JP3270988B2 - Push button switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a push button switch mounted on a circuit board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with the miniaturization of electronic equipment, a push button switch has been directly mounted on a circuit board housed in the electronic equipment.

That is, for example, a small push button switch is attached to detect whether or not a cassette tape is stored in a portable tape recorder or whether or not the cassette tape is recordable.

Conventionally, a small switch of this type is constructed by incorporating each component in a molded case. The small switch is mounted on a printed board made of a hard board, and two metal contact plates exposed from the small switch are fixed to the land portions of the pattern on the printed board by soldering.

[0005]

However, recently, a flexible substrate having flexibility has been used instead of a rigid substrate. However, the formation of a circuit pattern on the flexible substrate is performed by using a conductive paint on a screen. Since there is something done by printing, metal terminals cannot be soldered on this pattern. Therefore, there have conventionally been various difficulties in directly attaching a push button switch to this type of flexible substrate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch which can be directly mounted on a flexible substrate, has a simple structure, and can be reduced in size.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a flexible synthetic resin sheet on a flexible sheet.
One and the flexible board where the side by side forming a land portion of a reinforcing plate for mounting the flexible substrate, an elastic metal plate, a base is pressed fixedly mounted on one of the land portion of the flexible substrate, the base portion From the side of
Bent at a substantially right angle toward the
A resilient portion that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the plate, and provided on the resilient portion
A first leaf spring having a contact portion formed thereon, a base portion made of an elastic metal plate, mounted on the other land portion of the flexible substrate and fixed by pressure contact, and an upper side substantially perpendicular to a side of the base portion And a second leaf spring having a resilient portion bent into a U-shape and a contact portion provided near the tip of the resilient portion, and at least both contact points of the first and second leaf springs The first portion and the second portion of the leaf spring are housed on the flexible substrate by storing the first portion and the second portion.
To the land of the flexible board
Fixed with the flexible board and the reinforcing plate
Re and a case having a push button insertion hole in its side walls, comprises a push button slidably housed push button insertion hole formed in the casing, the push button presses the contact portion of the second leaf spring The contact portion is configured to contact the contact portion of the first leaf spring. Then, when the push button is pressed so as to be pushed into the case, the resilient portion of the second leaf spring is pressed against its resilient force, and the contact portion of the second leaf spring contacts the contact portion of the first leaf spring. Contact, and the two are electrically connected and turned on. When the push button is released, it returns to the original position by the elastic return force of the resilient portion.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are exploded perspective views of a push button switch according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an upper half thereof, and FIG. 2 shows a lower half thereof. Note that the first and second leaf springs 30 and 50 are shown redundantly in both figures.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the push button switch includes a reinforcing plate 10, a flexible board 20 mounted on the reinforcing board 10, a first leaf spring 30 mounted on the flexible board 20, and a The second leaf spring 50, the resilient portion 33 of the first leaf spring 30, and the resilient portion 5 of the second leaf spring 50
3 is provided with a case 70 attached on the flexible substrate 20 so as to cover the flexible substrate 20, and a push button 90 housed in a push button insertion hole 89 of the case 70. Hereinafter, each component will be described in detail.

The reinforcing plate 10 is formed by forming a metal plate into a rectangular shape. And five circular holes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are provided at the predetermined positions.

Next, a flexible substrate 20 is formed by forming a flexible synthetic resin sheet (for example, a sheet made of polyethylene terephthalate) 21 having substantially the same shape as that of the reinforcing plate 10. 23, 25 are formed adjacent to each other, and further, projections 77, 79, 81, 83 of a case 70 described below are formed in the two land portions 23, 25.
2 through holes 27, 27, 2
9 and 29 are provided. Further, a through hole 28 is provided at a predetermined position. Note that the two land portions 23 and 2
5 is connected to an electric circuit (not shown) via circuit patterns 22 and 24, respectively.

The lands 23 and 25 and the circuit patterns 22 and 24 are formed on the synthetic resin sheet 21 by screen printing a conductive paste such as a silver paste.

Next, the first leaf spring 30 is made of a single elastic metal plate, and has a base 31 mounted on one land 23 of the flexible substrate 20 and a side from the base 31. A resilient portion 33 is bent upward at a substantially right angle and has a surface substantially perpendicular to the surface of the flexible substrate 20.

The base 31 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is formed to have a size slightly smaller than that of the land 23 so that the base 31 is entirely placed on the land 23.

In the base portion 31, two through holes 35, 3 penetrating projections 77, 81 of a case 70 described below.
7 is provided, and at one end thereof is provided an elastic contact portion 39 which is bent in a V-shape so as to protrude toward the flexible substrate 20 side.

