1. Filed of the Invention
This invention relates to a controller operating portion structure, and more particularly to a controller operating portion structure in which a top hoop and a spacer are produced with high dimensional accuracies, so that switch operating signals can be outputted with positive and good operability.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known one conventional operating portion of a game controller which resembles a drum and has the following structure. The operating portion of this game controller includes switches, and has a structure for enabling the operation of the switches, and this switch-operating structure comprises a switch receiving portion, a switch position-fixing member, a spacer, and an upper surface sheet member which are arranged in this order from the lower side. Each of the switches is of such a structure that it can be moved between a projected and a retracted position, and when the switch is retracted, it outputs an ON-signal. The switch receiving portion is in the form of a round container, and proximal end portions of the switches and required wiring are received in this switch receiving portion. The switch position-fixing member has a disk-like shape, and has a hole formed therethrough at its center, and also has a plurality of holes formed therethrough and arranged around the center hole in concentric relation thereto. The switches are fixed in these holes, respectively. The spacer is in the form of a disk with a required thickness, and this spacer has holes which are formed therein, and are arranged to correspond respectively to the holes in the switch position-fixing member. This spacer is fixed, together with the switch position-fixing member, to an upper surface of the switch receiving portion by screws. The switches, fixed to the switch position-fixing member, are set to such a height that a head or part of each switch projects beyond an upper surface of the spacer. The upper surface sheet member provides a pounding surface which the player pounds with the palm, and this upper surface sheet member has a round shape, and is made of a resin material. When the upper surface sheet member is pounded, the head of the relevant switch, projecting from the upper surface of the spacer, is retracted, so that this switch outputs an ON-signal.
Boundary lines are indicated on the surface of the upper surface sheet member to divide this surface into three areas which can be confirmed with the eyes. The three areas are so determined that each area includes a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches within each area are connected in parallel with one another, and are combined into one signal conductor at their output end side. With this arrangement, whether any one of the switches within each area is turned on or two or more switches are simultaneously turned on, one switch operating signal is outputted from the output end (see, for example, JP-A-2002-239233 (Pages 4 to 5, FIG. 2)).
In the operating portion of the game controller disclosed in (JP-A-2002-239233 (Pages 4 to 5, FIG. 2)), the spacer is fixed to the upper surface of the switch receiving portion, and when a pounding operation is applied to the upper surface sheet member, the head of the switch, projecting from the upper surface of the spacer, is retracted, so that this switch is turned on. Whether any one of the switches within each of the three areas is turned on or two or more switches are simultaneously turned on, one switch operating signal is outputted from one area.
With respect to the above conventional construction, in order that two or more of switches within one area can be more positively operated when a pounding operation is applied to an upper surface sheet member, it may be proposed to provide a construction in which a spacer is moved toward the switches upon application of a pounding operation to the upper surface sheet member, and two or more switches can be simultaneously driven by switch drive portions provided at the spacer. In the case of this construction, for example, bosses are formed in a projected manner on the movable spacer, and guide holes for respectively guiding the sliding movements of the bosses are formed in a switch position-fixing member (fixed member). By thus providing such guide means between the spacer and the fixed member, the spacer can be smoothly moved toward the switches in accordance with a pounding operation on the upper surface sheet member.
Generally, the spacer, the switch position-fixing member, etc., (which are the constituent members of the operating portion) are molded of a resin. Usually, a high wear-resistant resin such as nylon is used to form the guide holes each for guiding the sliding movement of the corresponding boss each time a pounding operation is applied to the upper surface sheet member. However, nylon or the like (high wear-resistant resin) is higher in shrinkage and water absorption percentage during a molding operation as compared with a resin of high mechanical strength. Therefore, when the spacer is molded of the high mechanical-strength resin while the switch position-fixing member (having the guide holes formed therein) and so on are molded entirely of nylon or the like (high wear-resistant resin), large dimensional variations develop in the switch position-fixing member and so on, so that positional accuracies of the switch fixing holes and so on are degraded. As a result, it is difficult to output switch operating signals with good operability.
