JPH0592929U - Light guide fixed structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] No special process or tools are required to fix the light guide, and the assembly time can be shortened. Moreover, the light guide is free from rattling and the key top and sliding body (on the panel surface). (EN) Provided is a structure for fixing a light guide for an operating lamp, which can be held and housed between an upper decorative panel and a lower case). [Structure] A hole portion 125 is formed in a wall plate 121a of a sliding body 12, and a groove 12 connecting an opening portion 124 and the hole portion 125 is formed.
By forming 6, a part of the top plate 123 is used as a cantilever spring 127. A protrusion 1 is provided at the end of the cantilever spring 127.
28 is provided so that the protrusion 128 contacts the stopper 113 when the light guide 11 is inserted into the opening 124. When a key top (not shown) is fitted to the sliding body 12, the light guide body is pushed downward, and the cantilever spring 127 is deformed. On the contrary, the cantilever spring 127 presses and fixes the light guide 11 toward the back surface of the key top.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a structure for fixing a light guide used in an operation light of a switch of an electronic device or the like, and in particular, the light guide is a switch between a key top and a sliding body below the switch, and a panel surface is an upper cosmetic. Regarding the fixing structure of the structure that is located between the panel and the lower case.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Generally, in a switch of an electronic device or the like, in order to display an operating state thereof, a key top or a panel surface is provided with a lighting display portion that lights up when the switch is operated. Usually, this operating lamp is a lighting display from a light source such as an LED through a light guide.

Conventionally, when a light guide is fixedly held by a key top and a sliding body, a cutout window 32 is formed in a key top 31 as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. At the same time, the protrusion 33 is provided on the back surface, the hole 36 is provided in the flange portion 35 of the light guide 34, the illumination portion 37 of the light guide 34 is inserted into the cutout window 32, and the protrusion 33 is inserted into the hole 36. Then, the light guide 34 is fixed to the key top 31 by heat crimping the protrusion 33. Then, when the light guide 34 is inserted into the opening 39 formed in the sliding body 38 and the key top 31 is pushed down so as to cover the sliding body 38 from above, the engagement provided on the side surface of the sliding body 38. The projection 40a and the engagement receiver 40b provided on the inner surface of the key top are engaged with each other to fix the key top 31 to the sliding body 38.

As another conventional method, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c), the light guide 34 is inserted into the opening 39 of the sliding body 38 to guide the light. A stopper 41 (or a collar portion) formed on the light body 34 is placed on the edge of the top plate forming the opening 39, and the key top 31 is fitted to the sliding body 38 so that the illumination portion 37 is exposed from the cutout window 32. I am trying to do it.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the case of assembling by the method shown in FIG. 3 described above, the key top 31 and the light guide body 34 are fixed by thermal caulking, so a special tool is required for the fixing work, and further, There is a problem that the assembly time becomes long.

In the case of assembling by the method shown in FIG. 4, the light guide 34 is not fixed to either the key top 31 or the sliding body 38, but the stopper 41. Is merely sandwiched between the top plate of the sliding body 38 and the back surface of the key top. Moreover, in order to ensure the fitting of the key top 31 and the sliding body 38, the thickness t of the stopper 41 formed on the light guide 34 is adjusted from the rear surface of the key top 31 to the top plate of the sliding body 38. It is necessary to set the gap smaller than the gap G to the upper surface. Therefore, there is a problem that the light guide body 34 is not securely fixed and rattling.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and does not require a special process or tool for fixing the light guide body, and can shorten the assembly time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for a light guide body that can securely fix the light guide body by substantially eliminating the step between the light guide body and the key top or the case surface.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 According to the present invention, a light guide body for guiding light from a light source, a slide body including a top plate having an opening for inserting the light guide body, and a side wall supporting the top plate, A window is formed on the upper surface to expose the illuminated end surface of the light guide body, and a key top that is integrally engaged with the upper portion of the sliding body is provided. The key top is integrally engaged with the sliding body. In the fixing structure of the light guide for an operation lamp in which the light guide is fixed and held by the top plate and the key top, a hole is provided at a predetermined position on either the top plate or the side wall. To give a spring property to a part of the top plate, and to provide a projection on the top surface of the top plate provided with the spring property, and the projection presses and fixes the light guide body by the spring property of the top plate. Thus, the fixing structure for the light guide for actuating light is obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a fixing structure for a light guide for an operating lamp, characterized in that a cut connecting the hole and the opening is provided in the top plate.

