This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on Patent Application No. 2016-090915 filed in Japan on Apr. 28, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a switch.
In recent years, battery-free and self-powered (energy harvesting) wireless switch devices have been developed which carry out wireless communications through electric power generated by themselves. Examples of such wireless switch devices include a device having a structure as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the wireless switch device 101, the bearing 113 is fitted with the shaft 152, and the operating section 150 is provided above the wireless switch module 110. The operating section 150 swings about the shaft 152 when a vicinity of an end part of the operating section 150 is pressed by a user, and thus presses one of the power generation levers 112 which one faces the pressed vicinity of the end part. The wireless switch module 110 generates electric power in response to a press on the one of the power generation levers 112 and carries out wireless communication through the electric power thus generated.
Meanwhile, Patent Literature 1 discloses a waterproofed wireless switch device. The wireless switch device includes a piezoelectric power generation device having a piezoceramic body and a steel ball supporting elastic body which has steel balls fixed on its opposite ends. One of the steel balls is vibrated by a pressing force to the piezoelectric power generation device, and the other one of the steel balls is reciprocated (vibrated) by a resonance action. The piezoelectric power generation device generates electric power when continuous hits of the piezoceramic body by the reciprocating one of the steel balls give impact to the piezoceramic body.
Patent Literature 1
Japanese Patent Application Publication Tokukai No. 2006-12465 (Publication date: Jan. 12, 2006)
For example, the wireless switch device 101 is such that, although not illustrated, another bearing 113 with which the shaft 152 of the operating section 150 is fitted is also arranged in an upper surface (top surface) of the wireless switch module 110. Further, end parts of the power generation levers 112 are located on a level lower than the upper surface of the wireless switch module 110. That is, a plurality of power generation levers 112 are provided in areas recessed from the upper surface of the wireless switch module 110. Thus, the wireless switch module 110 has a complicated structure.
Therefore, it is difficult to make waterproof the wireless switch module 110, itself, which has a complicated structure as described above, in order to achieve a wireless switch device which has a waterproof function while maintaining a switch function.
Meanwhile, the wireless switch device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is waterproofed. However, Patent Literature 1 fails to specifically disclose what part of the wireless switch device is waterproofed.
Further, the piezoelectric power generation device having the power generation system as described above is housed in a switch case having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, wherein the power generation system of a complicated structure is provided inside the piezoelectric power generation device. Thus, even if the piezoelectric power generation device having such a simple external form is waterproofed, even a person skilled in the art cannot easily arrive at waterproofing the wireless switch module 110, itself, of the above-described complicated structure.
As a result of diligent studies, the inventors of the present invention found a structure in which a wireless switch device using a wireless switch module of a complicated structure makes the wireless switch module waterproof while maintaining its function.
The present invention has been attained in view of the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to achieve a switch which allows a communication module to be made waterproof while maintaining a switch function.
In order to solve the above problem, a switch in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: an operating section including projected parts on a surface thereof opposite to an operation surface which is to be pressed by a user; a communication module including movable parts each of which is pressed by a corresponding one of the projected parts displaced when the operating section is pressed, the communication module carrying out wireless communication through electric power generated in response to a press of any of the movable parts, the movable parts being provided on two opposite lateral surfaces of the communication module, the operating section including a plate-shaped member and a middle part and pressing any of the movable parts provided on the two lateral surfaces when the middle part operates as a fulcrum, the switch further including: a casing including an opening and housing the communication module; and a sealing member which seals the opening in a state in which the communication module is housed in the casing, the sealing member including elastic parts which contacts the respective projected parts, the operating section being arranged on an outer side of the sealing member which outer side is opposite to a side on which the communication module is sealed with the sealing member.
An aspect of the present invention yields the effect of allowing a communication module to be made waterproof while maintaining a switch function.
(a) of
In the following description, the terms “upper side” and “lower side” are defined as an operation surface side on which a user manually operates a switch device and a side opposite to the operation surface side, respectively. Further, the terms “right side” and “left side” are defined as one side corresponding to one of end parts of the operating section which the user presses in manually operating the switch device and the other side (opposite side) corresponding to the other one of the end parts of the operation section, respectively. Still further, the terms “front” and “rear” are defined as one side of the wireless switch device in a direction vertical to an up-and-down direction and a right-and-left direction and the other side of the wireless switch device, respectively. Thus, the terms “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “front”, and “rear” in the following description do not intend to limit orientation of the switch device during a work such as assembly and installation. A front-and-rear direction is defined as a direction orthogonal to the up-and-down direction and the right-and-left direction.