Therefore, there arises a technical problem which is to be solved in order to form switch-mounting portions, switch drive portions and so on, provided at a top hoop and a spacer, with high positional precision so that switch operating signals can be outputted with positive and good operability. An object of the present invention is solve this problem.
The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and according to the invention there is provided a controller operating portion structure characterized in that the structure comprises a top hoop which is adapted to be mounted at one end of a housing resembling a barrel of a drum, and includes a flat plate portion having a switch-mounting portion at which a switch is mounted; a top rubber which is attached to an upper side of tire top hoop, and provides a pounding surface used for a pounding operation; and a spacer which is provided between the top rubber and the top hoop, and has a switch drive portion for driving the switch in accordance with a pounding operation on the top rubber; and a boss is formed on and projects from the spacer; and a guide hole for guiding the movement of the boss in accordance with a pounding operation on the top rubber is formed in the flat plate portion of the top hoop; and a bushing, made of a high wear-resistant resin, is mounted in the guide hole.
In this construction, generally, the top hoop and the spacer are molded of the resin of high mechanical strength. The high wear-resistant resin, in which problems concerning shrinkage percentage and others arise in a molding operation, is used only to form the busing as a separate part. By doing so, the top hoop and the spacer can be produced without inviting the shrinkage percentage problem and others in the molding operation, so that the switch-mounting portion, the switch drive portion and so on can be formed with high positional accuracy. As a result, a switch operating signal can be outputted with positive and good operability.
The invention provides the controller operating portion structure, characterized in that the high wear-resistant resin is nylon.
In this construction, it is difficult to mold nylon (which is a high wear-resistant resin) with high dimensional accuracy as compared with a resin of high mechanical strength. This high wear-resistant resin is used only to form the bushing as a separate part, and by doing so, the top hoop and the spacer can be produced in such a manner that the switch-mounting portion, the switch drive portion and so on are formed with high positional accuracy. And besides, since the bushing is made of nylon having good sliding properties and wear resistance, a switch operating signal can be outputted with better operability.
The invention provides the controller operating portion structure, characterized in that the bushing has retaining means for retaining the bushing relative to guide hole, and is designed to be detachably mounted in the guide hole.
In this construction, when the bushing is damaged or worn, it can be easily exchanged with a new one.
The invention of provides the controller operating portion structure, characterized in that the bushing, made of the high wear-resistant resin, is molded integrally with the top hoop made of a resin having high mechanical strength.
In this construction, the bushing and the top hoop are molded into an integral construction, and therefore the structure can be easily assembled. Even in this construction, by using nylon (high wear-resistant resin) only to form the bushing, the top hoop and the spacer can be produced in such a manner that the switch-mounting portion, the switch drive portion and so on can be formed with high positional accuracy.
The invention provides the controller operating portion structure, characterized in that there are provided a plurality of guide means each comprising a combination of the boss and the guide hole in which the busing is mounted.
In this construction, the spacer is prevented by the plurality of guide means from moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction of application of a pounding operation on the top rubber. As a result, a switch operating signal can be outputted with the more positive and better operability.
The invention provides a controller operating portion structure, characterized in that a boundary line is indicated on the pounding surface of the top rubber to divide the pounding surface into a plurality of areas, and the spacer is divided into a plurality of sections corresponding respectively to the plurality of areas, and a plurality of guide means are provided for each of the division areas.
In this construction, the spacer is divided into the sections, and a separate switch operating signal for each division area can be outputted, and even in this case, the spacer is prevented from moving in the direction perpendicular to the direction of application of a pounding operation on the top rubber. As a result, a separate switch operating signal for each area can be outputted with the positive and good operability.
In the invention, the boss is formed on and projects from the spacer, and the guide hole for guiding the movement of the boss in accordance with a pounding operation on the top rubber is formed in the flat plate portion of the top hoop, and the bushing, made of the high wear-resistant resin, is mounted in the guide hole. Therefore, the switch-mounting portion, the switch drive portion and so on, provided at the top hoop and the spacer, can be formed with high positional accuracy, and a switch operating signal can be outputted with positive and good operability.