Further, at a predetermined position of the light guide body, when the light guide body is pushed down to be inserted into the opening, a convex portion having a size that passes through the notch against the spring property of the top plate. Is provided to prevent the light guide body from falling off the sliding body, thereby providing a fixing structure for a light guide body for an operating light.

[0011]

[Action]

 According to the above configuration, first, the light guide for actuating light is inserted into the opening formed in the sliding body, and the light guiding body is placed on the top surface of the sliding body. In this state, cover the light guide and cover the key top. At this time, the light guide is placed on the projection formed on the opening edge, and the key top is lifted from the top surface of the top plate. When the key top is pressed down from above, the light guide is forced down against the springiness of the top plate. In this state, the key top engages with the sliding body. Then, the light guide body is pressed against the key top by the reaction force of the top plate and rattling is prevented. Therefore, even if the thickness of the stopper formed on the light guide is set to be smaller than the gap between the key top and the sliding body, the projections will not move the light guiding body due to the elasticity of the top plate of the sliding body. When lifted, the light guide body comes into pressure contact with the key top. As a result, the light guide body is housed between the key top and the sliding body without rattling.

If a drop-preventing projection is provided at a predetermined position below the opening passage area of the light guide body, the drop-preventing projection that spreads and opens the opening portion when the light guide body is inserted is provided. Passes through while opening the opening against the springiness of the top plate of the slide body, but after passing, the opening narrows due to the restoring force of the springiness, and the fall-prevention projection opens unless force is applied. Does not fall out of the mouth.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a light guide 11 and a sliding body 12 used in an embodiment of the present invention. The light guide 11 includes a rectangular light guide body 111, an illuminating portion 112 having an oval cross section, a stopper 113 formed on an upper end of one surface of the light guide body 111, and a stopper 113. A drop prevention protrusion 114 is provided at a substantially central portion of one surface of the light guide body 111 thus formed.

The sliding body 12 includes side wall portions 121 that surround the four sides, a partition plate 122 that defines a portion that houses the light guide 11, and a top plate 123 that is formed on an upper end of the portion that houses the light guide 11. Is equipped with. The top plate 123 is formed with an opening 124 that vertically penetrates the top plate 123 for housing the light guide 11. In addition, an oblong hole 125 is formed in the front wall plate 121a of the side wall 121 in order to impart springiness to the top plate 123. In this embodiment, in order to improve the spring property of the top plate, a groove 126 that connects the hole 125 and the opening 124 is formed in the top plate 123, and a part of the top plate 123 is used as a cantilever spring 127. There is. The width of the groove 126 is smaller than the diameter of the protrusion 114 formed on the light guide 11, and the cantilever spring 127 has a width that allows the protrusion 114 to pass when bent downward. Further, a protrusion 128 is formed along the groove on the upper surface of the end portion of the cantilever spring 127. Further, the side wall plate 121b is provided with an engagement protrusion 129 for fitting the key top. FIG. 2 shows a plan view, a front view, and a sectional view taken along the line AA when the light guide 11 and the sliding body 12 are in the state of FIG.

When the light guide 11 is pushed down toward the sliding body 12 from the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light guide body 111 is inserted into the opening 124, and the projection 114 hits the projection 127. When the light guide 11 is further pushed down, the cantilever spring 127 bends downward, the groove 126 is expanded and the projection 114 passes through the groove 126. Then, the stopper 113 hits the protrusion 128, and the light guide 11 is placed on the sliding body in a state of floating from the top plate 123.

Note that the cantilever spring 127 returns to its original position (state) due to its spring property after the drop prevention protrusion 114 has passed. As a result, the width dimension of the groove 126 is returned to the original size, so that even if the sliding body 12 is turned upside down, the drop preventing projection 13 passes through the groove 27 and the light guide 11 falls from the sliding body 12. There is nothing to do.

