downward in conjunction with the tactile switch 3, and turns on the tactile switch 3. At this time, the link member 23 of the second button member 22 stops moving when the tactile switch 3 is pressed and the ON operation is completed, but thereafter, the link member 23 enters the first button member 21 against the elasticity of the coil spring 24. Thus, the pressing operation of the first button member 21 can be continuously performed.
Eventually, the stepped portion 21c engages with the end of the housing 1 around the hole 11, and the movement of the first button member 21 by pressing stops. This stopped state is the state shown in FIG.

  The stroke until the first button member 21 is locked to the housing 1 is set larger than the stroke at which the tactile switch 3 is turned on. Even when the stepped portion 21c is engaged with the housing 1, the connecting portion 23a of the linkage member 23 is configured not to contact the top surface 21f of the engaging hole 21d.

As described above, when the push button member 2 arranged on the upper side of the tactile switch 3 is pressed, the tactile switch 3 is turned on and the tactile switch 3 is turned on. However, the second button member 22 contacting the tactile switch 3 is turned on. When pressed with a force exceeding a certain pressure exceeding the operating pressure, it contracts. Therefore, the second button member 22 restricts the pressing force of the tactile switch 3, and even if the push button member 2 and the tactile switch 3 are overlapped and arranged in the minimum space, a stress of a certain pressure or more is applied to the tactile switch 3. The tactile switch 3 can be prevented from being damaged.
Further, since the stroke in the pushing direction of the first button member 21 is limited to a certain amount by the step portion 21c, it is possible to prevent the coil spring 24 from being contracted beyond its elastic range, and the push button can be pressed in a minimum space. Can be assembled.
Furthermore, since the cooperation member 23 is connected to the first button member 21 and can move in the pressing direction, it can enter the first button member 21 due to the contraction of the coil spring 24 and absorbs pressure well. it can.
Further, since the pressing plate 23 d is formed larger than the hole 11 formed in the housing 1, the push button member 2 does not fall off from the housing 1.

  In the above embodiment, the coil spring 24 is used as the elastic member, but a leaf spring may be used. Further, although the coil spring 24 is extrapolated to the linkage member 23, the second button member 22 may be constituted by being arranged inside the linkage member 23.

  The push button switch structure has been described as being applicable to a test button and a reset button of an earth leakage circuit breaker. However, the push button switch structure can be widely applied to electric devices as a button structure for operating a tactile switch disposed inside.

  1..Housing, 2..Push button member, 3..Tactile switch, 11..Hole, 21..First button member, 21c..Step part, 22..Second button member, 23..Cooperation member , 23d ··· pressing plate, 24 · · coil spring (elastic member).

Claims (3)

A push button member disposed in a hole formed in the housing of the electric device and receiving a pressing operation; and a tactile switch disposed in a deep portion of the hole, wherein the push button member is depressed. And a push button switch structure in which the tactile switch is turned on,
The push button member has a first button member exposed on the housing, and a second button member disposed between the first button member and the tactile switch,
The second button member has a base that engages with the first button member, a tip that abuts against the tactile switch and is turned on, and a pressure higher than a predetermined pressure that exceeds the on-operation pressure of the tactile switch. A push button switch structure comprising: an elastic member that absorbs pressure by contracting when a pressing pressure is generated in the first button member. 2. The push button switch structure according to claim 1, wherein the first button member includes a step portion that engages with the housing to restrict a stroke when the first button member is pressed down a certain amount. The linkage member is connected to the first button member in a state of being movable in a pressing operation direction, and includes a flat pressing plate at a tip portion that contacts the tactile switch,
3. The push button switch structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring that is extrapolated to the link member body between the first button member and the pressing plate.

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