JPH11345538A - Control button structure of small electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the operation of attaching control buttons to a case and also to enhance the productivity and yield of products. SOLUTION: This control button structure has button tops 49, 55 where control buttons 48, 54 provided at the overlapping part of a case are exposed to the outside and has arm parts 50, 56 formed along the inner surface of the case from the button tops. Locking parts 53, 59 are protruded from the arm parts and clamped against the case. The control buttons are supported against the case by clamping the locking parts against the case.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation button structure for a small electronic device such as a portable electric bell receiver called a pager or a pager.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various operation buttons are provided on a small electronic device such as a portable electric bell receiver usually called a pager, and the operation buttons are generally supported by a main body case of the electronic device.

A conventional operation button structure of a small electronic device will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a case made of a synthetic resin. The case 1 includes a panel 2 having a display (not shown),
A peripheral wall portion 3 formed by bending a peripheral edge portion of the panel portion 2, and a fitting portion 4 thinner than the peripheral wall portion 3 is formed on an end surface of the peripheral wall portion 3. A required number of cutouts 5 are formed over the fitting portion 4 and the peripheral wall portion 3, and bosses 6 are protrudingly provided on the inner surface of the panel portion 2 near each of the cutouts 5.

The operation button 7 has a support plate portion 8 formed in an L shape extending from the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 3 to the inner surface of the panel portion 2, and protrudes from the support plate 8 on the side of the peripheral wall portion 3. Button top 9 which can be fitted into the cutout 5 so as to be exposed to the outside. A locking hole 10 is formed in the support plate 8 on the panel portion 2 side, and the boss 6 can be fitted into the locking hole 10.

In order to support the operation button 7 on the case 1, the boss 6 is inserted through the locking hole 10, and the button top 9 is fitted into the notch 5. Then, the boss 6
Is heated and pressurized with a soldering iron, and heat caulked to the panel portion 2 side of the support plate 8. Alternatively, an adhesive is applied to the end of the boss 6 and the boss 6 is attached to the support plate 8.
To the panel part 2 side.

Next, referring to FIG. 15 to FIG. 17, the operation button structure of a conventional small electronic device in which two operation buttons are connected will be described. 15 to 17, the same components as those in FIGS. 12 to 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The operation button 11 has an L-shaped support plate portion 12 extending from the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 3 to the inner surface of the panel portion 2, and the support plate portion 12 is formed by a slit-shaped notch 13. It is divided into a first arm 14 and a second arm 15. The first arm part 14 and the second arm part 15
Each of the slits 1
6 and 17 are provided, and the first arm portion 14 and the second arm portion 15 are independently displaceable. Engagement holes 19 are formed at both ends of the peripheral portion 18 of the support plate 12 on the panel portion 2 side, and the boss 6 can be fitted into the engagement holes 19.

The first plate portion 14 and the second plate portion 15 each have a button top 20 projecting therefrom.
Can be fitted into the notch 5 so as to be exposed to the outside.

In order to support the operation button 11 on the case 1, the boss 6 is inserted through the locking hole 19, and the end of the boss 6 is Heat caulking or bonding to the panel 2 side.

[0011]

In the above-mentioned conventional operation button structure of a small electronic device, a space for installing the boss 6 and the like is required inside the case 1, so that the parts inside the case 1 are shaped and dimensioned. Due to the above restrictions, there is a possibility that the device cannot be accommodated without a complicated shape or the size of the device cannot be reduced.

Further, since the operation buttons 7 and 11 are supported by the case 1 by heat caulking or bonding, it takes time to remove the operation buttons 7 and 11 and recycling of parts can be achieved. was difficult.

In addition, when caulking with heat, equipment such as a soldering iron is required, and when bonding, legal equipment for bonding equipment and dangerous substances such as organic solvents is required. Was troublesome.

In addition, heat caulking and bonding increase the number of working steps and heat caulking of the boss 6 by a required amount.
It is troublesome to apply an adhesive in a required amount, and the finish is affected by the skill level, so that there is a problem that the quality varies and the productivity is low.

The operation button 7 may fall off due to an excessive or insufficient amount of heat caulking or adhesion, caulking a portion other than the boss 6, and furthermore, a heat-caulking heat or an adhesive may be used to make a synthetic resin. In some cases, the physical properties of the case 1 have changed, and the yield of products has been reduced.

