JP4407441B2 - Push-on switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a push-on switch used for an operation switch of an electrical component such as a car air conditioner or an AV device.

  In recent years, the number of car air conditioners and AV devices that demand high-class feelings and comfort of operation has been increasing in order to differentiate them from other companies. Push-ons used as operation switches for these devices There is also a demand for a switch that has a good operation feeling when the switch is operated.

  Such a conventional push-on switch will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional push-on switch, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line P-P in FIG. 8, and in FIG. Is formed in a substantially square shape when viewed from above, and a fixed contact 2 made of a pair of metal plates is fixed by insert molding at the center of the inner bottom surface 1A of the recess. Reference numeral 3 denotes an elastic body made of a conical elastomer having a lower opening placed on the inner bottom surface 1A of the case 1, and has a highly conductive movable contact 4 on the inner upper surface of the lower opening. The lower outer peripheral portion of the elastic body 3 is held by holding portions 1 </ b> C respectively provided at lower portions of the inner surface of the side wall 1 </ b> B orthogonal to the case 1.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a drive body made of an insulating resin having leg portions 5B that hang down from the four corners of the rectangular flat plate 5A, and a laterally protruding portion 5C formed at the lower end of each leg portion 5B. The flat plate 5 </ b> A is placed on the elastic body 3.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a cover made of a thin metal plate attached to the case 1 so that the flat plate 5A of the driving body 5 protrudes from a rectangular hole 6A provided in the center. The upper opening portion of the case 1 has a rectangular hole. It is covered with a flat plate portion around 6A. Reference numeral 7 denotes a terminal derived from the fixed contact 2.

  In the arrangement state of the driving body 5, the leg portions 5 </ b> B are arranged corresponding to the four corner positions of the concave portion of the case 1. The four corners are formed as guide holes 1D surrounded by the inner surfaces of the side walls 1B adjacent to each other of the case 1 and the side end surfaces of the holding portions 1C provided on the inner surfaces of the side walls 1B. Thus, the protruding portion 5C at the lower end of the leg portion 5B of the driving body 5 is guided.

  In the push-on switch configured as described above, when the flat plate 5A of the driving body 5 is pressed, the protrusion 5C provided at the lower end of the leg 5B of the driving body 5 is provided in the guide hole provided in the corner inside the case 1. It descends while being guided in 1D. Accordingly, the lower surface of the flat plate 5A of the driving body 5 presses the upper surface of the elastic body 3 downward, and when the driving body 5 is pressed by a predetermined amount, the inclined portion forming the conical shape of the elastic body 3 is elastically deformed with moderation. Thus, the movable contact 4 provided on the inner upper surface of the driving body 5 comes into contact with the pair of fixed contacts 2 and the switch is turned on.

  When the pressing force to the driving body 5 is released, the inclined portion of the elastic body 3 that has been elastically deformed returns to its original shape while being moderated by its own restoring force, and pushes back the driving body 5 upward. Thereby, the movable contact 4 leaves the fixed contact 2 and returns to the original switch OFF state. Also at this time, the driving body 5 returns to the original state shown in FIG. 9 while the protruding portion 5C provided at the lower end of the leg portion 5B is guided by the guide hole 1D of the case 1.

For example, Patent Document 1 is known as prior art document information related to the invention of this application.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-111119

  However, in the above-described conventional push-on switch, by performing a pressing operation, the protruding portion 5C provided on the leg portion 5B of the driving body 5 is guided by the guide hole 1D provided on the corner portion of the case 1. In this case, the inner surface of the side wall 1B of the case 1 forming the guide hole 1D and the protruding portion 5C of the leg 5B are made of resin and are in sliding contact with each other. There is a problem that it is easy to produce a rough feeling in the touch.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a push-on switch having a good operation feeling.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case made of an insulating resin having a plurality of electrically independent fixed contacts on the bottom surface of the recess of the upper opening, and housed in the recess of the case and elastic by a pressing operation. An elastic body that is deformed to move the fixed contacts between and away from each other, a driver disposed above the elastic body, and an operation portion of the driver are attached to the case so as to protrude upward. The cover is made of a metal plate cover, and the cover is provided with a leg portion that hangs down in the recess of the case, and at the time of pressing operation, the slidable contact protrusion that is in sliding contact with the exposed surface of the leg portion in the recess is provided. This push-on switch is provided on the drive body, and the sliding contact projections of the drive body made of resin are slidably guided by the exposed surfaces of the legs of the cover made of a metal plate. Feeling good An effect that can be tonic switch.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the leg part where the cover hangs is arranged at the corner part position of the case, and the corner part position of the case can be effectively utilized, and It has the effect | action that the leg part of a cover can be easily arrange | positioned along the inner surface of the side wall of a case.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the leg portion of the cover is formed in a horizontal cross-sectional shape, and one inner surface of the cross-shape is a locking portion, The drive body is restricted in the direction of rotation by the part, and can be pushed down with the rotation restriction of the drive body during the pressing operation, and the sliding contact protrusion of the drive body is on the exposed surface of the leg portion of the cover It has the effect that it can be made to be in sliding contact with stability.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the leg portion of the cover has a U-shaped horizontal section with the opening facing inward, and both side portions of the U-shaped portion serve as locking portions. The driving body is regulated in the rotational direction by the locking portion, and the distance between the locking portions on both sides is set to a dimension corresponding to the width dimension of the sliding contact protrusion of the driving body, thereby pressing the driving body. It has the effect that the pressing operation of the driver during operation can be made stable.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the peripheral portion forming the central hole of the cover provided so as to project the operation portion of the drive body is a cylindrical portion, and the cylindrical portion The operation part of the drive body is regulated to tilt, and the operation part of the drive body is guided by the cylindrical part of the cover and is difficult to tilt. It has the effect that it can be made smooth and stable.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the driving body is pressed, the exposed surface of the leg portion where the sliding contact protrusion of the driving body is provided on the cover made of a thin metal plate is vertically moved in the concave portion of the case. Since it is configured to be in sliding contact, an advantageous effect that a push-on switch having a good operation feeling during a pressing operation can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment)
1 is an exploded perspective view of a push-on switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB shown in FIG. .

