JP5518626B2 - Pushbutton switch member and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a member for a push button switch and a manufacturing method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pushbutton switches have been used in operation units of electronic devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The pushbutton switch is formed by forming a plurality of through holes in a thin plate-like hard substrate, covering each through hole with a thin-walled operating portion made of a rubber-like elastic body, and fixing the key top to the operating portion with an adhesive or the like. Some of them use a push button switch member. In addition, there is a structure in which a connecting groove that communicates between a plurality of through holes is formed in the hard substrate, and a connecting part that connects the operating parts to the connecting groove is integrally formed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-032228 A

  However, the push button switch described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. That is a problem that the adhesive force between the hard substrate and the operating portion is weakened. The problem is that each of the through holes does not have a rubber-like elastic body inlet, and the inlet is installed in the connecting groove. This is because the adhesive strength between them decreases.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a member for a push button switch in which the adhesive force between a hard substrate and an operating portion is improved.

  In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of a member for a push button switch of the present invention is provided so as to close a key top for pressing, a reinforcing plate formed with one or more openings, and an opening. And a support portion that supports the key top so as to be capable of being pressed and displaced, and at least a part of the outer periphery on the back surface side of the opening is provided with a first recess that extends to the outer periphery of the opening and is recessed. .

  Furthermore, the first recess can have a stepped portion.

  Furthermore, the 2nd recessed part extended and dented in the outer peripheral side of an opening part may be provided in the surface side outer periphery of an opening part.

  Further, at least one of the first recess and the second recess may be provided on the entire periphery of the opening.

  Moreover, the 1st recessed part or 2nd recessed part which mutually extends toward the adjacent opening part may be arrange | positioned at a comb-tooth shape so that it may not collide with each other.

  An embodiment of a method for manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to the present invention is provided with a key top for pressing, a reinforcing plate having one or more openings, and a key top provided so as to close the openings. A push-button switch having a first recess that extends to the outer peripheral side of the opening and is recessed in at least a part of the outer periphery on the back surface side of the opening. A method for manufacturing a member, wherein a reinforcing elastic plate is formed by injecting a liquid elastic material for forming a support portion from an injection port using a molding die that opens the injection port at a position corresponding to the opening. A support portion forming step for forming the support portion on the support portion, and a fixing step for fixing the key top to the support portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the member for pushbutton switches which improved the adhesive force of a hard board | substrate and an action | operation part can be provided.

It is a perspective view of a mobile telephone provided with the member for pushbutton switches which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view at the time of seeing the state except the key top of the member for pushbutton switches shown in FIG. 1 from the operation surface side. It is a rear view at the time of seeing the member for pushbutton switches shown in FIG. 2 from the opposite side to the operation surface. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the member for pushbutton switches shown in FIG. 1 by the AA line. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the area | region shown by b about the member for pushbutton switches shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the schematic flow of manufacture of the member for pushbutton switches which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in each step of the push button switch member of FIG. It is a rear view at the time of seeing the member for pushbutton switches concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the opposite side to an operation surface. It is a top view at the time of seeing the member for pushbutton switches concerning the modification of this invention from the opposite side to an operation surface. It is a rear view at the time of seeing the member for pushbutton switches concerning another modification of this invention from the operation surface opposite side. It is a rear view at the time of seeing the member for pushbutton switches concerning another modification of this invention from the operation surface opposite side. It is sectional drawing in the area | region similar to FIG. 5 of the member for pushbutton switches which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the area | region similar to FIG. 5 of the member for pushbutton switches which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the area | region similar to FIG. 5 of the member for pushbutton switches which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 4 of the member for pushbutton switches which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 4 of the member for pushbutton switches which concerns on another modification of this invention.

  Next, a pushbutton switch member and a method for manufacturing the same according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Structure of push button switch member)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cellular phone 1 including a pushbutton switch member 2 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the state where the push button switch member 2 key top shown in FIG. 1 is removed as viewed from the operation surface side. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pushbutton switch member 2 shown in FIG. 2 when viewed from the side opposite to the operation surface. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pushbutton switch member shown in FIG. 1 cut along line AA. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a region indicated by b for the pushbutton switch member 2 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4 and subsequent cross-sectional views, the thickness ratio of each member is changed from the actual ratio in consideration of easy viewing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile phone 1 as an example of an electronic device includes a push button switch member 2 on its operation surface. Note that the push button switch member 2 is used for a push button switch that is switched ON / OFF by a pressing operation. The key top 4 is mainly exposed on the operation surface of the push button switch member 2. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the back surface of the key top 4 is fixed to the support portion 5. In this specification, the operation surface side is referred to as the front surface side, and the surface side opposite to the operation surface is referred to as the back surface side. The distance between the front surface and the back surface is called thickness.

