JPH05325713A - Key top - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a key top capable of protecting a surface sheet even in the case where a switch is not provided. CONSTITUTION:A surface plate 4 is oppositely set on a substrate 3 on which a switch 2 is mounted. The plate 4 is provided with a through-hole into which a key top 1 serving as a handle of the switch 2. The portion projecting from the plate 4 in the key top 1 is covered with a thin flexible surface sheet 5 superposed on the surface plate 4. The key top 1 is shaped such that a support leg 1b capable of being cut is projected from a main body 1a. In the case where the switch 2 is not arranged the surface of the main body 1a is adjusted in position so that it may be substantially flush with the surface of the plate 4 and then the support leg 1b is fixed to the substrate 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used as a handle of a switch whose contacts are opened and closed in response to a pressing operation of an operator, and has a through hole formed in a surface plate opposed to a substrate on which the switch is mounted. The present invention relates to a key top arranged so that a part thereof protrudes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a key top used as a handle when operating a switch (so-called tact switch) having a small stroke for pushing an operator. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 2 is mounted on the substrate 3, and the substrate 3 has a through hole 4 at a portion corresponding to the switch 2.
The surface plate 4 with a is placed opposite. A part of the key top 1 projects from the surface plate 4. On the surface of the surface plate 4 opposite to the surface facing the substrate 3, a thin surface sheet 5 having flexibility is laminated over the entire surface. That is, the surface plate 4 of the key top 1
The protruding portion from is covered with the topsheet 5, and the topsheet 5 realizes functions such as waterproofing and dustproofing. The key top 1 is disposed so as to face the tip end surface of the operator 2a of the switch 2, and is held by the arm 6a of the elastic support member 6 attached to the substrate 3 to give a restoring force. .. Therefore, by pushing the key top 1 from above the top sheet 5, the operator 2a of the switch 2 is pushed.
When the pressing force is released after the pressing force is applied to the key top 1, the key top 1 returns to the original position by the returning force of the arm 6a of the support member 6. This type of key top 1 is usually used in a place where a plurality of switches 2 are arranged, as in the case of forming a numeric keypad, and a large number of through holes 4a are formed in the surface plate 4. To be done.

[0003]

By the way, when the surface plate 4 is shared by a plurality of products, the switch 2 may not be provided for some of the through holes 4a.
In this case, the through hole 4a where the key top 1 is not provided
When a pressing force is applied to the topsheet 5 at a portion corresponding to, there arises a problem that the topsheet 5 is deformed.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a key top capable of protecting a surface sheet even when a switch is not provided. ..

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a handle for operating a switch which is mounted on a board and whose contacts are opened / closed in response to a pressing operation of an operator, and which faces the board. A part of the surface plate protrudes through the through hole formed in the surface plate and is laminated on the surface of the surface plate opposite to the surface facing the substrate to have the flexibility of closing the through hole. In a keytop in which a protruding portion is covered with a thin display sheet, a part of the operator protrudes from the surface plate and a part of the operator faces the surface facing the substrate, and the main surface of the main body faces the substrate. Provided with a detachable support leg that is inserted into the substrate, and if the switch is arranged on the substrate at a portion corresponding to the through hole of the surface plate, the support leg is excised and the switch operator When the main body faces and the switch is not placed on the board at the part corresponding to the through hole of the front plate, the tip of the support leg is inserted into the board at a position where the front surface of the main body is substantially flush with the front surface of the front plate. It is fixed in a fixed form.

[0006]

According to the above construction, the support leg that can be cut off is provided on the main body, and the tip of the support leg is inserted into the substrate at the place where the switch is not provided and the through hole is formed in the surface plate. In the shape, the surface of the main body is fixed so as to be substantially flush with the surface of the front surface plate, and the through hole of the front surface plate can be closed by the main body even when the switch is not provided. Of. That is,
Even if a pressing force acts on the surface sheet at a portion corresponding to the through hole in a portion where the switch is not provided, the pressing force can be received by the main body, and as a result, the deformation of the surface sheet can be prevented. Moreover, since the supporting leg can be cut off from the main body, when the switch is provided, the supporting leg can be cut off to be used as a key top similar to the conventional one.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 2, a key top 1 has a main body 1a which receives a pressing force and a supporting leg 1b which is provided on a surface of the main body 1a opposite to the surface of the main body 1a which receives the pressing force. It is formed of synthetic resin in the shape provided in the. Support leg 1b
Is protruded from the bottom surface of the recess 1c formed on one surface of the main body 1a, and can be cut in the recess 1c.

