JP4251703B2 - Multi-directional push switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multidirectional pressing switch having a structure in which a switch contact disposed below a keytop is turned on and off by swinging the keytop in multiple directions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a device for operating an in-vehicle navigation system, a computer, various OA devices, a game machine, and the like, the center portion of a substantially plate-like key top is centered on the outer periphery of the device so as to be pushed down and swung. A multi-directional pressing switch having a structure for turning on a switch contact has been developed and used.
[0003]
The conventional multi-directional pressing switch is configured so that a substantially circular key top can be swung around its central portion on a switch board provided with a plurality of switch contacts arranged in a ring shape, and when no load is applied. The key top is attached so as to automatically return to the neutral position, and by pressing a predetermined portion near the outer periphery of the key top, the key top is swung to turn on the switch contact under the pressed portion. .
[0004]
As a mechanism for automatically returning the key top to the neutral position, a spring member is interposed between the key top and the substrate so that the key top is repelled to the neutral position when there is no load, or a switch is used to generate a click feeling. Some have a structure in which the key top is repelled to the neutral position only by the click plate itself mounted on the contact point.
[0005]
However, the structure in which the spring member is interposed not only makes the structure complicated, but also makes the assembly work complicated. On the other hand, the structure in which the key top is automatically returned to the neutral position only by the click plate increases the load on the click plate, which causes sag, and the automatic return force cannot be increased.
[0006]
In the case of a structure in which the key top is supported by a spring member or a click plate, the key top is not securely fixed and is in a floating state. There was also a risk that it would remain tilted.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is that the structure is simple and the assembling work is easy, the automatic return force can be increased, and the key top can be reliably automatically returned to the neutral position when no load is applied. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional pressing switch that can be further downsized.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a multi-directional pressing switch according to the present invention includes a switch contact forming member provided with a plurality of switch contacts, and the switch contact located at the center of the plurality of switch contacts on the switch contact forming member. A connecting member having a shaft portion fixed on the forming member and a plurality of hinges that are separately drawn outward from the shaft portion and formed by integral molding; ; and a key top arranged on a plurality of hinge members, the caulking portion as a part of the pressing portion on the side of the position in Rutotomoni these pressing portions provided a pressing portion opposed to each switch contact of Kito' flop Each pressing portion and caulking projectingly provided, penetrating each pressing portion and caulking portion provided on the key top into a hole provided in each hinge, and projecting from each hole to the opposite surface side Pressing in only part of the crimped portion of the key top is fixed to the hinge by crushing by thermal caulking, by pressing the key top and around the shaft portion that swings with hinges, to the lowered position The switch contact which opposes by a part is turned on, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the multidirectional pressing switch is configured by attaching a connecting member 30 and a key top 50 on a switch substrate (switch contact forming member) 10. Each component will be described below.
[0010]
The switch substrate 10 is configured by placing a flexible switch substrate 21 on a hard plate 11 made of a synthetic resin molded plate. The flexible switch substrate 21 is configured by, for example, stacking two flexible sheets, and an opening 23 is provided at a predetermined position thereof, and four click plates 25 are provided on the surface of the flexible switch substrate 21 so as to be symmetric about the opening 23. Attach to position. A switch contact is disposed directly below each click plate 25. When the click contact is reversed by pressing the click plate 25, the switch contact is turned on. The click plate 25 may be configured as a movable contact plate (in this case, one flexible sheet may be used), and the click plate 25 may be configured to be turned on by coming into contact with the other switch contact immediately below.
[0011]
On the other hand, in the portion of the hard plate 11 facing and exposed to the opening 23, two rectangular through-holes 13 and 13 are provided.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connecting member 30 viewed from the back side. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1, the connecting member 30 is provided with a columnar shaft portion 31 at the center, a support portion 33 that is recessed in a substantially spherical shape at the center of the upper end surface, and the two holes 13 at the lower end surface. , 13 is provided with projection-shaped fixing portions 35, 35 having dimensions and shapes, and four sets of hinges 37 projecting from the outer periphery thereof.