  The reinforcing plate 3 as a hard substrate is provided with a plurality of openings 6 for projecting the key tops 4 to the surface side. The inner circumference on the surface side of the opening 6 may be larger or smaller than the outer circumference of the key top 4. In particular, when the inner periphery on the surface side of the opening 6 is smaller than the outer periphery of the key top 4, the opening 6 is not visually recognized by the key top 4, and the pushbutton switch member 2 having a good appearance can be configured. . The reinforcing plate 3 may eventually become a part of the casing of the mobile phone. Examples of the material of the reinforcing plate 3 include polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, and polybutylene terephthalate, metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium, or alloys made of various metals.

  The key top 4 is a portion pressed by the user. The key top 4 can be used without particular limitation as long as it is a material having a predetermined strength, and can be mainly composed of, for example, a resin having a thickness of about 0.1 to 3 mm, glass, or a composite thereof. Further, when a translucent material is used as the material of the key top 4, the key top 4 can be illuminated when illuminated from the back side of the key top 4. In this specification, “translucency” refers to a state in which the total light transmittance when irradiated with light from one direction is 40% or more, preferably 80% or more. “Light shielding” means that light that is substantially visible on the surface side cannot be transmitted, for example, that the total light transmittance is 20% or less. As the translucent resin for constituting the key top 4, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene resin, polypropylene resin, vinyl chloride resin, polystyrene resin, methacrylic resin, polysulfone resin, polyester resin or polyamide resin Etc., and a particularly preferred resin is a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin. Further, the key top 4 may be formed of a transparent material such as glass instead of resin.

  The support portion 5 as the operating portion is mainly formed from an elastic member formed so as to close the opening 6. The support 5 is filled in the opening 6 and the first recess 6a. The support portion 5 is used for fixing and arranging the key tops 4 at predetermined positions. Moreover, when the key top 4 is pressed from the surface side, the support part 5 can push in the switch member (not shown) etc. which were provided therebelow, and when the press of the key top 4 is cancelled | released. It is made of a flexible elastic material so that it can return to its original position. Examples of the material of the support portion 5 include thermosetting elastomers such as silicone rubber, urethane rubber, isoprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, and styrene butadiene rubber, urethane type, ester type, Styrene-based, olefin-based, butadiene-based, fluorine-based thermoplastic elastomers, or composites thereof can be used. Among these materials, it is preferable to use urethane-based elastomer, silicone rubber, or a composite product having high durability. Moreover, it is preferable that the support part 5 is comprised from a translucent material so that the light from a back surface side can be permeate | transmitted. When the support part 5 is translucent, the keytop 4 can be illuminated by transmitting light from the back side.

  A pressing element 8 may be formed on the back surface side of the support portion 5 at a position overlapping the key top 4. The presser 8 is a portion that protrudes from the support portion 5 toward the back surface. The pressing element 8 may be formed integrally with the support portion 5 and configured as a part of the support portion 5. Further, the pressing element 8 may be formed of a member different from the support part 5 and fixed to the support part 5. Further, on the surface side of the support portion 5, a pedestal portion 9 protruding to the front surface side may be formed at a position overlapping the key top 4. In particular, when the outer periphery of the key top 4 is larger than the inner periphery of the opening 6, it is more preferable because the pedestal portion 9 is provided so that the key top 4 can be easily pressed.

