JPH0877880A - Switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a switch by which manhours and can be reduced by modularization and which is excellent in manufacture and maintenance time workability. CONSTITUTION: A switch S is composed of operation knobs 1 and 2, a switch case 3, domed contacts 7 to 10 and a housing 15. The operation knobs 1 have support shafts 1C and 1D on both side walls and pressing leg parts 1A and 1B suspending to both lower ends. The switch case 3 has the opening ends 4A and 4B through which the pressing leg parts 1A and 1B are penetratingly passed, and has push-support projections 4C to 4G suspending to the lower end. The domed contacts 7 are formed of a metallic plate of an almost cross- shaped conductive material having an elastic action, and a central part projects in a curved shape more than folded end parts 7A to 7D on the peripheral end, and a downward recessed support recessed part 7E is arranged in the central part. In the housing 15, a first fixed terminal 13 and a second fixed terminal having contact points 14A to 14D are formed by insert molding, and housing recessed parts 16 to 19 are provided on an upper end surface 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch used for a power window of an automobile, and more particularly to a switch capable of reducing the number of parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a power window for electrically ascending or descending an automobile window has become widespread.
As such a power window, in addition to a two-system circuit for raising or lowering the window, two stages of manual (hereinafter referred to as "manual") and continuous automatic (hereinafter referred to as "automatic") are respectively provided for rising and lowering of the window. A lot of configurations are used. Manual operation means that the operation is performed only while the operator is operating the switch, and the operation is stopped when the operator stops operating the switch. In the continuous automatic operation, when the operator operates the switch and once triggers the window, the window is continuously raised or lowered.

Therefore, it is desirable that the power window mechanism for a vehicle has a plurality of operation modes described above, that is, a function of manually raising or lowering, and further an automatic raising or lowering function. Along with this, there is a demand for a power window switch that can be operated by an operator and that is compatible with a plurality of operation modes and that is simple in configuration and operation. In particular, a switch that corresponds to each mode by rotating one operation knob to the left and right is becoming widespread.

The switch shown in FIG. 9 as an example of such a switch is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped operation knob 1 having a support shaft 1C on both side walls and pressing legs 1A and 1B hanging at both lower ends. are doing. The operation knob 1 is rotatable around a support shaft 1C. Further, it is provided with an operation knob 2 having the same structure as the operation knob 1. Further, there are openings 34 and 35 for supporting the operation knobs 1 and 2, and the openings 3
4 is an open end 34 for further penetrating the pressing legs 1A, 1B.
A rectangular switch case 33 including A and 34B and a plurality of locking holes 33A on the lower end wall is provided. The switch case 33 is fixed to a frame (not shown) by a lock spring 36.

Further, the ring contact surface 42A and the center contact surface 4
A plurality of terminals 43 are soldered and connected to a wiring board 42 having 2B as a circuit pattern, and a connector portion 45
Is incorporated into a housing 44 having Further, dome-shaped contacts 37 to 40 formed of a metal plate having a substantially cross shape and elasticity are placed at predetermined positions on the wiring board 42, and adhesive film sheet 41 having openings 41A to 41D from above. Are sandwiched and bonded to the wiring board 42.
In addition, as shown in FIG.
Has a central part that protrudes above the four ends,
A bearing recess 37E is provided in the central portion. In addition,
The end portions 37A and 37B are configured to extend substantially horizontally.

In the assembly of this switch, the end portion and the central portion of each dome-shaped contact 37-40 are connected to the wiring board 4.
Each of the dome-shaped contacts 37-4 so as to accurately contact the ring contact surface 42A and the center contact surface 42B.
Positioning of 0 is performed. Then, the film sheet 41 is adhered from above so that the dome-shaped contacts 37-
40 is a wiring board 4 to which a plurality of terminals 43 are soldered
It is fixed on the upper part 2 in an elastically deformable state. The terminal 43 is fitted into the connector portion 45, the switch case 33 is engaged from above, and finally the operation knobs 1 and 2 are engaged.
Is assembled.

When, for example, the operation knob 1 of the switch assembled in this manner is rotated, the pressing leg portion 1A or 1
B presses the central portion of the dome-shaped contact 37 or 38 to elastically deform it. Due to this deformation, the central portion of the dome-shaped contact is the center contact surface 42B of the wiring board 42
Abut. Thereby, the ring contact surface 4 of the wiring board 42
2A and the center contact surface 42B are brought into conduction via the dome-shaped contact, and the window is driven upward or downward.

