JPH0433620Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a multiple push-button switch constructed by arranging a plurality of push-button switches in parallel.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of multiple push button switch includes a base body, for example, a plate shape, a plurality of push buttons that are displaceable in the thickness direction of the base body and that partially protrude from the surface of the base body, and a plurality of push buttons of the base body. A push button connection body made of an elastic material, which is integrated with an elastic part formed inside to apply a repulsive force to the push button, and a substrate having a fixed electrode formed on its surface to be in contact with a movable electrode provided on the push button. , and a metal frame having a plurality of through holes in the front plate portion through which the plurality of push buttons pass. Then, the caulking claw provided on the frame is caulked so as to draw the board toward the push button connector, thereby sandwiching the push button connector between the board and the frame. In addition, in order to assemble the push button connector and the frame in an appropriate positional relationship, that is, so that the push button does not come into contact with the inner wall of the through hole provided in the front plate of the frame, a fitting positioning part is provided between the base body and the frame or board. It is set up. For example, this fitting positioning section is configured by providing a protrusion and a fitting hole into which the protrusion fits between the back surface of the base and the substrate between the front surface of the base and the front plate of the frame.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, since the push button connector is made of an elastic material and is easily bent, and a fitting positioning part is provided between the base body and the frame or board, it is difficult to swage the claws of the frame. When the push button connector is sandwiched between the board and the frame, it is not easy to bring the surface of the push button connector into close contact with the back surface of the front plate portion of the frame. If the surface of the push button connector is not in close contact with the back surface of the front plate of the frame, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to position all the push buttons almost straight within the through holes 1b provided in the front plate of the frame. This problem can be practically solved by increasing the force with which the frame's caulking claws are caulked, but if the claws are caulked with strong force, the base body will be compressed, and in some cases, a repulsive force may be applied to the push button. A problem arises in that the elastic portion that provides the pressure is deformed, which adversely affects the operability of the push button.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multiple push button switch that allows each push button to be positioned straight with respect to the front panel of the frame without increasing the force of caulking the frame's caulking claws. It's about doing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 showing an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention includes a base body 3c, a base body 3c which is displaceable in the thickness direction of the base body 3c, and a part of which is disposed on the base body 3c. A push button coupling body 3 made of an elastic material is formed by integrating a plurality of push buttons 3a protruding from the surface of the push button 3c and an elastic part 3d formed inside the base body 3c to apply a repulsive force to the push buttons 3a, and fixed to the push button 3a. A substrate 4 is provided with a fixed electrode 7 that contacts the movable electrode 6 and is placed in contact with the back surface of the base 3c of the push button connector 3; a front plate portion 1a facing the surface of the push button connector 3; A caulking claw 1e is provided, and the claw 1e is caulked so as to draw the board 4 toward the push button coupling body 3 side with the plurality of push buttons 3a inserted into the plurality of through holes 1b formed in the front plate portion 1a. a frame 1 which holds the base 3c between the push button connector 3 and the base 4;
The object of the present invention is a multiple push button switch which is provided with fitting positioning parts 3b and 1c provided between the base body 3c and the frame 1 or the board 4 for positioning the base body 3c. In the present invention, a plurality of elastic convex portions 3e are integrally provided on the surface of the base body 3c of the push button coupling body 3, and are arranged at intervals so as to surround the push button 3a.

[Operation of the device] When the caulking claw 1e of the frame 1 is caulked, first, a plurality of elastic convex portions 3e arranged at intervals so as to surround the push button 3a touch the back surface of the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1. After contact, the elastic convex portion 3e is compressed to some extent. If the plurality of elastic convex portions 3e surrounding the push button 3a are in close contact with the back surface of the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1, at least the area of the base body 3c surrounded by these elastic convex portions 3e is covered with the front plate portion of the frame 1. It becomes almost parallel to the back surface of 1a. Therefore, even if you do not apply too much force,
Each push button 3a can be positioned so as to extend straight from the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1.