The following description discusses Embodiment 1 of the present invention with reference to
As illustrated in
(Wireless Switch Module 10)
The following description discusses a configuration of the wireless switch module 10 with reference to
As illustrated in
The tact buttons 11 are switch buttons which are turned on temporarily when the tact buttons 11 are pressed so that opposed contacts are brought into contact to each other. Each of the bearings 13 is a support part which allows a shaft of a swinging member to be fitted (connected) directly with the wireless switch module 10. The tact buttons 11, the bearings 13, the power generation unit, and the wireless communication unit can be publicly known ones and thus are not detailed herein.
As illustrated in
(Casing Member 30, Waterproof Member 20, and Cover Member 40)
The following description discusses respective configurations of the casing member 30, the waterproof member 20, and the cover member 40 with reference to
The casing member 30 includes a bottom 31 on which the wireless switch module 10 is placed, a side wall 32 which stands around the bottom 31, a flange 33 which extends outward from the side wall 32, and bearings 34 (see (a) of
The waterproof member 20 includes: an outer edge 21 which is located on the side wall 32 of the casing member 30; an opening 22 (see (c) of
The cover member 40 includes: a bearing 41 (connecting part) which supports the seesaw-shaped member 50 so that the seesaw-shaped member 50 is able to swing; and an outer edge 42 which holds the outer edge 21 of the waterproof member 20. The cover member 40 further includes a blocking part, provided below the bearing 41, for blocking the opening 22 of the waterproof member 20. The blocking part passes through the opening 22 and is fitted (connected) with the bearings 13 which are provided in the upper surface 14 of the wireless switch module 10, so that the cover member 40 is secured to the wireless switch module 10. The bearing 41 and the outer edge 42 of the cover member 40 are firmly connected to each other in a state in which relative positions of the bearing 41 and the outer edge 42 are not changed. The cover member 40 has an opening, provided between the outer edge 42 and the blocking part, which allows the power generation lever-use deformable parts 24 and the tact button-use deformable parts 25 of the waterproof member 20 to be exposed upward. Through the opening, the power generation lever-use deformable parts 24 and the tact button-use deformable parts 25, both of which have elasticity, can be brought into contact with the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54 and the tact-button operating protruded parts 53, respectively, of the seesaw-shaped member 50. This allows the wireless switch device 1 to maintain its switch function. The cover member 40 is made from a material having impermeability to water and is, for example, a resin molded product.
(Seesaw-Shaped Member 50)
The following description discusses a configuration of the seesaw-shaped member 50 with reference to
The seesaw-shaped member 50 includes a plate-shaped main body 51 which extends in a right-and-left direction (a vertical direction with respect to the two opposite lateral surfaces 16 on which the power generation levers 12 are provided). The seesaw-shaped member 50 further includes: a shaft 52 about which the seesaw-shaped member 50 swings; the tact-button operating protruded parts 53 which press the respective tact buttons 11 of the wireless switch module 10; the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54 which press the respective power generation levers 12; and depression restricting protruded parts 55 which restrict excessive depression of the seesaw-shaped member 50 by a user. The plate-shaped main body 51, the shaft 52, the tact-button operating protruded parts 53, the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54, and the depression restricting protruded parts 55 are arranged on a lower surface 57 opposite an upper surface 56 (an operation surface which the user presses). The shaft 52 is located in a middle of the seesaw-shaped member 50 in the right-and-left direction, and an axial direction of the shaft 52 extends in the front-and-rear direction. The seesaw-shaped member 50 is made from a material that cannot be deformed so that when one end part of the seesaw-shaped member 50 is pressed, the seesaw-shaped member 50 is swung while the shaft 52 serves as a fulcrum. The seesaw-shaped member 50 is, for example, a resin molded product.
