JPH0452899Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a push-type switch that performs switching by pushing and returning operations of a plurality of push knobs provided on the front surface of a switch housing. .

[Prior Art] Push-type switches are often used to change the operating state of various devices such as audio equipment or air conditioners, and in recent years, push switches have been used to change the operating state of various devices, such as audio equipment or air conditioners. A push switch is used to change the mode.

6 and 7A and 7B show perspective views of a conventional air conditioner switch. Various changeover switches such as an adjustment switch 14 and an air conditioner mode selection switch 18 are provided. The user selectively pushes each of these switches to change the desired switch.

Next, in the air conditioner switch shown in Fig. 7,
As shown in the figure, a lid 20 is provided on some of the various switches disposed on the front panel 12 of the housing 10, for example, the mode selection switch 18, and when switching modes, the lid 20 is opened and the switch inside is opened. I am trying to perform the following operations. Generally, the lid 20 is configured to be opened by pushing the lid 20, and as shown in FIG.
0 is left open.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] According to the conventional push switch shown in FIG. All the low switches are placed on the same plane. Therefore, for example, in the case of an air conditioner, the number of control switches has increased as the functions of the air conditioning system have improved, so the number of switches disposed on the front panel 12 has increased significantly.
Therefore, there is a problem in that the switch push operation is likely to malfunction during operation, and especially with air conditioner switches for vehicles, it may be necessary to switch the switch while driving, making it difficult to select the switch to push. There was a problem with this.

Next, in the case of the air conditioner switch with a lid shown in FIGS. 7A and B, the less frequently used switches are placed inside the lid 20, and only the more frequently used switches are placed outside the lid. By doing so, the number of switches that are always exposed on the front panel can be reduced, making it easier to select the switches. However, according to such a conventional front panel with a lid, in order to operate the switch inside the lid 20, as shown in FIG.
When the lid 20 is opened, the lid 20 protrudes toward the front. Therefore, if the operator accidentally bumps his or her hand, or if the switches are placed below the lid 20, there is a problem that the switches become difficult to see.

Purpose of the invention The present invention was devised in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to facilitate the selection operation of frequently used switches, and to generate a protrusion even when using less frequently used switches. To provide a push-type switch that does not reduce the operability of other switches.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the push switch, the push surfaces of a plurality of push knobs are exposed from the front panel formed on the front surface of the switch housing, and the switch is turned on and off by the push-in operation and return operation of each push knob. A panel holding means for enabling the front panel to be pushed into the housing by a push operation, and a locking portion for maintaining the pushed state of the front panel until a predetermined return operation is performed. It is characterized in that the relative position of the push surface of each push knob with respect to the panel surface of the front panel is changed by the push-in movement and return movement of the front panel.

[Function] According to the above configuration, the front panel can be pushed into the housing by providing the panel holding means, and the front panel is locked at the pushed-in position by the locking portion to maintain the pushed-in state. can be maintained.

Therefore, the push surface of the push knob protrudes relative to the panel surface of the front panel by the amount that the front panel is pushed in. As a result, by adjusting the positions of the push surfaces of the plurality of push knobs, it is possible to make any push knob protrude from the panel surface of the front panel only when it is in use, and when it is not in normal use. That is, it is possible to limit the number of push knobs whose push surfaces protrude from the panel surface of the front panel when the front panel is not pushed in.

Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the selection operation of each switch and to reduce the occurrence of malfunctions.

[Embodiment] A preferred embodiment of the push switch according to the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. Incidentally, the same elements as those of the conventional push-type switch shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a front panel 12 provided at the front of the housing 10 is provided with a pivot shaft 22 at its upper end as a holding means. The front panel 12 rotates around the housing 10 around this rotation axis 22.
It is rotatably mounted inward (in the direction of arrow 200). The rotation shaft 22 is provided with a biasing spring 24 for biasing the front panel 12 outward of the housing 10 (in the direction of arrow 300).

Further, a locking protrusion 26, which is a locking part, is provided at the bottom of the back side of the front panel 12, and this locking protrusion 26 locks the housing when the front panel 12 is pushed and rotated in the direction of arrow 200. The front panel 12 is engaged with a protrusion receiver 27 provided on the side of the front panel 10 to maintain the front panel 12 in the rotationally pushed-in state against the return force of the biasing spring 24.