[0008]

However, in the conventional switch as described above, it is difficult to position the dome-shaped contacts and it is difficult to improve the productivity. As described above, since the degree of modularization is low, the workability of assembling is low, the number of manufacturing steps is large, and it is not suitable for parts replacement and maintenance.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a switch that enables reduction of man-hours and costs by modularization and has excellent workability during manufacturing and maintenance. It is in.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a dome-shaped connecting member made of a conductive plate having a central portion projecting from the end portion and a storage recess for accommodating contacts on the upper surface thereof. A housing in which the terminal is inserted,
In a switch composed of an operation knob that is rotated by a pressing force to press the bulged central portion of the contact and a switch case that is attached to the opening of the upper surface and engages with the housing, the end portion of the contact A turn-up end having a turn-up top is provided on the lower surface of the switch case, and the turn-up top is pressed from above by at least 2
This can be achieved by a switch characterized in that it is provided with a number of push-supporting projections.

The above object can also be achieved by providing a housing recess on the upper surface of the housing for accommodating at least the folded end of the contact. Further, the above object can be achieved by integrally molding the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal exposing the contact surface and the contact on the bottom surface of the storage recess.

[0012]

In the switch according to the present invention, the contact has the folded end having the folded upper contact portion, and at least two push support projections for pressing the folded upper contact portion from above on the lower surface of the switch case. Is provided. As a result, the folded end of the contact is flexibly elastically pressed by the pressing support projection of the switch case, and is constantly pressed when the operation knob is operated, so the contact is strongly pressed and supported on the housing. become.

Further, since the storage recess for accommodating at least the folded end portion of the contact is provided on the upper surface of the housing, the contact is stored in the storage recess even when the central portion of the contact is pressed by the operation knob. Further, it is more surely pressed and supported. Further, since the first fixed terminal and the second fixed terminal exposing the contact surface and the contact are integrally formed on the bottom surface of the storage recess, the contact does not move, and stable on / off operation is guaranteed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the switch of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a switch of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first fixed terminal in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second fixed terminal in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA showing the off state of the assembled switch in FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the assembled switch in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a plan view of a contact, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the ON state of the switch in FIG. 4, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the switch S includes operation knobs 1 and 2, a switch case 3, and dome-shaped contacts 7-1.
0, housing 15. First, the operation knob 1 is provided with support shafts 1C and 1D on both side walls, and pressing legs 1A and 1B hanging at both lower ends, and the bottom is opened.
The operation knob 1 is operated and rotated by an operator, and is made of, for example, a hollow resin material having a streamlined upper surface suitable for operation with fingers, and is provided in both directions around the support shafts 1C and 1D. It is rotatable. Similarly, the support shaft 2C,
The operation knob 2 provided with 2D and the like (see FIG. 5) is also provided.

The switch case 3 includes the operation knobs 1,
2 has openings 4 and 5 for supporting 2, and the openings 4 are provided with opening ends 4A and 4B through which the pressing legs 1A and 1B penetrate.
It is provided with push support projections 4C to 4G that hang down from the lower end. Further, a plurality of locking holes 3A for engaging with the housing 15 and a lock arm 6 for locking with a frame on which the switch is mounted are provided on the lower end wall. The switch case 3 can be provided with at least two push support projections 4C to 4G for each contact, which will be described later.

The housing 15 is insert-molded with the first fixed terminal 13 as shown in FIG. 2 and the second fixed terminal 14 as shown in FIG. 3, and the upper end surface 20 has connecting walls 20A, 20B. Storage recess 16 through
19, and the side wall is provided with a plurality of locking projections 15A. The ring contact surface 13 of the first fixed terminal 13 is provided on the bottom surface of each of the storage recesses 16 to 19 of the housing 15.
A, 13B, a part of the connecting portion 13C, and the contacts 14A to 14D of the second fixed terminal 14 are exposed flush with each other. The dome-shaped contacts 7 to 10 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are detachably fitted into the storage recesses 16 to 19.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first fixed terminal 13
Has two ring contact surfaces 13A and 13B extending horizontally from the upper end of the hanging connection piece 13D and a connecting portion 13C, and similar members are formed symmetrically about the connection piece 13D. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the second fixed terminal 14 is composed of four independent terminal members,
Each member has flat contacts 14A to 14D. The second fixed terminal 14 is exposed at the center of the storage recess 16 on the upper end surface of the housing 15.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the dome-shaped contact 7 is formed of a metal plate made of a conductive material having a substantially cross-shaped elastic action. The central portion of the dome-shaped contact 7 projects more curvedly than the four folded-back end portions 7A to 7D, and a downwardly recessed bearing recess 7E is provided in the central portion. Further, focusing on the folded-back end portion 7A, the folded-back end portion 7A has a lower contact portion 11A continuously provided in the central portion.
And a folded upper end portion 11B folded back from the outer end of the lower contact portion 11A.

