JPH0855537A - Push-button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a plurality of key tops to be fitted into place at a time through the fixing of a connecting flange by connecting the plurality of key tops to the connecting flange via runners that correspond to the respective key tops. CONSTITUTION:Key tops 10 to 12 are connected to a connecting flange 26 via respective runners 13 to 15 to form a key top unit 27. A mounting hole 20 that fits around a fixing boss 19 is bored through the flange 26, and a positioning groove 21 is notched in the flange 26. Button holes 16 to 18 through which the key tops are passed are formed through a panel 1, the button holes 16 to 18 being positioned to coincide with the positions of the respective key tops 10 to 12 held by the runners 13 to 15. The fixing boss 19 is erected on the back of the panel 1. A switch mounting substrate 2 is provided on the back of the panel 1 and parallel to the panel 1, and switches 23 to 25 are mounted on the substrate 2 to coincide with the respective button holes 16 to 18.

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 in various electronic devices, and more particularly to an improvement of a key top.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various electronic devices have become multifunctional,
The operation unit has a plurality of switches.

A conventional push button switch using a resin molded key top will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a panel, 2 is a switch mounting substrate 2 provided in parallel to the panel 1, a required number of switches 3 are provided on the switch mounting substrate 2, and each of the switches 3 is provided. The key tops 4 are individually arranged at corresponding positions. The key top 4 has a protrusion 5 and a flange 6.
The projection 5 penetrates the panel 1, and the flange 6 abuts the back surface of the panel 1. The actuator 7 of the switch 3 is in contact with the flange portion 6 of the key top 4.

By pressing the key top 4, the actuator 7 is pressed down via the key top 4, and the switch 3 operates.

[0006]

In the conventional push button switch described above, the key tops 4 are individually provided for the respective switches 3. Therefore, the key tops 4 must be fitted to the panel 1 one by one. If the key tops 4 have indications, they must carefully work while confirming the direction. If the key tops 4 have the same shape and different indications, the fitting position must also be confirmed. . Therefore, the assembly of the switch has been complicated and has been a troublesome work requiring the operator's attention.

In view of the above situation, the present invention intends to assemble a plurality of key tops in a lump and further to eliminate the confirmation work so as to improve the workability and reduce the burden on the operator. .

[0008]

According to the present invention, a plurality of key tops are connected to a connecting flange via a runner corresponding to each key top.

[0009]

Since a plurality of key tops are integrated, the number of parts is reduced, and the adjustment of the alignment direction and the like in assembling the individual key tops is not necessary and the workability is improved.

[0010]

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

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The required number (three in this embodiment) of the keytops 10, 11, 12 are connected to the connecting flange 26 via the runners 13, 14, 15, and the keytop unit 2 is connected.
7 is formed. The connection flange 26 is provided with a mounting hole 20 for fitting with a fixing boss 19 described later and a positioning groove 21. Further, the runners 13, 14, 15 have a required elastic force and hold the key tops 10, 11, 12 in a required positional relationship.

On the panel 1, the key tops 10, 11,
Button holes 16, 17, and 18 through which 12 passes are formed, and the positions of the button holes 16, 17, and 18 and the runner 1 are defined.
Key tops 10, 11, 1 held on 3, 14, 15
The position of 2 matches.

A fixing boss 19 is erected on the back surface of the panel 1, and a reinforcing rib is formed around the fixing boss 19. Further, one of the ribs has a protrusion and serves as a positioning rib 22 that engages with the positioning groove 21. A switch mounting substrate 2 is provided on the back side of the panel 1 in parallel with the panel 1, and switches 23, 24, 25 are provided on the switch mounting substrate 2 in correspondence with the button holes 16, 17, 18 of the panel 1. It is implemented.

To assemble the push button switch, first, the key top unit 27 is attached to the panel 1. The connecting flange 26 is fitted into the fixing boss 19 so that the positioning groove 21 and the positioning rib 22 are engaged with each other.
At the position where the positioning groove 21 and the positioning rib 22 are engaged, the key top 10 and the button hole 16 are fitted together, the key top 11 and the button hole 17 are fitted together, and the key top 12 is formed. And the button hole 18 are fitted to each other. Therefore, the key tops 10, 11 and 12 can be easily attached to the button holes 16 without any troublesome positioning.
Can be fitted to 17,18. Next, when the switch mounting board 2 is attached to the panel 1, the assembly of the push button switch is completed.

