Patent Grant
8253050
The present invention contains subject matter related to and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-107862, filed in the Japan Patent Office on Apr. 27, 2009, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a push button switch for electric devices.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional technology disclosed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-222,970 bulletin, a catching piece is formed on a main body of electric devices. And it engages with a protruding piece of a switch button frame and fixes the switch button frame.
The bulletin does not disclose relationship between a base board and a main body. Therefore, there was a possibility of wobble between the base board and the switch button frame.
In a conventional technology disclosed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-210,220 bulletin, a rubber button piece is aligned on a base board and a guide frame is pushed onto the rubber button piece toward the base board.
In this technology, since any covering pieces do not cover the switch base board, there was a problem that a special fixture would be necessary in order to prevent wobble.
In a conventional technology disclosed by Japanese Utility model Laid-Open No. 62-2132 bulletin, a frame for a push button is fixed by a lib.
The bulletin does not disclose relationship between a base board and a main body. Therefore, there was a possibility that wobble might be produced between the base board and the switch button frame.
This invention provides a push button switch for electric devices that holds a push button piece made of resin in itself.
A push button switch of the invention comprises:
In the above configured push button switch, the push button piece being held in the cover member abuts toward one of the switch board or the cover member, and generates pressing power against the other.
Therefore, the push button piece will be kept in condition that it is pushed against either member in the cover member.
According to the above configured invention, since the push button piece will be kept in condition being pushed against one of the cover member or the switch board, there will not be a problem of wobble between the push button piece and the cover member or the switch board.
The other embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch wherein the push button piece is integrally made of resin with a button piece as an operating knob, a leaf spring that generates the force of repulsion, and a frame piece that connects the button piece and the leaf spring.
In the above configured invention, the button piece, the leaf spring and the frame piece are molded integrally with resin.
According to the invention, the push button piece can be provided by an easy integral molding.
The other embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch wherein both ends of the leaf spring are connected to the frame piece and has flexibility at center portion thereof, and the center portion has a protrusion that is shaped protruding as a shape of an arc.
In the above configured invention, having the both ends of the leaf spring be connected to the frame piece, the center portion of the leaf spring has flexibility, and having the center portion protrude as a shape of an arc, it will easily abut against an object with which the center portion will face and generate the force of repulsion against it.
According to the invention, the leaf spring can be easily molded integrally and without being a complicated shape.
The other embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch wherein the frame piece is equipped with a plurality of boss holes that are aligned straight with each other, the leaf spring is shaped between the boss holes, and the cover member is shaped to have bosses that pass through the boss holes and tips of the bosses are fixed onto the switch board with screws from backside of the switch board.
In the above configured invention, the bosses of the cover member pass through the boss holes of the push button piece and touch to the switch board, and further are fixed onto the switch board from backside of the switch board with screws.
Since the push button piece is penetrated with the bosses and positioned by them, and the leaf spring is located between the bosses, the leaf spring generates force of repulsion at the most stable position.
According to the invention, the leaf spring which supports the push button piece is located between the bosses, the force of repulsion will be generated at stable position, and the wobble will be prevented.
The other embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch wherein the cover member has a recess in which the switch board is held, and a rigid nail that engages with an edge of the switch board and an tilting nail that engages the switch board while being bent in accordance with the pushing movement of the switch board at the end position of the pushing movement are equipped inside the recess.
In the above configured invention, the cover member has a rigid nail. While engaging the edge of the switch board to the rigid nail, the switch board should be pushed into the cover member having the tilting nail be bent.
Then at the end position of the pushing movement, the tilting nail returns to the original position, and the rigid nail and the tilting nail catch the switch board.
The other embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch wherein the rigid nail is not bendable and protrudes toward inner direction from an inner wall surface of an opening edge of the cover member, the tilting nail is bendable and protrudes from bottom wall surface of the recess toward an opening of the cover member, and the leaf spring protrudes toward inner bottom surface of the cover member and pushes the push button piece toward the switch board.
In the above configured invention, since there is a rigid nail protruding toward inner direction at the opening edge of the cover member, the edge of the switch board can be engaged with the rigid nail.
On the other hand, since the tilting nail protrudes from bottom wall surface of the recess toward the opening of the cover member, when the switch board is pushed inside toward the tilting nail while being latched with the rigid nail, the switch board gets into the cover member while having the tilting nail be bent.
Then the tilting nail returns at the end position of the pushing movement, thus the tilting nail and the rigid nail catch the switch board tightly.
