JPH09223433A - Key installation structure of operation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out a spray coating work for respective push keys without any troubles even if the gap between neighboring apertures in a front face plate is narrow by retaining an empty space to insert a push key which does not belong to a key unit in between neighboring push keys. SOLUTION: The title key installation structure is provided with key units 5, 6 manufactured by uniting two push keys 1 and connecting the base parts 1a of the neighboring push keys 1 by bridging parts 5b, 6b and these key units 5, 6 are combined in a manner that a push key 1 of one key unit 5 (or 6) is inserted into an empty space 6a (or 5a) of the other key unit 6 (or 5).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a front plate (nose).
The key mounting structure of the operation panel configured by arranging a plurality of pressing keys in a row in the opening group.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an operation panel for an on-vehicle audio device or the like, a structure in which a plurality of pressing keys are arranged in a row in an opening group of a front plate, which is also called a nose, is widely used. The work of assembling the press keys into the corresponding openings is complicated, so in order to improve the handling and assembling, a plurality of press keys arranged side by side in a row are integrally molded in advance. Conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which a molded product can be collectively incorporated in a group of openings adjacent to each other on a front plate.

That is, according to the prior art, as shown in FIG. 5, a key unit 2 formed by connecting a plurality of pressing keys 1 arranged in a line is used, and each pressing key 1 of this key unit 2 is used. From the back side of the front plate 3 to the corresponding opening 4
The key units 2 can be integrated into a group at a time, and therefore, between the pressing keys 1 adjacent to each other in the key unit 2, widths equivalent to the distances d1 and d2 between the openings 4 into which these pressing keys 1 are incorporated are previously formed. A dimensional gap is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, each press key 1 has a hinge portion between a base end portion 1a locked to the front plate 3 and an operation portion (knob) 1b which is pressed. 1c is provided, and an actuator (not shown) for pushing in the switch element is provided so as to project to the rear of the operation portion 1b, and the key unit 2 has a base end portion 1a of each pressing key 1.
It is molded into a shape that connects together.

[0005]

By the way, in this type of operation panel, the portion of the outer surface of each pressing key 1 exposed to the operator side is desired except for the characters and symbols to be the display section. A method of spray-painting in a color (for example, black) and illuminating only the display portion with light from the back side is widely adopted, but when the conventional key unit 2 as shown in FIG. When the gap G between the two is narrow, it becomes difficult for the paint to reach the surface on the gap G side of the outer surface of the pressing key 1. Particularly in recent years, the products have been made compact, and the distance between the adjacent openings 4 of the front plate 3 is often set to about 1 mm, so that the spray coating can be efficiently performed on each pressing key 1 of the key unit 2. It is difficult to always secure such a wide gap G, and therefore the actual painting work of the key unit 2 is complicated and the workability is poor.

It should be noted that the pressing key 1 is used without using the key unit.
If all of the above are used as individual products, such inconvenience at the time of coating work can be avoided, but in that case, handling and assembling properties are significantly deteriorated, which is not preferable.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, by providing an empty space for inserting a pressing key which does not belong to the key unit between the pressing keys which are adjacent to each other in the key unit, the front plates are adjacent to each other. Even if the space between the openings is narrow, it does not hinder the spray painting work for each pressing key.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the key mounting structure for an operation panel of the present invention, a plurality of pressing keys whose base end portion having a hinge portion is locked to the front plate are arranged in rows in the opening group of the front plate. In the arranged operation panel, there is provided a key unit in which at least two pressing keys are integrated, and the base end portions of the adjacent pressing keys are connected to each other by a bridge portion. An empty space for inserting a pressing key that does not belong to the key unit is secured between them. At that time, the pressing key to be inserted into this empty space may be a single item, but if a plurality of the key units are combined with the pressing keys of the other key units being inserted into the empty space of their own, More preferable.

With such a structure, even if the distance between the openings of the front plate is small, there is no concern that adjacent pressing keys in the key unit will come close to each other, so that the spray painting work can be performed efficiently, and all of them are individual products. Handling and assembling are greatly improved as compared with the case where the press key is incorporated.

In addition to the above-mentioned structure, if a part of the base end portion of the pressing key inserted into the empty space overlaps with the bridging portion provided in the empty space. Since the bridging portion can be positioned at the base end portion of the pressing key, the assembling property is further improved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing four pressing keys arranged in a line by combining two key units according to the present invention, and FIG. A plan view of the two key units in the combined state shown in FIG.
3 is a front view of an operation panel in which the pressing keys shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are incorporated in a front plate (nose), and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A, in which portions corresponding to those in FIG.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, reference numerals 5 and 6 respectively denote a key unit formed by connecting two pressing keys 1 provided with vacant spaces 5a and 6a separated by bridging portions 5b and 6b. ing. These key units 5 and 6 are
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the key space 5a (or 6a) of one key unit 5 (or 6) is combined with the pressing key 1 of the other key unit 6 (or 5) inserted, As a result, the four pressed keys 1 can be arranged in a line at a predetermined interval. Each of the push keys 1 belonging to the key units 5 and 6 has a hinge portion 1c between the base end portion 1a locked to the front plate 3 and the operation portion (knob) 1b that is pressed. Installation and operation unit 1
The actuator 1d is provided so as to project to the rear of b, and the base end portions 1a of the two pressing keys 1 belonging to the key unit 5 are connected to each other by the bridging portion 5b. The base end portions 1a of the two pressing keys 1 to which they belong are connected to each other by a bridge portion 6b.

