JP2538757Y2 - Game console push button switch - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a push button switch which can be mounted on an operation panel of a game machine so that a push area, that is, a sweet spot can be obtained in a wide range.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video game machine or the like can enjoy a game more by operating an operation member such as an operation rod or a push button switch provided on an operation panel of a game machine body. . Also, depending on the content of the game,
How to operate a plurality of operation members skillfully, that is, how quickly and with good timing, is often the point of game capture. In this case, there is a problem that only highly skilled and skilled players can enjoy such a game.

[0003] Conventionally, various types of operation buttons have been proposed in order to improve the operability of the push button switch (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-81833 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 59-72626).
No., No. 60-15724, No. 1-92042, No. 2-926
22, No. 3-32018, No. 4-65397, No. 4-27
No. 063).

[0004]

In the above-mentioned various types of push button switches, a required number of switch contacts are formed on the back side of the operation button, and the switch contact between the operation side contact and the opposed fixed contact is provided. The feature is that the contact is ensured, and it basically has a point symmetric structure, and the structure of the connection between the operation buttons and the fixed side is not structurally sufficient. It is difficult to say that measures against the pressing deformation are sufficient for those having a high probability that the pressing operation will be performed quickly or strongly. That is, since the player is concentrated on the game screen or the like, it is highly possible that the switch of a predetermined size is pressed accurately, and even more so that the center of the switch is not pressed accurately. When the area around the switch is pressed, the switch may or may not be turned on.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
Provided is a push-button switch for a game machine capable of enlarging a pressable area of a switch itself and a wide range of a press area, that is, a so-called sweet spot so that the switch can be suitably turned on even when the periphery of the switch is pressed. Things.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a push button switch which can be mounted on an operation panel of a game machine, comprising a flat base and an operation button which can be pressed on one side of the base. A plurality of push switches protrudingly provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the base, and electrically connected so that at least one of the push switches can be detected as being pressed; A flat plate made of an elastic material, which is disposed on one surface side of the base so as to face the plurality of push switches and has an upright portion whose peripheral edge is bent toward the base side. Between the base and the plate-shaped pad, and comprises a projecting member interposed in the center thereof to urge the plate-shaped pad to the one surface side, and wherein the plate-shaped pad is In the upright section, around the adjacent push switch In which binding structure abutting coupling the said base and said upright portion at a position corresponding to an intermediate position is formed (claim 1).

It is preferable that the base has a concave portion formed at the center thereof toward the other surface, and the projecting member is loosely fitted in the concave portion.

In the flat pad, it is preferable that the thickness of the upright portion at the position where the coupling structure is formed is thicker than the thickness of the other portions.

It is preferable that the base has a circular shape.

Preferably, three push switches are provided on the base (claim 5).

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the upper surface of the flat pad is pressed against the sprung member, if the pressed position is the center, all the push button switches are turned on. When one peripheral portion of the pad is pressed, the push button switch arranged near this press is turned on, or when the pressed position is between adjacent push button switches, both switches are turned on. As described above, the elasticity and thickness of the flat pad are set in advance so that at least a neighboring push button switch is turned on even when one peripheral portion is pressed. Accordingly, a large sweet spot can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the sprung member is loosely fitted in the concave portion of the base, it is easy to hold the position without impairing its function.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when the pressed position is one peripheral portion of the flat pad or between the adjacent push button switches, the outside thickness is large. Since the deformation of the pad is distributed in the circumferential direction or inward, suitable pad deformation is obtained, and the possibility of adversely affecting the on / off state of the push button switch is reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the base is disk-shaped, the difference in the degree of the push switch on the pressing position in the circumferential direction is further reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the push button switches are arranged at every 120 ° on the base, the number of push switches in the circumferential direction of the pressed position is small, but the difference is small. It becomes even smaller.

[0016]

FIG. 5 is an external view showing an example of a video game machine using the push button switch according to the present invention.

The video game machine 1 is a game, for example, in a battle game, in which players fight each other or the game machine side. The display unit 2 is composed of a CRT or the like, and is disposed at an appropriate place above the video game machine 1 and at a position that is easy for a player to see. The operation panel 3 is disposed at an appropriate position below the display unit 2 at a position where a player can easily operate the operation panel 3, and provided with operation units 4 and 5. The coin insertion slot 6 is provided at an appropriate position on the front of the video game machine 1 so that predetermined coins can be inserted. The start switch 7 is provided at an appropriate position on the front of the video game machine 1 to start a game.

The operation units 4 and 5 are joysticks 4a and 5
a, The push button switches 4b and 5b according to the present invention and a single push switch 4c and 5c for performing game designation and the like are provided so that a plurality of players can play a game at the same time. The push button switches 4b and 5b are formed so that the pressable area is relatively large as compared with a normal push switch.

In the video game machine 1, the player operates the operation units 4 and 5 while looking at the display unit 2, that is, instructs the direction with the joysticks 4a and 5a, sets an aim on the screen, and pushes. The game progresses by pressing the button switches 4b and 5b once or quickly and continuously at a required or delicate timing to carry out a missile attack. Note that the video game machine 1 may be a game machine for one person or a portable game machine.

