JP4146713B2

JP4146713B2 - Push switch device

Info

Publication number: JP4146713B2
Application number: JP2002349515A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 隆幸板橋
Original assignee: Alps Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-02
Filing date: 2002-12-02
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-02
Also published as: TW200423173A; CN1248255C; CN1505074A; TWI228735B; JP2004185892A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、ＣＤプレイヤーの蓋の開閉の検出等、各種電子機器に使用する小型のプッシュスイッチ装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、ＣＤプレイヤーの蓋の開閉の検出等、各種電子機器に使用されるプッシュスイッチ装置としては、例えば特許文献１に記載されているようなものがある。このようなプッシュスイッチ装置は通常、共通接点と切換接点がインサート成形された樹脂製の筐体に、二本の接触片を有する可動接点が設けられた操作部材と、押込まれた操作部材を初期状態に復帰させるコイルバネを納めてなる。
このようなプッシュスイッチ装置は初期状態において、可動接点の一方の接触片は常時共通接点と接触しているが、他方の接触片と切換接点は離隔しており、スイッチはオフの状態にある。操作部材に外力がかかり、操作部材が筐体内に押込まれると、可動接点の他方の接触片が切換接点に接触し、これにより可動接点を介して共通接点と切換接点が導通し、これによってスイッチがオンの状態になる。操作部材から外力が取除かれると、コイルバネの復元力によって操作部材は初期状態に戻り、可動接点が切換接点から離れてスイッチはオフの状態になる。なお、可動接点の接触片は、製造時に曲げ加工を施され、その先端が共通接点又は切換接点に接触する。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開２００１−３５２９６号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで、近年の電子機器の小型化に伴って、プッシュスイッチ装置も小型化する必要性が生じている。しかし、上記のような構造を有するプッシュスイッチ装置においては、接触片が二本必要なため、筐体内にその分のスペースが必要となり、小型化することが難しい。またこのように接触片が二本あると、摺動抵抗が大きく、操作部材が復帰不良を起こしやすくなるという問題がある。さらに、接触片の先端が共通接点又は切換接点に接触する片面摺動であるため、接触不良を起こしやく、また摺動時に接触片の先端は筐体の樹脂部分とも接触して樹脂部分を削るため、この削りカスによっても接触不良が起きる可能性がある。
【０００５】
また、このようなプッシュスイッチ装置は通常、クリーム半田を用いてリフロー半田付け装置によって半田付けされる。ここで接触片は、共通接点又は切換接点との接触状態が維持されるよう、共通接点又は切換接点に対して圧接しているため、接触片には筐体内に組込まれた初期状態において、高い応力がかかっている。しかし、リフロー半田付け時に接触片が高温状態となると、接触片がへたって曲げ状態が変化し、接触不良を起こす場合もある。
さらに、従来のプッシュスイッチ装置においてはコイルバネが坐屈して復帰荷重を損失してしまう場合もあり、また、通常このようなコイルバネは金属製であり、コイルバネが坐屈することによって、コイルバネが他の接点に接触し、不所望な導通が起きてしまう場合もある。
【０００６】
本発明は以上のような問題を鑑みてなされたものであり、小型でかつ各接点における接触不良の発生を抑えることができるプッシュスイッチ装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
以上の課題を解決するため本発明は、収納部を有する筐体と、該収納部に設けられた共通接点と切換接点と、該切換接点と接離自在な可動接点を保持する操作部材と、該操作部材を初期状態に復帰可能にするコイルバネを備えたプッシュスイッチ装置において、
上記コイルバネの一端を上記共通接点に常時接触させると共に、他端を上記操作部材に保持された可動接点に常時接触させ、上記コイルバネを介して上記共通接点と可動接点を常時導通させ、上記可動接点は平板部を有すると共に、上記切換接点は上記収納部の内面にインサート成形により固定された平板状の本体を有すると共にクリップ状に形成されて対向する一対の挟持接点部を有し、上記可動接点を保持する操作部材を上記筐体の収納部に押込むことによって、上記平板部が上記対向する一対の挟持接点部に差込まれて相互に接触し、
上記一対の挟持接点部は、上記収納部の内面にインサート成形により固定され上記本体に形成される下面凸部と、該下面凸部と対向するように形成されたバネ片とからクリップ状に形成されてなることを特徴として構成されている。
【０００８】
本発明によれば、共通接点と可動接点を導通させるための接触片を設ける必要がなくなり、プッシュスイッチ装置を小型化することができる。
【０００９】
また本発明は、上記筐体の収納部に設けた共通接点と切換接点の間に上記コイルバネの動きを抑制するガイド壁を設けたことを特徴として構成されている。
