JPH0129698Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a membrane switch, and particularly to a membrane switch configured to provide a click feeling when the switch is operated and to be equipped with a locking mechanism.

(b) Prior Art As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional membrane switch S' of this type has a movable contact 3a' formed on an upper sheet 3' and a fixed contact 5a' formed on a lower sheet 5'. The structure is such that the movable contacts 3a' and fixed contacts 5a' are brought into contact conduction by pushing down the upper layer sheet 3', and the upper layer sheet 3' and the surface Spacer sheet 2' between sheet 1'
For example, a dome-shaped reversing spring 10' is inserted into the space formed by the reversing spring 10', and the structure is such that a click feeling can be obtained when the switch is operated by the uneven movement of the reversing spring 10'. be.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention In the membrane switch S' constructed as described above, each time the reversing spring 10' is pressed, its base 10a' slides on the upper surface of the upper sheet 3'. , therefore, due to its wear, the upper layer sheet 3'
There is a risk of damage to the contact portion, that is, damage to the contact portion, and improvements in this respect have been desired. Furthermore, in the membrane switch S', it is difficult to construct a locking mechanism, and this point has also been one of the issues that is desired to be improved.

(d) Means for solving the problem In this invention, a reversing spring is inserted into the lower base recess near the contact point of the lower sheet in order to provide a click feeling when the switch is operated, and the upper flange is is placed on the upper surface of the upper layer sheet, and a pusher is provided for pressing the reversal spring at the lower tip,
By pressing the pusher, the upper sheet and the reversal spring are pushed down to prevent the contact portion from being damaged by the reversal spring, and an engaging portion is formed on one side of the shaft of the pusher, A locking mechanism is provided in which the contact portion is held in a pressed state by engaging a movable member inserted between the lower surface of the lower sheet and the base so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction. I'm letting you do it.

This invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

1A to 1C are schematic sectional views showing the contact portion of the membrane switch S according to this invention.