[0013]
Each hinge 37 is formed in a shape in which a thin plate is formed in a ring shape and both ends thereof are connected to the shaft portion 31, and is integrally formed with the shaft portion 31 and the like. A fixing portion 39 is provided at the center of each hinge 37 so as to protrude toward the shaft portion 31, and a through hole 41 is provided in the fixing portion 39. The hole 41 includes a circular portion 411 and a fixed portion 413 provided so as to protrude linearly from the circular portion 411.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the key top 50 as viewed from the back side. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1, the key top 50 is a disc-shaped synthetic resin molded product, and a support portion 51 that protrudes in a substantially spherical shape is provided at the center of the lower surface of the key top 50. Around the periphery, four press fixing portions 53 are provided at equal intervals.
[0015]
Each pressing fixing portion 53 is formed in substantially the same shape as the hole 41 so as to be fitted into the hole 41 of the connecting member 30. Specifically, the pressing portion 531 having a columnar shape and the pressing portion 531 are formed. It is comprised by the square-column-shaped crimping part 533 provided as a part of press part 531 in the side.
[0016]
In order to assemble this multi-directional press switch, first, the key top 50 is reversed and the connecting member 30 is placed on the key top 50 in reverse. At that time, the connecting member 30 is placed on the support portion 51 of the key top 50. The support portion 33 is covered, and at the same time, each pressing and fixing portion 53 is inserted into each hole 41.
[0017]
Then, only the caulking portion 533 of each pressing and fixing portion 53 protruding from each hole 41 to the opposite surface side is crushed by thermal caulking, thereby completing the fixing of each pressing and fixing portion 53 to the hinge 37.
[0018]
Then, the connecting member 30 to which the key top 50 is attached as described above is placed on the switch board 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and the shaft portion 31 of the connecting member 30 is placed in the opening 23 of the switch board 10 at that time. The two fixing portions 35 and 35 (see FIG. 2) of the connecting member 30 are inserted into the holes 13 and 13 of the switch board 10, and the tips of the fixing portions 35 and 35 are thermally crimped on the lower surface of the switch board 10. If fixed, this multidirectional push switch is completed.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1) of the main part of the multidirectional pressing switch assembled as described above. As shown in the figure, each pressing portion 531 of the key top 50 abuts or approaches the corresponding click plate 25.
[0020]
If the desired click plate 25 is pressed, that is, for example, if the right portion of the key top 50 shown in FIG. 4 is pressed in the direction of arrow B, the right pressing portion 531 is lowered as the hinge 37 is bent. Then, the click plate 25 is pressed and inverted, and the switch contact just below the inverted click plate 25 is turned on. At this time, the key top 50 swings around the portion of the support portion 51 as the support portion 51 rotates in the support portion 33.
[0021]
When the pressing on the key top 50 is released, the key top 50 is automatically automatically returned to the original neutral position by the elastic return force of the hinge 37 in addition to the elastic return force of the click plate 25.
[0022]
As described above, according to the multidirectional pressing switch according to the present embodiment, since the key top 50 is fixed by the connecting member 30 having the hinge 37, the key top 50 can be surely automatically returned to the original neutral position. In this embodiment, since the key top 50 is attached so as to cover the plurality of hinges 37 drawn outward from the shaft portion 31, the space at the center of the lower surface of the key top 50 is provided. The hinge 37 can be effectively used and the hinge 37 does not protrude from the outer periphery of the key top 50, and the size of the hinge can be reduced.
[0023]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the hinge 37 protrudes from the shaft portion 31 so as to draw a ring, and the key top 50 is fixed to an intermediate portion thereof. Therefore, the length of the hinge 37 is set to a predetermined elastic force. It can be long enough to bend and is more preferred.