Further, by the gas generated from the adhesive,
The electronic parts and the like inside the case 1 may be adversely affected, such as corrosion, and may have a bad influence on the health of workers.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to simplify the operation of attaching an operation button to a case and improve the productivity and yield of products.

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided a button top having an operation button provided on a superposed portion of a case exposed to the outside, and an arm formed along the inner surface of the case from the button top. A locking portion protrudes from the arm portion, the locking portion relates to an operation button structure of a small electronic device to be clamped by the case, and the locking portion has a convex portion, The projection relates to an operation button structure of a small electronic device that can be fitted into a depression provided in the overlapping portion of the case, wherein the locking portion is sandwiched by the case and the operation button is supported by the case.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The case 25 is obtained by superimposing a front case 26 and a rear case 27.
6. Each peripheral portion of the rear case 27 is bent to form peripheral wall portions 28 and 29, respectively. A fitting portion 30 having a smaller thickness than the peripheral wall portion 28 is formed on an end surface of the peripheral wall portion 28 on the front case 26 side.
The side end surface has a step shape (not shown) in which the fitting portion 30 can be fitted.

A required number (three in FIG. 1) of a first notch 31, a second notch 32, and a third notch 33 are formed in the peripheral wall 28 on the front case 26 side. 2
Similarly, a first cutout portion 34, a second cutout portion 35, and a third cutout portion 36 are similarly formed at positions corresponding to the cutout portions 31, 32, and 33 of the 7-side peripheral wall portion 29, respectively. . The first raised portion 37 adjacent to the first cutout portion 31 of the front case 26 side peripheral wall portion 28 is slightly raised outward, and the first raised portion 3
A first concave portion 38 is formed on the mating surface side of No. 7. A first raised portion 39 raised outward is formed at a position corresponding to the first raised portion 37 of the rear case 27 side peripheral wall portion 29, and a first recess 40 is formed in the first raised portion 39. When the front case 26 and the rear case 27 overlap, the first recesses 38 and 40 form a first groove 41 having an inverted L-shaped cross section.

A second raised portion 42 which is raised outward is formed between the second cut portion 32 and the third cut portion 33 of the peripheral wall portion 28 on the front case 26 side. A flange 43 is projected from the mating surface side of the second raised portion 42 and a second concave portion 44 is formed inside the flange 43, and the mating surface inside the flange 43 is It is receded from the mating surface outside 43. The rear case 27 side peripheral wall portion 2
9 is formed at a position corresponding to the second raised portion 42 so as to protrude outwardly.
An engagement groove 46 into which the flange portion 43 can be fitted is formed in the mating surface of. Thus, when the front case 26 and the rear case 27 overlap, the second raised portion 42,
A second groove 47 having an inverted L-shaped cross section is formed by each mating surface 45 and the second concave portion 44.

The first operation button 48 is connected to the first cutouts 31,
First button top portion 49 which is loosely fitted to be exposed to the outside to the outside 34
And a first arm 50 formed along the inner surface of the case 1 from a base end, which is a left end of the first button top 49 in FIG.

The outer surface of the first button top 49 has a gentle curved shape that can be continued to the outer surfaces of the first raised portions 37 and 39, and the inner surface of the tip of the first button top 49 is the case 26. A first contact portion 51 is formed to protrude inward from the inner surface of the first contact portion.

The first arm 50 is made of a material having elasticity, for example, a synthetic resin and has a rectangular frame shape. The first arm 50 is formed of a frame piece facing the base end of the first button top 49. A first cantilever piece 52 extends from the center toward the first button top 49. A first locking portion 53 having an inverted L-shaped cross section protrudes from the outer surface of the distal end portion of the first cantilever piece 52, and the first locking portion 53 can be fitted into the first groove 41. ing.

The second operation button 54 is connected to the second notch 3
2 and 35 and two second button tops 55 and 55 which are loosely fitted to the third notches 33 and 36 so as to be exposed to the outside.
And a second arm portion 56 formed between the top ends of the second button tops 55 and 55 and connected along the case 26.

The outer surface of the second button top 55 has a gentle curved shape that can be continued to the outer surfaces of the second raised portions 42 and 45, and the inner surface of the second button top 55 is inside the inner surface of the case 26. A second contact portion 57 is formed to project in the direction.