FIG. 1 shows a push button switch 4b according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 2, showing the structure of (5b), and FIG. 2 is a plan view. Since the push button switches 4b and 5b have the same structure, only the push button switch 4b will be described below.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a base disk having a required diameter made of a resin, a metal material, or the like, and a hole 101 having a predetermined diameter is formed in the center thereof. The disk 10 has such a strength that it does not deform when pressed during play. A receiving member 11 having a U-shaped cross section is adhered to the lower surface of the disk 10 so as to surround the hole 101 or is attached using a fixing member (not shown). Thus, a cubic or rectangular parallelepiped concave space is formed. That is, the bottom 111 of the receiving member 11 has the same size as the diameter of the hole 101 in both width (vertical direction in FIG. 2) and length. The receiving member 11
May be formed integrally with the disk 10.

The receiving member 11 has a hole 1 in its concave space.
A spring guide 12 having a cylindrical or cylindrical shape having a relatively small diameter as compared with 01 is attached at the bottom 111. The spring guide 12 has the same height as the receiving member 11 and is substantially flush with the disk 10.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a receiving member 11 and a spring guide 1.
The spring is loosely fitted between the two, and has a diameter substantially intermediate between the diameter of the hole 101 and the diameter of the spring guide 12.
The length dimension is in an open state, and is relatively or slightly longer than the dimension between the bottom 111 of the receiving member 11 and the back surface of the rubber pad 17 described later. And this spring 13
Are the bottom 111 of the receiving member 11 and the rubber pad 1 described later.
7 is provided in a compressed state between the back surfaces. The shape of the receiving member 11 can be various shapes if the spring guide 12 and the spring 13 do not fall off.

The disk 10 is provided with three mounting holes 104, 105, and 106 having an equal radius and an equal interval in the circumferential direction. 14, 15, and 16 are the same push switches, and the mounting holes 104, 105, and 106 of the disc 10 are provided.
Are inserted in a direction perpendicular to the disk surface. The push switches 14, 15, 16 are, for example, operation buttons 141, 151, 161 having a square head and a fixed portion 14 having a circular mounting flange fixed to the disk 10.
2, 152, 162, and the operation buttons 141, 15
1, 161 are fixed portions 142, 152, 16 so that they are arranged so as to protrude above the upper surface of the disk 10 by an appropriate size.
At 2 it is attached to the disc 10. And the operation button 1
When 41, 151, 161 is pressed, each switch is turned on.

The push switches 14, 15, 16 are connected to an input line L1 and an output line L2. When the operation buttons 141, 151, 161 are depressed, the input line L1 and the output line L2 are internally generated. Are switched from cut-off to short-circuit, and by switching to this short-circuit, a predetermined voltage or a predetermined signal from the input line L1 is led to the output line L2.
The input lines L1 and the output lines L2 of the push switches 14, 15, 16 are connected in parallel (that is, configured as an OR circuit), and if at least one switch is turned on, the push button switch 4b is turned on. It will be treated as if it entered.

In the vicinity of the disk 10 and the mounting hole 10
A through hole 102 having a predetermined diameter, through which a bolt member 17 described later penetrates, is provided at an intermediate position in the mounting direction of the holes 4, 105, and 106.
Are drilled respectively.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a flat rubber pad made of an elastic material which is disposed to face the front surface of the disk 10 so as to cover the front surface. The peripheral edge of the rubber pad 17 is bent by a predetermined dimension in one direction perpendicular to the plate surface, and an upright portion 171 in contact with the disk 10 is formed to have a predetermined thickness over the entire circumference. I have. Thick mounting portions 172, 173, and 174 are formed at three equally-spaced portions of the upright portion 171. The bolt members 18 are embedded in the mounting portions 172, 173, and 174, respectively, with the distal ends thereof protruding downward in the vertical direction. And the spring 13
1, the rubber pad 17 is put on the front surface as shown in FIG.
2, and further, in this state, is inserted through a mounting hole (not shown) formed in the operation panel 3, and a nut is tightened from below the operation panel 3, so that the push button switch 4 b is moved to the operation panel 3. At a predetermined position. Operation panel 3
Mounting holes for receiving member 11, push switches 14-1
6 has a shape that can be inserted therethrough.

If the thickness of the mounting portions 172 to 174 is made thicker than the thickness of the other upright portion 171, the pressing position is at one peripheral portion of the rubber pad 17, especially between the adjacent push switches. However, since there is a thick mounting portion immediately outside thereof, the deformation due to the pressing of the rubber pad 17 is distributed in the circumferential direction or the inside, so that suitable pad deformation can be obtained in a wide range, and the push button Switch 4b
The possibility of having an adverse effect on the degree of entry is further reduced. In addition, the shape of the mounting portions 172 to 174 is not limited to the shape of the present embodiment. For example, even if the inside of the mounting portion is pressed, pressing deformation of the rubber pad 17 can be realized in a wide range. Various shapes such as a wavy shape in which the thickness gradually increases from both sides in the circumferential direction, and the like can be adopted.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the deformed state of the elastic pad when the player presses the elastic pad.
3 is a cross-sectional view when the center is pressed, and FIG. 4 is a case where the periphery (point P in FIG. 2) is pressed.