In the invention, the high wear-resistant resin is nylon. Therefore, the advantage of the invention is achieved, and besides since the bushing is made of nylon having high wear-resistance and good sliding properties, there is achieved an advantage that a switch operating signal can be outputted with better operability.
In the invention, the bushing has the retaining means for retaining the bushing relative to the guide hole, and is designed to be detachably mounted in the guide hole. Therefore, in addition to the advantage of the invention, there is achieved an advantage that when the bushing is damaged or worm, it can be easily exchanged with a new one.
In the invention, the bushing, made of the high wear-resistant resin, is molded integrally with the top hoop made of the resin having high mechanical strength. Therefore, in addition to the advantage of the invention, there is achieved an advantage that the easily-assembling construction can be obtained because of integral molding of the bushing on the top hoop.
In the invention, there are provided the plurality of guide means each comprising a combination of the boss and the guide hole in which the busing is mounted. Therefore, in addition to the advantage of the invention, there is achieved an advantage that the spacer is prevented by the plurality of guide means from moving in the direction perpendicular to the direction of application of a pounding operation on the top rubber, so that a switch operating signal can be outputted with the more positive and better operability.
In the invention, the boundary line is indicated on the pounding surface of the top rubber to divide the pounding surface into the plurality of areas, and the spacer is divided into the plurality of sections corresponding respectively to the plurality of areas, and the plurality of the guide means are provided for each of the division areas. Therefore, the advantage of the invention is achieved, and even in the case where the spacer is divided into the sections, and a separate switch operating signal for each division area can be outputted, the spacer is prevented from moving in the direction perpendicular to the direction of application of a pounding operation on the top rubber, thereby achieving an advantage that a separate switch operating signal for each area can be outputted with the positive and good operability.
The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The object to form switch-mounting portions, switch drive portions and so on, provided at a top hoop and a spacer, with high positional precision so that switch operating signals can be outputted with positive and good operability has been achieved by a construction in which bosses are formed on and project from the spacer made of an ABS resin (high mechanical-strength resin), and guide holes each for guiding the movement of the corresponding boss in accordance with a pounding operation on a top rubber are formed in a flat plate portion of the top hoop made of an ABS resin (high mechanical-strength resin), and bushings, made of nylon (high wear-resistant resin), are mounted respectively in the guide holes.
(First Embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The construction of each of the above members will be described. As shown in
As shown in
Using an ABS resin of a high mechanical strength, the top hoop 3 is formed into such a shape that a flat plate portion 3a is provided within an annular portion as shown in
The controller operating portion structure 1 is formed by assembling the members of the above constructions together. The bosses 7a of the A spacer 5a are fitted respectively in the bushings 10 mounted respectively in the guide holes 8a in the top hoop 3, and also springs (not shown) are provided in a contracted condition between the lower surface of the A spacer 5a and the flat plate portion 3a of the top hoop 3. As a result, thanks to resilient forces of the springs and also to the retaining engagement of the hook-like piece portions 7aa of the bosses 7a with the lower edge portions of the respective guide holes 8a, the A spacer 5a is resiliently mounted on the top hoop 3 in such a manner that the A spacer 5a is kept spaced a predetermined distance from the flat plate portion 3a. Similarly, The bosses 7b of the B spacer 5b are fitted respectively in the bushings 10 mounted respectively in the guide holes 8b in the top hoop 3, and also springs (not shown) are provided in a contracted condition between the lower surface of the B spacer 5b and the flat plate portion 3a of the top hoop 3. As a result, thanks to resilient forces of the springs and also to the retaining engagement of the hook-like piece portions 7ba of the bosses 7b with the lower edge portions of the respective guide holes 8b, the B spacer 5b is resiliently mounted on the top hoop 3 in such a manner that the B spacer 5b is kept spaced a predetermined distance from the flat plate portion 3a.
