JP3885298B2 - Push switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a push switch used for various electronic devices.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional push switch will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional push switch. In FIG. 8, 1 is a box-shaped case made of resin and having an open top surface, and a fixed contact 2 and a holding body 3 are implanted on the inner bottom surface thereof. .
[0004]
A cover 4 has an opening 4A at the center and covers the upper surface of the case 1. A knob 5 is housed in the case 1 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The case 1 and the cover 4 are provided on the side surfaces. The engaging claw 1 </ b> A and the engaging hole 4 </ b> B are snap-fit coupled, and the operation portion 5 </ b> A of the knob 5 protrudes upward from the opening hole 4 </ b> A of the cover 4.
[0005]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a contact piece made of an elastic metal thin plate whose right end in the figure is a movable contact 6A, and a fulcrum part 6B at the left end thereof is locked to a locking part 3A on the left side of the holding body 3 in the figure. At the same time, the elastic tongue piece 6C provided in the intermediate portion is slightly bent, and the distal end portion is locked to the locking portion 3B on the right side of the holding body 3, whereby the movable contact 6A side on the right end is The knob 5 is biased upward to push the knob 5 upward.
[0006]
In the above configuration, when the operation portion 5A of the knob 5 protruding from the opening hole 4A of the cover 4 is pressed downward in the figure as shown in FIG. 9, the contact with the right end pressed against the lower surface of the knob 5 After the piece 6 is rotated about the locking portion 3A of the holding body 3 and the elastic tongue piece 6C is further bent, the tip of the movable contact 6A is pressed against the fixed contact 2 and thereby the contact piece 6 is interposed. The fixed contact 2 and the holding body 3 are electrically connected.
[0007]
When the pressing force of the knob 5 on the operation portion 5A is released, the contact piece 6 and the knob 5 are returned to the positions before pressing in FIG. 8 by the elastic return force of the elastic tongue piece 6C, and the tip of the movable contact 6A is also a fixed contact. 2 away from 2 and electrically turned off.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional push switch, the elastic tongue piece 6C is electrically connected to and separated from the fixed contact 2 by the elastic force of the elastic tongue piece 6C integrated with the contact piece 6 made of an elastic metal thin plate. When it is difficult to achieve a long life as a switch due to the concentration of stress, it is necessary to obtain a reliable electrical contact and separation between the movable contact 6A and the fixed contact 2 and an operation force of a predetermined magnitude. The elastic tongue piece 6C of the contact piece 6 needs to have a somewhat large shape, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size of the entire switch.
[0009]
The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small push switch capable of extending the life as a switch.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the push switch of the present invention is configured so that both ends of a substantially U-shaped contact piece are swingably engaged with each other on the lower surface of the knob, and the vicinity of the bent portion of the contact piece by pressing the knob. The sliding portion is elastically slid on the bottom surface of the case so as to contact and separate from the fixed contact.
[0011]
According to the present invention, an inexpensive push switch having a small size and a long life can be obtained.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a box-shaped case having an open top surface in which a plurality of fixed contacts are arranged in parallel on the inner bottom surface, a cover having an opening hole in the central portion and covering the upper surface of the case, And a knob having an operating portion protruding from the opening hole of the cover, and both ends of the knob are swingably engaged and held on the bottom surface of the knob, and the sliding portion in the vicinity of the bent portion is formed on the bottom surface of the case. It is a push switch that consists of a contact piece made of an approximately U-shaped elastic metal sheet that elastically contacts and slides elastically on the bottom surface of the case by the vertical movement of the knob, and contacts and separates from the fixed contact. Because the whole of the U-shaped contact piece is bent and this elastic force is used to electrically connect and separate the fixed contacts, there is no part where local stress is generated on the contact piece, and the life of the switch can be extended. Along with the switch, the contact piece can be made into a small shape Hakare is compact, an effect that can be obtained an inexpensive push switch.