The resilient portion 33 rises vertically from the base 31 and then extends in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the flexible substrate 20 and away from the base 31. At this time, the resilient portion 33 is formed so that the width thereof is tapered toward the tip. The contact portion 41 is formed by bending the resilient portion 33 approximately once at the center thereof toward the leaf spring 50 and then bending the resilient portion 33 in the opposite direction at the distal end portion in a V-shape.

Next, the second leaf spring 50 is made of one elastic metal plate, and has a base portion 51 mounted on the other land portion 25 of the flexible substrate 20 and a side edge of the base portion 51. The elastic portion 53 is bent upward at a substantially right angle and has a surface substantially perpendicular to the surface of the flexible substrate 20.

The base 51 has a substantially rectangular shape and is slightly smaller than the land 25 so that the base 51 is entirely placed on the land 25.

In the base portion 51, two through holes 55, 5 penetrating projections 79, 83 of a case 70 described below.
7 is provided, and at one end thereof is provided an elastic contact portion 59 bent in a V-shape so as to protrude toward the flexible substrate 20 side.

After the resilient portion 53 rises vertically from the base portion 51, the resilient portion once extends in a direction opposite to the direction in which the resilient portion 33 extends, but is further bent into a U-shape to form the first plate. The spring 30 is configured to extend in the same direction as being substantially parallel to the resilient portion 33 of the spring 30. The vicinity of the tip of the resilient portion 33 is a contact portion 61.

Next, the case 70 is made of a synthetic resin and is formed in a box shape having an open lower surface. And the case 7
Two recesses 73, 75 are provided in the recess 71 on the lower surface side of 0, and two columnar projections 77, 79, 81, 83 respectively protrude from the lower surface thereof.
Note that the protrusions 77 and 79 are configured to be longer than the protrusions 81 and 83. A projection 82 protrudes from one lower end of the case 70.

A plate portion 85 is provided in the concave portion 71 of the case 70, and a rectangular concave groove 87 is formed at the lower end thereof.
Are formed. A push button insertion hole 89 is provided on the side wall of the case 70.

Next, the push button 90 is made of a synthetic resin, and has a substantially cylindrical operating portion 91, a square pillar-shaped pressing portion 93, and a disk-shaped flange provided between the operating portion 91 and the pressing portion 93. 95
It is constituted by.

Here, the operating portion 91 is formed in a dimension to be slidably inserted into the push button insertion hole 89 of the case 70. The flange 95 is formed to be larger than the size of the push button insertion hole 89.

The pressing portion 93 is provided in the groove 8 of the case 70.
It is formed in a dimensional shape that can be slidably inserted into 7. The flexible substrate 2 is provided on the lower surface of the pressing portion 93.
A rail portion 97 that slides on the top 0 and supports the push button 90 is provided. Note that the rail portion 97 is also provided on the upper surface of the pressing portion 93 so that no problem occurs even if the push button 90 is mounted upside down.

Next, a method of assembling the push button switch will be described. That is, first, the case 70 is turned upside down, and the two leaf springs 30 and 50 and the push button 90 are stored in the concave portion 71.

At this time, the two through holes 35 of the leaf spring 30
The two projections 77, 81 of the case 70 are inserted into the 37, the two projections 79, 83 of the case 70 are inserted into the two through holes 55, 57 of the leaf spring 50, and the operating portion 91 of the push button 90 is inserted into the case. The push button 90 is inserted into the push button insertion hole 89 of the case 70, and at the same time, the pressing portion 93 of the push button 90 is stored in the concave groove 87 of the case 70.

Next, the flexible substrate 20 is mounted on the lower surface of the case 70, and the reinforcing plate 10 is further mounted on the lower side thereof.

At this time, the three projections 77, 7 of the case 70
Reference numerals 9 and 82 denote through holes 2 of the flexible substrate 20, respectively.
7, 29, 28, and are inserted into the holes 11, 13, 15 of the reinforcing plate 10 and protrude downward. At the same time, the projections 81 and 83 of the case 70 are inserted into the through holes 27 and 29 of the flexible board 20 and the holes 12 and 14 of the reinforcing plate 10, respectively. The tips of the projections 81 and 83 do not project downward from the lower surface of the reinforcing plate 10. That is, the projections 81 and 83 are provided for positioning.

The three projections 77, 7 of the case 70
If the tip of 9,82 is caulked below the reinforcing plate 10,
The push button switch according to the present embodiment is completed.

At this time, the lands 23, 25 of the flexible substrate 20 and the bases 31, 51 of the first and second leaf springs 30, 50 are pressed and electrically connected.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the push button switch assembled in this manner. As shown in the drawing, the push button switch is
The tip of 3 slightly presses the contact portion 61 of the second leaf spring 50, whereby the flange 95 of the push button 90 elastically contacts the inner surface of the push button insertion hole 89 of the case 70. In other words, in assembling the push button switch, the push button 90 is stored in the case 70 while pressing the contact portion 61 with the tip of the pressing portion 93.