In order that the wireless switch device 1 can be easily operated by the user and has a fine design, the seesaw-shaped member 50 is shaped such that the upper surface 56 is an inwardly curved surface. With the seesaw-shaped member 50 having such a curved surface, the user can press the one end part of the seesaw-shaped member 50 with ease (i.e., with a small force) by using an action of a leverage. Since the seesaw-shaped member 50 having a curved surface (e.g., an inwardly bowed surface) which conspicuously exhibits, to the user, swinging of the seesaw-shaped member 50 and has a graceful appearance, such a seesaw-shaped member 50 is functionally and aesthetically excellent in design. If the seesaw-shaped member 50 is not considered in this point, the upper surface 56 does not necessarily have to be an inwardly curved surface.
(Waterproofing of Wireless Switch Module 10)
The following description discusses waterproofing of the wireless switch module 10 with reference to
The shaft 52 of the seesaw-shaped member 50 is rotatably fitted (connected) with the bearing 34 of the casing member 30 and the bearing 41 of the cover member 40. With this configuration, the seesaw-shaped member 50 does not directly contact the wireless switch module 10. Thus, the seesaw-shaped member 50 is mounted on upper sides of the waterproof member 20 and the cover member 40 (outside the casing member 30).
The cover member 40 is arranged between the waterproof member 20 and the seesaw-shaped member 50. The shaft 52 of the seesaw-shaped member 50 is supported by the bearing 41 of the cover member 40 so that the seesaw-shaped member 50 is able to swing. The tact-button operating protruded part 53 of the seesaw-shaped member 50 directly contacts the tact button-use deformable part 25 of the waterproof member 20 and is able to indirectly press the tact button 11 of the wireless switch module 10 when the seesaw-shaped member 50 is pressed. Similarly, the power-generation-lever operating protruded part 54 of the seesaw-shaped member 50 directly contacts the power generation lever-use deformable part 24 of the waterproof member 20 and is able to indirectly press the power generation lever 12 of the wireless switch module 10 when the seesaw-shaped member 50 is pressed.
Thus, the seesaw-shaped member 50 is separated from the wireless switch module 10. However, when the user presses the seesaw-shaped member 50, a switch function, a power generation function, and a wireless communication function of the wireless switch module 10 can be performed.
With the waterproof member 20, the opening 37 of the casing member 30 in which the wireless switch module 10 is housed is covered. Further, the cover member 40 is placed over the waterproof member 20 and secured to the casing member 30. This achieves, for prevention of passage of water, (i) a tight fit between the side wall 32 of the casing member 30 and the outer edge 42 of the cover member 40, wherein the outer edge 21 of the waterproof member 20 is caught between the side wall 32 and the outer edge 42 and (ii) a tight fit between the upper surface 14 of the wireless switch module 10 and the blocking part provided below the bearing 41 of the cover member 40, wherein an opening surrounding edge of the waterproof member 20 around the opening 22 is caught between the upper surface 14 of the wireless switch module 10 and the blocking part. Thus, the waterproof member 20 and the cover member 40 are used together (as sealing members) to seal the opening 37 of the casing member 30, in which the wireless switch module 10 is housed, in order to achieve imperviousness to water (that is, to prevent the passage of water through the opening 37).
As described above, the self-powered wireless switch module 10 is housed in the casing member 30 and is sealed with the waterproof member 20 and the cover member 40 both of which seal the opening 37 of the casing member 30. Further, the seesaw-shaped member 50 is arranged on an upper side of the waterproof member 20 and the cover member 40 which upper side is opposite to a side on which the wireless switch module 10 is sealed with the waterproof member 20 and the cover member 40. Therefore, the wireless switch device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 allows the wireless switch module 10 provided in the wireless switch device 1 to be waterproofed while maintaining a switch function of the wireless switch module 10, instead of waterproofing the whole wireless switch device 1 including the seesaw-shaped member 50.
Further, the wireless switch device 1 is capable of switch control without requiring electrical wiring. Thus, the wireless switch device 1 can be suitably used in a sophisticated place such as an office building, a hotel, and a cafe. Moreover, the wireless switch device 1 has a waterproof function. Thus, the wireless switch device 1 can be suitably used in an open-air place (e.g., an outdoor terrace) and in a sanitary space (e.g., a bathroom).