【００１０】
本発明によれば、コイルバネをガイド可能となり、コイルバネが坐屈するのを防ぐことができると共に、コイルバネが切換接点に接触するのを防ぐことができる。
【００１１】
また本発明は、上記操作部材に上記コイルバネの動きを抑制するバネガイド部を設けたことを特徴として構成されている。
【００１２】
本発明によれば、コイルバネをガイド可能となり、コイルバネが坐屈するのを防ぐことができる。
【００１３】
また本発明は、上記一対の挟持接点部は、金属板から成る上記切換接点が、上記可動接点の平板部が差込まれる側と反対側で折り曲げられて上記バネ片が形成されることにより、クリップ状とされることを特徴として構成されている。
【００１６】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態について図面を参照しつつ詳細に説明する。図１、図２はそれぞれ本発明の実施形態におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の斜視図、分解図、図３は本発明の実施形態におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の初期状態の図、図４は平板部と挟持接点部が接触するまで操作部材を押込んだ状態のプッシュスイッチ装置の側方断面図、図５は操作部材を最奥まで押込んだ状態のプッシュスイッチ装置の側方断面図である。なお、図３において、Ａは本発明の実施形態におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の正面図、ＢはＡのＣ−Ｃ断面図であり、図４、図５においても同位置における断面図である。
【００１７】
図１に示す本実施形態におけるプッシュスイッチ装置１は、図２に示すように上方開口状で内部に収納部１１を有する略方形状の筐体１０を有する。この筐体１０の収納部１１には、筐体１０の周囲壁１２の約半分の高さの一対のガイド壁１３が筐体１０の長手方向に沿うように対向して形成されている。このガイド壁１３は、後述するコイルバネ６０の坐屈を防止する役割を果たす。また収納部１１には、ガイド壁１３を挟んでそれぞれ金属薄板で形成された共通接点２０と切換接点３０が設けられている。
なお、本実施形態においては、筐体１０を略方形状としているが、形状は特にこれに限られるものではなく、電子機器内の使用箇所の違い等によって自由に変更可能である。また、ガイド壁１３の高さについても、必ずしも周囲壁１２の約半分である必要はなく、例えば周囲壁１２と同じ高さなど、その高さは特に限定されない。ガイド壁１３の形状についても、コイルバネ６０の両側部であれば形状は特に限定されない。
【００１８】
共通接点２０は図２に示すように、細長い平板状の本体２１を有しており、その長手方向が筐体１０の長手方向に沿うように収納部１１に設けられている。また筐体１０の周囲壁１２は、共通接点２０と交差する部分に小開口部１２ａを有し、この小開口部１２ａには、共通端子２２が本体２１の端部から連続して形成されている。この共通端子２２には、後述するコイルバネ６０の一端が常時接触する。さらに共通接点２０は、図３に示すように、筐体１０の底面から側面にかけて露出する接続端子２３、２３を有しており、この接続端子２３、２３が基板に半田付けされる。
【００１９】
また、切換接点３０は図２、図３に示すように、細長い平板状の本体３１を有しており、共通接点２０と同じく、その長手方向が筐体１０の長手方向に沿うように収納部１１に設けられている。この本体３１には、下面凸部３２ａと折り曲げ形成された板状のバネ片３２ｂが対向してクリップ状に形成された挟持接点部３２が形成されている。この挟持接点部３２には後述する可動接点４０の平板部４４が差込まれる。さらに切換接点３０においても、筐体１０の底面から側面にかけて露出する接続端子３３、３３を有しており、この接続端子３３、３３が基板に半田付けされる。なお、これら共通接点２０と切換接点３０は、インサート成形されることによって収納部１１に固定されている。
【００２０】
ここで、本実施形態においては共通接点２０を、細長い平板状の本体２１を有する形状とした。しかし、共通接点２０はこのような形状に限定する必要はなく、共通端子２２を有しており、且つこの共通端子２２から接続端子２３に連続して導通する形状であれば、どのような形状でもよい。
また、切換接点３０についても同様に、必ずしも細長い平板状の本体３１を有する形状である必要はなく、挟持接点部３２を有し、この挟持接点部３２から接続端子３３に連続して導通する形状であればどのような形状でもよい。
【００２１】
また、筐体１０の周囲壁１２は図２に示すように、小開口部１２ａの対面側にもう一つ大開口部１２ｂを有し、この大開口部１２ｂに操作部材５０が装入される。操作部材５０は外部操作部５１、可動接点取付部５２、及びバネガイド部５３からなる。外部操作部５１は周囲壁１２の大開口部１２ｂと略同幅であり、操作部材５０を収納部１１に押込む外力が加えられる部分である。また可動接点取付部５２には金属薄板で形成された可動接点４０が取付けられている。
可動接点４０は本体４１、本体４１から共通接点２０の共通端子２２と対向する位置に形成された可動端子４２、同じく本体４１から切換接点３０側の側方に形成された側方係止部４３、及び側方係止部４３から切換接点３０の挟持接点部３２に対向するようにして、筐体１０の底面と略平行に形成された平板部４４を有する。可動接点４０は、可動端子４２と側方係止部４３を、それぞれ可動接点取付部５２に形成した端子係止部５２ａ、側方係止部５２ｂに係止めすることによって、操作部材５０に固定する。
【００２２】