The second arm portion 56 is made of an elastic material, for example, a synthetic resin, and has a second cantilever extending in the space between the second button tops 55 at the center of the second arm portion 56. A piece 58 is formed. A second locking portion 59 having an inverted L-shaped cross section is protruded from the outer surface of the distal end portion of the second cantilever 58, and the second locking portion 59 can be fitted into the second groove 47. ing.

The first contact portion 5 inside the case 25
A switch circuit (not shown) is provided at a position facing the first and second contact portions 57.

Hereinafter, the first operation button 48 and the second operation button 5
The procedure for supporting the case 4 on the case 25 and the operation of the first operation button 48 and the second operation button 54 will be described.

The first locking portion 53 is fitted into the first recess 38 on the front case 26 side, and the front case 26
The first button top 49 is fitted into the first side notch 31, and the second locking part 59 is fitted into the second recess 44 on the front case 26 side, and the second notch 32 on the front case 26 side And the second button top 5 in the third notch 33, respectively.
5, 55 are inserted. Thereafter, the first cutout 34 on the rear case 27 side is fitted into the first button top 49, and the first button
The locking portion 53 fits into the first concave portion 40 on the rear case 27 side, and the second cutout portion 35 and the third cutout portion 36 on the rear case 27 side fit into the second button tops 55, 55, respectively. Then, the rear case 27 is overlapped with the front case 26 so that the flange 43 fits into the engagement groove 46.

The movement of the first locking portion 53 is restricted in the first groove 41, and the first operation button 48 is held by the case 25 via the first locking portion 53. At the same time, the movement of the second locking portion 59 is restricted in the second groove 47, and the second operation button 54 is held by the case 25 via the second locking portion 59.

Since the first arm 50, the first cantilever 52, the second arm 56, and the second cantilever 58 have elasticity, when the first button top 49 is pressed, the first locking is performed. The first arm 50, the first cantilever 5
2 is bent, the first operation button 48 is displaced inward, and the first contact portion 51 presses and operates the switch circuit (not shown). Also, when the second button top 55 is pressed, the second arm 56 and the second cantilever 58 bend with the second locking portion 59 as a fulcrum, and the second operation button 54 is displaced inward. The second contact portion 57 presses and operates the switch circuit (not shown).

When the pressing of the first button top 49 is released,
The first operation button 48 is displaced outward by the restoring force of the first arm 50 and the first cantilever 52, and the first contact portion 51 is separated from the switch circuit. In addition, the second
When the pressing of the button top 55 is released, the second arm 5
6. The second operation button 54 is actuated by the restoring force of the second cantilever 58.
Is displaced outward, and the second contact portion 57 is separated from the switch circuit.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

At a position corresponding to the first raised portion 37 of the peripheral wall portion 29 on the rear case 27 side, a first raised portion 60 raised outward is formed. The first raised portion 60 has a peripheral wall portion on the front case 26 side. 28, the first concave portion 38 having a symmetrical shape with the first concave portion 38.
A recess 61 is formed, and when the front case 26 and the rear case 27 overlap, the first recesses 38 and 61 form a first groove 62 having a T-shaped cross section.

A first locking portion 63 having a T-shaped cross section protrudes from the outer surface of the distal end portion of the first cantilever piece 52.
Can be fitted in the first groove 62.

A second raised portion 64 raised outward is formed at a position corresponding to the second raised portion 42 of the peripheral wall portion 29 on the side of the rear case 27, and an L surface is formed on the inner surface of the second raised portion 64. A support portion 65 having a character-shaped cross section is protruded. An engagement groove 66 into which the flange 43 can be fitted is provided on the mating surface of the second raised portion 64.
Are formed and a second concave portion 67 is formed symmetrically with the second concave portion 44 of the peripheral wall portion 28 on the front case 26 side. When the front case 26 and the rear case 27 overlap, the second concave portion 44, 67 makes it possible to form a second groove 68 having a T-shaped cross section.

A second locking portion 69 having a T-shaped cross section protrudes from the outer surface of the distal end portion of the second cantilever piece 58.
Can be fitted into the second groove 68 and can be
5 is supported.

The first operation button 48, the second operation button 54
Of the first operation button 48 and the operation of the second operation button 54 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first and second embodiments, the first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 59 have an inverted L-shaped cross section, and the first locking portion 63 And the second locking portion 69
Has a T-shaped cross section, but the first locking portions 53, 6
3. If the second locking portions 59 and 69 are sandwiched between the front case 26 and the rear case 27, the shape is not limited to the above-described shape. The first locking portions 53 and 63 and the second
The locking portions 59 and 69 may be formed with a convex portion such as a bent portion, a protruding portion, or the first locking portions 53 and 63, the second locking portion 59,
69 may be formed in a tapered shape spreading outward.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and FIG.
1, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

An elongated projection 71 is provided on the side of the peripheral wall 28 of the front case 26 on the side of the first ridge 70, and a first recess 72 is formed around the projection 71. I have.

