GB2113920A - Push-button electrical switch - Google Patents

Push-button electrical switch Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2113920A
GB2113920A GB08302013A GB8302013A GB2113920A GB 2113920 A GB2113920 A GB 2113920A GB 08302013 A GB08302013 A GB 08302013A GB 8302013 A GB8302013 A GB 8302013A GB 2113920 A GB2113920 A GB 2113920A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
push
button switch
annular
dome
shaped member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08302013A
Other versions
GB8302013D0 (en
Inventor
Taneo Murata
Shinji Iwasaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Alps Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alps Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Alps Electric Co Ltd
Publication of GB8302013D0 publication Critical patent/GB8302013D0/en
Publication of GB2113920A publication Critical patent/GB2113920A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
    • H01H13/52—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H01H2215/012—Positioning of individual dome

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

A push-button switch has a rubber domed shaped member 13 having an annular base 13a which engages an annular channel 11a in an insulating base board 11. Projections 11d upstanding from the base board 11 are bent over to hold the dome shaped member 13 captive on the base board 11. A pair of spaced contacts 12 are mounted on the base board 11 within the area encircled by the channel 11a. An electrically conductive rubber contact 14 on the inner surface of the dome shaped member 13 is arranged to bridge the two contacts 12 when the dome is depressed. By providing the base board 11 with the means to hold the dome shaped member captive, the number of separate parts required for the assembly of the switch is reduced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Push-button switch The present invention relates to push-button switches.
According to the present invention, there is provided a push-button switch comprising a cupshaped rubber cover having a rubber electrical contact on an inner face thereof, and an electrically insulating board, the board having fixed electrical contacts in a central portion thereof, outer and inner circular walls encircling said fixed contacts to define an annular recess for receiving the annular rim of said rubber cover, and a plurality of projections formed around said annular recess and bent inwardly to hold the rim of the rubber cover captive on the board.
According to the present invention, there is further provided a push-button switch comprising an electrically insulating base, first electrical contact means on said base, an annular channel on said base encircling said first contact means, a dome-shaped member of electrically insulating resilient material having an annular extremity engaging said annular channel, projection means on said base holding the annular extremity of the dome-shaped member captive in said annular channel, and second contact means on the inner surface of the dome-shaped member to cooperate with the first contact means when the dome-shaped member is deformed against the bias of its own resilience.
A push-button switch embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure 1 is a section through a previously proposed push-button switch; Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the push-button switch; and Figure 3 is a section through the push-button switch of Figure 2.
In the previously proposed push-button switch shown in Figure 1, a cup-shaped rubber cover 4 is provided with a conductive rubber contact 3 on an inner surface thereof. The cover 4 is mounted on an insulating board 2 provided with a pair of fixed contacts 1, 1 buried therein. A cylindrical insulating case 5 is mounted on the insulating board 2 so as to enclose the rubber cover 4. The lower end portion 4a of the rubber cover 4 is held captive between the case 5 and insulating board 2, and a push-button 6 is movably fitted in the case 5. When this push-button 6 is pressed, the rubber cover 4 is deformed to cause the rubber contact 3 to come into engagement with the two fixed contacts 1.When the push-button 6 is then released, the rubber cover 4 returns to its original position due to its own resilience and so the pushbutton 6 also returns to the state that it was in before it had been pressed.
In this push-button switch, the lower end portion 4a of the rubber cover 4 is held between the case 5 and insulating board 2, so that the rubber cover 4 is held firmly. However, this pushbutton switch requires a separate case 5 and push-button 6. This causes the number of parts and manufacturing cost to increase, and renders an operation for assembling the push-button switch troublesome. Accordingly, the productivity of the push-button switch is low, and the dimensions thereof increase.
The push-button shown in Figures 2 and 3 has an insulating board or base 11 carrying a pair of fixed contacts 12, 12. Contact portions 1 2a of the fixed contacts 12, 12 are exposed in the central section of the insulating board 11, and terminal portions 1 2b project downward from a peripheral section thereof.
The insulating board 11 is also provided with an outer circular wall 11 a, and an inner circular wall 11 b, which is formed so as to be spaced from the outer wall 11 a at a predetermined distance and surround the contact portions 12a. The inner circular wall 11 b is slightiy lower than the outer circular wall 11 a, and an annular groove 11 c is formed therebetween. At least two projections .1.... are formed around the groove 11 c substantially in concentric relation thereto.
A cup- or dome-shaped rubber cover 13 is provided with an electrically conductive rubber contact 14 in an inner portion thereof. The rubber cover 13 has an annular end portion 1 3a at its lower extremity, and a cup-shaped pressing portion 1 3b at an upper section thereof. The annular end portion 1 3a is fitted in the annular groove 11 c between the outer and inner circular walls 11 a,11 b on the insulating board 11.
Each of the projections .1.... is bent inward by thermally deforming or pressing the same, to fix under pressure the projections 11 d to an upper surface of the end portion 1 3a of the rubber cover 1 3. Consequently, the rubber cover 1 3 is set with the end portion 1 3a in a firmly-held state.
When the pressing portion 1 3b of the rubber cover 1 3 in the push-button switch is pressed in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 3, the rubber cover 1 3 is deformed, so that the rubber contact 1 4 comes into engagement with the two fixed contacts 12, 1 2. Consequently, the contacts are closed. When the pressing portion 1 3b is released, the rubber cover 13 returns to the original position under its own resilience, so that the contacts are opened.
The pressing portion 1 3b of the rubber cover 13 is pressed in some cases in the direction (lateral direction) of an arrow B in Figure 3. At this time, the end portion 1 3a is drawn to the left in Figure 3 as the rubber cover 13 is deformed but the inner circular wall 11 b prevents the end portion 1 3a from being displaced. Thus, the end portion 1 3a is kept held between the outer and inner circular walls 11 a, 11 b, so that the rubber cover 13 is not removed.
The end portion 13a of the cup-shaped rubber cover 13, which is provided with the conductive rubber contact 14 on an inner surface thereof, is fitted and locked in the annular recess 11 c between the outer and inner circular walls 11 a, 11 b on the insulating board 11 , and the projections 11 ... . are bent inwardly to thereby hold the end portion 1 3a captive. Therefore, even when a lateral force is applied to the pressing portion 1 3b of the rubber cover 13, the displacement of the rubber cover 1 3 will be prevented by the inner circular wall 11 b. The rubber cover 13 is pressed and supported by the bent projections .1.... at the same time.
Accordingly, the rubber cover 13 is not dislodged from the insulating board 1. Moreover, a separate case 5 and push-button are not required. This allows the number of parts to be reduced, and an inexpensive push-button switch allowing a high manufacturing productivity to be obtained.