  In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, 11 is a box-shaped case made of an insulating resin having a concave portion with an upper opening, and the inner bottom surface 11A of the concave portion is configured as a circular concave portion 11B whose central portion is further recessed into a circular shape. The outer fixed contact 12A is disposed at the bottom outer peripheral position of the circular recess 11B, and the center fixed contact 12B is disposed at the bottom central position of the circular recess 11B. The outer fixed contact 12A and the central fixed contact 12B are fixed in an electrically independent state. And the recessed part of case 11 is comprised by the internal space enclosed by the side wall 11C orthogonal to each other, and the corner | angular part comprised by the inner surface of the side wall 11C adjacent in a top view is comprised by the chamfering surface 11D by which the inner surface side was chamfered. Has been.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a movable contact made of a highly conductive metal having elasticity. An annular outer peripheral portion 13A is placed on the outer fixed contact 12A, and is integrally formed in a tongue shape from the outer peripheral portion 13A upward to the central portion. The lower surface of the contact portion 13B that extends and faces the central fixed contact 12B with a predetermined gap in the arrangement state.

  14 is an elastic body made of an elastomer in which a top portion 14A having a cylindrical shape is formed on the upper side and a conical shape portion 14B having an open lower surface is formed below the top portion 14A. The ceiling portion inside the conical shape portion 14B having a dome shape is provided on the ceiling portion. A pressing portion 14 </ b> C that protrudes downward is provided.

  The elastic body 14 is arranged in the circular recess 11B so that the outer periphery of the conical portion 14B is held by the inner wall surface forming the circular recess 11B further recessed from the position of the inner bottom surface 11A of the case 11. The lower end of the conical portion 14B is placed on the annular outer peripheral portion 13A of the movable contact 13.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a driving body made of an insulating resin placed on the top portion 14A of the elastic body 14. The driving body 15 includes a substantially rectangular flange portion 15B below the cylindrical operation portion 15A. In the arrangement state, the flange portion 15B is located in the opening of the case 11, and the substantially rectangular shape of the flange portion 15B. Each corner portion is provided with a slidable contact projection 15C protruding in the lateral horizontal direction.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a cover made of a thin metal plate that protrudes upward from the central circular hole 16B of the substantially octagonal flat plate 16A so that the operation portion 15A of the driving body 15 protrudes upward from a pair of opposed end portions of the flat plate 16A. A T-shaped locking claw 16 </ b> C bent downward is locked to a case 11 by being locked by a locking projection 11 </ b> E provided on the outer side of the corresponding side wall 11 </ b> C of the case 11. When the cover 16 is fixed, the elastic body 14 is combined so that a slight compressive force is applied, and the repulsive force from the elastic body 14 thereby causes the flange portion 15B of the driving body 15 and the sliding contact disposed thereon. The upper surface portion of the protrusion 15C is in elastic contact with the lower surface of the flat plate 16A of the cover 16, and the outer peripheral portion 13A of the movable contact 13 is in pressure contact with the outer fixed contact 12A. Reference numerals 18 denote terminals extending outward from the outer fixed contact 12A and the central fixed contact 12B fixed to the case 11, respectively.

