Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6756556
-
Patent Number
6,756,556
-
Date Filed
Thursday, November 15, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 29, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 200 556
- 200 557
- 200 6 A
- 200 339
- 200 517
- 200 553
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An oscillating switch includes: a lower casing; a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a through hole; a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a through hole; an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member; an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing; pressing portions formed on the operating knob so as to depress the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passing through the through holes of the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an oscillating switch, more particularly to an improved oscillating switch provided with a click feeling-producing mechanism for producing a suitable click feeling when an operating knob is operated.
As a switch for controlling various electric equipments (such as a power window mechanism) mounted, for example, on a door trim of a car door, a related oscillating switch
60
as shown in
FIG. 3
is known, which includes an oscillating switch
60
of the see-saw type in which an operating knob
61
is supported for pivotal movement about a support shaft
63
on a switch panel.
In this oscillating switch
60
, a PCB (printed circuit board)
66
serving as a contact circuit member is provided between an upper casing
64
and a lower casing
65
spaced a predetermined distance T
1
from each other. A pair of juxtaposed right and left switching elements
67
are fixedly mounted on the PCB
66
.
A pair of pressing portions
68
, corresponding respectively to the switching elements
67
, are formed on and project from a reverse surface (lower surface in
FIG. 3
) of the operating knob
61
, and the switching elements
67
are suitably pressed respectively by these pressing portions when the operating knob
61
is operated to be pivotally moved. A click feeling-producing mechanism (not shown) is provided within each switching element
67
, and produces a suitable click feeling when the operating knob
61
is operated.
FIG. 4
shows another example of oscillating switch in which there is provided a click feeling-producing mechanism
79
separate from switching elements.
More specifically, in this oscillating switch
70
, a PCB
73
serving as a contact circuit member is provided between an upper casing
71
and a lower casing
72
spaced a predetermined distance T
2
from each other, and a rubber switch member
75
having rubber contact portions
74
is provided on the PCB
73
.
When an operating knob
76
is pressed to be pivotally moved, one of a pair of pressing portions
77
and
77
formed on and projecting from a reverse surface (lower surface in
FIG. 4
) of the operating knob
76
depresses corresponding one of a pair of pressing pins
78
and
78
, so that the corresponding rubber contact portions
74
of the rubber switch member
75
can be depressed. The rubber contact portion
74
, thus pressed by the pressing pin
78
, is buckled, so that a conductive piece (not shown) thereof is pressed against a switch contact, provided on the PCB
73
, to close it.
The click feeling-producing mechanism
79
is provided between the reverse surface of the operating knob
76
and the upper casing
71
, and includes a ball plunger
82
which is mounted on a mounting portion of the upper casing
71
and has a compression spring
81
urging a steel ball (pressing element)
80
in a direction (upward direction in
FIG. 4
) toward the reverse surface of the operating knob
76
, and an operating portion
83
having a cam surface
83
a
which is held in sliding contact with the steel ball
80
so as to guide the same. When the operating knob
76
is operated, the click feeling-producing mechanism
79
produces a suitable click feeling of the operating knob
76
in accordance with a resistance of sliding contact between the steel ball
80
of the ball plunger
82
and the cam surface
83
a
of the operating portion
83
.
In the related oscillating switch
60
shown in FIG.
3
, the click feeling-producing mechanism is contained in the switching element
67
, so that the height (the dimension in the upward-downward direction in
FIG. 3
) of the switching element
67
increases. Therefore, the switching elements
67
must be firmly fixed to the PCB
66
, so that a gap α for receiving soldering leads of the switching elements
67
and snap-fit members thereof must be provided between the PCB
66
and the lower casing
65
.
Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the spacing T
1
between the upper casing
64
and the lower casing
65
in the oscillating switch
60
, and a dimension X
1
of a unit in the direction of its thickness (that is, the spacing between the upper casing
64
and the lower casing
65
; the dimension in the upward-downward direction in
FIG. 3
) can not be reduced. Therefore, there was encountered a problem that it was difficult to achieve a thin design of the whole of the unit and a space-saving effect when the unit is mounted on a vehicle.
On the other hand, in the oscillating switch
70
shown in
FIG. 4
, the click feeling-producing mechanism
79
separate from the switching elements is provided between the operating knob
76
and the outer surface of the upper casing
71
, and the rubber switch member
75
is adopted. Therefore, the spacing T
2
between the upper casing
71
and the lower casing
72
in the oscillating switch
70
can be made smaller as compared with the oscillating switch
60
shown in FIG.