After the A spacer 5a and the B spacer 5b are mounted on the top hoop 3, the retaining portions 4d of the top rubber 4 are fitted respectively into the retaining holes 3b in the top hoop 3, and are retained thereto. As a result, the top rubber 4 is attached to the top hoop 3 in the predetermined opposed condition relative thereto, and also covers the A spacer 5a and the B spacer 5b, so that the controller operating portion structure 1 is assembled. In this assembled construction, three guide means, each comprising a combination of the boss 7a and the guide hole 8a receiving the bushing 10, are provided for the A area 4a, while three guide means, each comprising a combination of the boss 7b and the guide hole 8b receiving the bushing 10, are provided for the B area 4b.
Next, the operation of the controller operating portion structure of the above construction will be described. The top hoop 3 and the two spacers (A and B spacers) 5a and 5b are molded of an ABS resin having high mechanical strength, while nylon (which is a high wear-resistant resin and in which a shrinkage percentage problem and others are encountered during a molding operation) is used only to form the bushings 10 as separate parts. By doing so, the top hoop 3 and the two spacers (A and B spacers) 5a and 5b can be produced without inviting a shrinkage percentage problem and others in such a manner that the switch-mounting portions 9a and 9b, the switch drive portions 6a and 6b and so on can be formed with high positional accuracy. And besides, the bushing 10 made of nylon is mounted in each guide hole 8a, 8b, and therefore a good sliding performance can be obtained. Furthermore, the three guide means are provided for each of the A area 4a and the B area 4b, and therefore each of the spacers 5a and 5b is prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction of application of a pounding operation on the top rubber 4. As a result, switch operating signals can be outputted with the positive and good operability
When a pounding operation is applied to the A area 4a of the top rubber 4, the A spacer 5a, while guided by the three guide means (each comprising the combination of the boss 7a and the guide hole 8a receiving the bushing 10), is moved toward the top hoop 3, and at least one of the two rubber switches 11 and 11, mounted respectively in the switch-mounting portions 9a and 9a in the top hoop 3, is turned on by the corresponding switch drive portion 6a of the A spacer 5a to output an ON-operating signal relating to the A area 4a. Also, when a pounding operation is applied to the B area 4b of the top rubber 4, the B spacer 5b, while guided by the three guide means (each comprising the combination of the boss 7b and the guide hole 8b receiving the bushing 10), is moved toward the top hoop 3, and at least one of the two rubber switches 11 and 11, mounted respectively in the switch-mounting portions 9b and 9b in the top hoop 3, is turned on by the corresponding switch drive portion 6b of the B spacer 5b to output an ON-operating signal relating to the B area 4b.
As described above, in the controller operating portion structure of this embodiment, the switch-mounting portions 9a and 9b, the switch drive portions 6a and 6b and so on, provided at the top hoop 3 and the two spacers (A and B spacers) 5a and 5b, can be formed with high positional precision, and switch operating signals can be outputted with positive and good operability. And besides, the bushings 10 can be detachably mounted in the guide holes 8a and 8b, respectively, and therefore when any of these bushings 10 is damaged or worn, it can be easily exchanged with a new one.
(Second Embodiment)
In this embodiment, the bushings 10, made of nylon (high wear-resistant resin), and the top hoop 3, made of an ABS resin (having high mechanical strength), are molded into an integral construction by so-called two-color molding.
In this embodiment, the bushings 10 are molded integrally with the top hoop 3, and by doing so, the management of the parts is easy, ad besides the controller operating portion structure can be easily assembled. Even in this easily-assembling construction, by using nylon (high wear-resistant resin) only to form the bushings 10, the top hoop 3 and the two spacers (A and B spacers) 5a and 5b can be produced in such a manner that the switch-mounting portions 9a and 9b, the switch drive portions 6a and 6b and so on can be formed with high positional accuracy.
In the present invention, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirits of the invention, and such modifications will naturally fall within the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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P.2003-371284 | Oct 2003 | JP | national |
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Number | Date | Country |
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2002239233 | Aug 2002 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050092590 A1 | May 2005 | US |