[0024]
In this embodiment, since the key top 50 is fixed to the hinge 37, the caulking portion 533 provided directly on the pressing portion 531 is fixed to the hinge 37. In addition, it is not necessary to separately provide a portion for heat caulking, and the structure is simplified. From this point, the multi-directional push switch can be miniaturized.
[0025]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the constituent elements described in the claims.
[0026]
For example, the switch contact is not necessarily provided on the substrate, and the switch contact may be provided directly on various members other than the substrate. The point is that the switch contact may be provided on the forming member.
[0027]
The number of switch contacts provided on the switch contact forming member is not limited to the above embodiment.
[0028]
The above-described embodiments in the click plate 25 by causing the pressing part 531 provided on the key top 50 through which the hinge 37, that is, the opposition to the switch contact, the key top 50 which applies pressing presses directly click plate 25 or the like, The feeling of pressing improves.
[0029]
Further, a caulking portion 533 is formed in a part of the pressing portion 531, and the pressing portion 531 having the hinge 37 penetrated and the caulking portion 533 in the caulking portion 533 are thermally caulked to thereby heat the key top 50 and the hinge 37. Since the structure for fixing is simple and suitable for downsizing, it is particularly suitable to be applied to the multi-directional press switch. This is because, in the structure in which the key top 50 of the multidirectional pressing switch is fixed by the hinge 37 as in the above embodiment, the hinge 37 needs to be stored in a narrow space.
[0031]
In the above embodiment, the click plate is attached on the switch contact, but the click plate is not always necessary, and the pressing portion may be arranged directly on the switch contact.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, the present invention has the following excellent effects.
(1) The structure is simple and the manufacture is easy.
[0033]
(2) Since the key top is attached to the hinge, the automatic return force can be strengthened, and the key top can be surely automatically returned to the neutral position in a no-load state without fear of shifting the neutral position. Even if the click plate or the movable contact plate is attached on the switch contact, the click plate or the movable contact plate does not sag.
[0034]
(3) Despite the structure in which the key top is attached to the hinge, the hinge can be easily accommodated in the key top, and the size can be reduced.
[0035]
(4) If the key top and the hinge are fixed by forming a crimping part in a part of the pressing part and thermally crimping the pressing part penetrating the hinge and the crimping part of the crimping part, The pressing portion can be penetrated and fixed in the same place, and the size can be reduced. This is particularly suitable when the hinge is to be arranged in a narrow space under the key top.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connecting member 30 as viewed from the back side.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the key top 50 as viewed from the back side.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a multidirectional pressing switch.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Switch board (switch contact forming member)
25 Click plate 30 Connecting member 31 Shaft portion 37 Hinge 50 Key top 53 Press fixing portion 531 Press portion 533 Caulking portion 10-2 Switch substrate 25-2 Click plate (or movable contact plate)
30-2 connecting member 37-2 hinge 50-2 key top 531-2 pressing portion 533-2 caulking portion

Claims (1)

A switch contact forming member provided with a plurality of switch contacts;
A shaft portion that is positioned at the center of the plurality of switch contacts on the switch contact forming member and is fixed on the switch contact forming member, and a plurality of hinges that are separately drawn outward from the shaft portion. A connecting member in which the shaft portion and the hinge are formed by integral molding;
A key top disposed on a plurality of hinges of the connecting member,
Rutotomoni provided a pressing portion said at positions facing the switch contact of Kito' flop protrudes a caulking portion as a part of the pressing portion on the side surface of the pressing portion,
Each pressing portion and caulking portion provided in the key top pass through the hole provided in each hinge, and the portion of the pressing portion and the caulking portion among the pressing portion and the caulking portion that protrudes from the holes to the opposite surface side. Fix the key top to the hinge by crushing only with heat caulking,
A multi-directional pressing switch characterized by pressing a key top and swinging with a hinge about the shaft portion to turn on the opposing switch contacts by the pressing portion at the lowered position.

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