  The cover 16 is provided with leg portions 17 that hang vertically downward from the respective end portions of the flat plate 16A along the chamfered surfaces 11D formed at the four corners of the opening of the case 11. The tips of the leg portions 17 are inserted and held in the holding holes 11F arranged on the inner bottom surface 11A of the case 11. Each leg portion 17 is exposed in the vertical direction at the central portion in the direction toward the inside of the case 11 except for the portion held by the holding hole 11F.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the four legs 17 of the cover 16 have a rectangular shape in the horizontal cross section, except for the bent base from the flat plate 16 </ b> A and the tip held by the holding hole 11 </ b> F. The bent portions 17A and 17B are formed in a shape, and two of the four leg portions 17 are the locked portions 17A in which the end in the clockwise direction is bent in the horizontal section, and the remaining two One is formed of a locking portion 17B having a horizontal section and a bent end on the counterclockwise direction side.

  The sliding protrusions 15 </ b> C of the driving body 15 are combined so as to be arranged according to the positions of the exposed portions of the legs 17 in the case 11.

  The push-on switch according to the present invention is configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described.

  First, when the operation portion 15A of the driving body 15 protruding from the cover 16 is pressed, the sliding contact projection 15C provided on the flange portion 15B of the driving body 15 is slidably guided on the exposed surface of the leg portion 17 of the cover 16. The lower part of the operation part 15A presses the top part 14A of the elastic body 14 downward.

  When the driving body 15 is pressed by a predetermined amount, the conical portion 14B of the elastic body 14 is elastically deformed with moderation, and the pressing portion 14C provided on the inner upper surface of the conical portion 14B is The contact portion 13B of the movable contact 13 is brought into contact with the center fixed contact 12B disposed on the bottom surface of the circular recess 11B of the push-down case 11. Here, the outer fixed contact 12A and the center fixed contact 12B are short-circuited via the movable contact 13, and the switch is turned on.

  When the pressing force to the operating portion 15A of the driving body 15 is released, the conical shape portion 14B of the elastic body 14 that has been elastically deformed is restored with moderation by its own restoring force, and the driving body 15 is pushed back upward. At the same time, the contact portion 13B of the movable contact 13 is also elastically restored to leave the center fixed contact 12B and return to the original switch OFF state. Also at this time, the driving body 15 is pushed back upward while the sliding protrusions 15C are slidably guided on the exposed surfaces of the corresponding leg portions 17 of the cover 16, and the upper surface portion such as the flange portion 15B is covered. It stops by elastically contacting the lower surface of the 16 flat plates 16A.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a switch operation is performed by applying or releasing a pressing force to the operation portion 15A of the drive body 15 made of an insulating resin, the drive body 15 has its sliding protrusion 15C. However, since the structure is such that the exposed surface of the leg portion 17 made of a thin metal plate is slidably contacted, it can be less than the frictional resistance caused by the slidable contact portion between the conventional insulating resins, and the operation feeling can be improved.

  Further, the sliding contact structure in which the sliding contact protrusion 15C of the driving body 15 is slidably contacted with the surface of the leg portion 17 of the cover 16 can be easily disposed at a corner portion of the box-shaped case 11 which is likely to become a dead space. It is possible to achieve a good operation feeling without increasing the external dimensions of the on switch and without using new components.

  And if the corner | angular part where the side wall 11C orthogonal to each other of the case 11 cross | intersects is comprised by the chamfering surface 11D which chamfered by the plane, the leg part 17 of the cover 16 can be arrange | positioned easily along the chamfering surface 11D. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, since the latching portions 17 </ b> A and 17 </ b> B whose end portions are bent are provided at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction in the leg portion 17 of the cover 16, the sliding contact projection 15 </ b> C of the driving body 15 is The movement in the rotation direction is restricted by the locking portions 17A and 17B, and the sliding contact projection 15C can always be maintained with a good operation feeling in which the leg portion 17 surface is stably slidably contacted. The locking portions 17A and 17B do not have to be provided on each of the four leg portions 17, and are at least opposite to the locking portion 17A in which the end portion on the clockwise direction side is bent in the horizontal section. There may be only one locking portion 17B in which the end in the clockwise direction is bent.

  In addition, as long as the chamfered surface 11D is provided at the corner of the case 11 described in the above embodiment and the leg portion 17 of the cover 16 is arranged along the chamfered surface, the assemblability and the like are good as described above. A support effect of the leg portion 17 on the surface 11D is also expected and preferable.

  In the case where the chamfered surface 11D is not provided at the corner portion of the case 11, the corner portion formed by the inner surfaces of the two orthogonal side walls 11C is covered with the cover 21 as shown in the external view of the cover in FIG. Two narrow bands 22A corresponding to the inner surfaces of the adjacent side walls 11C that are adjacent to each other of the case 11 are provided, and the two narrow bands 22A are bent to form one leg portion 22 along the corner of the case 11, with the above-described configuration. It is good also as a slidable contact surface exposed as what provided the leg part 22 corresponding to every corner | angular part of the case 11, and four places.

