JPH08329770A - Push-button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a lightweight thin push-button switch having an excellent characteristic while securing good touch in the push-button switch to be used as an input device of a word processor or the like. CONSTITUTION: A slidingly movable bearing 12a is arranged on a metallic frame 12, and respective shaft parts 17a and 18a of interlocking members 17 and 18 molded by resin are rotatably and slidably fitted in the slidingly movable bearing 12a, and shaft parts 17c and 18c of the interlocking members 17 and 18 are constituted so as to be fitted in a key top 16. Therefore, while securing the good pressing touch, a thin type can be attained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push button switch used as an input device for word processors, personal computers and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional push button switch will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 is a metal frame, 2 is an upper flexible sheet and a lower flexible sheet. Conductive paste printing is performed on each of the flexible sheets, and contact patterns formed so as to face each flexible sheet are switches. It is a membrane sheet that constitutes a part. A cup-shaped rubber 3 having a switch pressing portion 3a is arranged so as to correspond to the switch portion of the membrane sheet 2.

A resin case 4 has a guide hole 4a at the center thereof.
However, a pair of locking holes 4b are provided on both sides. Reference numeral 5 is a key top, and the guide hole 4a of the case 4 is provided in the central portion.
A cylindrical stem 5a that fits in and slides into the locking hole 5b and a locking hole 5b that slides into the locking hole 4b of the case 4 are provided on both sides.

In the conventional push button switch configured as described above, the switch pressing portion 3a of the cup-shaped rubber 3 is the switch of the membrane sheet 2 while the pressing feeling is maintained by pressing down the upper surface of the key top 5. It was configured to come into contact with the part and the switch to be turned on.

Further, a conventional push button switch having another structure is
A description will be given based on FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIGS. 5 and 6, 6 is a metal frame, 7 is an upper flexible sheet and a lower flexible sheet, and conductive paste printing is performed on each of the flexible sheets, and contact patterns formed so as to face each flexible sheet are switches. It is a membrane sheet that constitutes a part. This membrane sheet 7
The cup-shaped rubber 8 having the switch pressing portion 8a is arranged so as to correspond to the switch portion. A resin case 9 has a guide hole 9a in the center and a pair of guide recesses 9b on both sides. 10 is a key top,
A cylindrical stem 10a that fits and slides in the guide hole 9a of the case 9 is provided at the center, and a pair of locking portions 10b is provided on both sides.
Is arranged.

Reference numerals 11 and 12 are resin-molded interlocking rods,
The linear portions 11a and 12a are rotatably supported by the concave portion 9b of the case 9 and the membrane sheet 7, respectively, and the cylindrical convex portions 11c and 12c provided at the tips of the arm portions 11b and 12b are keyed. Locking part 10 of top 10
It is rotatably engaged with b. Further, a columnar convex portion 12d is provided substantially at the center of the arm portion 12b, and is rotatably slidably engaged with a slot 11d provided at the substantially central portion of the arm portion 11b.

In the conventional push button switch configured as described above, the interlocking rods 11 and 12 engaged with the locking portion 10b of the key top 10 by pushing the upper surface of the key top 10.
The cylindrical protrusions 11c and 12c of FIG. 2 rotate about axes, and the recessed portion 9b of the case 9 and the linear portions 11a and 12a held by the membrane sheet 7 so as to be rotatable and slidably rotate, and the interlocking rod 11 , 12 in the form of a columnar protrusion 12 provided substantially in the center
The operation is interlocked because the d and the long hole portion 11d are engaged with each other. By this series of operations, the switch pressing portion 8a of the cup-shaped rubber 8 comes into contact with the switch portion of the membrane sheet 7 while keeping the pressing feeling, and the switch is turned on. .

[0009]

However, in the structure of the conventional push button switch 4 shown in FIG. 4, it is difficult to make the height of the push button switch thin while maintaining a good pressing feeling. Was.

Further, in the structure of the conventional push button switch shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 which solves this problem, there is a limit in reducing the height of the push button switch, and the push button switch shown in FIG. However, there is a problem that the interlocking rods 11 and 12 which are not included in the above configuration are required, and the number of parts is increased.