[Example] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show a front view and a side view, respectively, of a multiple push button switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the frame 1 is formed by press molding a metal steel plate made of aluminum or the like. It is. The front plate portion 1a of the frame 1 is provided with four projecting pieces 2 for attaching parts along the lower edge thereof. These protruding pieces 2 are composed of a protruding base 2a continuous to the surface of the front plate portion 1a and an elastic locking portion 2b provided on the protruding base 2a. The multiple push button switch is fixed to a mounting board (not shown) by inserting the elastic locking portion 2b into a hole provided in the mounting board. Tilt prevention pieces 1d are provided on both sides of the front plate portion 1a to prevent the frame 1 from tilting when the multiple push button switch is attached to the mounting board. Moreover, on the front plate part 1a,
Four through holes 1b through which the push button 3a of the push button coupling body 3 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, which will be explained in detail later, are passed are formed in a line horizontally, and each through hole 1b
Three fitting holes 1c into which three protrusions 3b provided on the surface of the push button connecting body 3 are fitted are formed between them. A board 4 is arranged on the back side of the frame 1 so as to come into contact with the bottom surface of the push button connector 3, and the board 4 is provided with a plurality of terminals 5. The relationship between the fixed electrodes formed on the substrate 4 and the terminals 5 and the movable electrodes provided on each push button 3a and in contact with the fixed electrodes on the substrate 4 are as follows:
This will be explained in detail later.

A plurality of caulking claws 1e are protruded from a part of the outer circumference of the frame 1. A push button connector 3 is housed inside the frame 1, and a board 4 is attached to the bottom of the push button connector 3.
The claws 1e, 1e, . As a result of this caulking, the base plate 4 is moved toward the push button connector 3, thereby sandwiching the base body 3c of the push button connector 3 between the frame 1 and the base plate 4.

3 to 6 are respectively a front view, a side view, and a side view of the push button connector 3 housed inside the frame 1.
A top view and a partial bottom view are shown, and FIG. 7 shows a schematic partial cross section taken along the line A--A in FIG. 5. The push button connecting body 3 is made of an elastic material having insulation and elasticity.
For example, it is integrally formed of a rubber material, and has four push buttons 3a and 3 on the front side of the plate-shaped base 3c.
Two protrusions 3b and a plurality of elastic protrusions 3e are provided.

Each push button 3a has a solid, substantially cylindrical outer shape, and as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG.
A part of the base side of each push button 3 is located on the surface side of the base body 3c.
The push button 3a is disposed in an upper hole 3c1 formed concentrically with the push button 3a, and the base of the push button 3a is continuous with one end on the small diameter side of a tapered tubular part 3d, which serves as an elastic part that applies a repulsive force to the push button 3a. . Tapered tubular part 3d
is provided concentrically with the upper hole 3c1, and the large diameter end of the tapered tubular portion 3d is continuous with the base body 3c. Therefore, when the push button 3a is displaced toward the bottom side of the base body 3c, the tapered tubular portion 3d is deformed toward the surface side of the base body 3c to form an annular convex portion, and the push button 3a is displaced toward the bottom surface side of the base body 3c. Gives a repulsive force toward the side. Four lower holes 3c2 are formed on the bottom side of the base body 3c so as to be continuous with the tapered holes 3d1 in each tapered tubular portion 3d, and these tapered holes 3d1 and lower holes 3c
2 is also formed concentrically with the push button 3a.