In these key units 5 and 6, the pressing keys 1 can be assembled into the corresponding group of openings 4 from the back side of the front plate 3 all together. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, by pressing the base end portion 1 a of each pressing key 1 between the front plate 3 and the light guide body 7 from the front and back, each pressing key 1 protruding forward from the opening 4 is pressed. The operating portion 1b is incorporated so that it can be pressed by utilizing the elasticity of the hinge portion 1c, and when the operator pushes in the operating portion 1b by a predetermined amount, the actuator 1d protruding to the rear pushes in the corresponding switch element 8. Then, the desired switching can be performed.

The light guide 7 is a transparent member made of acrylic resin or the like. In the case of this embodiment, all the pressing keys 1 arranged on the front plate 3 are relatively large. The light guide 7 is screwed onto the front plate 3 to press the base end portions 1a of the pressing keys 1 together. Further, the light guide 7 has a function of guiding light from a light source (not shown) to the display section 1e in the operation section 1b of each pressing key 1 to illuminate it. And each press key 1
Since the outer surface is painted in a desired color (for example, black) except for the characters and symbols to be the display portion 1e, the display is performed by the light incident from the back side of the front plate 3 through the light guide 7. Only the portion 1e can be illuminated.

When both the key units 5 and 6 are assembled to the front plate 3, the pressing keys 1 are adjacent to each other at a narrow interval as shown in FIG. Since it is not necessary to place the pressing keys 1 close to each other, there is no fear that the painting work will be complicated unlike the conventionally used key unit. That is, in the present embodiment, an empty space 5a (or 6) for inserting the pressed key 1 which does not belong to the key unit between adjacent pressed keys 1 in the key unit 5 (or 6).
a) is secured and these empty spaces 5a and 6a are
Since the press keys 1 are designed to be arranged close to each other only after the predetermined press keys 1 are inserted into the press key 1, the outer surface of the press key 1 is not to be used in the spray coating performed after the molding of the key units 5 and 6. The paint can easily reach the necessary place in the. Therefore, in this embodiment, the spray coating work on the key units 5 and 6 can be efficiently performed, and the handling and assembling properties are greatly improved as compared with the case where all the pressing keys are incorporated.

In this embodiment, the key units 5, 6 are
Part of the base end portion 1a of the pressing key 1 inserted into each of the empty spaces 5a and 6a (the portion indicated by reference numeral 1f in FIG. 2) is a bridge portion 5b that is installed in the empty spaces 5a and 6a.
6b is designed to overlap with each other, and the bridge portions 5b and 6b can be positioned at the base end portion 1a in the empty spaces 5a and 6a. The workability of is good. In addition, in the present embodiment, one bridge portion 5b is formed so as to be lowered by one step with respect to the base end portion 1a so that the top surfaces of the key units 5 and 6,
That is, since the top surface of the base end portion 1a is designed to be substantially flat, it is not necessary to particularly complicate the shape of the light guide body 7 that presses the base end portion 1a.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the key units 5 and 6 formed by connecting the two pressing keys 1 at the bridge portions 5b and 6b are combined is described.
Almost the same effect can be expected by using a key unit in which a plurality of pressing keys are connected by a bridge portion or by inserting a single pressing key in an empty space of the key unit.

[0018]

As described above, the key mounting structure of the operation panel according to the present invention uses the key unit in which at least two pressing keys are integrated and adjacent pressing keys are connected by the bridging portion. In this key unit, since it is configured to secure an empty space for inserting a pressed key that does not belong to the key unit between adjacent pressed keys, even if the distance between the openings of the front plate is small, There is no concern that adjacent push keys will come close to each other in the key unit, and therefore, the spray painting work of the push keys performed before the molding of the key unit can be performed efficiently, and the handleability is easier than when all the push keys are incorporated. It has an excellent effect of significantly improving the assembling property, and contributes to a reduction in manufacturing cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing four pressing keys arranged in a row by combining two key units according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the two key units in the combined state shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front plate (nose) of each pressing key shown in FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a front view of an operation panel incorporated in the.

4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pressed Key 1a Base End 1b Operation Part (Knob) 1c Hinge Part 1d Actuator 1e Display Part 3 Front Plate (Nose) 4 Opening 5, 6 Key Unit 5a, 6a Empty Space 5b, 6b Bridge Part 7 Light Guide 8 Switch element

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An operation panel in which a plurality of pressing keys whose hinge-shaped base ends are locked to a front plate and arranged in a row in an opening group of the front plate has at least two pressing keys. A key unit is provided which is integrally formed and has the base end portions of adjacent pressed keys connected to each other by a bridging portion, and a pressed key which does not belong to the key unit is inserted between adjacent pressed keys in this key unit. A key mounting structure for the operation panel that secures a free space for 2. The key mounting structure for an operation panel according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the key units are combined in a state where a pressing key of another key unit is inserted into the empty space of the key unit. . 3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a part of the base end portion of the pressing key inserted into the empty space overlaps with the bridging portion provided in the empty space. The key mounting structure for the operation panel is characterized by the above.