In this embodiment, the push knobs are arranged in two rows, upper and lower, with the upper push knob row 28 having the frequently used push knobs, and the lower push knob row 30 having the less frequently used push knobs. has been done. The upper push knob 28 is disposed such that its push surface 28a protrudes beyond the panel surface of the front panel by a predetermined length when the front panel 12 is not rotated and pushed in, that is, in a normal state. On the other hand, each push knob in the lower push knob row 30, which is less frequently used, is arranged so that the push surface 30a is maintained on almost the same plane as the panel surface of the front panel 12 when the front panel 12 is in a normal state. has been done. Incidentally, switch portions 32 and 34 are provided at the mounting locations within the housing 10 of each push knob, respectively. In addition, the upper push knob row 28
Each switch is provided with a lens 36 for night illumination.

Furthermore, a display board 38 is provided near the bottom of the housing 10 to display the type of each switch in the push knob row 30, which becomes visible from the outside when the front panel 12 is rotated and pushed in. A bulb 40 is provided inside the display board 38, and emits light for night illumination through a lens 42 provided between the display board 38 and the display board 38.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show perspective views of the push switch according to the first embodiment, and FIGS.
Figure A shows the normal state in which the front panel 12 is not rotated and pushed in, and Figure 2 B shows the front panel 12 in its normal state.
2 shows the state in which it is rotated and pushed in.

In the state shown in Figure 2 A, the upper push knob row 2
Only the push knobs 8 protrude from the panel surface of the front panel 12, and the type of each switch is indicated on the push surface of each push knob.

On the other hand, the push surfaces of the lower push knob row 30 are located substantially on the same plane as the panel surface of the front panel 12, and the type of switch is not displayed on each push surface.

FIG. 2B shows a state in which the front panel 12 is rotated and pushed in. In this state, the push knob row 30 on the lower side is such that its push surface is aligned with the front panel by the amount that the front panel 12 is rotated into the housing. 12
It is understood that it is in a state of protrusion with respect to the panel surface.

Further, by rotating and pushing the front panel 12, the display plate 38 becomes visible from the outside, so that the type of switch corresponding to each push knob in the push knob row 30 on the lower side becomes recognizable.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 3A shows a partial sectional view of the front panel 12 in a state where it is not rotated and pushed in, and the push surface of the upper push knob row 28 is the front panel 12.
The push surface of the lower push knob row 30 is located substantially on the same plane as the panel surface of the front panel 12.

Therefore, in this state, the switch knob row 30 that is used infrequently is almost inconspicuous, and there is no fear that the operator will misread the display and make an erroneous operation when performing a selection operation on a frequently used push knob. However, even in this state, each push knob in the lower push knob row 30 can be turned on and off by performing a push operation.

Next, when the lower part of the front panel 12 is pushed in the direction of arrow 400, the front panel 12 rotates and the locking protrusion 26 engages with the protrusion receiver 27 inside the housing, resulting in the rotated and pushed state shown in FIG. 3B. Become.

In this state, the push surfaces of each switch in the lower push knob row 30 also protrude from the panel surface of the front panel 12 to the same extent as the push surfaces of the upper push knob row 28, making it easy to push the lower push knobs. becomes. In addition, the display board 38
Since the switch is also visible, it is also possible to recognize the type of switch.

Therefore, only when each push knob of the lower push knob row 30, which is used less frequently, is used, the front panel 12 is pushed and turned into the pushed-in state. The push knobs will not cause erroneous recognition operations when selecting the push knobs in the upper push knob row 28.

The return operation of the front panel 12 is performed by further pushing the front panel in the direction of arrow 400 from the state shown in FIG. Figure 3A
This is done by returning to the state of

According to the first embodiment, when operating the frequently used push knob row 28 arranged at the upper part of the front panel 12, the selection operation can be performed without fear of misidentification with the lower push knob row 30. When operating the lower push knob row 30, which is rarely used, the front panel 12 is rotated and pushed in so that its push surface protrudes from the panel surface of the front panel 12. can be easily done. Further, unlike the conventional example shown in FIG. 7B, the lid 20 does not protrude toward the front, allowing safe operation.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the push switch according to the present invention, and the characteristic feature of this embodiment is that the front panel 12 is protruded outward from the housing approximately at the center where the front panel 12 is divided into two vertically. This is because the rotating shaft 22 is provided at the bent portion.