Four hemispherical elastic protrusions 3e are provided on the surface of the base body 3c around the upper hole 3c1 so as to surround the push button 3a. These elastic convex portions 3e
are located at the four corners of the rectangle. These elastic convex portions 3e are formed by the claws 1e of the frame 1.
It has such a protruding dimension that when the front surface of the push button connector 3 is brought into contact with the back surface of the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1 by crimping, the push button connector 3 is compressed and becomes substantially collapsed. The elastic convex portion 3e is
As shown in the figure, when the base body 3c is arranged around the upper hole 3c1 on the surface of the base body 3c at approximately equal intervals, that is, at approximately equal intervals, the caulking claws 1e of the frame 1 are applied with a force at least to the extent that the elastic convex portion 3e is compressed. When caulked, at least these elastic convex portions 3e of the base body 3c
Only the area surrounded by is substantially parallel to the back surface of the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1. Therefore, each push button 3a can be positioned almost straight within the through hole 1b of the frame 1 without having to caulk the claw 1e with too strong force.

It is preferable that the elastic projections 3e are arranged approximately evenly around the upper hole 3c1 on the surface of the base 3c, and are not limited to the arrangement at each vertex of a rectangle as in the embodiment. . For example, the elastic convex portion 3e may be arranged at the apex of a triangle or polygon,
Of course, they may be arranged along a circle.

Further, the shape of the elastic convex portion 3e is not limited to a hemispherical shape, but may be a triangular shape or other shapes.

Also, as especially clearly shown in Figure 6,
On the bottom side of the base body 3c, there are four grooves 3c extending from the periphery of each lower hole 3c2 toward the outer periphery of the base body 3c.
3 is formed at a predetermined depth. As shown in FIG. 8, a terminal 5 having a predetermined thickness is attached on the substrate 4. As shown in FIG. These four grooves 3c3
Two adjacent grooves are used to accommodate the terminals 5 and to bring the bottom surface of the push button connector 3 into close contact with the substrate 4. The other groove in which the terminal 5 is not accommodated is a space formed when the push button coupling body 3 and the substrate 4 are in contact with each other, that is, a space defined by the tapered hole 3d1 and the lower hole 3c2.
It is used as an air vent groove for discharging air from the space when it is compressed by pressing down a. In this embodiment, four grooves are connected to the push button connecting body 3.
They are provided symmetrically on both sides of the lower hole 3c2 with the center line extending in the length direction as the center. With this configuration, the push button connector 3 can be inserted into the frame 1 without worrying about left and right.

As shown in FIG. 7, a cylindrical movable electrode 6 made of a conductive rubber material is fixed to the lower end of each push button 3a by adhesive or other appropriate method. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, fixed electrodes 7 are formed on the surface of the substrate 4 at positions that contact each movable electrode 6 and close the circuit when each push button 3a is displaced toward the substrate 4. ing. Note that the movable electrode 6 and the fixed electrode 7 may have any formation and structure. Further, the connection structure between the fixed electrode 7 and the terminal 5 may be of any type.

The protrusions 3b provided on the surface of the base body 3c engage the respective push buttons 3 when fitted into the fitting holes 1c of the frame 1.
a does not come into contact with the inner surface of the through hole 1b of the frame 1 at all, or even if it does, it is provided at a position where it only makes slight contact. In this embodiment, one protrusion 3b and one fitting hole 1c form a pair.
Two mating positions are configured.

Each protrusion 3b has a substantially oval cross section, and is formed so that its upper width d1 is smaller than its lower width d2, as shown in FIG. A taper is formed on the outer periphery, the width becoming narrower as it goes further. Upper width d1
is the fitting hole 1 of the frame 1 into which the protrusion 3b is inserted.
The lower width d2 is set smaller than the width of c.
It is set to be equal to the width of the fitting hole 1c or to be somewhat wider than the width of the fitting hole 1c. By determining the dimensions of each part in this way, each projection 3b can be easily inserted into each fitting hole 1c, and each projection 3b can be easily inserted into each fitting hole 1c.
Since the base of b can be press-fitted into the fitting hole 1c, the push-button connecting body 3 can be securely fixed to the frame 1 at an appropriate position.