[0011]

In order to solve this problem, a push button switch according to the present invention is a key having an elastic body for pressing the switch portion and a stem on a substrate to which a membrane sheet having the switch portion is joined. A pair of interlocking portions having a top and a sliding shaft portion are provided, and a sliding bearing is provided on the substrate in order to hold the sliding shaft portion of the interlocking portion in a rotatable and slidable manner. .

[0012]

With this structure, by providing the substrate with the sliding bearing that holds the sliding shaft portion of the interlocking portion in a rotatable manner, the resin case becomes unnecessary, and the number of parts and the thickness can be reduced.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 12 denotes a metal frame, which has a sliding bearing 12a, so that the sliding bearing 12a is formed by notching, die casting or outsert molding. Is provided on the surface. Reference numeral 13 denotes a membrane sheet in which a contact pattern formed so as to face the upper flexible sheet constitutes a switch portion, and a cup having a switch pressing portion 14a corresponding to the switch portion of the membrane sheet 13. An elastic body 14 made of rubber is arranged. Reference numeral 15 is a rubber sheet arranged to hide the membrane sheet 13, prevent static electricity, and prevent the key top 16 from hitting the metal frame 12. Reference numeral 16 denotes a key top which serves as an operation portion. A cylindrical stem 16a is arranged at the center of the lower surface of the key top 16, and a pair of locking portions 16b is arranged on both sides.

Reference numerals 17 and 18 denote resin-molded interlocking members. Respective shaft portions 17a and 18a are rotatably and slidably held by the sliding bearing 12a of the metal frame 12, and are attached to the tip portions of the arm portions 17b and 18b. Provided shaft portion 17c,
18c is rotatably engaged with the locking portion 16b of the key top 16. In addition, a columnar convex portion 17d is provided at substantially the center of the arm portion 17b, and is rotatably slidably engaged with a slot 18d provided at the substantially central portion of the arm portion 18b.

The operation of the push button switch of the present invention constructed as described above will be described below.

The interlocking member 1 engaged with the locking portion 16b of the key top 16 by pressing the upper surface of the key top 16.
The shafts 17c and 18c of the shafts 7 and 18 rotate as shafts, and the shafts 17a and 18a rotatably and slidably held by the sliding bearings 12a provided on the metal frame 12 rotate and slide. , 18 cylindrical protrusions 17d provided in the substantially central portion
And the long hole portion 18d are engaged with each other, and the operation is interlocked. By this series of operations, the switch pressing portion 14a of the elastic body 14 made of cup-shaped rubber is brought into contact with the switch portion of the membrane sheet 13 while maintaining a favorable pressing feeling, and the switch is turned on. It is a thing.

[0018]

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to make the push button switch thinner by eliminating the need for a resin case by making the substrate act as a bearing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a key top of a push button switch of the present invention is removed.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the push button switch when it is released.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the push button switch when a full stroke is pushed.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a conventional push button switch.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which a key top of a conventional push button switch having another structure is removed.

FIG. 6 is a sectional front view of the push button switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Metal frame 12a Sliding bearing 13 Flexible sheet 14 Elastic body 14a Switch pressing part 15 Rubber sheet 16 Key top 16a Stem part 16b Locking part 17 Interlocking member 17a Shaft part 17b Arm part 17c Shaft part 17d Cylindrical column at the center of arm part Convex part 18 Interlocking member 18a Shaft part 18b Arm part 18c Shaft part 18d Long hole in the center of arm part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of rod-shaped interlocking members, in which a pair of rods having shafts at least at both ends are arranged to face each other, and the rods facing each other are connected to each other by a pair of the arm portions. The interlocking portion arranged so as to intersect with the membrane sheet having the switch portion formed at a predetermined position is coupled to the upper surface, and one sliding shaft portion of each of the pair of interlocking members forming the interlocking portion is rotated. A cup-shaped elastic body disposed on the switch portion, which is provided with a substrate having a pair of bearings that freely fit in the upper surface, and a switch pressing portion that presses the switch portion of the membrane sheet coupled to the substrate. And a bottom surface fitted to the stem formed on the upper part of the elastic body, and an engaging portion into which the other sliding shaft portion of each of the pair of interlocking members forming the interlocking portion is rotatably fitted. Provided on the bottom A push button switch consisting of an operating section. 2. The push button switch according to claim 1, wherein a rubber sheet is provided on the membrane sheet.