When this key top 1 is used, the key top 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the main body 1a is supported by the arm 6a of the elastic support body 6 fixed on the substrate 3 on which the switch 2 is mounted. When the operator 2a is pressed using the key top 1 as the handle of the switch 2, the support leg 1b is cut off, and the operator 2a of the switch 2 mounted on the substrate 3 is provided with a recess 1c in the main body 1a. Face to face. Here, the opening area of the recess 1c is set smaller than the area of the tip surface of the operator 2a so that the operator 2a does not fit into the recess 1c. A through hole 4a through which the main body 1a is inserted is formed in the surface plate 4 arranged so as to face the substrate 3, and a flexible thin surface sheet 5 is laminated so as to cover the entire surface plate 4. The surface of the main body 1a is covered. In this state, when the downward pushing force of FIG. 1A is applied to the main body 1a, the main body 1a moves downward while bending the arm 6a of the support body 6, and the operator 2a of the switch 2 is pushed. is there.

On the other hand, in a portion corresponding to the through hole 4a where the switch 2 is not arranged, as shown in FIG. 1B, the support leg 1b is not cut off, and the tip portion of the support leg 1b is placed on the substrate. Insert into 3 and heat. At this time, the support member 6 is arranged so that the surface of the main body 1a is substantially flush with the surface of the surface plate 4.
The arm 6a is bent to push in the main body 1a. In this case, since the topsheet 5 does not project at the portion corresponding to the through hole 4a, it can be recognized that the switch 2 does not exist. Further, even if a pressing force acts on the surface sheet 5 at this portion, the load can be received by the key tops 1, so that the deformation of the surface sheet 5 can be prevented.

With the above structure, it is possible to cope with the case where the switch 2 is present and the case where the switch 2 is not present with respect to the through hole 4a formed in the surface plate 4 by using the key tops 1 having the same shape. Moreover, the deformation of the topsheet 5 can be prevented.

[0011]

As described above, according to the present invention, the support leg that can be cut off from the main body is provided, and at the place where the switch is not provided and the through hole is formed in the surface plate, the tip end of the support leg is provided. Since the main body is fixed so that the surface of the main body is substantially flush with the surface of the front plate when inserted, the through hole of the front plate can be closed by the main body even when no switch is provided. Has the advantage. That is, even if a pressing force acts on the surface sheet at a portion corresponding to the through hole in the portion where the switch is not provided, the pressing force can be received by the main body, and as a result, the deformation of the surface sheet can be prevented. is there. Moreover, since the support leg can be cut off with respect to the main body, when providing a switch,
If the supporting legs are cut off, there is an effect that it can be used as a key top similar to the conventional one.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment, (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a usage pattern in the presence of a switch, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a usage pattern in the absence of a switch.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Key top 1a Main body 1b Support leg 2 Switch 2a Operator 3 Substrate 4 Surface plate 4a Through hole 5 Surface sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A handle for operating a switch which is mounted on a board and whose contacts are opened / closed in response to a pressing operation of an operator,
A part of the surface plate protrudes through the through hole formed in the surface plate that faces the substrate, and the surface plate may be laminated on the surface opposite to the surface facing the substrate to close the through hole. In a key top in which a protruding portion is covered with a thin display sheet having flexibility, a main body that partially protrudes from a surface plate and a part of the operator faces the surface facing the substrate, and the substrate in the main body. Is integrally provided with a detachable support leg protruding from the opposite surface of the substrate and inserted into the substrate. If the switch is arranged on the substrate at a portion corresponding to the through hole of the surface plate, the support leg is excised and the switch is attached. If the main body faces the operator of the above, and the switch is not arranged on the substrate at the portion corresponding to the through hole of the front plate, the tip of the supporting leg is at a position where the front surface of the main body is substantially flush with the front surface of the front plate. Key top, characterized in that it is fixed by insertion to form the substrate.