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the contact piece is provided with an arm-shaped movable contact portion that contacts and separates from the fixed contact, and the arm-shaped movable contact portion is a case. By elastically sliding on the inner bottom surface and making electrical contact with and separating from the fixed contact, it is possible to set the elastic contact force of the movable contact portion to the fixed contact separately from the elastic force that the contact piece bends. Therefore, it is possible to set the optimal elastic contact force to the fixed contact of the movable contact part according to the voltage / current used in the switch, the surrounding environment, etc., and increase the electrical reliability of the switch. Has an effect.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 3 is a structure in which, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, in place of the cover, a protrusion is provided on which the upper surface of the knob main body abuts on the inner wall of the upper end surface of the case. Since this protrusion can prevent the knob body from protruding from the case, there is no need for a cover, so that the number of parts used can be reduced and the assembly work of the switch can be simplified.
[0015]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the structure same as the structure demonstrated in the term of the prior art, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0016]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a push switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a box-shaped case made of resin and having an open top surface. As shown, fixed contacts 12 and 13 are juxtaposed.
[0017]
Reference numeral 4 denotes a cover having an opening hole 4A at the center and covering the upper surface of the case 1. Reference numeral 14 denotes a knob accommodated in the case 1 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The operation portion 14A is an opening hole 4A of the cover 4. Projecting upward from
[0018]
Reference numeral 15 denotes a contact piece made of an approximately U-shaped elastic metal thin plate as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, and a holding hole 15A provided at one end is formed on the protrusion 14C provided on the protrusion 14B on the lower surface of the knob 14. The protrusion 15B provided on the other end contacts the recess 14D on the opposite side to the protrusion 14C, and the protrusion 14B is sandwiched between the both ends so as to be swingably engaged with the lower surface of the knob 14, respectively. A sliding portion 15 </ b> C in the vicinity of the lower bent portion is in elastic contact with the inner bottom surface of the case 1.
[0019]
In the above configuration, when the operation portion 14A of the knob 14 protruding from the opening hole 4A of the cover 4 is pressed downward as shown in FIG. 4, the holding is engaged and held by the protrusion 14C and the recess 14D on the lower surface of the knob 14. Both ends of the hole 15A and the convex portion 15B are swung so that the entire contact piece 15 is bent, and at the same time, the sliding portion 15C near the lower bent portion is elastically slid on the inner bottom surface of the case 1 in the right direction in the drawing. The sliding contact 15C elastically contacts the fixed contacts 12 and 13, whereby the fixed contacts 12 and 13 are electrically connected via the contact piece 15.
[0020]
Then, when the pressing force of the operation portion 14A of the knob 14 is released, the knob 14 returns to the position before pressing in FIG. 1 by the elastic return force of the contact piece 15, and the sliding portion 15C also moves on the inner bottom surface of the case 1. It slides elastically in the left direction in the figure, leaves the fixed contacts 12 and 13, and is electrically turned off.
[0021]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the fixed contacts 12 and 13 are electrically connected and separated by bending the entire contact piece 15 whose both ends are swingably engaged with the lower surface of the knob 14. Since it is configured, the contact piece 15 does not have a portion where local stress is generated, so that the life of the switch can be extended, and since the contact piece 15 can be made into a small shape, the switch can be downsized. An inexpensive push switch can be obtained.
[0022]
In addition, since the sliding portion 15C of the contact piece 15 is elastically slid on the fixed contacts 12 and 13 for electrical contact and separation, the sliding portion 15C and the fixed contacts 12 and 13 contact each time the pressing operation is performed. The part is self-cleaned, and an electrically stable contact resistance can be obtained.
[0023]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a push switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the contact piece.
[0024]
In this figure, a contact piece 16 made of a substantially U-shaped elastic metal thin plate has a holding hole 16A provided at one end fitted into a protrusion 14C of a protrusion 14B on the lower surface of the knob 14, and a protrusion 16B provided at the other end. Is in contact with the recess 14D, and the protrusions 14B are sandwiched between the two ends so as to be swingably engaged with the lower surface of the knob 14 and the sliding portion 16C in the vicinity of the bent portion is connected to the fixed contact 12 on the inner bottom surface. It is the same as in the first embodiment that it is elastically in contact with the inner bottom surface of the case 1 in which 13 are arranged side by side, but arm-shaped movable contact portions 16D and 16E are provided on both sides of the contact piece 16, respectively. Is elastically in contact with the inner bottom surface of the case 1 together with the sliding portion 16C.