この可動接点４０の可動端子４２、及び共通接点２０の共通端子２２にその端部を常に接触させるようにして、コイルバネ６０が共通接点２０上に配置される。このコイルバネ６０は、操作部材５０を収納部１１に押込んだときに、操作部材５０を初期状態に復帰させる役割を担う。またその一端が共通接点２０の共通端子２２と常に接触していると共に、他端は可動接点４０の可動端子４２と常に接触していることから、共通接点２０と可動接点４０は、コイルバネ６０を介して常に導通した状態となっている。
このように、コイルバネ６０を介して共通接点２０と可動接点４０を導通させることによって、従来のプッシュスイッチ装置のように、共通接点と可動接点を導通させるための接触片が必要なくなるため、プッシュスイッチ装置の小型化が可能となる。また、接触片が二つある場合に比べて摺動抵抗が小さいので、操作部材５０の復帰不良が起きにくくなる。
【００２３】
また、筐体１０の収納部１１に設けられたガイド壁１３及び周囲壁１２によって、コイルバネ６０が横方向に坐屈するのを防止し、コイルバネ６０の復帰荷重の損失を抑えることができ、操作部材５０を確実に初期状態に復帰させることができる。またこのガイド壁１３は、コイルバネ６０が横方向に坐屈するのを防止することによって、コイルバネ６０が切換接点３０に接触して不所望な導通を防ぐことができると共に、操作部材５０の下面に設けた溝部（図示せず）と嵌合して、操作部材５０を位置決めし、摺動状態を安定させる役割も担う。
さらに、操作部材５０のバネガイド部５３が、可動接点４０の可動端子４２を挟む位置に形成されている。バネガイド部５３はコイルバネ６０が上方向に坐屈するのを防止するよう、コイルバネ６０の上方を包囲するように形成されている。これにより、コイルバネ６０の復帰荷重の損失を抑えることができ、操作部材５０を確実に初期状態に復帰させることができる。
【００２４】
さらに、上述したように、切換接点３０はクリップ状の挟持接点部３２を有すると共に、可動接点４０は平板部４４を有し、この平板部４４が挟持接点部３２に差込まれる、すなわち挟持接点部３２が平板部４４の両面を挟む両面摺動によって可動接点４０と切換接点３０を導通させるので、従来のプッシュスイッチ装置のような接触片による片面摺動の場合に比べて、接触状態が安定する。また、可動接点４０は筐体１０に接していないため、摺動時に可動接点４０が筐体１０の樹脂部分を削る心配もなく、削りカスによって接触不良が生じるようなこともない。
また、この挟持接点部３２のバネ片３２ｂには、初期状態でほとんど応力がかかっていないため、このようなプッシュスイッチ装置１をリフロー半田付け装置によって基板上に半田付けする際に、挟持接点部３２のバネ片３２ｂが高温になっても、へたることはなく、従って接触状態が安定する。
【００２５】
さらに、このような筐体１０の上面には、図２に示すように、収納部１１を覆うように形成された樹脂製のカバー部材７０が取付けられる。このカバー部材７０は、収納部１１内にホコリ等が侵入するのを防ぐと共に、コイルバネ６０が上方に坐屈するのを防止する役割を担う。ただし、このようにカバー部材を別に取付ける構成ではなく、筐体１０に一体的に形成する構成としてもよい。この場合は、周囲壁１２の大開口部１２ｂを有する側面を全面開口状とし、そこからコイルバネ６０、操作部材５０を装入することになる。また、操作部材５０を支持する支持部材が別途必要となる。
【００２６】
次に、このようなプッシュスイッチ装置１の動作について説明する。初期状態（図３）においては、コイルバネ６０は一端を共通接点２０の共通端子２２に、他端を可動接点４０の可動端子４２に常時接触させて両者を導通させつつ、若干収縮した状態で共通接点２０上に配置されており、その復元力によって操作部材５０を筐体１０の大開口部１２ｂを有する周囲壁１２側に押しつけている。この初期状態においては、切換接点３０の挟持接点部３２と、操作部材５０の可動接点取付部５２に取付けられた可動接点４０の平板部４４は離隔された状態にあり、従って共通接点２０と切換接点３０は導通しておらず、スイッチはオフの状態にある。また、切換接点３０の狭持部３２の下面凸部３２ａとバネ片３２ｂは、互いに当接した状態にある。
【００２７】
操作部材５０の外部操作部５１に外力がかかり、操作部材５０が筐体１０の収納部１１に押込まれると、コイルバネ６０はこの外力に比例して収縮する。そのまま操作部材５０が押込まれると、操作部材５０の可動接点取付部５２に取付けられた可動接点４０の平板部４４が、切換接点３０の挟持接点部３２に接触する（図４）。これによって切換接点３０と可動接点４０が導通し、さらに共通接点２０と可動接点４０がコイルバネ６０を介して常時導通していることから、共通接点２０から切換接点３０までが導通し、スイッチがオンの状態になる。
【００２８】
ここからさらに操作部材５０が押込まれると、可動接点４０の平板部４４も切換接点３０の挟持接点部３２側に押込まれ、平板部４４がバネ片３２ｂを押上げる。バネ片３２ｂはその復元力により元の状態に戻ろうとして、平板部４４を押下げる。これによって、平板部４４は下面凸部３２ａとバネ片３２ｂに挟まれるので、接触状態が安定する（図５）。
【００２９】
操作部材５０から外力が取除かれると、コイルバネ６０はその復元力によって操作部材５０を押戻し、初期状態に復帰させる。これによって切換接点３０の挟持接点部３２と、可動接点４０の平板部４４は再び離隔された状態（図３）に戻り、スイッチがオフの状態となる。
【００３０】
以上、本発明の実施形態を図面に沿って説明した。しかしながら、本発明は上記実施形態に記載された事項に限定されず、特許請求の範囲の記載に基づいてその変更、改良が可能である。以下に参考例を示す。なお、図６乃至図８において、Ａはプッシュスイッチ装置の正面図、ＢはＡのＣ−Ｃ断面図である。