In the assembly of the push button switch as described above, the key tops 10, 11 and 12 are handled as one key top unit 27, and the button holes 16, 17, 1 are individually handled.
Since it is not necessary to consider the direction in which the button holes 16, 17, and 18 are fitted, the work to fit in 8 also greatly improves workability, and the burden on the operator required at the time of mounting is greatly improved. It will be reduced.

The action of the main push button switch will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the key top 10 is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the key top 10 moves backward and the switch 23 operates. When the key top 10 is retracted, the runner 13 is bent, and the elasticity of the runner 13 exerts a restoring force on the key top 10 (FIG. 3 (B)). Key top 10
When the pressing force applied to the key top 10 is released, the key top 10 is restored by the restoring force of the runner 13.

Further, in FIG. 4, the runners 13, 14, 1
An example of the relationship between No. 5 and the pressing force applied to the key tops 10, 11, 12 will be described.

In FIG. 4, the key tops 10, 11, 12 are arranged around the adjusting knob 28, and the connecting flange 26 sandwiches the key tops 10, 11, 12 on the side opposite to the adjusting knob 28. positioned.

When the key tops 10, 11, 12 are operated at appropriate positions while turning the adjusting knob 28, the force acting on the key tops 10, 11, 12 is a as shown in FIG. 4 (B). , B, c direction, that is, runners 13, 1
Since it acts in the escape flexing direction of 4, 15, it flexes comfortably,
Impairment of the switch click feeling is prevented.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, a push button switch is provided at the corner portion of the panel 1.

When a push button switch is provided at the corner portion, it is possible to deal with the corner portion by forming the runner 13, for example, of the runners 13, 14, 15 into an L shape as shown in the drawing.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment.
In this embodiment, the pushing force required for the switch operation is adjusted, and the pushing force can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the shape of the runner.

Two key tops 29 are connected to the connecting flange 26 by two symmetrical runners 30 and 31, respectively, and various shapes of the runners 30 and 31 can be considered. It has a feather shape.

The connecting flange 26 and the fixing boss 19 are also provided.
There are various conceivable ways of aligning with, for example, a protrusion 32 is formed on the connecting flange 26, and
A pair of hooking projections 33 may be provided on the side so as to hold the projections 32, and the projections 32 may be fitted between the hooking projections 33.

Note that the number of key tops may be 1 or 4 or more regardless of the above embodiment, and it is needless to say that the key tops may be separated and used.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.

Since a plurality of key tops are integrated, the key tops can be fitted together by fixing the connection flange, and it is not necessary to confirm the direction and position of the key tops.

Even if the key top is small, it is easy to handle and it is easy to check the number of members.

The pushing force can be adjusted by the shape, material, and number of the runners, and the pushing stroke can be lengthened by lengthening the runners.

The number of parts can be reduced and the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

The molding cost can be reduced.

Integration in three dimensions is also possible.

Positioning of all the key tops is substantially completed only by fitting the connecting flange to the fixing boss, so that temporary fixing at the time of assembly is unnecessary.

It can be applied to most resin molded products.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view from the back side showing the embodiment of the same.

3 (A) and 3 (B) are explanatory views of the operation of the embodiment.

4A and 4B are explanatory views showing the relationship between the key top and the pushing force.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partial view showing a relationship between a fixing boss and a connecting flange in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 panel 2 switch mounting board 10 key top 11 key top 12 key top 13 runner 14 runner 15 runner 19 fixing boss 21 positioning groove 22 positioning rib 26 connection flange 27 key top unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A push-button switch comprising a plurality of key tops connected to a connecting flange via runners corresponding to the respective key tops. 2. The push button switch according to claim 1, wherein a mounting hole is formed in the connection flange, and the mounting hole and a fixing boss protruding on the panel side can be fitted to each other. 3. The push button switch according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the runners is formed in an L shape and is attachable to a corner portion of the panel. 4. The push button switch according to claim 2, wherein either one of a groove and a protrusion is formed on the connecting flange, and an engaging means such as a protrusion that engages with the groove and the protrusion is provided on the fixing boss side.