The entire surfaces of the base portions 31 and 51 of the leaf springs 30 and 50 are covered with the two land portions 23 and
25.

The bases 31 and 51 are provided with
The portion on the side provided with 9, 59 protrudes outside the case 70.

In other words, by exposing the portions on both sides of the base portions 31 and 51 where the elastic contact portions 39 and 59 are provided to the outside,
The size of the case 70 is reduced to reduce the size of the entire push button switch.

Incidentally, the first and second leaf springs 30 and 50
The bases 31 and 51 are thermally caulked at the projections 77 and 79 of the case 70, and are most strongly pressed to the lands 23 and 25 at the projections 77 and 79, respectively. In order to further secure the connection, elastic contact portions 39, 59 are provided on both base portions 31, 51, and the elastic contact portions 39, 59 are provided with the positions of the protrusions 77, 79 of both base portions 31, 51 as fulcrums. Are elastically connected to both land portions 23 and 25. Moreover, the land portions 23 and 25 are both base portions 3
The base portions 31 and 51 are formed in a size to cover the entirety of the base portions 31 and 51.
Since the whole is configured to be in contact with the lands 23 and 25, the electrical connection between them is ensured from each of these points.

When the push button 90 is pressed so as to be pushed in, the resilient portion 53 of the second leaf spring 50 is pressed against its resilient force, and the contact portion 61 of the second leaf spring 50 contacts the first leaf spring 30. It comes into contact with the portion 41, the two are electrically connected and turned on.

When the pressing of the push button 90 is released, the resilient portion 53 is released.
It returns to the original position by the elastic return force.

In the case of this embodiment, the first leaf spring 30
Since the resilient portion 33 has elasticity, the contact portion 61 of the second leaf spring 50 is pressed by pressing the push button 90 and the first leaf spring 3.
After the 0 contact portion 41 is turned on, the push button 90 can be further pressed while maintaining the on state. This is to easily absorb the displacement of the positional relationship between the push button 90 and the contact portions 41 and 61 due to a dimensional error or an assembly error of each member constituting the push button switch.

The reinforcing plate 10 may be made of a resin, and the other parts may be made of other materials as needed.

[0041]

As described in detail above, the present invention has the following excellent effects. Even without using soldering, the pushbutton switch can be directly and reliably mounted on a flexible substrate.

The number of parts is small, the structure is simple,
In addition, the size can be reduced.

In particular, when an elastic contact portion is provided at one end of the base of the leaf spring and the elastic contact portion is elastically contacted with the land portion of the flexible substrate, more reliable connection between the two can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an upper half of a push button switch according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a lower half of the push button switch according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the assembled push button switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reinforcement board 20 Flexible board 21 Sheet 23, 25 Land part 30 First leaf spring 31 Base 33 Resilient part 39 Resilient part 41 Contact part 50 Second leaf spring 51 Base 53 Resilient part 59 Resilient part 61 Contact Part 70 case 89 push button insertion hole 90 push button

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 13/52

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A flexible substrate comprising: a flexible substrate formed by adjoining two lands on a flexible synthetic resin sheet; a reinforcing plate on which the flexible substrate is placed; and an elastic metal plate. A base placed on one of the lands and fixed by pressure, and a side of the base
Is bent at a substantially right angle from
A resilient portion that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the
A first leaf spring having a contact portion provided on the portion, a base portion made of an elastic metal plate, mounted on the other land portion of the flexible substrate, and fixed by pressure contact, and substantially from a side of the base portion; A second leaf spring having a resilient portion bent upward at a right angle and further bent in a U-shape, and a contact portion provided near the tip of the resilient portion; and at least the first and second leaf springs The two contact portions are accommodated and placed on the flexible substrate, so that the first plate
The base of the spring and the base of the second leaf spring are respectively
Flexible while fixed to the land of the flexible board by pressure contact
A case fixedly integrated with the substrate and the reinforcing plate and provided with a push button insertion hole in a side wall thereof; and a push button slidably received in the push button insertion hole provided in the case, wherein the push button is a second plate A push button switch, wherein a contact portion of a spring is pressed to bring the contact portion into contact with a contact portion of a first leaf spring. 2. The base of the first leaf spring and the base of the second leaf spring are both substantially rectangular, and the two lands of the flexible board each cover substantially the entire surface of the base. The first size.
2. An elastic contact portion formed by bending one end of the base of the leaf spring and one end of the base of the second leaf spring so as to project toward the flexible substrate side. Push button switch.