例えば、上記実施形態においては、切換接点３０側にクリップ状の挟持接点部３２を設けると共に、可動接点４０に平板部４４を設ける構成とした。しかしこれに限られることなく、図６に示すように、切換接点３０側に平板部３４を、可動接点４０側にクリップ状の挟持接点部４５を設けるようにしてもよい。
また、上記実施形態においては、図３に示すように、可動接点４０の平板部４４を筐体１０の底面と略平行になるように形成した。しかしこれに限られることなく、例えば図７に示すように、平板部４４を筐体１０の底面と略直交するように形成してもよい。
または、図８に示すように、両者を組合わせ、可動接点４０側にクリップ状の挟持接点部４５を、切換接点３０側に平板部３４を筐体１０の底面と略直交するように形成してもよい。
【００３１】
【発明の効果】
以上本発明によれば、コイルバネの一端を共通接点に常時接触させると共に、他端を操作部材に保持された可動接点に常時接触させ、コイルバネを介して共通接点と可動接点を常時導通させてなることから、共通接点と可動接点を導通させるための接触片を設ける必要がなくなり、プッシュスイッチ装置を小型化することができる。また、接触片が二つある場合に比べて摺動抵抗が小さく、操作部材の復帰不良が起きにくくなる。
【００３２】
また本発明によれば、可動接点は平板部を有すると共に、切換接点はクリップ状に形成されて対向する一対の挟持接点部を有し、可動接点を保持する操作部材を筐体の収納部に押込むことによって、平板部が対向する一対の挟持接点部に差込まれて相互に接触すること、あるいは切換接点は平板部を有すると共に、可動接点はクリップ状に形成されて対向する一対の挟持接点部を有し、可動接点を保持する操作部材を筐体の収納部に押込むことによって、対向する一対の挟持接点部が平板部の両面を挟んで相互に接触することから、平板部がクリップ状の挟持接点部に挟まれる両面摺動となり、可動接点と切換接点の接触状態が安定する。
【００３３】
また本発明によれば、筐体の収納部に設けた共通接点と切換接点の間にコイルバネの動きを抑制するガイド壁を設けたことから、コイルバネをガイド可能となり、コイルバネが坐屈を防ぐことができると共に、コイルバネが切換接点に接触するのを防ぐことができる。これにより、確実に操作部材を初期状態に復帰させることができると共に、不所望な導通が発生するのを防ぐことができる。
【００３４】
また本発明によれば、上記操作部材に上記コイルバネの動きを抑制するバネガイド部を設けたことから、コイルバネをガイド可能となり、コイルバネが坐屈するのを防ぐことができる。これにより、確実に操作部材を初期状態に復帰させることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の斜視図である。
【図２】本発明の実施形態におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の分解図である。
【図３】本発明の実施形態におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の初期状態の図である。
【図４】平板部と挟持接点部が接触するまで操作部材を押込んだ状態のプッシュスイッチ装置の側方断面図である。
【図５】操作部材を最奥まで押込んだ状態のプッシュスイッチ装置の側方断面図である。
【図６】参考例におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の図である。
【図７】参考例におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の図である。
【図８】参考例におけるプッシュスイッチ装置の図である。
【符号の説明】
１プッシュスイッチ装置
１０筐体
１１収納部
１２周囲壁
１３ガイド壁
２０共通接点
２２共通端子
３０切換接点
３２挟持接点部
３４平板部
４０可動接点
４２可動端子
４４平板部
４５挟持接点部
５０操作部材
５１外部操作部
５３バネガイド部
６０コイルバネ
７０カバー部材[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a small push switch device used for various electronic devices such as detection of opening / closing of a lid of a CD player.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a push switch device used in various electronic devices such as detection of opening / closing of a lid of a CD player, there is a device described in Patent Document 1, for example. In such a push switch device, an operation member in which a movable contact having two contact pieces is provided in a resin casing in which a common contact and a switching contact are insert-molded, and an operation member that is pushed in are initially set. The coil spring to return to the state is housed.
