JPH08298043A - Push button with translucent part and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To largely ensure the light receiving surface of a push button with translucent part, and prevent the light receiving loss by a flaw by an injector pin. CONSTITUTION: A columnar translucent part 25 forming a translucent surface 29 on a part of the surface of a pressing plate part 23a is suspended on the back surface of the pressing plate part 23a. Substantially the same circular surface as the circular surface internally touching the translucent surface 29 is formed on a light receiving surface 27 on the lower end of the translucent part 25. A method for manufacturing a push button 17 comprises the step for integrally molding the pressing plate part 23a and the columnar translucent part 25 of the push button 17 by use of a metal mold, and the step for pushing the circular surface of the light receiving surface 27 by a mirror finished injector pin having a circular surface substantially the same in diameter as a circular surface whose top end surface internally touches the translucent surface 29 to separate the translucent part 25 from the metal mold.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push button with a light transmitting portion used in a telephone and the like, and a method for manufacturing the push button.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some push buttons used in telephones and the like are provided with a light-transmitting portion that causes the surface of a push plate of the push button to emit light. The transparent portion was integrally formed with the push button body by injection molding or the like. 5A and 5B are views of a conventional push button having a light-transmitting portion. FIG. 5A is a plan view thereof, FIG. 5B is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. The main body 3 of the push button 1 is formed, for example, in the shape of an elongated cylinder whose lower portion is opened. Inside the main body 3, a column-shaped light-transmitting portion 5 is provided, the upper end of which is connected to the pressing plate portion 3a and hangs down. The light-transmitting portion 5 is integrally formed with the main body 3 by injection molding. A light receiving surface 7 is formed on the lower end surface of the light transmitting portion 5, and the light receiving surface 7 is the push button 1
It receives light from a light emitting means (not shown) provided below. A part of the pressing plate portion 3a becomes the light-transmitting surface 9 of the light-transmitting portion 5, and the light having passed through the light-transmitting portion 5 is emitted from the light-transmitting surface 9 to the outside. In the light-transmitting portion 5 thus configured, the light-receiving surface 7 and the light-transmitting surface 9 have similar shapes, and the light-receiving surface 7 is formed smaller than the light-transmitting surface 9 by the draft of the mold. Was there.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional push button 1, since the light receiving surface 7 is formed smaller than the light transmitting surface 9, the light from the light emitting means can be sufficiently guided to the light transmitting portion 5. There was a problem that I could not. If the light-receiving surface 7 is not a perfect circle such as an ellipse or an ellipse, the light-receiving surface portion of the injection molding die cannot be sufficiently polished, and the light-receiving surface 7 becomes a rough surface to cause irregular reflection, and the light-emitting means emits light. There is also a problem that the above light cannot be sufficiently guided to the light transmitting portion 5. Further, when the push button 1 is separated from the mold, the light receiving surface 7 is projected by the cylindrical ejector pin. However, when the light receiving surface 7 is an ellipse, the diameter of the ejector pin is at maximum. Light receiving surface 7
Marked with circular scratches by ejector pin diameter y ₂ next circle inscribed, the light receiving surface 7, which also had a light can not be guided sufficiently light transmissive portion 5 to issue from the light emitting means. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a push button with a translucent portion that can secure a large light receiving surface and can prevent light loss due to scratches on an ejector pin, and a method for manufacturing the same, thereby increasing the amount of light received. The purpose is to plan.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the structure of a push button with a light transmitting portion according to the present invention is such that a push plate portion of the push button and an upper end of the push plate portion are connected to the back surface of the push plate portion. A light receiving member having a columnar light-transmitting portion having a light-transmitting surface on a part of the surface of the pressing plate and a circular surface formed on the lower end surface of the light-transmitting portion and substantially inscribed in the light-transmitting surface. And a surface. A method of manufacturing a push button with a translucent part according to the present invention is a method of manufacturing a push button with a translucent part having a circular surface substantially the same as a circular surface inscribed in a translucent surface on a light receiving surface, The step of integrally molding the pressing plate portion and the column-shaped light-transmitting portion using a mold, and the tip surface of the light receiving surface by a ejector pin which is a circular surface having substantially the same diameter as the circular surface and which is mirror-finished. And a step of protruding the circular surface to separate the light transmitting portion from the mold.