[0025]
In the above configuration, when the operation portion 14A of the knob 14 is pressed downward, both ends of the holding hole 16A and the convex portion 16B of the contact piece 16 are swung to bend the entire contact piece 16 and at the same time near the bent portion. The sliding portion 16C is elastically slid in the right direction on the inner bottom surface of the case 1 as in the first embodiment, but the arms provided on both sides of the contact piece 16 as the entire contact piece 16 is bent. The movable movable contact portions 16D and 16E are also elastically slid in the right direction on the inner bottom surface of the case 1, and the fixed contact points 12 and 13 are electrically connected and separated by the movable contact portions 16D and 16E.
[0026]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the movable contacts 16D and 16E are electrically connected to and separated from the fixed contacts 12 and 13 by the arm-shaped movable contacts 16D and 16E provided on both sides of the contact piece 16. Since the elastic contact force of the 16E to the fixed contacts 12 and 13 can be set separately from the elastic force that the contact piece 16 bends, it can be moved according to the voltage and current used by the switch, the surrounding environment, etc. The optimal elastic contact force of the contact portions 16D and 16E can be set, and the electrical reliability of the push switch can be enhanced.
[0027]
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a push switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, a protrusion 17A is provided on the inner wall of the upper end surface of the case 17, and the knob 14 main body is provided on the protrusion 17A. The knob 14 is accommodated in the case 17.
[0028]
The push switch assembly method will be described. When the knob 14 having the contact piece 15 engaged and held from the upper surface opening portion to the lower surface is inserted into the case 17 in which the fixed contacts 12 and 13 are arranged in parallel on the inner bottom surface, the hinge of the case 17 is inserted. The portion 17B is pushed open by the tapered portion 14E on the lower surface of the knob 14 and once opened outward. When the knob 14 is stored in the case 17, the hinge portion 17B returns to the original state by the elastic force of the case 17, and the knob 14 The push switch is completed by the projecting portion 17A coming into contact with the upper surface.
[0029]
Thus, according to the present embodiment, the knob 14 is housed in the case 17 by bringing the upper surface of the knob 14 main body into contact with the protruding portion 17A provided on the inner wall of the upper surface of the case 17, so that the case 17 is accommodated. A cover that covers the upper surface is not necessary, and the number of components used can be reduced. In addition, the knob 14 holding the contact piece 15 can be stored in the case 17 with a single touch, so that the push switch assembly work can be simplified.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that an inexpensive push switch having a small size and a long life can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a push switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of the case. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the contact piece. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a push switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the contact piece. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a push switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention. ] Cross-sectional view of a conventional push switch [FIG. 9] Cross-sectional view explaining the same operation [Explanation of symbols]
1, 17 Case 4 Cover 4A Opening hole 12, 13 Fixed contact 14 Knob 14A Operation part 14B Protrusion 14C Protrusion 14D Concavity 14E Taper part 15, 16 Contact piece 15A, 16A Holding hole 15B, 16B Protrusion part 15C, 16C Sliding part 16D, 16E Movable contact part 17A Projection part 17B Hinge part

Claims (3)

A box-shaped case with an open top surface with a plurality of fixed contacts arranged on the inner bottom surface, a cover that has an opening hole in the center and covers the upper surface of the case, and is housed in the case so as to be vertically movable from the opening hole of the cover A knob having a protruding operation part and both ends of the knob are swingably engaged and held on the lower surface of the knob. The sliding part in the vicinity of the bent part elastically contacts the bottom surface of the case. A push switch consisting of a contact piece made of an approximately U-shaped elastic metal sheet that slides in and out of contact with a fixed contact. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein an arm-shaped movable contact portion that contacts and separates from the fixed contact is provided on the contact piece. The push switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, instead of the cover, a projecting portion with which the upper surface of the knob main body abuts is provided on the inner side wall of the upper end surface of the case.

Images