In such a push switch device, in the initial state, one contact piece of the movable contact is always in contact with the common contact, but the other contact piece is separated from the switching contact, and the switch is in an OFF state. When an external force is applied to the operation member and the operation member is pushed into the housing, the other contact piece of the movable contact comes into contact with the switching contact, and thereby the common contact and the switching contact are conducted through the movable contact. The switch turns on. When the external force is removed from the operation member, the operation member returns to the initial state by the restoring force of the coil spring, the movable contact is separated from the switching contact, and the switch is turned off. Note that the contact piece of the movable contact is bent at the time of manufacture, and the tip thereof contacts the common contact or the switching contact.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-35296
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, with the recent miniaturization of electronic devices, there is a need for miniaturization of push switch devices. However, in the push switch device having the above-described structure, two contact pieces are required, so that the space is required in the housing, and it is difficult to reduce the size. Further, when there are two contact pieces in this way, there is a problem that the sliding resistance is large and the operation member is liable to cause a return failure. Further, since the tip of the contact piece is a single-sided sliding that contacts the common contact or the switching contact, contact failure is likely to occur, and the tip of the contact piece also contacts the resin part of the housing during sliding to scrape the resin part. Therefore, there is a possibility that contact failure may also occur due to this shaving residue.
[0005]
Also, such push switch devices are usually soldered by a reflow soldering device using cream solder. Here, since the contact piece is pressed against the common contact or the switching contact so that the contact state with the common contact or the switching contact is maintained, the contact piece is high in the initial state incorporated in the housing. Stress is applied. However, if the contact piece is in a high temperature state during reflow soldering, the contact piece may sag and the bending state may change, resulting in contact failure.
Further, in the conventional push switch device, the coil spring may buckle and lose the return load. Usually, such a coil spring is made of metal, and when the coil spring is buckled, the coil spring becomes another contact. May cause undesired conduction.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a push switch device that is small in size and can suppress the occurrence of contact failure at each contact.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a housing having a storage portion, a common contact and a switching contact provided in the storage portion, an operation member that holds a movable contact that can be contacted and separated from the switching contact, In a push switch device provided with a coil spring that enables the operating member to return to an initial state,
One end of the coil spring is always in contact with the common contact, the other end is always in contact with the movable contact held by the operating member, and the common contact and the movable contact are always conducted through the coil spring, and the movable contact is provided. Has a flat plate portion, and the switching contact has a flat plate-like body fixed to the inner surface of the storage portion by insert molding, and has a pair of sandwiching contact portions formed in a clip shape and facing each other, and the movable contact By pushing the operation member that holds the plate into the housing portion of the housing, the flat plate portion is inserted into the pair of opposing sandwiching contact portions and contacts each other,
The pair of sandwiching contact portions are formed in a clip shape from a lower surface convex portion fixed to the inner surface of the storage portion by insert molding and formed on the main body, and a spring piece formed to face the lower surface convex portion. It is configured as a feature.
[0008]
According to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a contact piece for conducting the common contact and the movable contact, and the push switch device can be miniaturized.
[0009]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that a guide wall that suppresses the movement of the coil spring is provided between a common contact and a switching contact provided in the housing portion of the housing .
[0010]
According to the present invention, the coil spring can be guided, the coil spring can be prevented from buckling, and the coil spring can be prevented from contacting the switching contact.
[0011]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the operation member is provided with a spring guide portion for suppressing the movement of the coil spring .
[0012]
According to the present invention, the coil spring can be guided, and the coil spring can be prevented from buckling.
[0013]
In the present invention, the pair of sandwiching contact portions may be formed by bending the switching contact made of a metal plate on the side opposite to the side into which the flat plate portion of the movable contact is inserted, thereby forming the spring piece. It is configured as a clip .
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively, of a push switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an initial state diagram of the push switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flat plate portion and a clamping contact portion. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the push switch device in a state in which the operating member is pushed in until it comes into contact, and FIG. In FIG. 3, A is a front view of the push switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention, B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of A, and is a cross-sectional view at the same position in FIGS.
[0017]
A push switch device 1 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a substantially rectangular housing 10 having an upper opening shape and a storage portion 11 inside as shown in FIG. A pair of guide walls 13 that are approximately half the height of the peripheral wall 12 of the housing 10 are formed in the storage portion 11 of the housing 10 so as to face each other along the longitudinal direction of the housing 10. The guide wall 13 plays a role of preventing buckling of a coil spring 60 described later. The storage portion 11 is provided with a common contact 20 and a switching contact 30 each formed of a thin metal plate with the guide wall 13 interposed therebetween.
In the present embodiment, the housing 10 has a substantially rectangular shape, but the shape is not particularly limited to this, and can be freely changed depending on the difference in use location in the electronic device. Further, the height of the guide wall 13 is not necessarily about half of the peripheral wall 12, and the height thereof is not particularly limited, for example, the same height as the peripheral wall 12. The shape of the guide wall 13 is not particularly limited as long as it is on both sides of the coil spring 60.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the common contact 20 has an elongated flat plate-like main body 21, and is provided in the storage portion 11 so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the housing 10. Further, the peripheral wall 12 of the housing 10 has a small opening 12a at a portion intersecting the common contact 20, and a common terminal 22 is continuously formed from the end of the main body 21 in the small opening 12a. Yes. One end of a coil spring 60 described later is always in contact with the common terminal 22. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the common contact 20 has connection terminals 23 and 23 exposed from the bottom surface to the side surface of the housing 10, and the connection terminals 23 and 23 are soldered to the substrate.