In the figure, 1 is a top sheet, 2 is a spacer sheet, 3 is an upper layer sheet, 4 is a spacer sheet, 5
is a lower layer sheet, 6 is a fixed member, 7 is a movable member, 8
is the base, 9A, 9B are pushers, 10A, 10B
1 is a reversing spring, and 11 is a pressing spring. The upper layer sheet 3 and the lower layer sheet 5 are made of flexible wiring sheets in which conducting wires and contacts are formed by screen printing silver and carbon on a polyester film, for example, and donut-shaped movable contacts 3 _a1 and 3 _a2 are provided on the lower surface of the upper layer sheet 3. , Fixed contacts 5 a1 , which have the same shape as the movable contacts 3 _a1 , 3 _a2 are provided on the upper surface of the lower sheet ₅ .
5 _a2 are formed at opposite sites. The central part surrounded by the movable contact 3 _a1 and the fixed contact 5 _a1 has through holes 3 _b1 and 5 _b1 , respectively, and the central part surrounded by the movable contact 3 _a2 and the fixed contact 5 _a2 has through holes 3, respectively. _b2 and 5 _b2 are formed on the upper layer sheet 3 and the lower layer sheet 5. A spacer sheet 4 is interposed between the upper sheet 3 and the lower sheet 5, and a through hole 4 _a1 is formed at a location corresponding to the contact portion consisting of the movable contact 3 _a1 and the fixed contact 5 _a1 , and the movable contact 3 _a2 A through hole 4 _a2 is opened at a location corresponding to the contact portion consisting of fixed contact 5 a2 and fixed contact 5 a2, and in this part, contacts _a1 and _{5 a1} and contacts 3 _a2 and 5 _a2 are both connected when the upper sheet 3 is not pressed. (See Figure 1A)
The spacer sheets 4 are held in a constant opposing position by the thickness of the spacer sheet 4. A plate-shaped fixed member 6 and a movable member 7 are stacked in order between the lower sheet 5 and a base 8 made of the lowest layer of insulating material, and the movable member 7 is horizontally moved between the fixed member 6 and the base 8. A pressure spring 11 is attached to one end of the spring 11 so as to be freely movable, and a pressure spring 11 is attached to one end of the spring 11 to constantly apply pressure toward the other end. The fixed member 6 and the movable member 7 are provided with through holes 6 _a1 and 6 _a2 and through holes 7 _b1 and 7 _b2 at locations corresponding to the through holes 5 _b1 and 5 _b2 of the lower sheet 5, respectively. And through holes 3 _b1 , 4 _a1 , 5 _b1 , 6 _a
A pusher 9A is fitted into a space A consisting of holes ₁ , 7 _b1, etc., and a pusher 9B is fitted into a space B consisting of through holes 3 _b2 , 4 _a2 , 5 _b2 , 6 _a2 , 7 _b2, etc. is inserted.
The pushers 9A and 9B both have their shaft portions 9A ₂ and 9B ₂
are through holes 3 b1 , 4 _a1 , 5 _b1 , 6 _a1 , _{7 b1} and through holes 3 formed in the upper sheet 3 , spacer sheet 4 , lower sheet 5 , fixed member 6 , and movable member 7 _, respectively.
_b2 , 4 _a2 , 5 _b2 , 6 _a2 , 7 _b2 and formed on the upper part of the shaft portions 9A ₂ , _{9B 2} .
B ₁ are located in the through holes 2 _a1 and 2 _b1 formed by the spacer sheet 2 interposed between the top sheet 1 and the upper sheet 3, that is, the flanges 9A ₁ and 9B ₁ correspond to the movable contacts 3 _a1 and 3 _a2. are respectively placed on the upper surface of the upper sheet 3, and furthermore, the shaft portion 9
The tips 9A ₃ and 9B ₃ at the lower ends of A ₂ and 9B ₂ are the tops 10 of dome-shaped inversion springs 10A and 10B that are fitted into recesses 8 _a1 and 8 _a2 formed in the base 8, respectively.
A ₁ and 10B ₁ are in contact with each other. Further, the pusher 9A is formed with a recessed engagement portion _9A4 on the side surface of the shaft portion _9A2 , and when the pusher 9A is pressed (see FIG. 1B), the movable member 7
The end portion 7 _a1 is adapted to be fitted. On the other hand, the pusher 9B has a slope-shaped pressing portion _9B4 formed on the side surface of the shaft portion _9B2 , and when the pusher 9B is pressed (see FIG. 1C), the movable member 7 is It is adapted to be pressed horizontally against the pressing spring 11 at _a2 . In this way, a membrane switch S is constructed which provides a click feeling when the switch is operated and is equipped with a locking mechanism. Note that the above-mentioned contacts 3 _a1 , 3 _a2 , 5 _a1 , and 5 _a2 are not limited to the donut shape, and various shapes can be considered. Further, the reversing springs 10A and 10B are not limited to dome-shaped springs (disc springs), but may be any springs that provide a click feeling. Furthermore, the base 8 can easily form the recesses 8 _a1 and 8 _a2 by laminating insulating materials with and without through holes. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the shapes of the pushers 9A and 9B can be formed in various ways without departing from the gist of this invention.

(e) Effect With the above-described configuration, the pusher 9A is pushed downward by the pressure of the upper operating portion of the top sheet 1, and the upper layer sheet is further pressed against the lower surface of the flange 9A ₁ of the pusher 9A. 3 is pushed down, and the movable contact 3 _a1 is brought into electrical contact with the fixed contact 5 _a1 on the lower sheet 5, as shown in FIG. 1B. Therefore, a contact signal is sent out through conducting wires (not shown) led out from the movable contact 3 _a1 and the fixed contact 5 _a1 . On the other hand, the tip portion 9A of the pusher 9A ₃
pushes down the top portion _10A1 of the reversing spring 10A, which is in contact with its lower end, and inverts the reversing spring 10A to a concave state by a snap operation. At this time, the reversing action of the reversing spring 10A is transmitted to the fingers, resulting in a click sensation. In addition, in this state, the end 7 of the movable member 7 that is being pressed against the pressing spring 11 by the side surface of the tip 9A ₃ of the pusher 9A.
Since _a1 is fitted into the engaging portion _9A4 , the pusher 9A remains in the pressed state as shown in FIG. 1B even if the finger is removed from the topsheet 1. That is, the movable contact _3a1 and the fixed contact _5a1 continue to maintain a contact state and are in a locked state.