[0005]

In the push button with the light transmitting portion, when the light emitting means provided below the light transmitting portion is turned on, light is taken in from the light receiving surface, passes through the light transmitting portion, and reaches the light transmitting surface. At this time, since the light receiving surface is formed with a circular surface which is substantially the same as the circular surface inscribed in the light transmitting surface, the light receiving area is increased as compared with the conventional light receiving surface in which the circular surface is not formed. The amount of light received from the camera increases. In the method of manufacturing a push button with a light-transmitting portion, a light-receiving surface having a circular surface that is substantially the same as the circular surface inscribed in the light-transmitting surface is formed integrally with the pressing plate portion and the light-transmitting portion. A large mirror-shaped circular surface is formed on the light-receiving surface by being ejected by an ejector pin having a circular surface of the same diameter at its tip and having a mirror-finished tip surface.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a push button with a light transmitting portion and a method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a push button according to the present invention,
(A) is a plan view, (b) is a sectional view, (c) is a rear view, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a peripheral structure in which the push button of the present invention is incorporated. As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board 11 is provided with rubber contacts 13, and the rubber contacts 13
Has a switch contact 15. A push button 17 is placed on the upper surface of the rubber contact 13, and the push button 17 is pressed to press the rubber contact 13. When the rubber contact 13 is pressed, the switch contact 15 is operated, and when the pressing of the push button 17 is released, the push button 17 is restored by elastic force. The circuit board 11 has an LED 1 which is a light emitting means.
9 is provided, and the light from the LED 19 passes through the through hole 21 formed in the rubber contact 13 and the push button 17
The light is transmitted to the light-transmitting portion described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 23 of the push button 17 is formed, for example, in the shape of an elongated cylinder whose lower portion is opened. Inside the main body 23, a column-shaped light-transmitting portion 25 is provided, the upper end of which is connected to the pressing plate portion 23a and hangs down.
Is integrally formed with the main body 23 by injection molding. Translucent part 2
A light receiving surface 27 is formed on the lower end surface of the light receiving member 5, and the light receiving surface 27 receives light from the above-described LED 19 provided below the push button 17. A part of the pressing plate portion 23a becomes a light transmitting surface 29 of the light transmitting portion 25, and the light passing through the light transmitting portion 25 is emitted from the light transmitting surface 29 to the outside.

The light-transmitting surface 29 of the light-transmitting portion 25 is formed in an oval shape, and has a major axis x ₁ and a minor axis y as shown in FIG.
_It has a dimension of ₁ . Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, the light receiving surface 27 has a long diameter x ₂ and a short diameter y that are similar to the light transmitting surface 29.
It is formed in a non-similar shape by combining an oval having a dimension of ₂ with a true circle having a diameter y ₃ .

Here, the dimensions of the light transmitting surface 29 and the light receiving surface 27
Regarding the legal relationship, considering the draft of the mold during injection molding,
Each diameter of the light surface 27 is smaller than each diameter of the light transmitting surface 29 (x₁
> X ₂, Y₁> Y₂)doing. Also, the diameter y of a perfect circle₃
Is the minor axis y of the transparent surface 29.₁It is almost the same as. Immediately
The diameter y of a perfect circle₃Is the minor axis y of the light-receiving surface 27.₂Than
Certainly large (y₃> Y₂) Reserved.

By the way, it is generally very difficult to make the light-receiving surface 27 a mirror finish because of the mold. Actually, the tip of the ejector pin (not shown) arranged on this surface must be mirror-finished. From this, if the diameter of the ejector pin is secured as large as possible, the mirror-finished portion of the light-receiving surface 27 will increase. That is, in the push button 17 of the present embodiment, since a perfect circle having a diameter y ₃ substantially the same as the minor diameter y ₁ of the translucent surface 29 is combined with the light receiving surface 27, y ₂ is the limit in the past. The diameter of the ejector pin can be increased to the diameter y ₃ .

Therefore, the push button 17 of the present embodiment uses an ejector pin having a diameter y ₃ larger than the minor axis y ₂ of the light receiving surface 27, and the tip of the ejector pin is mirror-finished. After molding, the light receiving surface 27 is projected by this tip end surface, and the light transmitting portion 25 is separated from the mold to manufacture. In the push button 17 manufactured in this way, a larger circular mirror surface can be formed on the light-receiving surface 27 as compared with the conventional one, and the mirror-finished portion of the light-receiving surface 27 is increased, so that the light from the LED 19 can be emitted more effectively. You will be able to capture more.

When the LED 19 is turned on, light passes through the through hole 21 of the rubber contact 13, reaches the light receiving surface 27, and is taken in from the light receiving surface 27. Passes through the translucent portion 25 and reaches the translucent surface 29, thereby recognizing the lighting of the LED 19. At this time, since the light receiving surface 27 is formed with a mirror surface having a larger circular shape than that of the conventional one, the light receiving area is increased, the light receiving amount is increased, and the loss of the light receiving amount due to irregular reflection is eliminated.

According to the push button 17 described above, since the light receiving surface 27 is formed by combining the perfect circles inscribed in the light transmitting surface 29, the area of the light receiving surface 27 can be increased and L
The light from the ED 19 can be effectively taken in. In addition, a perfect circle inscribed in the transparent surface 29 is a light receiving surface 2
By combining it with 7, the diameter of the ejector pin, which was conventionally y ₂ , can be expanded to y ₃ . As a result, it is possible to increase the mirror-finished portion of the light-receiving surface 27, prevent light-receiving loss due to scratches on the ejector pins, and capture more light from the LED 19. Further, since a perfect circle having a diameter substantially the same as the maximum inscribed circle of the light transmitting surface 29 can be formed on the light receiving surface 27, an excellent light collecting effect can be expected regardless of the shape of the light transmitting surface 29.