[0019]
2 and 3, the switching contact 30 has an elongated flat plate-like main body 31, and, like the common contact 20, the storage portion has a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal direction of the housing 10. 11 is provided. The main body 31 is formed with a pinching contact portion 32 formed in a clip shape so that a lower surface convex portion 32a and a plate-like spring piece 32b formed by bending are opposed to each other. A flat plate portion 44 of the movable contact 40 described later is inserted into the sandwiching contact portion 32. Further, the switching contact 30 also has connection terminals 33 and 33 that are exposed from the bottom surface to the side surface of the housing 10, and the connection terminals 33 and 33 are soldered to the substrate. The common contact 20 and the switching contact 30 are fixed to the storage portion 11 by insert molding.
[0020]
Here, in this embodiment, the common contact 20 has a shape having an elongated flat plate-like main body 21. However, the common contact 20 does not have to be limited to such a shape, and has any shape as long as it has a common terminal 22 and is continuous from the common terminal 22 to the connection terminal 23. But you can.
Similarly, the switching contact 30 does not necessarily have a shape having an elongated flat plate-like main body 31, and has a sandwiching contact portion 32, and a shape that is continuous from the sandwiching contact portion 32 to the connection terminal 33. Any shape is acceptable .
[0021]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral wall 12 of the housing 10 has another large opening 12b on the opposite side of the small opening 12a, and the operation member 50 is inserted into the large opening 12b. . The operation member 50 includes an external operation part 51, a movable contact mounting part 52, and a spring guide part 53. The external operation unit 51 is substantially the same width as the large opening 12 b of the peripheral wall 12, and is a part to which an external force that pushes the operation member 50 into the storage unit 11 is applied. A movable contact 40 made of a thin metal plate is attached to the movable contact mounting portion 52.
The movable contact 40 includes a main body 41, a movable terminal 42 formed at a position facing the common terminal 22 of the common contact 20 from the main body 41, and a side locking portion 43 formed on the side of the switching contact 30 from the main body 41. And a flat plate portion 44 formed substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the housing 10 so as to face the sandwiching contact portion 32 of the switching contact 30 from the side locking portion 43. The movable contact 40 is fixed to the operation member 50 by locking the movable terminal 42 and the side locking portion 43 to the terminal locking portion 52a and the side locking portion 52b formed on the movable contact mounting portion 52, respectively. To do.
[0022]
The coil spring 60 is disposed on the common contact 20 so that the end portions thereof are always in contact with the movable terminal 42 of the movable contact 40 and the common terminal 22 of the common contact 20. The coil spring 60 plays a role of returning the operation member 50 to the initial state when the operation member 50 is pushed into the storage portion 11. Since one end thereof is always in contact with the common terminal 22 of the common contact 20 and the other end is always in contact with the movable terminal 42 of the movable contact 40, the common contact 20 and the movable contact 40 connect the coil spring 60. It is in a state of being always conductive through.
In this way, by connecting the common contact 20 and the movable contact 40 via the coil spring 60, a contact piece for connecting the common contact and the movable contact is not required as in the conventional push switch device. The size of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the sliding resistance is smaller than when there are two contact pieces, the return failure of the operation member 50 is less likely to occur.
[0023]
In addition, the guide wall 13 and the peripheral wall 12 provided in the housing portion 11 of the housing 10 can prevent the coil spring 60 from buckling in the lateral direction, and can suppress loss of the return load of the coil spring 60. 50 can be reliably returned to the initial state. The guide wall 13 prevents the coil spring 60 from buckling in the lateral direction, thereby preventing the coil spring 60 from contacting the switching contact 30 and preventing undesired conduction, and is provided on the lower surface of the operation member 50. The operation member 50 is positioned by fitting with a groove portion (not shown), and the sliding state is also stabilized.
Further, the spring guide portion 53 of the operation member 50 is formed at a position sandwiching the movable terminal 42 of the movable contact 40. The spring guide portion 53 is formed so as to surround the upper portion of the coil spring 60 so as to prevent the coil spring 60 from buckling upward. Thereby, the loss of the return load of the coil spring 60 can be suppressed, and the operation member 50 can be reliably returned to the initial state.
[0024]
Furthermore, as described above, the switching contact 30 has the clip-shaped sandwiching contact portion 32 and the movable contact 40 has the flat plate portion 44, and the flat plate portion 44 is inserted into the sandwiching contact portion 32, that is, the sandwiching contact. Since the part 32 conducts the movable contact 40 and the switching contact 30 by sliding on both sides of the flat plate part 44, the contact state is more stable than in the case of single-sided sliding with a contact piece such as a conventional push switch device. To do. Further, since the movable contact 40 is not in contact with the casing 10, there is no concern that the movable contact 40 scrapes the resin portion of the casing 10 during sliding, and no contact failure is caused by the scrap.