The other embodiment of the present invention is a push button switch wherein the push button piece is made of resin integrally with a button piece as an operating knob, a leaf spring that generates force of repulsion, and a frame piece that connects the button piece and the leaf spring; the frame piece is equipped with a plurality of boss holes that are aligned straight with each other, the leaf spring has flexibility at center portion by connecting both ends of the leaf spring to the frame piece, and the center portion has a protruding portion that is configured to protrude as a shape of an arc; the cover member is shaped to have bosses that pass through the boss holes and tips of the bosses are fixed onto the switch board with screws from backside of the switch board; the cover member has a recess in which the switch board is held; and inside the recess are equipped with a rigid nail that protrudes toward inner direction from an inner wall surface of an opening edge of the cover member and latches with the edge of the switch board, and a bendable tilting nail that protrudes from bottom wall surface of the recess toward an opening of the cover member and inclines while the switch board is pushed into and returns at the end position of the pushing movement.
According to this invention, it provides merits as described above.
The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with referent to the drawings.
The push button switch for electric devices comprises a switch board 1, a push button piece 2, and a cover member 3.
The push button switch is assembled as follows. The push button piece 2 is placed on the switch board 1. Then the cover member 3 is placed on them to cover them, and is fixed to the switch board 1.
Further detailed components are explained hereinafter.
The switch board 1 is a print circuit board on which a plurality of switch elements 1b are placed and electrically connected. Six push button switch elements are placed on one side that is an opposite side of the print circuit. And the push button switch elements 1b are electrically connected on the opposite side.
In addition, the switch board 1 is formed in the shape of a strip. A plurality of notches are formed on one of the longer side. On the contrary, no notches are formed on the other side of the longer side.
In addition, three screw holes 1a are formed on the switch board 1 in order to be fixed with screws as described in later.
Each push button switch elements 1b is a switch element that changes the status of contact between on and off in correspondence with pushing operation.
The push button piece 2 is integrally made of resin, and forwards human pushing operation toward the push button switch element 1b on the switch board 1.
The button piece 2a is an operating knob, and is held by a thin elastic portion. The button piece 2a can be inclined by human pushing operation, and forwards the operation toward the movable portion of the push button switch element 1b.
The leaf spring 2b operates as a spring by generating force of repulsion against bending movement.
Both of end portion 2c are portions that connect the leaf spring 2b with the push button piece 2 at the both ends of the leaf spring 2b. And the central portion 2d is a central portion of the leaf spring 2b.
The protrusion 2e is an arc shaped portion that protrudes from the leaf spring 2b.
The frame member 2f supports the button piece 2a. Since the button piece 2a is connected with the frame member 2f by a thin portion, the button piece 2a is held with bendable character.
The boss holes 2g are holes to align and hold bosses 3b by having the bosses 3b pass through. And the boss holes 2g are aligned straight.
The cover member 3 is a member in which the push button piece 2 is held. The cover member 3 covers and fixes the switch board 1.
The button hole 3a is an opening for having the button piece 2a that is held inside the cover member 3 be exposed to outside in order to be manipulable.
The boss 3b is shaped as a short pillar shape. And the boss 3b can be fixed to the backside of the switch board 1 by a screw that passes through the screw hole 1a.
The recess 3c is a dent portion that is shaped as a shallow rectangular open box and capable of holding the push button piece 2.
The rigid nail 3d is a protruding portion that protrudes toward inner direction and is capable of engaging with one edge of the switch board 1.
In addition, a plurality of notches are made along one edge of the switch board 1. And the rigid nail 3d is formed at places where correspond between the notches.
The tilting nail 3e has an elasticity and protrudes from inner wall surface of the recess 3c toward an opening of the recess 3c in order to be capable of engaging with the edge of the switch board 1. And the tip of the tilting nail 3e is an engaging piece that protrudes toward the rigid nail 3d.
While engaging the edge of the longer side of the switch board 1 with the rigid nail 3d, when the other edge of the longer side is pushed to the tilting nail 3e, the other edge abuts to the tilting nail 3e and bends the tilting nail 3e to move away from the rigid nail 3d.
When the switch board 1 is pushed further inside, since it passes engaging portion of the tilting nail 3e, the tilting nail 3e returns to the original position and engages with the edge of the switch board 1.
This is the end position of the pushing movement.
The opening edge 3f is an opening portion of the cover member 3 that is shaped as a shallow rectangular open box. And the bottom wall surface 3g is an inner bottom surface of the cover member 3.
The leaf spring 2b connects to the frame member 2f with both end portions 2c, 2c as mentioned above.
Since the leaf spring 2b is made of resin, even though the leaf spring 2b is connected with the frame member 2f, the leaf spring 2b has enough flexibility and still functions as a spring member.
Further, the protrusion 2e that protrudes in the shape of an arc protrudes in a same direction of the button piece 2a as shown in the figure.
The method to assemble the push button switch for electric device will be explained as follows.
