JPH0982165A - Switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the water- and dust-proofing properties of a switch. SOLUTION: A knob 3 is freely turnably mounted on the upper surface 2 of a case 1, and concentric circular walls 35, 36 which project upward from the upper surface 2 of the case 1 are provided, with the circular wall 35 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of a turning shaft 29 and the circular wall 36 overlapping with the circumferential wall part 37 of the knob 3. A coupler 8 is projected sideways and integrally with the bottom 20 of the case 1, an outward flange 9 is formed around an opening in the coupler 8, a locking opening 11 is formed in a wall surface which is on the underside of a mounting position in the figure, and a circumferential wall 12 surrounding the locking opening 11 is projected downward.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a highly waterproof and dustproof switch suitable for electrical components of automobiles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A case having a built-in contact, a rotary shaft penetrating through the upper surface of the case from above to project upward, an umbrella-shaped knob attached to the projecting end portion, and a side surface of the case integrally. Switches with protruding couplers are known.

[0003]

In the case of the above-mentioned conventional structure, if water is applied to the switch, water may enter the gap between the knob and the case or the coupler, and it is desired to improve waterproofness. The same applies to dust, and it is also desired to improve dustproofness.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case having a built-in contact, a rotating shaft projecting upward from the inside of the case through the upper surface of the case, and an umbrella attached to the projecting end. In a switch including a knob and a coupler integrally formed on the side surface of the case, a large and small concentric annular wall is formed on the upper surface of the case to be covered with the knob, and the inner circular ring is formed. Enclose the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft with a wall, stack the outer annular wall inside the peripheral wall part that is substantially parallel to the rotating shaft formed on the outer peripheral part of the knob, and place an outward flange around the opening of the coupler. It is characterized in that a lock opening is formed on a wall surface of the coupler which is provided at a lower side when the switch is attached, and a peripheral wall surrounding the lock opening is formed to project downward.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a case having a built-in contact, a rotary shaft penetrating the upper surface of the case and protruding upward from the inside thereof, and an umbrella-shaped knob attached to the protruding end portion thereof are provided.
In a switch provided with a coupler integrally formed on a side surface of a case, a large and small circular concentric annular wall is formed in a protruding manner on a portion of the upper surface of the case covered by a knob, and a rotary shaft is formed on the inner circular wall. The outer ring wall surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the, and the outer ring wall is overlapped with the inner side of the peripheral wall part that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis formed on the outer peripheral part of the knob, and the case is placed on the upper surface of the case between the large and small ring walls. An opening communicating with the inside is provided, and a peripheral wall surrounding the opening is formed so as to project upward.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment configured as a switch used for electric components of an automobile will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of this switch, FIG. 4 is an external view showing the coupler side (direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), FIG. 5 is a bottom view (direction of arrow B in FIG. 2), and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the upper surface of the case.

First, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch comprises a substantially rectangular case 1 and an umbrella-shaped knob 3 rotatably mounted on an upper surface 2 thereof.

Mounting portions 4 project on both sides of the case 1 in the longitudinal direction, and notches 5 are formed above the base of the mounting portion 4 at the edges of the upper surface 2 of the case 1 in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 3).

This switch is attached to an appropriate place on the vehicle body side (not shown) by the attaching portion 4 in the state of FIGS. 1 to 3 with the knob 3 facing upward and the recess 5 side slightly lowered.

A lens 6 is attached to an end of the upper surface 2 opposite to the concave portion 5 so that the illumination light from inside the case 1 can pass therethrough, and a lens 7 is also provided on the shoulder of the knob 3. ing.

As is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 1
A coupler 8 is formed to project laterally on one of the side surfaces different from the side on which the mounting portion 4 is formed by 90 °.

An outward flange 9 is formed around the opening of the coupler 8, and a lock opening 11 is formed on the lower wall surface when the switch is mounted.