  The first concave portion 6 a is a portion that extends from at least a part of the inner peripheral portion on the back surface side of the opening 6 toward the outer peripheral side and is recessed. In the present embodiment, the first recess 6a extends in the left-right direction on the paper surface of FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the first recess 6 a is provided at a depth α from the surface side of the reinforcing plate 3. The first recess 6a is recessed toward the outer periphery with a thickness β, and extends outward from the inner periphery on the surface side of the opening 6 to the inner wall on the outer periphery side of the first recess 6a by a distance γ. ing. In order to keep the strength of the reinforcing plate 3 sufficiently, the depth α from the surface side of the reinforcing plate 3 is preferably larger than the thickness β of the first recess 6a. For example, in order to ensure sufficient strength of the reinforcing plate 3, the depth α from the surface side of the reinforcing plate 3 is preferably 0.35 mm or more. Moreover, it is preferable that thickness (beta) of the 1st recessed part 6a is 0.1-0.3 mm. When the thickness β is less than 0.1 mm, it is difficult for the elastic body to enter the first recess 6a, and bubbles are likely to be mixed. On the other hand, when the thickness β is 0.3 mm or more, the rigidity of the reinforcing plate 3 is inferior, and the reinforcing plate 3 is easily deformed without fulfilling the reinforcing function. Furthermore, the distance γ from the inner circumference on the surface side of the opening 6 to the inner wall on the outer circumference side of the first recess 6a is preferably 0.2 to 1.0 mm.

  The key top 4 and the support portion 5 may be fixed by any method as long as they can be fixed. For example, both may be fixed by fusion, or may be fixed via an adhesive or a double-sided tape. Alternatively, both may be fixed by a layer made of a hot melt tape, a cyanoacrylate resin, a urethane resin, a silicone resin, or a resin having a low softening point when heated. Further, when fixing them, they may be fixed all over the surfaces in contact with each other, or only a part of the surfaces in contact with each other. For example, you may arrange | position an adhesive agent in the dot form to those at least one adhesion surface.

  By configuring the pushbutton switch member 2 as described above, the adhesive force between the support portion 5 and the inner wall of the opening 6 can be improved. This is because each of the openings 6 has an injection port for a liquid elastic material that is a raw material of the support portion 5, and the elastic material can be poured into the first recess 6 a, so This is because bubbles that do not contain the elastic material can be hardly generated on the side surface. Therefore, the contact area between the support 5 and the side surface of the opening 6 can be further increased.

  Further, by configuring the push button switch member 2 as described above, when the support portion 5 is translucent and the key top 4 is illuminated from the back side of the push button switch member 2, the key top 4 is It can shine evenly without unevenness. This is because air bubbles can be driven into the first concave portion 6a that is not visually recognized from the surface, so that light is not scattered in the opening 6 and uneven light shielding can be realized.

  Further, by forming the pushbutton switch member 2 as described above, the reinforcing plate 3 can be made thin. This is because the strength of the reinforcing plate 3 is not easily lowered because the connecting groove that connects the openings 6 is not provided. Further, by configuring the push button switch member 2 as described above, each key top 4 can be individually illuminated. This is because, unlike the prior art, light is not diffused to the other key tops 4 by the elastic body filled in the connecting grooves that connect the openings 6 to each other.

(Manufacturing method of push button switch member)
Next, the manufacturing method of the member 2 for pushbutton switches is demonstrated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a schematic flow of manufacturing the push button switch member 2. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the push button switch member 2 in each step of FIG. 6 in the same region as FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7A, the reinforcing plate 3 having the first recess 6a in the opening 6 is prepared. Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, a liquid elastic material, which is a raw material for the support 5, is injected into the opening 6 from the surface side of the reinforcing plate 3, and the opening 6 of the reinforcing plate 3 is injected. The support part 5 is formed (step S101: support part formation step).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, the support portion 5 is fixed to the back side of the key top 4 (step S102: fixing step).

  By manufacturing the pushbutton switch member 2 by the method as described above, the adhesive force between the reinforcing plate 3 and the support portion 5 can be improved. This is because each of the openings 6 has an injection port for a liquid elastic material that is a raw material of the support portion 5, and the elastic material can be poured into the first recess 6 a, so It is possible to make it difficult to generate bubbles on the side surface where the elastic material does not exist. Moreover, the adhesive force of the support part 5 and the reinforcement board 3 improves by the 1st recessed part 6a.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a pushbutton switch member 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a rear view when the pushbutton switch member 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is viewed from the back surface side. The same constituent elements as those of the push button switch member 2 according to the first embodiment will be described using the same numbers.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the pushbutton switch member 10 according to the second embodiment is different from the pushbutton switch member 10 according to the first embodiment, and the first recess 6 a Surrounds the circumference.