Further, since the spring piece 32b of the sandwiching contact portion 32 is hardly stressed in the initial state, when the push switch device 1 is soldered on the substrate by the reflow soldering device, the sandwiching contact portion 32 Even if the spring pieces 32b of the 32 become high temperature, they do not sag, so that the contact state is stabilized.
[0025]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a resin cover member 70 formed so as to cover the storage portion 11 is attached to the upper surface of the housing 10. The cover member 70 plays a role of preventing dust and the like from entering the storage portion 11 and preventing the coil spring 60 from buckling upward. However, instead of a configuration in which the cover member is separately attached as described above, a configuration in which the cover member is integrally formed with the housing 10 may be employed. In this case, the side surface having the large opening 12b of the peripheral wall 12 is formed as an entire opening, and the coil spring 60 and the operation member 50 are inserted therefrom. In addition, a support member that supports the operation member 50 is required separately.
[0026]
Next, the operation of such a push switch device 1 will be described. In the initial state (FIG. 3), the coil spring 60 is common in a state where the coil spring 60 is slightly contracted while one end is always in contact with the common terminal 22 of the common contact 20 and the other end is in contact with the movable terminal 42 of the movable contact 40 to conduct both. The operation member 50 is arranged on the contact 20 and presses the operating member 50 against the peripheral wall 12 side having the large opening 12b of the housing 10 by the restoring force. In this initial state, the sandwiching contact portion 32 of the switching contact 30 and the flat plate portion 44 of the movable contact 40 attached to the movable contact attachment portion 52 of the operation member 50 are separated from each other. Contact 30 is not conducting and the switch is off. Moreover, the lower surface convex part 32a and the spring piece 32b of the holding part 32 of the switching contact 30 are in contact with each other.
[0027]
When an external force is applied to the external operation portion 51 of the operation member 50 and the operation member 50 is pushed into the storage portion 11 of the housing 10, the coil spring 60 contracts in proportion to the external force. When the operation member 50 is pushed in as it is, the flat plate portion 44 of the movable contact 40 attached to the movable contact attachment portion 52 of the operation member 50 comes into contact with the sandwiching contact portion 32 of the switching contact 30 (FIG. 4). As a result, the switching contact 30 and the movable contact 40 are conducted, and the common contact 20 and the movable contact 40 are always conducted via the coil spring 60. Therefore, the common contact 20 to the switching contact 30 are conducted, and the switch is turned on. It becomes the state of.
[0028]
When the operating member 50 is further pushed in from here, the flat plate portion 44 of the movable contact 40 is also pushed into the holding contact portion 32 side of the switching contact 30, and the flat plate portion 44 pushes up the spring piece 32b. The spring piece 32b pushes down the flat plate portion 44 to return to the original state by the restoring force. As a result, the flat plate portion 44 is sandwiched between the lower surface convex portion 32a and the spring piece 32b, so that the contact state is stabilized (FIG. 5).
[0029]
When the external force is removed from the operation member 50, the coil spring 60 pushes back the operation member 50 by its restoring force and returns it to the initial state. As a result, the holding contact portion 32 of the switching contact 30 and the flat plate portion 44 of the movable contact 40 are returned to the separated state (FIG. 3), and the switch is turned off.
[0030]
The embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the matters described in the above embodiments, and can be changed or improved based on the description of the scope of claims. Reference examples are shown below. 6 to 8, A is a front view of the push switch device, and B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of A. FIG.
For example, in the above embodiment, the clip-shaped sandwiching contact portion 32 is provided on the switching contact 30 side and the flat plate portion 44 is provided on the movable contact 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 6, a flat plate portion 34 may be provided on the switching contact 30 side, and a clip-shaped sandwiching contact portion 45 may be provided on the movable contact 40 side.
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the flat plate portion 44 of the movable contact 40 is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the housing 10. However, without being limited thereto, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the flat plate portion 44 may be formed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the bottom surface of the housing 10.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, both are combined, and a clip-shaped sandwiching contact portion 45 is formed on the movable contact 40 side, and a flat plate portion 34 is formed on the switching contact 30 side so as to be substantially orthogonal to the bottom surface of the housing 10. May be.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, one end of the coil spring is always brought into contact with the common contact, the other end is always brought into contact with the movable contact held by the operation member, and the common contact and the movable contact are always conducted through the coil spring. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a contact piece for conducting the common contact and the movable contact, and the push switch device can be miniaturized. Further, the sliding resistance is smaller than when there are two contact pieces, and the return failure of the operation member is less likely to occur.