Further, the wireless switch device 1 includes: (i) the waterproof member 20 for covering the wireless switch module 10 therewith, the waterproof member 20 including the power generation lever-use deformable part 24; and (ii) the cover member 40, arranged between the waterproof member 20 and the seesaw-shaped member 50, having the bearing 41 with which the shaft 52 of the seesaw-shaped member 50 is rotatably connected. The wireless switch module 10 includes the bearing 13 with which the bearing 41 is connected, and the waterproof member 20 has the opening 22 (opening) for allowing the bearing 41 to be connected with the bearing 13. The cover member 40 seals the opening 22 therewith.
With the above configuration, the wireless switch module 10 supports the shaft 52 through the waterproof member 20 and the cover member 40. This makes it possible to seal the wireless switch module 10 even though the waterproof member 20 has the opening 22. Therefore, it is possible to waterproof the wireless switch module 10 while maintaining a swing function of the seesaw-shaped member 50 (i.e., an operation function of the seesaw-shaped member 50).
The wireless switch device 1 is configured such that the bearing 41 and the bearing 13 are connected with each other through the opening 22. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon caused by a configuration in which the waterproof member 20 has no opening 22, i.e., the phenomenon in which when the seesaw-shaped member 50 is pressed, a portion of the cover member 40 near the bearing 41 (a near-center portion of the cover member 40) of the cover member 40 is upraised. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the upraised near-center portion of the cover member 40 makes it hard to press the tact button 11.
(Relation Between Opening 22 and Bearings 41 and 13)
The following description discusses relative positions and sizes of the opening 22 of the waterproof member 20, the bearing 41 (and the blocking part) of the cover member 40, and the bearings 13 of the wireless switch module 10.
The opening 22 of the waterproof member 20 is an opening through which the blocking part provided below the bearing 41 of the cover member 40 can be fitted with the bearings 13 provided on the upper surface 14 of the wireless switch module 10. Thus, in Embodiment 1, the opening 22 is provided at a position facing the bearings 13 of the wireless switch module 10. Specifically, the opening 22 is provided immediately above the bearings 13. In terms of waterproof property, the opening 22 is preferably as small as possible in size. Therefore, it is preferable that the size of the opening 22 is identical to that of an area where the bearings 13 are arranged or is slightly larger than that of an area where the bearings 13 are arranged.
The blocking part of the cover member 40 passes through the opening 22 and is connected with the bearings 13 of the wireless switch module 10. Thus, in Embodiment 1, the blocking part of the cover member 40, similarly to the opening 22, is provided at a position facing the bearings 13 of the wireless switch module 10. Specifically, the blocking part of the cover member 40 is provided immediately above the bearings 13. Further, the blocking part of the cover member 40 blocks the opening 22 so that water cannot pass through the opening 22. Therefore, the blocking part of the cover member 40 has a portion for holding down the opening surrounding edge of the waterproof member 20 around the opening 22. Such a portion is larger in size than the opening 22. The blocking part of the cover member 40 also has another portion for passing through the opening 22 and being connected with the bearings 13 of the wireless switch module 10. Such a portion is not larger in size than the opening 22.
It is preferable that, when viewed from above, a central rotation axis of the bearing 41 of the cover member 40 coincides with a central rotation axis of the bearing 13 of the wireless switch module 10. Therefore, it is preferable that the whole bearing 41 is also provided at a position facing the bearing 13. Specifically, it is preferable that the whole bearing 41 is provided immediately above the bearing 13.
(Operation of Wireless Switch Device 1)
The following description discusses an operation of the wireless switch device 1 with reference to
In Embodiment 1, as illustrated in
Note that the seesaw-shaped member 50 is able to press the tact buttons 11 and may be formed of, for example, one plate-shaped member as illustrated in (c) of
As illustrated in (a) of
An operation performed inside the wireless switch device 1 in the above situation is discussed with reference to
As illustrated in (a) of
As illustrated in (b) of
Accordingly, in response to movement of the tact button 11 corresponding to the pressed one end part of the seesaw-shaped member 50 to an ON position, the wireless communication unit provided inside the main body 17 carries out wireless communication under power generated by the power generation unit. Further, the user has to press one end part of the seesaw-shaped member 50 with a relatively large amount of force so that one of the power generation levers 12 is moved downward. Thus, when the user presses one end part of the seesaw-shaped member 50, the user can experience an operational feeling which cannot be experienced by pressing the tact button 11 only.