Next, a second embodiment of the push button with a light transmitting portion according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3A and 3B are views of a push button according to the second embodiment, FIG. 3A is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3B is a sectional view, FIG. 3C is a rear view, and FIG. 4 is a modification of the push button according to the second embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows an example.
The main body 33 of the push button 31 is formed, for example, in the shape of an elongated cylinder whose lower portion is opened. Inside the main body 33, a column-shaped light transmitting portion 35 is provided, the upper end of which is connected to the pressing plate portion 33a and hangs down. The light transmitting portion 35 is integrally formed with the main body 33 by injection molding. A light receiving surface 37 is formed on the lower end surface of the light transmitting portion 35, and the light receiving surface 37 receives light from the LED 19 provided below the push button 31. A part of the pressing plate portion 33a becomes the transparent surface 39 of the transparent portion 35, and the transparent surface 39
The light that has passed through the transparent portion 35 is emitted to the outside.

The light-transmitting surface 39 of the light-transmitting portion 35 is formed by the light-transmitting portion 35.
By forming the taper part 41 on the top of the
Formed in the shape of a circle, as shown in FIG._Four, Short
Diameter y _FourHave dimensions. The light receiving surface 37 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), it is formed in a perfect circular shape and has a diameter x_FiveTo
Have. Where each diameter is x_Four<X_Five, Y_Four<X_FiveSeki
Have a person in charge. That is, the perfect circle of the light-receiving surface 37 is the light-transmitting surface.
It is a large one that includes all 39. In addition,
The oval of the translucent surface 39 is formed by the tapered portion 41.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, it is formed by the step portion 43.
It may be one.

According to the push button 31 of this embodiment, since the substantially light-transmitting surface 39 is narrowed down by the tapered portion 41, the area of the light-receiving surface 37 can be reduced regardless of the shape and size of the light-transmitting surface 39. Can always be kept constant, L
The light of the ED 19 can be sufficiently received without leaking to others. As a result, a large amount of light can be obtained with respect to the area of the transparent surface 39, the shape and size of the transparent surface 39 can be freely formed, and the rectangular or star-shaped transparent surface can be used without sticking to a circle or an ellipse. Shape is also possible.

[0017]

As described above in detail, according to the push button with a light transmitting portion according to the present invention, the light receiving surface is formed by combining the perfect circles inscribed in the light transmitting surface. The size can be increased, and the light from the light emitting means can be effectively taken in. In addition, by combining the perfect circle inscribed in the transparent surface with the light receiving surface, the diameter of the ejector pin, which was conventionally limited to the short diameter of the ellipse, can be expanded to the diameter of the perfect circle inscribed in the transparent surface. , While increasing the mirror finish of the light receiving surface,
It is possible to prevent light loss due to scratches on the ejector pin. According to the method for manufacturing a push button with a light-transmitting part according to the present invention, the light-receiving surface is projected by the ejector pin having a circular surface larger than that of the prior art and mirror-finished, and a circular mirror surface larger than the conventional surface is formed on the light-receiving surface. Can be formed,
The amount of received light can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are views of a push button according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view thereof, FIG. 1B is a sectional view thereof, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a peripheral structure in which a push button according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a push button according to a second embodiment, (a)
Is a plan view, (b) is a sectional view, and (c) is a rear view.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a modification of the push button according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view of a push button having a conventional transparent portion,
(A) is the top view, (b) is sectional drawing, (c) is a rear view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 17 Push Button with Translucent Section 23a Pressing Plate Section 25 Translucent Section 27 Light-Receiving Surface 29 Translucent Surface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A push plate portion of a push button, a column-shaped light-transmitting portion having an upper end connected to the back surface of the push plate portion and having a part of the surface of the push plate portion as a light-transmitting surface, and the light-transmitting portion. A push button with a light transmitting part, comprising: a light receiving surface having a circular surface that is substantially the same as a circular surface that is formed on the lower end surface of the portion and is inscribed in the light transmitting surface. 2. The push button with a light-transmitting portion according to claim 1, wherein the light-transmitting surface and the light-receiving surface of the columnar light-transmitting portion are formed in different shapes that are not similar. 3. A push plate portion of a push button, and a column-shaped light-transmitting portion having an upper end connected to the back surface of the push plate portion and having a part of the surface of the push plate portion as an oval light-transmitting surface. A push button with a light transmitting part, comprising: a light receiving surface formed on a lower end surface of the light transmitting part, the light receiving surface being a circular surface having a diameter larger than the major axis of the oval. 4. A method of manufacturing a push button with a light transmissive portion, which has a circular surface substantially the same as the circular surface inscribed in the light transmissive surface as a light receiving surface, the method comprising: Integrally molding the part with a mold using a mold, and the tip surface is a circular surface having a diameter substantially the same as that of the circular surface, and the circular surface of the light receiving surface is projected by an ejector pin having a mirror finish to form the light transmitting portion. A method of manufacturing a push button with a light-transmitting part, comprising the step of separating from the mold.