Therefore, this front panel 12 rotates around the rotation axis 22 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B by an arrow 500.
and can be rotated in a seesaw manner in the direction of arrow 600.

This see-saw movement of the front panel 12 is performed by pushing in the upper part of the front panel, causing the lower part to protrude, and conversely, pushing in the lower part, causing the upper part to protrude. Due to this seesaw operation, the push knob rows 28 arranged on the upper side of the front panel 12 and the push knob rows 30 arranged on the lower side of the front panel 12 alternately project from the panel surface of the front panel 12.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, only the row on the operating side of the push knob rows arranged at the top or bottom of the front panel 12 can be made to protrude from the panel surface of the front panel, and each The push knob can be easily recognized and the selection operation can be made easier.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show still another embodiment, and the characteristic feature of this embodiment is that a rotation shaft 22 is provided at the lower part of the front panel 12, and the rotating shaft 22 is provided near the push knob row 28 on the upper side of the front panel 12. A separation part 42 is provided, and the lower part of the separation part 42 can be rotated and pushed into the housing 10 about the rotation shaft 22.

In addition, at the top of the rotating part of the front panel 12,
An LCF (Light Control Film) 44 or the like is provided so that the switch display can be visually recognized by the light from the bulb 40 located at the rear only when the rotating part 46 is in the rotating push-in position (the state shown in FIG. 5B). is being used.

That is, by rotating the rotating portion 46 of the front panel 12, the viewing angle of the LCF is directed toward the eye level and closer to the bulb 40, so that the display becomes visible.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as the first embodiment described above can be achieved, namely, by making the less frequently used push knobs less noticeable, it is easier to select the frequently used push knobs, and the less frequently used push knobs can be used. It is possible to obtain the effect of ensuring a protruding state with respect to the panel surface at the time of use.

In the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking protrusion provided inside the rotating front panel 12 is not shown, but the locking protrusion provided inside the housing is similar to the first embodiment. It is provided so that it can be engaged with a protrusion receiver provided in the. In particular, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, locking protrusions are provided at the upper and lower parts of the front panel 12, and by pushing the upper or lower part, the locking protrusions alternately engage and disengage. conduct.

In each of the embodiments described above, the front panel is pushed in by rotating the panel, but it is also possible to move the front panel in parallel by moving the panel rearward. In this case, sliding portions are formed at the upper and lower ends of the front panel, and biasing means and locking portions are formed to enable the front panel to be pushed rearward by a push operation, and to return to its original position by a second push operation.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to the push switch according to the invention, the relative position of the push surface of the push knob with respect to the panel surface of the front panel is changed by the push-in movement and return movement of the front panel. The push knob, which is used infrequently, can be made to protrude from the panel surface only when in use, and can be made inconspicuous by being protruded from the panel surface when not in use.

This prevents misidentification between the frequently used push knob and the less frequently used push knob, making it easier to recognize the switch during operation, and furthermore, unlike conventional devices, the lid can be moved forward. There is no protrusion, and safety during operation can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention, Figures 2A and B are perspective views showing the overall configuration of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, and Figures 3A and B are the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic explanatory diagrams of another embodiment, FIGS. 5A and B are explanatory diagrams of still another embodiment, and FIGS. B is a perspective view showing the entire conventional air conditioner switch. 10...Housing, 12...Front panel, 2
2... Rotating shaft, 24... Biasing spring, 26... Locking protrusion, 27... Protrusion receiver, 28... Upper push knob row, 30... Lower push knob row.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A push-type switch in which the push surfaces of a plurality of push knobs are exposed from a front panel formed on the front surface of a switch housing, and the switches are turned on and off by push-in and return operations, A panel holding means for enabling the front panel to be pushed into the housing by a push operation, and a locking portion for maintaining the pushed state of the front panel until a predetermined return operation is performed. Including, a part of the push surface of the push knob is
A push-type switch characterized in that the panel is changed from a difficult-to-operate state in which the panel does not protrude from the panel surface to an easy-to-operate state in which the panel protrudes relatively from the panel surface by pushing the panel.