Claims (9)

Claims
1. A push-buttom switch comprising a cupshaped rubber cover having a rubber electrical contact on an inner face thereof and an electrically insulating board, the board having fixed electrical contacts in a central portion thereof, outer and inner circular walls encircling said fixed contacts to define an annular recess for receiving the annular rim of said rubber cover, and a plurality of projections formed around said annular recess and bent inwardly to hold the rim of the rubber cover captive on the board.
2. A push-button switch comprising an electrically insulating phase, first electrical contact means on said base, an annular channel on said base encircling said first contact means, a dome-shaped member of electrically insulating resilient material having an annular extremity engaging said annular channel, projection means on said base holding the annular extremity of the dome-shaped member captive in said annular channel, and second contact means on the inner surface of the dome-shaped member to cooperate with the first contact means when the dome-shaped member is deformed against the bias of its own resilience.
3. A push-button switch according to Claim 2 wherein the dome-shaped member is of rubber.
4. A push-button switch according to Claim 2 or to Claim 3 wherein the second contact means comprises electrically conductive rubber.
5. A push-button switch according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said annular groove is defined by a pair of concentric walls upstanding from a surface of said base.
6. A push-button switch according to Claim 5 wherein said projection means comprises a plurality of castellations in the outer one of said pair of concentric walls.
7. A push-button switch according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein said base has a recess in which said first contact means are located.
8. A push-button switch according to any one of Claims 2 to 7 wherein said first contact means comprises a pair of spaced contacts and said second contact means comprises a single contact arranged to bridge the pair of spaced contacts when the dome is depressed.
9. A push-buttom switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08302013A 1982-01-26 1983-01-25 Push-button electrical switch Withdrawn GB2113920A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP904882U JPS58113229U (en) 1982-01-26 1982-01-26 push button switch

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8302013D0 GB8302013D0 (en) 1983-02-23
GB2113920A true GB2113920A (en) 1983-08-10

Family

ID=11709750

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08302013A Withdrawn GB2113920A (en) 1982-01-26 1983-01-25 Push-button electrical switch