In order to assemble the push button switch, the cover member 3 is turned to face the opening of the recess 3c upward, and the push button piece 2 is put into the recess 3c.
The button piece 2a of the push button 2 is aligned to get into the button hole 3a of the cover member 3, and three bosses 3b of the cover member 3 are placed to get into boss holes 2g of the push button piece 2.
The push button piece 2 is aligned by having the boss 3b get into the boss holes 2g.
Then the edge of the switch board 1 that is one of the longer side of the switch board 1 is put inside the rigid nail 3d of the cover member 3. And the switch board 1 is engaged with the rigid nail 3d.
Then the other edge of the switch board 1 that is another side of the longer side of the switch board 1 will be pushed toward the tilting nail 3e.
At this time, the push button switch element 1b will be get into the backside of the button piece 2a of the push button piece 2.
When the switch board 1 is furthermore pushed toward the cover member 3, another edge of the switch board 1 abuts to the engaging piece that is a tip of the tilting nail 3e, and bends the tilting nail 3e toward the opposite direction of the rigid nail 3d.
When the switch board 1 is pushed into a place where it abuts to the boss 3b, the switch board 1 passes over the peak of the engaging piece that is a tip of the tilting nail 3d, the tilting nail 3e returns to the original position and the engaging piece engages with the backside of the switch board 1.
Then the switch board 1 will not be removed from the cover member 3.
After that, a screw that passes through the screw hole 1a fixes the switch board 1 and the cover member 3 together.
By the way, when the assembling is complete, the protrusion 2e of the leaf spring 2b abuts to the bottom wall surface 3g that is an inner bottom surface of the cover member 3 and thus the leaf spring 2b is bent.
When the protrusion 2e is pushed toward the cover member 3, the leaf spring 2b generates force of repulsion that forces the frame member 2f toward the opposite direction of the cover member 3.
In addition, since the leaf springs 2b are aligned straight between three bosses 3b, the leaf spring 2b push the push button piece 2 toward the switch board 1 almost in parallel.
In other words, if the push button piece 2 is held in the cover member 3, without further components, the push button piece 2 is pushed against the switch board 1 and there will not be a possibility of wobble.
In addition, in order to generate force of repulsion, the protrusion 2e can be placed to protrude toward the switch board 1.
In this case, since the protrusion 2e abuts to the switch board 1 when the push button switch is assembled, the push button piece 2 abuts to the cover member 3 and there will not be a possibility of a wobble.
In other words, when the protrusion 2e abuts with one of the switch board 1 or the cover member 3, the protrusion 2e generates force of repulsion against the other one.
In the above mentioned embodiment, the leaf spring 2b is connected to the frame member 2f at the both ends thereof. However, it can be connected with other method such as with only one end in order to be a spring member.
In addition, in the above mentioned embodiment, the cover member 3 is an independent component. However, it can be a portion of the cabinet of a television set.
In this case, the push button piece will receive force of repulsion toward one of the cabinet and the switch board, thus there will not be possibility of wobble.
The correspondence between the component of the claimed invention and the exemplary component in the embodiment will be explained below.
The switch board in the claim comprises of the switch board 1, a screw hole 1a, and the push button switch element 1b.
The push button piece in the claim comprises of the push button piece 2, the button piece 2a, the leaf spring 2b, both ends 2c, the central portion 2d, the protrusion 2e, the frame member 2f, and the boss hole 2g.
The cover member in the claim comprises the cover member 3, the button hole 3a, the boss 3b, the recess 3c, the rigid nail 3d, the tilting nail 3e, the opening edge 3f, and the bottom wall surface 3g.
The leaf spring in the claim comprises of the leaf spring 2b.
The frame member in the claim comprises the frame member 2f.
The rigid nail in the claim comprises the rigid nail 3d.
The tilting nail in the claim comprises of the tilting nail 3e.
In addition, it goes without saying that it is not the thing that this invention is limited to the embodiment mentioned above.
This invention is not limited to the embodiment mentioned above. And following are also disclosed in this specification; namely,
changing a combination of mutually substitutable members and structures disclosed in the above embodiments as necessary;
replacing and changing members or a combination of the members with well-known technology which is not disclosed in the above embodiments and is mutually substitutable with the members; and
replacing and changing members or a combination of the members with the members or structures which an ordinary skilled person could substitute with the members disclosed in the above embodiments based on prior arts.
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) is not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead is used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-107862 | Apr 2009 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6313421 | Abrahamsen | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 8008588 | Kaida et al. | Aug 2011 | B2 |
| 20080116048 | Straber et al. | May 2008 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| S62-2132 | Jan 1987 | JP |
| 2000-222970 | Aug 2000 | JP |
| 2006-210220 | Aug 2006 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100270138 A1 | Oct 2010 | US |