3
.
However, the height H
2
of projecting of the operating knob
76
from the outer surface of the upper casing
71
is considerably larger than the height Hi of projecting of the operating knob
61
of the oscillating switch
60
shown in FIG.
3
.
Namely, the click feeling-producing mechanism
79
is provided between the operating knob
76
and the outer surface (upper surface in
FIG. 4
) of the upper casing
71
, and the spacing between a support shaft
84
, serving as an axis of pivotal movement of the operating knob
76
, and each rubber contact portion
74
of the rubber switch member
75
is large. Therefore in order that each rubber contact portion
74
can be properly pressed, the pressing pin
78
needs to be interposed between the operating knob and the rubber contact portion
74
.
Therefore, the pressing pins
78
are fitted respectively in guide portions
71
a
formed integrally on the upper casing
71
so as to move upward and downward, so that these guide portions
71
a
need to have a predetermined guide length (dimension in the upward-downward direction in
FIG. 4
) As a result, the dimension X
2
of the whole of the unit in the direction of thickness thereof (that is, the spacing between the upper casing
71
and the lower casing
72
; the dimension in the upward-downward direction in
FIG. 4
) can not be reduced. Therefore, as in the oscillating switch
60
of
FIG. 3
, there was encountered a problem that it is difficult to achieve a thin design of the whole of the unit (for example, a space-saving effect when the unit is mounted on a vehicle).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to solve the above problems and to provide an oscillating switch which can achieve a thin design of the whole of a unit while securing a good click feeling when operating an operating knob.
In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterized by having the following arrangement.
(1) An oscillating switch comprising:
a lower casing;
a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a through hole;
a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a through hole;
an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member;
an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing;
pressing portions formed on the operating knob so as to depress the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and
a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passing through the through holes of the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member, wherein the click feeling-producing mechanism includes,
a cam surface formed on one of the operating knob and the lower casing,
a pressing element formed on the other of the operating knob and the lower casing, and
a urging member for urging the pressing element to the cam surface.
(2) The oscillating switch according to (1), wherein the cam surface is formed on a distal end of an operating portion which projects from the operating knob and passes through the through holes of the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member, and the urging member is received and held in a receiving recess in the lower casing.
In the above construction, the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member are provided on the lower casing, and the click feeling-producing mechanism is interposed between the operating knob and the lower casing, and extends through the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member. Therefore, the spacing between the upper casing and the lower casing can be reduced.
When the spacing between the upper casing and the lower casing is reduced, the distance between the axis of pivotal movement of the operating knob and each of the rubber contact portions of the rubber switch member can be reduced, and therefore any separate members, such as pressing pins, are not necessary for properly pressing the rubber contact portions, and the number of the component parts is reduced, and besides the provision of guide portions, having a predetermined guide length so as to respectively guide the pressing pins, is not necessary, and the height of projecting of the operating knob from the outer surface of the upper casing can be reduced.
Therefore, only those portions, corresponding respectively to the click feeling-producing mechanisms, project a minimum distance from the outer surface of the lower casing, and a thin design of the whole of a switch unit can be easily achieved while securing a good click feeling when operating the operating knob.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded, perspective view of a power window switch unit provided with one preferred embodiment of oscillating switches of the invention.
FIG. 2
is a vertical cross-sectional view of an important portion of the oscillating switch shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
a vertical cross-sectional view of an important portion of a related oscillating switch.
FIG. 4
is a vertical cross-sectional view of an important portion of another related oscillating switch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One preferred embodiment of an oscillating switch of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of a power window switch unit provided with using the oscillating switches according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 2
is a vertical cross-sectional view of an important portion of the oscillating switch shown in FIG.
1
.
The power window switch unit
10
shown in
FIG. 1
is a switch unit which is mounted on a door trim of a car door and controls a power window drive mechanism and a courtesy lamp mechanism (not shown) or the like. This power window switch unit includes: an FPC (flexible printed circuit)
20
provided on an inner surface of a lower casing
12
formed into a predetermined curved shape; a rubber switch member
30
including a plurality of pairs of rubber contact portions
31
and
31
, and superposed on the FPC
20
; and an upper casing
41
covering the rubber switch member
30
.