In particular, if the projections 3b are provided between each push button 3a as in this embodiment, the push button connecting body 3 can be securely fixed to the frame 1, and each push button 3a can be firmly fixed to the frame 1.
Since the partial deformation that occurs in the base body 3c of the push button coupling body 3 when a is displaced can be almost eliminated, even if the base body 3c is common, each push button 3a can be made independent regardless of the displacement of other push buttons 3a. It can be operated by

In the above embodiment, a fitting positioning portion for positioning the push button coupling body 3 at a predetermined position with respect to the frame 1 and the substrate 4 is provided on the protrusion 3b provided on the surface of the base body 3c and the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1. Although the positioning portion is configured by the provided fitting hole 1c, it is sufficient that the positioning portion can substantially prevent the push button coupling body 3 from moving left and right and up and down. At least two of them should be provided with an interval between them.

As for the structure of the fitting positioning portion, the projection and the fitting hole may be provided on any of the base body 3c of the push button coupling body 3, the substrate 4, or the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, a protrusion 1b' is provided on the front plate portion 1a of the frame 1, and a fitting hole 3b' is provided on the surface of the base 3c of the push button connector 3 to constitute a fitting positioning section. Good too. In addition, as shown in FIG.
b, and a fitting hole 4a may be provided in the substrate 4 to constitute a fitting positioning portion. In these cases as well, the push button connector 3 can be reliably fixed by determining the shape of each protrusion and the fitting hole so that each protrusion is firmly fitted into each fitting hole. Therefore, the shapes of the projection and the fitting hole are arbitrary and are not limited to the shapes of the above embodiments.

Further, in the above embodiment, the push buttons 3a are arranged in one row, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a multiple push button switch in which the push buttons 3a are arranged in two or three rows or in a staggered pattern.

[Effects of the invention] According to the invention, a plurality of elastic convex portions arranged at intervals so as to surround the push button are integrally provided on the surface of the base of the push button coupling body. By bringing the elastic convex portions into close contact with the back surface of the front plate portion of the frame, at least an area of the base body surrounded by these elastic convex portions can be brought into a state approximately parallel to the back surface of the front plate portion of the frame. I can do it,
Each push button can be positioned so as to extend straight from the front plate portion of the frame without having to caulk with too much force.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a front view of an example of the push button connection body used in the invention, and Fig. 4 is a Third
5 is a top view of the push button connector in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a partial bottom view of the push button connector in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the push button connector in FIG. 5. A-line sectional view,
FIG. 8 is a partial schematic diagram of the substrate, FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of the protrusion, and FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views showing different configurations of the fitting positioning portion. 1...Frame, 1a...Front plate part, 1b...
Through hole, 1c...Clinching claw, 2...Protruding piece for mounting, 3...Push button connection body, 3a...Push button, 3b...
...Protrusion, 3c...Base body, 3d...Tapered tubular part (elastic part), 3e...Elastic convex part, 4...Substrate, 5...
...Terminal, 6...Movable electrode, 7...Fixed electrode.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A base body, a plurality of push buttons that are freely displaceable in the thickness direction of the base body and that partially protrude from the surface of the base body, and that are formed inside the base body to provide repulsive force to the push buttons. a push button connection body made of an elastic material and integrated with an elastic part, and a fixed electrode that contacts a movable electrode fixed to the push button, the push button connection body being arranged in contact with the back surface of the base body. a front plate portion facing the surface of the push button coupling body and a caulking claw, and the plurality of push buttons are inserted into the plurality of through holes formed in the front plate portion, respectively. a frame whose claws are caulked so as to draw the substrate toward the push-button coupling body, and which sandwich the base body of the push-button coupling body between the base plate and the base plate; A multiple push button switch comprising a fitting positioning part provided between the base plate and the base plate, wherein the base body of the push button coupling body has spaced apart parts on the surface of the base body so as to surround the push buttons. A multiple push button switch characterized in that a plurality of elastic convex portions are integrally arranged. The multiple push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic convex portions are arranged at approximately equal intervals.