Next, such a locked state can be released by operating the inserted side of the pusher 9B. That is, when the pusher 9B is pushed down by the pressure of the upper surface operating portion of the topsheet 1, the flange 9 of the pusher 9B
The contact portion of the upper sheet 3 that is in contact with the lower surface of _B1 is pushed down, and the movable contact 3 _a2 is brought into electrical contact with the fixed contact 5 _a2 on the lower sheet 5 as shown in FIG. 1C. Therefore, movable contact 3 _a2 and fixed contact 5
A contact signal will be sent out through a conducting wire (not shown) derived from _a2 . On the other hand, the tip 9A ₃ of the pusher 9B pushes down the top 10B ₁ of the reversing spring 10B that is in contact with the lower end of the pushing element 9B.
Flip it into a concave state with a snap motion. At this time as well, the fingers will feel a click due to the reversing action of the reversing spring 10B. Further, when the pusher 9B is lowered, it pushes the end 7a2 of the movable member ₇ , which is in contact with the pressing part _9B4 formed on the side surface of the shaft part _9B2 , in the horizontal direction against the pressing spring 11. So,
Therefore, the end portion 7 _a1 of the movable member 7 that is engaged with the engaging portion _9A4 of the pusher 9A is disengaged, and the pusher 9A is moved to the convex state by the reversal action of the reversing spring 10A. It will rise to its original state as shown in Figure 1A, and the lock will be released. Naturally, when the pusher 9B is released, the reversing spring 10B returns to its original state.

(f) Effect of the device As described above, this device inserts a pusher having a flange into the contact portion, and when the pusher is pressed down, the upper flange presses the contact and sends out a contact output. At the same time, the tip of the lower part presses a reversing spring inserted below to perform the reversing operation, and the movable member is engaged with an engaging part formed on the side surface of the shaft of the pusher to lock the lock. The switch has a locking mechanism that allows you to feel the click of the reversing spring when operating the switch, eliminates the risk of damage to the wiring sheet due to the reversing spring, and allows you to continue sending contact output. This is very effective for this type of membrane switch.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1A to 1C are schematic sectional views showing the contact portion of the membrane switch according to this invention, where Figure A is a schematic sectional view showing the contact portion in a non-pressed state, and Figure B shows the contact portion in a locked state. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the contact portion in an unlocked state, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the contact portion showing a conventional example. 3... Upper layer sheet, 3 _a1 , 3 _a2 ... Movable contacts,
4... Spacer sheet, 5... Lower layer sheet, 5 _{a
1,5 a2} ...Fixed contact, 6...Fixed member, 7...
Movable member, 8... base, 8 _a1 , 8 _a2 ... recess,
9A, 9B... pusher, 9A ₁ , 9B ₁ ... flange,
9A ₄ ...Engaging part, 9B ₄ ...Pressing part, 10A, 1
0B... Reversing spring, 11... Pressing spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An upper layer sheet and a lower layer sheet each having a movable contact and a fixed contact constituting a contact portion formed on opposing parts of a flexible wiring sheet are laminated via a spacer that maintains a predetermined distance between the two contacts, and the upper layer sheet In the membrane switch, the shaft part is inserted into the vicinity of the contact parts of the upper layer sheet and the lower layer sheet, and the upper flange part is connected to the upper layer sheet. A pusher is placed on the upper surface of the sheet and has an engaging portion formed on the side surface of the shaft portion, a reversing spring is interposed below the pusher, and a reversing spring is disposed below the lower sheet. 1. A membrane switch characterized in that a movable member is provided, and the movable member is configured to be able to engage with an engaging portion of the pusher.