The plurality of oscillating switches
40
are arranged on an upper surface of the upper casing
41
. Each of these switches, provided respectively in openings
41
a
formed in the upper casing
41
, includes an operating knob
40
a
pivotally supported on a support shaft
42
, and a click feeling-producing mechanism
50
for producing a suitable click feeling of the operating knob
40
a.
The FPC
20
is a film-like contact circuit member having flexibility, and is made, for example, of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, and has a circuit pattern (not shown) formed thereon. In this embodiment, the FPC
20
forms electric circuits for controlling the power window mechanism and the courtesy lamp mechanism or the like, and is electrically connected to the power window mechanism through an input/output signal line portion
21
and a connector
22
, and is also electrically connected to the courtesy lamp mechanism through an input/output signal line portion
23
and a lamp circuit board
24
.
The plurality of rubber contact portions
31
and
31
, corresponding respectively to switch contacts
20
b
on the circuit pattern formed on the FPC
20
, are formed integrally on the rubber switch member
30
. A conductive piece (not shown), provided in the rubber contact portion
31
, is pressed against the switch contact
20
b
opposed thereto, thereby closing the circuit.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, a pair of pressing portions
43
and
43
are formed on a reverse surface (lower surface in the drawings) of the operating knob
40
a
so as to press the corresponding rubber contact portions
31
, respectively, in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operating knob
40
a.
A distal end surface
43
a
of the respective pressing portions
43
is cut into a slanting angle corresponding to an angle of pivotal movement of the operating knob
40
a
, and can be properly held in contact with the corresponding rubber contact portion
31
in a fully pivotally-moved condition of the operating knob
40
a.
An operating portion
44
is formed on and projects from a generally central portion of the reverse surface of each operating knob
40
a
. The operating portion
44
passes through a through hole
30
a
formed through the rubber switch member
30
and a through hole
20
a
formed through the FPC
20
, and extends into a receiving recess
13
formed in the lower casing
12
. A cam groove
51
, having a cam surface constituting the click feeling-producing mechanism
50
(described later), is formed in a distal end of the operating portion
44
.
The click feeling-producing mechanism
50
for producing a suitable click feeling when operating the operating knob
40
a
includes the cam groove
51
, and a ball plunger
52
received and held in the receiving recess
13
.
The cam groove
51
is a groove of a generally V-shaped cross-section extending along the axis of pivotal movement of the operating knob
40
a.
The ball plunger
52
includes a compression coil spring (urging means)
54
which is received in the receiving recess
13
in the lower casing
12
, and resiliently urges a steel ball (pressing element)
53
toward the cam surface of the cam groove
51
.
By displacement of the operating portion
44
in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operating knob
40
a
, a suitable click feeling is obtained by the friction between the steel ball
53
and the cam surface of the cam groove
51
.
Instead of the steel ball
53
, a slide pin may be used as the pressing element.
Next, the operation of the oscillating switch
40
of this embodiment will be described.
When the operating knob
40
a
of the oscillating switch
40
is pressed to be pivotally moved in one direction, the pressing portion
43
formed on and projecting from the reverse surface of the operating knob
40
a
presses the corresponding rubber contact portion
31
. The rubber contact portion
31
, thus pressed, is buckled, so that the conductive piece thereof is pressed against the switch contact
20
b
on the FPC
20
, thereby closing the circuit.
At this time, as a result of displacement of the operating portion
44
in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operating knob
40
a
, a suitable click feeling is obtained by the friction between the steel ball
53
and the cam surface of the cam groove
51
of the click feeling-producing mechanism
50
.
Namely, in the oscillating switch
40
of this embodiment, the FPC
20
and the rubber switch member
30
are provided on the lower casing
12
, and the click feeling-producing mechanism
50
is interposed between the operating knob
40
a
and the lower casing
12
in such a manner that this mechanism
50
passes through the through holes
20
a
and
30
a
formed respectively through the FPC
20
and the rubber switch member
30
. Therefore, the spacing T
3
between the upper casing
41
and the lower casing
12
can be reduced, and a dimension X
3
of the major portion of the switch unit in the direction of the thickness thereof can be reduced.
When the spacing T
3
between the upper casing
41
and the lower casing
12
is reduced, the distance between the axis of pivotal movement (the support shaft
42
) of the operating knob
40
a
and each of the corresponding rubber contact portions
31
of the rubber switch member
30
can be reduced. Therefore any separate members, such as the pressing pins
78
in the related oscillating switch
70
of
FIG. 4
, are not necessary for properly pressing the rubber contact portions
31
.