This dome-shaped contact 7 is the housing 1
When it is fitted into the storage recess 16 of No. 5, the folded-back end portions 7A, 7
The lower contact portions of C and 7D contact a part of the ring contact surface 13A of the first fixed terminal 13 exposed on the bottom surface of the storage recess 16. Further, as will be described later, when the support recess 7E is pressed by the pressing leg portion 1A, the support recess 7E is exposed at the center of the bottom surface of the storage recess 16 and the second fixed terminal 14 is exposed.
Contact 14A of the contact. Although the dome-shaped contact is formed in a cross shape in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a strip-shaped dome-shaped contact in which the central portion protrudes in a curved shape from the folded end portions at both ends. It is also possible to apply.

Next, the assembling procedure and operation of the switch S of this embodiment will be described. First, the dome-shaped contacts 7 to 10 are provided in the storage recesses 16 to 19 provided on the upper end surface 20 of the housing 15 and exposing a part of the contact surface of the first fixed terminal 13 and the contacts of the second fixed terminal 14.
Are detachably inserted. In this way, the dome-shaped contacts are automatically positioned by the storage recesses with extremely easy work, so that the efficiency can be remarkably improved as compared with the conventional assembling workability. Next, the switch case 3 having the push-supporting projections 4C to 4G at the lower end is put on the housing 15, and the locking holes 3A and the like are locked to the locking projections 15A and the like on the side wall of the housing 15, so that the switch case 3 is removed. It is engaged with the housing 15.

By this locking, for example, focusing on the dome-shaped contact 7, for example, at least two push support projections 4C and 4D of the switch case 3 have at least a pair of folded-back end portions of the dome-shaped contact 7 facing each other. 7A,
Press 7B. Due to this pressing, the dome-shaped contact 7 is firmly supported in the storage recess 16. Further, it is sufficient that at least two pressing support projections are provided for one dome-shaped contact. For example, if a structure in which four pressing support projections are provided for one dome-shaped contact is adopted, firmer support can be achieved. realizable.

Finally, each opening 4 of the switch case 3
The operation knobs 1 and 2 are incorporated in 5. For example, focusing on the operation knob 1, the support shafts 1C and 1D are rotatably fitted in the wall of the switch case 3, and the lower portions of the pressing legs 1A and 1B at the lower end of the operation knob 1 are opened in the switch case 3. It projects downward from the ends 4A and 4B. As a result, the lower ends of the pressing legs 1A and 1B are supported by the support recesses 7 of the dome-shaped contacts 7 and 8 supported in the storage recesses 16 and 17, respectively.
The assembly of the switch S is completed in a state where E and 8E (see FIG. 4) are lightly contacted. That is, the switch S of this embodiment is
As it has a modular structure, it is extremely easy to assemble,
On the contrary, since the disassembling work is extremely easy, the maintenance work such as the replacement of the parts becomes easy.

Next, the operating state of the switch S will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the switch S is in the off state, the operation knob 1 is in the neutral position, and the pressing leg portion 1A is in light contact with the bearing recess 7E of the lower dome-shaped contact 7. Further, the pressing leg portion 1B is also lightly contacted with the bearing recess 8E of the lower dome-shaped contact 8. Furthermore, the push support projections 4C of the switch case 3 engaged with the housing 15,
4D presses at least the pair of folded end portions 7A, 7B of the dome-shaped contact 7 that face each other. Due to this pressing, the dome-shaped contact 7 is firmly supported in the storage recess 16. In addition, other dome-shaped contacts 8, 9,
Similarly, 10 is supported.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, when the operation knob 1 is rotated leftward about the support shaft 1C, the pressing leg portion 1A moves downward, and the lower end of the pressing leg portion 1A moves. The bearing recess 7E of the dome-shaped contact 7 is elastically deformed downward. As a result, the support recess 7E is pushed down and abuts the contact 14A of the second fixed terminal 14 to be in a conductive state, and is in a switch-on state. Therefore, the ring contact surface 13A of the first fixed terminal 13 and the contact 1 of the second fixed terminal 14
4A is brought into conduction via the dome-shaped contact 7, the drive motor for the power window is driven, and the window is raised or lowered.