Then, when the user moves his/her hand off the seesaw-shaped member 50, the corresponding one of the power generation levers 12 pushes up the corresponding one of the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54. This causes the seesaw-shaped member 50 to return to its free position and also causes the tact-button operating protruded part 53 to return to its original position before the displacement. Besides, the deformed power generation lever-use deformable part 24 and the deformed tact button-use deformable part 25 return to their original shapes due to their elasticity. Furthermore, the pressed tact button 11 is released to an OFF position.
Since the waterproof member 20 omitted in
As described above, the wireless switch device 1 functions as a rocker switch.
The following description discusses another embodiment of the present invention with reference to
As illustrated in
The wireless switch device 2 illustrated in
(Intermediate Member 60)
The following description discusses a configuration of the intermediate member 60 with reference to
As illustrated in
The intermediary protruded parts 61 are arranged on an upper surface of the supporting surrounding part 62 so as to correspond to the power generation levers 12 of the wireless switch module 10. The intermediary protruded parts 61 are arranged in twos each on opposite right and left sides of the supporting surrounding part 62. A height of each of the intermediary protruded parts 61 (a length of each of the intermediary protruded parts 61 in the up-and-down direction) is equal to or larger than a difference between (i) a height H1 (see
The supporting surrounding part 62 has a surrounding structure such that the supporting surrounding part 62 is provided between the wireless switch module 10 and the casing member 30. Specifically, the surrounding structure of the supporting surrounding part 62 is a structure whose internal shape is larger than the shape of the wireless switch module 10 when viewed from above so that the supporting surrounding part 62 can surround the margin of the wireless switch module 10, and whose external shape is smaller than the shape of the opening 37 when viewed from above so that the supporting surrounding part 62 is provided on the inner side of the side wall 32 of the casing member 30 and the wireless switch module 10. Further, the supporting surrounding part 62 is so flexible as to allow the intermediary protruded parts 61 to move upward and downward.
The supporting legs 63 extend downward from the supporting surrounding part 62 and each have a lower end portion which is so large as to stably support the intermediate member 60. Further, the supporting legs 63 are connected to the supporting surrounding part 62 at positions as far as possible from the intermediary protruded parts 61 so that a range of movement of the intermediary protruded parts 61 can be increased or so that the intermediary protruded parts 61 can be moved with a relatively small force. Moreover, the supporting legs 63 are connected to the supporting surrounding part 62 in a manner such that the supporting legs 63 are arranged symmetrically, so that the right and left sides of the supporting surrounding part 62, on which sides the intermediary protruded parts 61 are provided, are equally movable while they are kept parallel to each other in the front-and-rear direction without being twisted. Therefore, it is preferable that the supporting legs 63 are located at respective midpoints of front and rear sides of the supporting surrounding part 62, which front and rear sides are different from the right and left sides of the supporting surrounding part 62 on which sides the intermediary protruded parts 61 are arranged, and the supporting legs 63 are so arranged as to face each other.
Thus, the supporting legs 63 are connected to the supporting surrounding part 62. Besides, the supporting legs 63 maintain relative positions of the supporting surrounding part 62 and the wireless switch module 10 in a state in which the intermediate member 60 is not pressed. This makes it possible to prevent an event that may occur in the absence of the supporting legs 63, i.e., a user's unintended press of any of the power generation levers 12 due to the weight of the intermediate member 60.
Note that the configuration of the intermediate member 60 is not limited to the above-described configuration and may be any configuration, provided that the intermediate member 60 can hold the part having a height equal to or larger than the difference between the height H1 and the height H2 so that the part is able to move upward and downward.
(Operation of Wireless Switch Device 2)
The following description discusses an operation of the wireless switch device 2.
An operation of the wireless switch device 2 illustrated in
More specifically, in the wireless switch device 2 illustrated in
(Shape of Power Generation Lever-Use Deformable Parts 24)
The following description discusses shape of the power generation lever-use deformable parts 24 of the waterproof member 20 with reference to
The wireless switch device 1 illustrated in (a) of
In this case, when at least the corresponding one of the power generation levers 12 is pressed, the power-generation-lever operating protruded part 54 is embedded below the upper surface 14 of the wireless switch module 10 (into a wireless switch module 10 side) and pushed down to the wireless switch module 10 side. This may cause a friction between the main body 17 and the corresponding one of the power generation lever-use deformable parts 24, depending on a thickness of the waterproof member 20, a material of the waterproof member 20, a degree of proximity of the main body 17 to corresponding one of the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54, and other factors.