[0032]
According to the present invention, the movable contact has a flat plate portion, and the switching contact has a pair of sandwiching contact portions formed in a clip shape and facing each other, and the operation member holding the movable contact is provided in the housing portion of the housing. By being pushed in, the flat plate portions are inserted into a pair of opposing sandwiching contact portions and come into contact with each other, or the switching contact has a flat plate portion, and the movable contact is formed in a clip shape and a pair of opposing sandwiching portions. By pressing an operating member having a contact portion and holding a movable contact into the housing portion of the housing, a pair of opposing sandwiching contact portions contact each other across both surfaces of the flat plate portion. Double-sided sliding is sandwiched between the clip-shaped clamping contact portions, and the contact state between the movable contact and the switching contact is stabilized.
[0033]
Further, according to the present invention, since the guide wall that suppresses the movement of the coil spring is provided between the common contact and the switching contact provided in the housing portion of the housing, the coil spring can be guided and the coil spring prevents buckling. In addition, the coil spring can be prevented from coming into contact with the switching contact. Accordingly, the operation member can be reliably returned to the initial state, and undesired conduction can be prevented from occurring.
[0034]
Further, according to the present invention, since the spring guide portion for suppressing the movement of the coil spring is provided on the operation member, the coil spring can be guided, and the coil spring can be prevented from buckling. Thereby, the operating member can be reliably returned to the initial state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a push switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a push switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of an initial state of the push switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the push switch device in a state in which an operation member is pushed in until a flat plate portion and a sandwiching contact portion come into contact with each other.
FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the push switch device in a state where the operation member is pushed all the way down.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a push switch device according to a reference example .
FIG. 7 is a diagram of a push switch device according to a reference example .
FIG. 8 is a diagram of a push switch device according to a reference example .
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Push switch apparatus 10 Housing | casing 11 Storage part 12 Perimeter wall 13 Guide wall 20 Common contact 22 Common terminal 30 Switching contact 32 Holding contact part 34 Flat plate part 40 Movable contact 42 Movable terminal 44 Flat plate part 45 Holding contact part 50 Operation member 51 External Operation part 53 Spring guide part 60 Coil spring 70 Cover member

Claims

収納部を有する筐体と、該収納部に設けられた共通接点と切換接点と、該切換接点と接離自在な可動接点を保持する操作部材と、該操作部材を初期状態に復帰可能にするコイルバネを備えたプッシュスイッチ装置において、
上記コイルバネの一端を上記共通接点に常時接触させると共に、他端を上記操作部材に保持された可動接点に常時接触させ、上記コイルバネを介して上記共通接点と可動接点を常時導通させ、
上記可動接点は平板部を有すると共に、上記切換接点は上記収納部の内面にインサート成形により固定された平板状の本体を有すると共にクリップ状に形成されて対向する一対の挟持接点部を有し、上記可動接点を保持する操作部材を上記筐体の収納部に押込むことによって、上記平板部が上記対向する一対の挟持接点部に差込まれて相互に接触し、
上記一対の挟持接点部は、上記収納部の内面にインサート成形により固定され上記本体に形成される下面凸部と、該下面凸部と対向するように形成されたバネ片とからクリップ状に形成されてなることを特徴とするプッシュスイッチ装置。A housing having a storage unit, a common contact and a switching contact provided in the storage unit, an operation member holding a movable contact that can be freely contacted and separated from the switching contact, and enabling the operation member to return to an initial state In a push switch device provided with a coil spring,
One end of the coil spring is always in contact with the common contact, the other end is always in contact with the movable contact held by the operation member, and the common contact and the movable contact are always conducted through the coil spring,
The movable contact has a flat plate portion, and the switching contact has a flat plate-like body fixed to the inner surface of the storage portion by insert molding and a pair of sandwiching contact portions formed in a clip shape and facing each other, By pushing the operating member that holds the movable contact into the housing portion of the housing, the flat plate portion is inserted into the pair of opposing sandwiching contact portions to contact each other,
The pair of sandwiching contact portions are formed in a clip shape from a lower surface convex portion fixed to the inner surface of the storage portion by insert molding and formed on the main body, and a spring piece formed to face the lower surface convex portion. A push switch device characterized by being made.

上記筐体の収納部に設けた共通接点と切換接点の間に上記コイルバネの動きを抑制するガイド壁を設けたことを特徴とする請求項１記載のプッシュスイッチ装置。 The push switch device according to claim 1, wherein a guide wall that suppresses the movement of the coil spring is provided between a common contact and a switching contact provided in the housing portion of the housing.

上記操作部材に上記コイルバネの動きを抑制するバネガイド部を設けたことを特徴とする請求項１または２記載のプッシュスイッチ装置。 The push switch device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation member is provided with a spring guide portion for suppressing movement of the coil spring.

上記一対の挟持接点部は、金属板から成る上記切換接点が、上記可動接点の平板部が差込まれる側と反対側で折り曲げられて上記バネ片が形成されることにより、クリップ状とされることを特徴とする請求項１乃至３のいずれか１項に記載のプッシュスイッチ装置。 The pair of sandwiching contact portions are formed in a clip shape by bending the switching contact made of a metal plate on the side opposite to the side where the flat plate portion of the movable contact is inserted to form the spring piece. The push switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.