In order to stop the rising or lowering of the window, when the operator releases the pressing force required to rotate the operation knob 1, the operation knob 1 is moved by the restoring force of the dome-shaped contact 7. Return to the original neutral position again. As a result, the contact 14A of the second fixed terminal 14
When the bearing recess 7E of the dome-shaped contact 7 is separated from the ring contact surface 13A of the first fixed terminal 13 and the second
The electrical connection with the contact 14A of the fixed terminal 14 is released. Therefore, when the drive motor that is being driven is stopped, the window that is moving up or down is stopped.

That is, in the above embodiment, since the end of the dome-shaped contact is formed as the folded end having the folded upper contact portion, when the switch case is engaged with the housing, the switch case is pushed and supported. The projection presses the folded back contact part. At this time, the dome-shaped contact is reliably and firmly supported on the housing by the elastic action of the folded upper contact portion. Further, since the housing recess for accommodating the dome-shaped contact is formed on the upper surface of the housing, the dome-shaped contact is securely held in the housing recess through the process of deformation and restoration of the dome-shaped contact. Therefore, the dome-shaped contact will not be displaced due to the operation of the operation knob or other external force, and the stable conduction function can be maintained.

[0028]

As described above, in the switch of the present invention, the folded end portion having the folded upper contact portion is provided at the end portion of the contact, and the folded upper contact portion is pressed against the lower surface of the switch case from above. At least two push support projections are provided. As a result, the dome-shaped contact is securely supported on the upper surface of the housing in a predetermined manner, and even if the dome-shaped contact is elastically deformed by the operation of the operation knob, the dome-shaped contact is not displaced and maintains a stable switch function with a small number of parts. be able to.

Further, since the housing upper surface is provided with the storage recess for accommodating at least the folded end portion of the contact, the dome-shaped contact can be positioned reliably and easily. As a result, the dome-shaped contact can be supported more firmly, and the assembling property of the switch and the workability at the time of maintenance can be improved. Further, a first fixed terminal and a second fixed terminal exposing the contact surface and the contact are integrally formed on the bottom surface of the storage recess. As a result, the work of inserting the terminal into the housing is not required, and the terminal is not displaced or displaced, so that it is possible to significantly improve the assembling property and ensure stable on / off operation. . Therefore, a switch with low cost and high reliability can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first fixed terminal shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second fixed terminal in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA showing the off state of the assembled switch in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled switch of FIG. 1 taken along the line BB.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the dome-shaped contact in FIG.

7 is a sectional view taken along line WW in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an ON state of the switch in FIG.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a switch using a conventional dome-shaped contact.

10 is a cross-sectional view of the dome-shaped contact in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S switch 1, 2 Operation knob 1A, 1B Push leg 1C, 1D Support shaft 3 Switch case 3A Locking hole 4,5 Opening 4A, 4B Opening end 4C, 4G Pushing support 6 Lock arm 7-10 Dome contact 14A to 14D Contact point 15 Housing 15A Locking protrusion 16 to 19 Storage recess 20 Upper end surface 20A, 20B Connecting wall 21 Connector part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a dome-shaped connecting member having a central portion projecting from an end portion and made of a conductive plate, a housing recess for accommodating the contact provided on an upper surface, and a plurality of terminals fitted therein, and a push-fitting member. A switch comprising: an operation knob that is rotated by pressure to press a bulged central portion of the contact; and a switch case that is mounted on the opening of the upper surface of the operation knob and that engages with the housing. Is provided with a folded back end portion having a folded back contact portion, and at least two push support projections for pushing the folded back contact portion from above are provided on the lower surface of the switch case. Switch to do. 2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an upper surface provided with a storage recess for accommodating at least the folded end of the contact. 3. The switch according to claim 2, wherein a first fixed terminal and a second fixed terminal exposing the contact surface and the contact are integrally formed on the bottom surface of the storage recess.