A first raised portion 73 raised outward is formed at a position corresponding to the first raised portion 70 on the peripheral wall portion 29 on the rear case 27 side. On the mating surface side of the first raised portion 73, a first concave portion 74 having a symmetrical shape with the first concave portion 72 on the first raised portion 70 side is formed, and a fitting concave portion into which the projection 71 can be fitted. When the front case 26 and the rear case 27 overlap with each other, a gate-shaped hollow portion 76 is formed by the first concave portions 72 and 74.

The first cantilever piece 52 has a first
A locking portion 77 is protruded, and a locking hole 78 is formed in the first locking portion 77 in the overlapping direction of the front case 26 and the rear case 27.

A procedure for supporting the first operation button 48 on the front case 26 and the rear case 27 will be described below.
The operation of the first operation button 48 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

The projection 71 is inserted into the locking hole 78, and the first button top 49 is inserted into a first cutout (not shown) on the front case 26 side. The rear case 27 is overlapped with the front case 26 so that a first cutout (not shown) on the 27 side is fitted into the first button top 49. The tip of the protrusion 71 fits into the fitting recess 75, the first locking portion 77 fits into the hollow portion 76, and the locking hole 78 is restrained from moving by the protrusion 71. The first operation button 48 is held by the case 25 via the front first locking portion 77.

In the third embodiment, the first operation button 48 is provided with one first button top 49, but a plurality of the first button tops 49 are connected. Needless to say, the present invention can be implemented even in the case where it is performed.

The first locking portion 77 is not limited to the above-described shape as long as it is sandwiched between the front case 26 and the rear case 27.

Further, as described above, the present invention relates to a small-sized electronic device in which the locking portion has a locking hole, and the overlapping portion of the case is provided with a projection which can be inserted into the locking hole. An operation button structure may be used. Further, a cantilever piece extending into a space between the two button tops is formed at a central portion of an arm portion connecting between the respective tips of the two button tops, An operation button structure of a small electronic device in which a retaining portion is provided on the holding piece so as to protrude may be used.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the member for supporting the operation button does not protrude inside the case,
The space inside the case can be effectively used, and the degree of freedom in design such as the shape of internal parts can be increased, and the size of the device can be reduced.

Further, since the operation buttons can be easily attached and detached, the assembling and disassembling operations are facilitated, so that a skilled worker is not required, the workability is improved, and the production cost can be reduced.

Further, since the disassembling operation is facilitated, it is easy to recycle parts.

In addition, equipment and management costs can be reduced because special equipment is not required for assembling and disassembling operations.

Further, since there is no need to heat the case itself or apply an adhesive, the physical properties of the case and the like do not change, and the required strength of the product can be secured.

Further, various excellent effects such as a reduction in the defective rate of the product and an improvement in the yield can be exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view showing the embodiment.

6 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows CC in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view as viewed in the direction of the arrow DD in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a view as seen from the direction of arrows EE in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing another conventional example.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing the conventional example.

FIG. 17 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows FF in FIG. 16;

[Explanation of symbols]

 25 case 26 front case 27 rear case 38 first concave part 40 first concave part 41 first groove 44 second concave part 47 second groove 48 first operation button 49 first button top part 50 first arm part 53 first locking part 54 Second operation button 55 Second button top portion 56 Second arm portion 59 Second locking portion 61 First concave portion 62 First groove 63 First locking portion 67 Second concave portion 68 Second groove 69 Second locking portion 71 Projection Part 72 First concave part 74 First concave part 77 First locking part 78 Locking hole

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Haruhumi Yokoyama 3-14-20 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Inside Kokusai Electric Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] An operation button provided on an overlapping portion of a case has a button top exposed to the outside, and an arm formed along the inner surface of the case from the button top. An operating button structure for a small electronic device, wherein a locking portion is protruded, and the locking portion is clamped by the case. 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion has a convex portion, and the convex portion can be fitted into a concave portion provided in the overlapping portion of the case.
Operation button structure of small electronic equipment.