  With the configuration of the pushbutton switch member 10 as described above, the adhesive force between the reinforcing plate 3 and the support portion 5 can be further improved. This is because when the first recess 6a is provided on the entire circumference of the opening 6, it is easy to drive air bubbles into the first recess 6a. As a result, when the support portion 5 is translucent and the key top 4 is illuminated from the back surface side of the push button switch member 10, the key top 4 can be uniformly illuminated without unevenness.

  The pushbutton switch members 2 and 10 and the manufacturing method thereof according to the respective embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications. It is.

  For example, in the first embodiment, specific numerical values are exemplified for the thickness β and the distance γ, but β and γ are not limited to these numerical values. These numerical values can be appropriately changed depending on conditions such as the strength of the reinforcing plate 3 or the density of the positions where the openings 6 are provided.

  Moreover, in each above-mentioned embodiment, although a part of shape of the 1st recessed part 6a was illustrated, the shape of the 1st recessed part 6a is not limited to such a shape.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view of the pushbutton switch member 20 according to a modification of the present embodiment as viewed from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the pushbutton switch member 20, in order to illuminate the adjacent key tops 4 with light of another color without turbidity, a non-translucent partition beam 21 that partitions between the adjacent openings 6. May be provided. As shown in FIG. 9, the partition rail 21 may surround each opening 6 individually or may surround a group of several openings 6. By providing the partition beam 21, only a desired region surrounded by the partition beam 21 can be illuminated. Further, like the conventional push button switch member, the push button switch members 2, 10, and 20 are formed with a connecting groove between the plurality of openings 6 in the reinforcing plate 3, and the operating parts are connected to the connecting groove. The connecting part that connects the two is not integrally molded. Therefore, light does not leak to other regions via the elastic body in the connecting portion, and only a desired region can be illuminated.

  10 and 11 are plan views of the push button switch members 30 and 40 according to another modification as viewed from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the pushbutton switch member 30 is provided with a first recess 6 a that is formed on the entire periphery of the opening 6 and further extends from a part of the outer periphery thereof. As shown in FIG. 11, the first recess 6 a may extend in any direction as long as the first recess 6 a is formed to extend in the direction of a part of the outer periphery of the opening 6.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the 1st recessed part 6a extended toward the adjacent opening part 6 does not have a 1st recessed part 6a extended from the said adjacent opening part 6 and an extending direction. For example, the first recess 6a extending from the adjacent opening 6 is arranged in a so-called comb-teeth shape as shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11 with respect to the first recess 6a whose extension direction is opposite. It is preferable. When the first recesses 6a extending from the adjacent openings 6 are arranged in a comb shape, the plurality of openings 6 can be arranged at narrower intervals. Therefore, the push button switch member 40 can be made small.

  12 to 14 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing members 50, 60, and 70 for push button switches according to another modification in the same region as that of FIG.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the first recess 6a is provided only on the back surface side of the opening 6. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a second recess 6b is further provided on the surface of the opening 6. May be. Moreover, the adhesive strength of the support part 5 and the opening part 6 can be improved more by providing the 2nd recessed part 6b further. This is because when bubbles are generated, there are many portions where the bubbles can enter, so that the bubbles are unlikely to be generated in the region in contact with the inner wall surface of the opening 6.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, the cross section of the 1st recessed part 6a is good also as a step shape. Specifically, the opening 6 has a stepped portion 6c on the surface side and the inner peripheral side of the first recess 6a. When the step 6c is provided on the outer periphery of the opening 6, air bubbles easily enter the first recess 6a. Similarly, the second recess 6b may be formed in two or more steps.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, a light shielding layer 71 may be provided on the surface side of the reinforcing plate 3 so that light does not leak from a region other than the pedestal portion 9 in the support portion 5. Since the light shielding layer 71 covers the surface side of the region other than the pedestal portion 9, it is possible to prevent light from leaking from the region other than the pedestal portion 9. The light shielding layer 71 may be configured to fix a light shielding film, or may be configured to form a light shielding printing layer. In addition, a semi-transparent layer or the like may be provided instead of the light-shielding layer.

  In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the support part 5 is provided with the presser 8 and the base part 9, these are not essential.