  FIG. 6 is also a horizontal sectional view of a push-on switch provided with a cover according to another embodiment, and the cutting position is the same as the CC section shown in FIG.

  The cover 31 shown in FIG. 6 has two leg portions 32 arranged at one opposing position among the four leg portions 32, and both end portions in the width direction are bent inward at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction. The opening is formed in a substantially U-shape with a horizontal cross section facing inward, and the bent ends are locking portions 32A and 32B. Note that the two leg portions 32 arranged at the other facing position are flat.

  As described above, when the locking portions 32A and 32B are provided at both ends in the width direction of the leg portion 32, the rotation restriction in both the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction is restricted to one with respect to the sliding contact projection 15C of the driving body 15. The legs 32 can also be used. The distance between the locking portions 32A and 32B of the one leg portion 32 can be easily set to a dimension corresponding to the width dimension of the sliding contact projection 15C of the driving body 15, so that the driving body 15 by the pressing operation can be set. In the up-and-down operation, it is possible to easily realize a good operation feeling by guiding the sliding contact projection 15C with the locking portions 32A and 32B with less rattling.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, if the locking portions 32A and 32B are respectively provided on the two leg portions 32 arranged at one facing position, the guide is provided in a well-balanced manner at the two locations where the driving body 15 faces. Therefore, the vertical movement of the drive body 15 can be made smooth even if the rotation is restricted.

  Further, the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 shows that a cylindrical cylindrical portion is formed by bending a peripheral portion of the central circular hole 41A of the cover 41 from which the operation portion 42A of the driving body 42 protrudes downward. 41B is provided, and the cylindrical operation portion 42A outer peripheral surface of the drive body 42 is guided by the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 41B during the pressing operation, and is difficult to tilt. Can be made smoother and more stable.

  In FIG. 7, the cylindrical portion 41B of the cover 41 is described as being provided by bending the peripheral edge of the central circular hole 41A downward, but the peripheral edge of the central circular hole faces upward. It is good also as a cylindrical part formed by bending.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the cover leg portion is arranged in the concave portion of the case, so that the cover is provided with a grounding terminal or the like to take measures against static electricity on the cover. Is preferred.

  In the push-on switch according to the present invention, when the driving body is pressed, the sliding contact projection provided on the driving body slides on the exposed surface of the leg portion of the cover made of metal. It has a feature that it can be made to feel, and is useful as an operation switch for electrical equipment such as a car air conditioner and AV equipment.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a push-on switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing in the AA line of FIG. Sectional drawing in the BB line of FIG. Sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. External view of a cover according to another embodiment Horizontal sectional view of a push-on switch according to another embodiment Cross-sectional view of a push-on switch according to another embodiment Exploded perspective view of a conventional push-on switch Sectional drawing in the PP line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11 Case 11A Inner bottom surface 11B Circular recess 11C Side wall 11D Chamfered surface 11E Locking projection 11F Holding hole 12A Outer fixed contact 12B Central fixed contact 13 Movable contact 13A Outer peripheral part 13B Contact part 14 Elastic body 14A Top part 14B Conical part 14C Press part 15, 42 Drive body 15A, 42A Operation part 15B Flange part 15C Sliding contact protrusion 16, 21, 31, 41 Cover 16A Flat plate 16B, 41A Central circular hole 16C Locking claw 17, 22, 32 Leg part 17A, 17B, 32A, 32B Locking part 18 Terminal 22A Narrow band 41B Cylindrical part

Claims (5)

A case made of an insulating resin having a plurality of electrically independent fixed contacts on the bottom surface of the concave portion of the upper opening, and a plurality of fixed contacts that are housed in the concave portion of the case and elastically deformed by a pressing operation. The cover comprises: an elastic body to be operated; a drive body disposed above the elastic body; and a cover made of a metal plate attached to the case so that an operation portion of the drive body protrudes upward. A push-on switch provided with a slidable contact protrusion on the drive body that slidably contacts an exposed surface of the leg portion in the recess during a pressing operation. The push-on switch according to claim 1, wherein a leg portion where the cover hangs is disposed at a corner position of the case. The leg portion of the cover is formed in a U-shape in a horizontal section, one inner surface of the U-shape is a locking portion, and the driving body is regulated in the rotational direction by the locking portion. Push-on switch. The leg portion of the cover has a U-shaped horizontal section with the opening facing inward, and both sides of the U-shape are locking portions, and the driving body is regulated in the rotational direction by the locking portions. Item 1. A push-on switch according to item 1. 2. A peripheral portion forming a central hole of a cover provided so as to project an operation portion of a drive body is a cylindrical portion, and the operation portion of the drive body is restricted from being tilted by the cylindrical portion. Push-on switch as described.

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