Therefore, in the oscillating switch
40
of this embodiment, the number of the component parts is smaller as compared with the related oscillating switch
70
, and the provision of the guide portions
71
a
for respectively guiding the pressing pins
78
is not necessary, and further the height H
3
of projecting of the operating knob
40
a
from the outer surface of the upper casing
41
can be reduced.
Incidentally, the outer surface (lower surface in
FIG. 2
) of the lower casing
12
projects convexly at those regions at which the receiving recesses
13
are formed, respectively. Therefore, a dimension X
4
of these portions of the switch unit in the direction of the thickness thereof is increased. However, part of the switch unit, that is, only those portions, corresponding respectively to the click feeling-producing mechanisms
50
, project to a minimum degree.
Therefore, the substantial dimension X
3
of the power window switch unit
10
in the direction of the thickness thereof can be reduced while securing a good click feeling when operating the operating knob
40
a
, and a thin design of this switch unit for space-saving purposes can be easily achieved. Therefore, the good ability thereof to be mounted on the vehicle can be obtained.
The constructions of the contact circuit member, the rubber switch member, the operating knob, the click feeling-producing mechanism and soon of the oscillating switch of the present invention are not limited to those of the above embodiment, and each of them can take any of various forms on the basis of the subject matter of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, although the film-like FPC
20
is used as the contact circuit member, other contact circuit member, such as a PCB, can be used. Further, by suitably setting the cam surface, the urging means and so on of the click feeling-producing mechanism, the amount of projecting of the convex portions from the outer surface of the lower casing
12
can be made smaller.
As described above, in the oscillating switch of the present invention, the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member are provided on the lower casing, and the click feeling-producing mechanism is interposed between the operating knob and the lower casing, and extends through the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member. Therefore, the spacing between the upper casing and the lower casing can be reduced.
When the spacing between the upper casing and the lower casing is reduced, the distance between the axis of pivotal movement of the operating knob and each of the rubber contact portions of the rubber switch member can be reduced, and therefore any separate members, such as pressing pins, are not necessary for properly pressing the rubber contact portions, and the number of the component parts is reduced, and besides the provision of guide portions, having a predetermined guide length so as to respectively guide the pressing pins, is not necessary, and the height of projecting of the operating knob from the outer surface of the upper casing can be reduced.
Therefore, only those portions, corresponding respectively to the click feeling-producing mechanisms, project a minimum distance from the outer surface of the lower casing, and a thin design of the whole of the switch unit can be easily achieved while securing a good click feeling when operating the operating knob.
Claims
- 1. An oscillating switch comprising:a lower casing; a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a first through hole; a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a second through hole; an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member; an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing; pressing portions formed on the operating knob for depressing the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passes through the first and second through holes, wherein the click feeling-producing mechanism includes, a cam surface formed on one of the operating knob and the lower casing, a pressing element formed on the other of the operating knob and the lower casing, and a urging member for urging the pressing element to the cam surface, wherein the cam surface is formed on a distal end of an operating portion which projects from the operating knob and passes through the first and second through holes, and the urging member is received and held in a receiving recess in the lower casing.
- 2. The oscillating switch according to claim 1, wherein the operating portion projects from a central portion of the operating knob.
- 3. The oscillating switch according to claim 1, wherein the cam surface has a v-shaped cross-section along an axis of pivotal movement of the operating knob.
- 4. An oscillating switch comprising:a lower casing; a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a first through hole; a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a second through hole; an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member; an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing; pressing portions formed on the operating knob for depressing the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passes through the first and second through holes, wherein the click feeling-producing mechanism includes, a cam surface formed on one of the operating knob and the lower casing, a pressing element formed on the other of the operating knob and the lower casing, and a urging member for urging the pressing element to the cam surface, wherein the urging member is a coil spring.
- 5. An oscillating switch comprising:a lower casing; a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a first through hole; a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a second through hole; an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member; an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing; pressing portions formed on the operating knob for depressing the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passes through the first and second through holes, wherein the click feeling-producing mechanism includes, a cam surface formed on one of the operating knob and the lower casing, a pressing element formed on the other of the operating knob and the lower casing, and a urging member for urging the pressing element to the cam surface, wherein the pressing element consists of a steel ball.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
P2000-351273 |
Nov 2000 |
JP |
|
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A |
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Sep 1998 |
A |
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