Due to the occurrence of such a friction, a user who operates the wireless switch device 1 has to press one end part of the seesaw-shaped member 50 by applying a force much greater than a force applied when no friction occurs between the main body 17 and the corresponding one of the power generation lever-use deformable parts 24. Further, in a case where a friction force caused in a state in which the corresponding one of the power generation lever-use deformable parts 24 is caught between the main body 17 and the corresponding one of the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54 is greater than a force of the corresponding one of the power generation levers 12 to push up the corresponding one of the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54. As a result, even when the user moves his/her hand off the seesaw-shaped member 50, the corresponding one of the power generation levers 12 cannot sufficiently push up the corresponding one of the power-generation-lever operating protruded parts 54. This may cause a failure to return the seesaw-shaped member 50 and the corresponding one of the power generation levers 12 to their free positions before they have been pressed, and thus cause the wireless switch device 1 to be nonfunctional as a switch. The occurrence of the friction may also wear or break the waterproof member 20 and thus cause loss of the waterproof function of the wireless switch device 1.
In contrast, the wireless switch device 2 illustrated in (b) of
As described above, with the intermediate member 60 provided between the power generation levers 12 and the waterproof member 20, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the friction as described above. This eliminates the above-described need to press the seesaw-shaped member 50 with a great force.
Further, making the height of each of the intermediary protruded parts 61 equal to or larger than the difference between the height H1 and the height H2 eliminates the occurrence of the above-described event such that the waterproof member 20 (specifically, each of the power generation lever-use deformable parts 24) is pushed down below the upper surface 14 of the main body 17. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the lowering of switch operability due to the friction.
(Assembly)
The following description discusses a process of assembling the wireless switch device 2 with reference to
First, as illustrated in (a) of
Subsequently, as illustrated in (b) of
Next, as illustrated in (c) of
Subsequently, as illustrated in (d) of
Further, the casing member 30 and the cover member 40 are screwed together or secured to each other with use of screws 70 through the screw through holes 35 of the casing member 30 on the four corners and the screw holes 43 of the cover member 40 on the four corners. With the casing member 30 and the cover member 40 secured, the waterproof member 20 and the wireless switch module 10 both of which are provided between the casing member 30 and the cover member 40 are also secured. With the casing member 30 and the cover member 40 secured, the top end part of the side wall 32 of the casing member 30, the outer edge 42 and blocking part of the cover member 40, and a vicinity of the bearing 13 of the wireless switch module 10 are in intimate contact with the waterproof member 20. The intimate contact allows the wireless switch module 10 to be sealed in the casing member 30 with the waterproof member 20 and the cover member 40.
Subsequently, as illustrated in (e) of
Finally, as illustrated in (f) of
[Modifications]
In Embodiments 1 and 2, the waterproof member 20 includes the opening 22 at a position facing the bearing 13 provided in the upper surface 14 of the wireless switch module 10. However, the waterproof member 20 does not necessarily have to include the opening 22. This arrangement makes it possible to bring the waterproof member 20 into intimate contact with the bearings 13 provided in the upper surface 14. This arrangement also eliminates the need to provide, below the bearing 41 of the cover member 40, the blocking part connectable with the bearing 13.
In such an arrangement, the cover member 40 and the wireless switch module 10 are not connected through the bearings 13. However, since the cover member 40 includes the bearing 41 to be connected with the shaft 52 of the seesaw-shaped member 50, the seesaw-shaped member 50 can be swung while the shaft 52 connected with the bearing 41 serves as a fulcrum.
This allows the wireless switch devices 1 and 2 to function as a rocker switch even in an arrangement in which no opening 22 is provided in the waterproof member 20, and no blocking part is provided in the cover member 40.