Country Status (4)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS58113229U (en)
DE (1) DE3247734A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2520550B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2113920A (en)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4571466A (en) * 1983-12-12 1986-02-18 Kokoku Rubber Industrial Company Limited Spring unit for a keyboard
US4600819A (en) * 1985-03-08 1986-07-15 Mechanical Enterprises, Inc. Switch assembly
EP0204223A1 (en) * 1985-05-30 1986-12-10 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Push button module
US4641004A (en) * 1983-12-02 1987-02-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Key module for keyboards having a dome-shaped key member of resilient material
GB2213647A (en) * 1988-01-08 1989-08-16 Marconi Electronic Devices Push-button key switches
US5999084A (en) * 1998-06-29 1999-12-07 Armstrong; Brad A. Variable-conductance sensor
US6310606B1 (en) 1992-03-05 2001-10-30 Brad A. Armstrong Multi-plane sheet connected sensors
US6344791B1 (en) 1998-07-24 2002-02-05 Brad A. Armstrong Variable sensor with tactile feedback
US6351205B1 (en) * 1996-07-05 2002-02-26 Brad A. Armstrong Variable-conductance sensor
US6404584B2 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-06-11 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for voice recorders
US6415707B1 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-07-09 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for coffee makers
US6456778B2 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-09-24 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for video recorders and cameras
US6469691B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2002-10-22 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for hand-held web browsers
US6532000B2 (en) 1997-10-01 2003-03-11 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for global positioning systems
CN1107327C (en) * 1997-09-01 2003-04-30 阿尔卑斯电气株式会社 Button switch
US8674932B2 (en) 1996-07-05 2014-03-18 Anascape, Ltd. Image controller

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4972057A (en) * 1989-06-20 1990-11-20 Mitsuku Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Push button switch
JP4647700B2 (en) * 2009-10-29 2011-03-09 北陸電気工業株式会社 Push-on switch

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR682123A (en) * 1929-09-21 1930-05-23 Electrical contact device, especially for low current
JPS4424330Y1 (en) * 1966-08-09 1969-10-15
US3728509A (en) * 1970-09-26 1973-04-17 Alps Electric Co Ltd Push-button switch with resilient conductive contact member with downwardly projecting ridges
JPS5638934B2 (en) * 1973-12-18 1981-09-09
US3905246A (en) * 1974-06-05 1975-09-16 Illinois Tool Works Construction and method for forming a plunger seal
US4021630A (en) * 1975-04-25 1977-05-03 Neomed Incorporated Hermetically sealed resilient contact switch having surgical applications
JPS55148127U (en) * 1979-04-12 1980-10-24
JPS5915374Y2 (en) * 1979-09-04 1984-05-08 星電器製造株式会社 push switch

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4641004A (en) * 1983-12-02 1987-02-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Key module for keyboards having a dome-shaped key member of resilient material
US4571466A (en) * 1983-12-12 1986-02-18 Kokoku Rubber Industrial Company Limited Spring unit for a keyboard
US4600819A (en) * 1985-03-08 1986-07-15 Mechanical Enterprises, Inc. Switch assembly
WO1986005316A1 (en) * 1985-03-08 1986-09-12 Mechanical Enterprises, Inc. Switch assembly
EP0204223A1 (en) * 1985-05-30 1986-12-10 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Push button module
US4705925A (en) * 1985-05-30 1987-11-10 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Key module with key member retained by swing members
GB2213647A (en) * 1988-01-08 1989-08-16 Marconi Electronic Devices Push-button key switches
US9081426B2 (en) 1992-03-05 2015-07-14 Anascape, Ltd. Image controller
US6310606B1 (en) 1992-03-05 2001-10-30 Brad A. Armstrong Multi-plane sheet connected sensors
US8674932B2 (en) 1996-07-05 2014-03-18 Anascape, Ltd. Image controller
US6351205B1 (en) * 1996-07-05 2002-02-26 Brad A. Armstrong Variable-conductance sensor
US6563415B2 (en) 1996-07-05 2003-05-13 Brad A. Armstrong Analog sensor(s) with snap-through tactile feedback
CN1107327C (en) * 1997-09-01 2003-04-30 阿尔卑斯电气株式会社 Button switch
US6415707B1 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-07-09 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for coffee makers
US6404584B2 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-06-11 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for voice recorders
US6470078B1 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-10-22 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for telephones
US6496449B1 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-12-17 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for clocks
US6518953B1 (en) 1997-10-01 2003-02-11 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for remote controllers having feedback display screens
US6529185B1 (en) 1997-10-01 2003-03-04 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for electronic books
US6532000B2 (en) 1997-10-01 2003-03-11 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for global positioning systems
US6538638B1 (en) 1997-10-01 2003-03-25 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for pagers
US6456778B2 (en) 1997-10-01 2002-09-24 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for video recorders and cameras
US5999084A (en) * 1998-06-29 1999-12-07 Armstrong; Brad A. Variable-conductance sensor
US6344791B1 (en) 1998-07-24 2002-02-05 Brad A. Armstrong Variable sensor with tactile feedback
US6504527B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2003-01-07 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for computer monitors
US6559831B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2003-05-06 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for personal digital assistants
US6469691B1 (en) 1999-05-11 2002-10-22 Brad A. Armstrong Analog controls housed with electronic displays for hand-held web browsers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3247734A1 (en) 1983-07-28
GB8302013D0 (en) 1983-02-23
FR2520550A1 (en) 1983-07-29
FR2520550B1 (en) 1990-05-11
JPH0334020Y2 (en) 1991-07-18
JPS58113229U (en) 1983-08-02

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)