  Moreover, although the translucent key top 4 is used in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is not restricted to such a form. The key top 4 may not be translucent, and may be a key top made of a semi-translucent or light-shielding material and having a through hole, for example. In such a case, when illuminated from the back side of the key top 4, the inside of the through hole appears to shine. In the case of being made of a light-shielding material, the key top 4 may be mainly formed of metal, resin, glass, ceramics, or a composite thereof.

  In the above-described embodiment, the support 5 is formed in the opening 6 by injecting an elastic body as a raw material of the support 5 into the opening 6 in step S101. However, the formation method of the support part 5 is not restricted to such a method. For example, a method may be used in which the support portion 5 is molded in advance and is fixed to the opening 6 by adhesion or fusion. However, it is more preferable to perform insert molding in order to fix the reinforcing plate 3 and the support portion 5 with sufficient strength.

  Moreover, in each figure, although the elliptical opening part 6 is illustrated, it is not restricted to such a shape. The opening 6 may be a circle, a triangle, or a quadrilateral or more polygon as seen from the operation surface. Moreover, the shapes of the opening 6 and the key top 4 may be different. Further, only one opening 6 may be provided.

  15 and 16 are cross-sectional views showing members 80 and 90 for a push button switch according to another modified example in the same area as FIG.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the reinforcing plate 3 is disposed on the back surface side of the plurality of adjacent key tops 4 and is not exposed on the operation surface side, but is not limited to such a form. Like the pushbutton switch member 80 shown in FIG. 15, the reinforcing plate 81 may have a portion that extends in the operation surface direction from the gap between the adjacent key tops 4 and is exposed to the operation surface side. Further, like the push button switch member 90 shown in FIG. 16, a panel 91 exposed to the operation surface side is provided separately from the reinforcing plate 3, and the panel 91 is exposed to the operation surface side from the gap between the adjacent key tops 4. May be.

  The present invention can be used for, for example, a push button switch as an input device of various electronic devices.

2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 Pushbutton switch member 3, 81 Reinforcing plate 4 Key top 5 Support portion 6 Opening portion 6a First recess portion 6b Second recess portion 6c Step portion (Dan)

Claims (6)

A key top for pressing,
A reinforcing plate formed with one or more openings;
A support portion that is provided so as to close the opening and supports the key top so as to be capable of being pressed and displaced;
At least a part of the outer periphery on the back side of the opening is provided with a first recess that extends to the outer periphery of the opening and is recessed, and the first recess that extends toward the adjacent opening is A member for a push button switch, which is arranged in a comb-like shape so as not to collide with each other . The pushbutton switch member according to claim 1 ,
Furthermore, the 2nd recessed part extended and dented in the outer peripheral side of the said opening part is provided in the outer surface side outer periphery of the said opening part, The member for pushbutton switches characterized by the above-mentioned. A key top for pressing,
A reinforcing plate formed with one or more openings;
A support portion that is provided so as to close the opening and supports the key top so as to be capable of being pressed and displaced;
At least a part of the outer periphery on the back side of the opening is provided with a first recess that extends to the outer periphery of the opening and is recessed ,
Furthermore, a second recess is provided on the outer periphery on the surface side of the opening, and extends to the outer periphery of the opening.
The member for a pushbutton switch, wherein the first recesses or the second recesses extending from each other toward the adjacent openings are arranged in a comb shape so as not to collide with each other. The pushbutton switch member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The member for a pushbutton switch, wherein the first recess has a stepped portion. The pushbutton switch member according to any one of claims 2 to 4 ,
At least one of said 1st recessed part and said 2nd recessed part is provided in the perimeter of the said opening part, The member for pushbutton switches characterized by the above-mentioned. A key top for pressing, a reinforcing plate having one or more openings, and a support provided so as to close the opening and elastically supporting the key top so as to be able to be pressed and displaced. At least a part of the outer periphery on the back surface side of the opening is provided with a first recess extending and recessed toward the outer periphery of the opening, and the first recesses extending toward the adjacent opening are mutually connected. A method for manufacturing a member for a push button switch arranged in a comb shape so as not to collide ,
Using a molding die that opens the inlet at a position corresponding to the opening, a liquid elastic material for forming the support is injected into the inlet, and the support is attached to the reinforcing plate. A supporting part forming step to be formed;
A fixing step of fixing the key top to the support;
The manufacturing method of the member for pushbutton switches characterized by including this.

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