[Recap]
(1) A switch in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: an operating section including projected parts on a surface thereof opposite to an operation surface which is to be pressed by a user; a communication module including movable parts each of which is pressed by a corresponding one of the projected parts displaced when the operating section is pressed, the communication module carrying out wireless communication through electric power generated in response to a press of any of the movable parts, the movable parts being provided on two opposite lateral surfaces of the communication module, the operating section including a plate-shaped member and a middle part and pressing any of the movable parts provided on the two lateral surfaces when the middle part operates as a fulcrum, the switch further including: a casing including an opening and housing the communication module; and a sealing member which seals the opening in a state in which the communication module is housed in the casing, the sealing member including elastic parts which contacts the respective projected parts, the operating section being arranged on an outer side of the sealing member which outer side is opposite to a side on which the communication module is sealed with the sealing member.
With the above configuration, the switch has the above-described movable part and operating section and thus functions as a rocker switch. In the switch which functions as a rocker switch, the self-powered communication module is sealed with the casing and the sealing member which seals an opening of the casing, and the operating section is arranged on an outer side of the sealing member which outer side is opposite to a side on which the self-powered wireless switch module is sealed with the sealing member.
This allows the communication module to be made waterproof while maintaining a function of a switch (i.e., a rocker switch).
(2) In the above configuration (1), a switch in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured such that the movable parts have respective end parts facing the sealing member, the end parts being located at a position lower than an upper surface of the communication module which upper surface faces the sealing member, the switch further includes an intermediate member which is located between the end parts of the movable parts and the sealing member and presses the corresponding one of the movable parts when the corresponding one of the projected parts is displaced.
With the above configuration, the intermediate member is provided between the movable parts and the sealing member. This makes it possible to prevent each of the elastic parts of the sealing member from being pushed down to the communication module side by a corresponding one of the projected parts in a case where the operating section is pressed. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of a friction between each of the elastic parts of the sealing member and the communication module when any of the elastic parts of the sealing member is caught between a corresponding one of the projected parts and the communication module in a case where the operating section is pressed. This makes it possible to prevent the lowering of operability of a switch due to the friction (e.g., the occurrence of an event in which the operating section needs to be pressed with a larger force, an event in which even when a finger or a thumb is moved off the operating section, the operating section is not returned to its original position before the operating section has been pressed, and the like event).
(3) In the above configuration (2), a switch in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured such that the intermediate member includes parts each of which intervenes between the corresponding one of the movable parts and the sealing member, and a height of each of the intervening parts is equal to or larger than a difference between a height of each of the lateral surfaces of the communication module and a height which is a level of each of the movable parts in a state of being pressed.
With the above configuration, it is possible to maintain the sealing member at a position that does not face any of the lateral surfaces in a case where a corresponding one of the movable parts is pressed. That is, it is possible to reliably prevent each of the elastic parts of the sealing member from being pushed down to the communication module side by a corresponding one of the protruded parts. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the lowering of operability of a switch due to the friction.
(4) In the above configuration (2) or (3), a switch in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured such that the intermediate member further includes: a part having a surrounding structure which surrounds the communication module and is smaller in size than the opening; and legs which are connected to the part having the surrounding structure and maintaining relative positions of the part having the surrounding structure and the communication module in a state in which the intermediate member is not pressed.
With the above configuration, the intermediate member having the surrounding structure includes the legs. This makes it possible to maintain the above relative positions in a state in which the intermediate member is not pressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an unintended press of any of the movable parts due to the weight of the intermediate member even though the operating section is not pressed.
Further, in a case where a plurality of movable parts are present, the above configuration eliminates the need to prepare a plurality of intermediate members corresponding to the respective movable parts. Therefore, it is possible to easily produce a switch which includes the intermediate member.
(5) In any one of the configurations (1) to (4), a switch in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured such that the sealing member includes a connecting part, provided on a surface of the sealing member which surface faces the operating section, which allows the middle part of the operating section to be rotatably connected with the connecting part.
With the above configuration, the connecting part is provided on a surface of the sealing member which surface faces the operating section. This allows the operating section to swing, regardless of structure of the sealing member.
[Additional Remarks]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can be altered by a skilled person in the art within the scope of the claims. An embodiment derived from a proper combination of technical means each disclosed in a different embodiment is also encompassed in the technical scope of the present invention. Further, it is possible to form a new technical feature by combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-090915 | Apr 2016 | JP | national |