In FIG. 3, since the central portion is pressed and the entire rubber pad 17 is bent from the central portion toward the periphery, the operation buttons 141, 151 and 161 of all the push switches 14, 15, and 16 are operated. It has been depressed by approximately the same size, which turns it on.

In FIG. 4, the rubber pad 1 is pressed by pressing a point P substantially in the middle of the push switches 14 and 16.
7, particularly, both sides in the circumferential direction at point P are bent downward, and at least the operation button 141 of the push switch 14 is pressed (not shown, but the operation button
1 has also been pressed), thereby turning on the switch. Note that, for example, when the push switch 15 is pressed in the vicinity of the push switch, for example, at least the operation button 151 of the push switch 15 is pressed, so that the switch is reliably turned on as in the case where the center portion is pressed. It has become.

That is, the degree of deformation of the rubber pad 17 is
When a normal player presses the rubber pad 17, even in the case of FIGS. 3 and 4 and when the immediate vicinity of the push switch is pressed, at least one of the push switches is always turned on. Distance between the operation button and the flat portion of the rubber pad 17 (that is, the vertical portion 17)
1), the elastic force of the flat plate portion of the rubber pad 17, its thickness, the thickness of both the upright portion 171 and the mounting portions 172 to 174, the spring pressure, the pressing resistance of the operation buttons 141 to 161, and the like. Is designed.

The number of push switches may be three or more.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a flat pad having a pressable area equal to or larger than a plurality of push switches is provided at the upright portion of the flat pad at the circumferentially intermediate position of the adjacent push switches. Is formed at the position corresponding to the above, so that the switch operation becomes easy even if the player is enthusiastic about the game, and that one peripheral portion of the flat pad is pressed. However, since at least a nearby push switch is turned on, a sweet spot of the push button switch can be obtained over a wide range, and reliability can be further improved.

Further, since the projecting member is loosely fitted into the recess in order to bias the flat pad to one side, it is easy to reliably maintain the position of the projecting member without impairing the biasing performance of the flat pad. Claim 2).

Further, since the thickness of the upright portion of the flat pad at the position where the coupling structure is formed is made thicker than the thickness of the other upright portions, the pressing position is one peripheral portion of the flat pad, or Even when the pressing position is between the adjacent push switches, suitable pad deformation can be achieved, and the possibility of adversely affecting the on / off state of the push button switch can be reduced (claim 3).

Further, since the base has a circular shape, it is possible to further reduce the difference in how the push switch is turned on in the circumferential direction of the pressing position (claim 4).

Further, since the three push switches are provided, the difference in how the push switches are turned on in the circumferential direction of the pressing position can be further reduced although the number is small (claim 5).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 2, showing the structure of a push button switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the push button switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 2, showing a deformed state of the elastic pad when a player presses a center portion of the elastic pad.

FIG. 4 shows a state of deformation of the elastic pad when the player presses a point P around the elastic pad.
It is sectional drawing.

FIG. 5 is an external view showing an example of a video game machine in which the push button switch according to the present invention is used.

[Description of Signs] 1 Video game machine 3 Operation panel 4b, 5b Push button switch 10 Disc (base) 101 Hole 102 Through hole (coupling structure) 104-106 Mounting hole 11 Receiving member 111 Bottom part 12 Spring guide 13 Spring ( Spring member) 14 to 16 Push switch 141, 151, 161 Operation button 142, 152, 162 Fixed part 17 Rubber pad 171 Upright part 172 to 173 Mounting part (coupling structure) 18 Bolt material (coupling structure) L1 Input line L2 Output line

Claims (5)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A push button switch mountable on an operation panel of a game machine, comprising: a flat base; and an operation button which can be pressed on one surface of the base to protrude around the base. Are provided at equal intervals in the direction, and at least one
And a plurality of push switches electrically connected so as to be detectable, and the base has the same size as the base.
One side contains the above push switches.
To be opposed, and the periphery is a flat pad made of elastic material upright portion which is bent is formed toward the base side, a between the base and the plate-like pad, the at the center thereof An elongating member interposed to urge the flat pad to the one surface side, wherein the flat pad is the upright portion at a position corresponding to a circumferential intermediate position of the adjacent push switches. A push button switch for a game machine, wherein a coupling structure for abuttingly coupling the base and the upright portion is formed. 2. The base according to claim 1, wherein the base has a recess formed at the center thereof toward the other surface, and the projecting member is loosely fitted in the recess. Push button switch for game consoles. 3. The flat pad according to claim 1, wherein the upright portion at the position where the coupling structure is formed is thicker than the other portions. Push button switch for game consoles. 4. The push button switch for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein said base has a circular shape. 5. The push switch is connected to the base by three.
2. The push-button switch for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of push-button switches are provided.