A peripheral wall 12 projecting downward is formed around the locking opening 11, and a part of the peripheral wall 12 serves as an outward flange 9.

This lock opening 11 is connected to another coupler 13 as shown in FIG.
The locking claw portion 3 (not shown) is provided for fitting and locking.

As shown in FIG. 1, the space 14 of the coupler 8
Communicates with the lock opening 11 and the space 1
The coupler terminal 15 projects into the housing 4 from the case 1 side.

A conductor plate 16 having one end serving as the coupler terminal 15.
The other end side thereof extends into the case 1 and is exposed as a fixed contact 17, to which a movable contact 18 is pressed by a contact spring 19.

The conductor plate 16 is integrated with the bottom portion 20 of the case 1 fitted below the case 1, and the bottom portion 20 is continuously integrated with the coupler 8.

A rotation center protrusion 21 is integrally formed at the center of the bottom portion 20 so as to project upward, and the protruding end of the rotation center protrusion 21 is a center hole 23 provided on the rotation shaft of the contact holder 22. Is fitted to.

The contact holder 22 integrally has arm portions 24 and 25 extending from the central portion to the left and right, and one arm portion 24 is provided.
A movable contact 18 and a contact spring 19 are supported by
A click spring 26 and a click ball 27 are housed in the other arm 25.

The click ball 27 has a click groove 2 integrally formed on the bottom 20 side by a click spring 26.
The contact holder 22 is pressed against the contact hole 8 and is rotated.

A rotary shaft 29 extends upward and is integrally formed in the central portion of the upper surface of the contact holder 22, and a cutout portion 30 is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion thereof.

On the rotary shaft 29, a tubular portion 31 is integrally formed so as to rotate downward at the central portion of the knob 3 so that the knob 3 and the contact holder 22 can be integrally rotated. .

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotating shaft 2 is provided in the cylindrical portion 31.
A leaf spring 32 having a cross section similar to the cross section of the portion including the cutout portion 30 of 9 is fitted, and a part of the leaf spring 32 in the circumferential direction serves as a slit portion 33.

Therefore, due to the elasticity of the leaf spring 32, the cylindrical portion 3
1 is fixed to the rotating shaft 29, and the leaf spring 32
The stepped portion 34 is brought into contact with the cutout portion 30 to prevent rotation.

As shown in FIG. 7, on the upper surface 2 of the case 1, large and small annular walls 35 and 36 having concentric circles are integrally formed so as to project upward, and the inner annular wall 35 has a rotating shaft. Along the outer peripheral surface of 29, the outer annular wall 36 is inserted inside a peripheral wall portion 37 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the knob 3 substantially parallel to the rotating shaft 29.

Further, as is clear from FIGS. 2 and 7,
A standing wall 39 that surrounds a small space 38 that is open upward is integrally formed inside the annular wall 36 near the recess 5.

A standing wall 40 connecting the annular walls 35 and 36 is formed on the opposite side of the standing wall 39 with the annular wall 35 interposed therebetween.
A prism 42 is provided below the hole 41 surrounded by these (FIG. 2).

However, the standing wall 40 may be separated from the annular walls 35 and 36 to be formed as a peripheral wall portion surrounding the periphery of the hole 41 by itself.

In the space below the lens 6, the light emitting portion of the bulb 43 mounted on the bottom portion 20 is housed, and the light is emitted to the outside through the lens 6 and also passes through the hole 41 from the prism 42 to the lens of the knob 3. Even if you pass 7, you can go outside.

Next, the operation of this example will be described. 1 and 2
When the switch is mounted at an appropriate position on the vehicle body side in the direction of the drawing, the lock opening 11 is located below the coupler 8.

If water is applied to the switch, most of the water will drop on the knob 3 and the surface of the case 1 as it is. At this time, a part falls from the knob 3 into the recess 5 and then below the case 1 as shown in FIG.