When the same keytop (shown in FIG. 5) as in the conventional case is fitted to the sliding body 12 to which the light guide 11 is attached as described above, the back surface of the key top becomes the light guide 11. At this time, the light guide 11 is pushed down to deform the cantilever spring 127, and the light guide 11 contacts the top plate 123. Since the cantilever spring 127 presses the light guide 11 toward the keytop by its spring property, the light guide 11 is fixed to the key top and the sliding body 12. Here, the thickness of the stopper 113 is smaller than the distance between the back surface of the key top and the top plate 123 of the sliding body 12, and the sum of this thickness and the height of the protrusion corresponds to the back surface of the key top. It is necessary to make it larger than the distance between the sliding body 12 and the top plate 123. FIG. 3 shows a state where the light guide 11 is fixed by the key top and the sliding body 12. (A) is a plan view showing the key top 31, (b) is a front view, (c) is a sectional view taken along the line AA, and (d) is a sectional view of a B part.

In the above embodiment, the hole 125 is provided in a part of the side wall 121 to give the top plate 123 a spring property, but the hole is provided adjacent to the opening 124 on the top plate 123. Even in this case, the top plate 123 can be similarly provided with elasticity.

Further, even if the groove 125 is not provided but only the hole 125 is provided, a part of the top plate 123 can be a double-supported spring (in this case, the protrusion 114 cannot be provided). In order to improve the property, it is preferable to provide the groove 126.

[0020]

[Effect of the device]

 According to the present invention, the light guide member is provided between the key top and the slide member by providing a spring property to a part of the top plate of the slide member and providing a protrusion on the spring member-provided top plate. Thus, the reaction force of the top plate of the sliding body holds the key top in a state of being pressed against the key top, so that the rattling of the light guide can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, since the light guide body is not fixed by thermal caulking, no special tool or process is required, and as a result, the manufacturing cost is low.

Further, in the case where the light guide body is formed with the drop preventing projections and the corresponding grooves are formed in the sliding body, even if the sliding body is turned upside down during the assembling work. As a result, the light guide does not come off the sliding body, and the assembling work can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light guide and a sliding body used in a fixing structure of a light guide for an operating lamp according to the present invention.

2A and 2B are plan views of the light guide body and the sliding body of FIG. 1, and FIG.
It is a front view and (c) AA line sectional view.

3 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 3 (b) is a front view, FIG. 3 (c) is a sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. ) An enlarged cross-sectional view of part B.

FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a front view, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing a conventional method of fixing a light guide body by thermal caulking.

5 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 5 (b) is a front view, and FIG. 5 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing a conventional method of fixing a light guide body by press fitting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Light Guide 12 Sliding Body 111 Light Guide Main Body 112 Illumination Unit 113 Stopper 114 Fall Prevention Protrusion 121 Side Wall 122 Partition Plate 123 Top Plate 124 Opening 125 Hole 126 126 Groove 127 Cantilever Spring 128 Protrusion 129 Engagement Protrusion

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A slide body including a light guide body for guiding light from a light source, a top plate having an opening for inserting the light guide body, and a side wall supporting the top plate, and a top surface. A key top integrally formed with an upper portion of the sliding body, the window being formed to expose the illuminated end face of the light guide body; and when the key top is integrally engaged with the sliding body, In a structure for fixing a light guide for an operation lamp in which the light guide is fixed and held by a top plate and the key top, a hole is provided at a predetermined position on either one of the top plate and the side wall. In addition to imparting a spring property to a part of the top plate, a protrusion is provided on the top surface of the top plate provided with the spring property, and the protrusion presses and fixes the light guide member by the spring property of the top plate. Characteristic light guide fixing structure. 2. The light guide fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the top plate is provided with a notch that connects the hole and the opening. 3. A convex portion having a size that passes through the notch at a predetermined position of the light guide body, when the light guide body is pushed down to be inserted into the opening portion, against the spring property of the top plate. 3. The fixing structure for the light guide according to claim 2, wherein the light guide is prevented from coming off from the sliding body.