Further, most of the water that has passed through the surface of the case 1 toward the coupler 8 is blocked by the outward flange 9 formed in the opening, and even if it enters the space 14 of the coupler 8, it is used for locking. It is quickly discharged downward from the opening 11.

In addition, since the peripheral wall 12 surrounding the lock opening 11 extends downward, there is very little possibility that water will enter the space 14 from below the coupler 8 through the lock opening 11.

Even if a small amount of water enters between the knob 3 and the upper surface 2, the peripheral wall portion 37 and the annular wall 36 form a kind of labyrinth structure, and a small space 38 is formed inside the annular wall 36. Since the upright wall 39 is provided, most of the intrusions can be stopped here.

Even if a little water goes further to the center,
Since the annular wall 35 surrounds the rotary shaft 29, it is blocked by the annular wall 35, gets over the annular wall 35, and enters the case 1 from between the annular wall 35 and the rotary shaft 29. The possibilities are almost gone.

In addition, since the periphery of the hole 41 formed above the prism 42 is surrounded by the standing wall 40 and the annular walls 35 and 36, there is almost no possibility that water will enter the case 1 through the hole 41.

Therefore, the waterproof property can be remarkably enhanced. Moreover, the dustproof property is enhanced as well as the waterproof property.

[0039]

According to the invention of claim 1, an annular wall surrounding the outer circumference of the rotating shaft of the knob is provided on the upper surface of the case, and an annular wall having a large diameter is provided concentrically with the annular wall. A labyrinth structure was formed by stacking the knobs on the inside of the peripheral wall formed on the outer periphery of the knob.

Therefore, even if water is splashed on the switch, it is possible to prevent water from entering between the knob and the case into the case. Further, the dustproof property can be similarly increased.

Further, a lock opening is provided on a wall surface which is a lower side when the coupler projecting laterally of the case is attached, and a peripheral wall surrounding the lock opening is formed so as to project downward, so that the coupler enters the coupler. Water can also be discharged from the opening, and the waterproofness can be made extremely high.

Moreover, since the lock opening is used as the water drain opening of the coupler, it is not necessary to form a special opening, and the structure can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the waterproof structure between the knob and the case, a hole is opened in a portion sandwiched between the inner and outer annular walls of the upper surface of the case, and a standing wall surrounding the hole is formed. Since it is provided, water that has entered between the knob and the case can be prevented from entering the case through this hole.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG.

2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a switch

FIG. 4 is a view of the switch in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view of the switch in the direction of the arrow B in FIG.

6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the case.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Case, 3: Knob, 5: Recess, 8: Coupler, 1
1: Lock opening, 12: peripheral wall, 20: bottom, 22:
Contact holder, 29: rotating shaft

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case having a built-in contact, a rotating shaft penetrating through an upper surface of the case from above to project upward, an umbrella-shaped knob attached to a projecting end portion thereof, and a side surface of the case integrally. In a switch provided with a coupler formed to project, a large and small annular wall that forms a concentric circle is formed to project in a portion covered by the knob on the upper surface of the case, and the inner circumferential wall surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, The outer ring wall is overlapped with the inner side of the peripheral wall part that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis formed on the outer peripheral part of the knob, and the outward flange is provided around the opening part of the coupler, A switch characterized in that a lock opening is formed on a wall surface, and a peripheral wall surrounding the lock opening is formed so as to project downward. 2. A case having a built-in contact, a rotary shaft penetrating through the upper surface of the case from above to project upward, an umbrella-shaped knob attached to the projecting end, and a side surface of the case integrally. In a switch provided with a coupler formed to project, a large and small annular wall that forms a concentric circle is formed to project in a portion covered by the knob on the upper surface of the case, and the inner circumferential wall surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, An opening that connects the outer ring wall to the inside of the peripheral wall that is approximately parallel to the rotation axis that is formed on the outer periphery of the knob, and that communicates with the inside of the case at the part sandwiched by the large and small ring walls on the top surface of the case. And a peripheral wall surrounding the opening is formed to project upward.