JPH1139979A - Switch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch structure of which a switch knob and a switch body can easily be removed. SOLUTION: When a flat tip screwdriver is inserted into an engagement hole 15 of a switch knob 3 projected out of an installation hole 4, an engagement pawl 12 is pushed and bent to come out of the engagement hole 15. Further, the switch knob 3 can be taken out of a knob holder 8 without causing damages on the designed surface of the switch knob 3 and the switch body 1 by pulling up the switch knob 3 by the inserted flat tip screwdriver. When the flat tip screwdriver is inserted into a take out hole 4b in the installation hole 4 out of which the switch knob 3 is taken from the side of the knob holder 8, an engaging projected piece 27 is pushed and bent to come out of an engaging step part 4c of the switch body 1 and consequently, the switch body 1 can be taken out of a fitting recessed part 22 without causing damages on the designed surface of the switch body 1 and the center cluster 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch structure in which a switch knob or a switch body can be easily removed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When removing a switch knob mounted in a mounting hole or a switch body fitted in a fitting portion, a small gap between the switch knob and the switch knob mounting hole or the fitting portion and the switch body is removed. He disengaged by inserting a flathead screwdriver or the like. According to this method, not only the switch knob and the switch body but also the peripheral parts may be damaged.

[0003]

However, it is necessary to remove the switch body in order to replace the parts attached to the switch, the illumination lamp, and the like, or to provide a means for fixing other parts in the fitting part of the switch body. In some cases, the fixing means cannot be removed without removing the switch body. The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch structure that can be easily removed without damaging a design surface of a switch knob, a switch body, and peripheral components.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch structure, comprising: a tip end provided on one of side walls of a knob holder protruding from a switch knob mounting hole formed in a switch body; Forming an engaging piece having an engaging claw formed on a portion thereof, forming an engaging protrusion on the other side wall, and engaging an engaging hole with the engaging claw and the engaging protrusion; A switch structure in which a knob is attached, wherein the engaging claw is engaged and a removal tool is inserted into an engaging hole located at a position protruding from the outer surface of the switch body, and the engaging claw is pressed. The engaging piece is disengaged from the engaging hole by flexing, and the switch knob can be lifted up by the removing tool so as to be detachable from the knob holder.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch structure according to the first aspect, wherein an engaging projection formed on the fitting portion is communicated with a switch knob mounting hole of the switch body. The switch body is fitted into the mating hole, the switch knob is removed, and the switch knob is removed. Then, the removal tool is inserted and pressed to engage with the engagement hole. The switch body can be removed from the fitting portion by removing the engagement projection.

[0006]

Actions and effects of the present invention

According to the switch structure of the first aspect,
The engaging claw is pressed directly by the removal tool inserted into the engaging hole, and the engaging piece is bent to release the engaging claw from the engaging hole. Further, the switch knob is removed from the knob holder by lifting the switch knob with the inserted removal tool. Therefore, the switch knob or the switch body can be easily removed without damaging the design surface.

[0008] According to the switch structure of the second aspect,
By inserting the removal tool from the switch knob mounting hole after removing the switch knob and directly pressing the engagement protrusion, the engagement protrusion is removed from the engagement hole, and the switch body is removed from the fitting portion. Remove. Therefore, the switch body and peripheral parts can be easily removed without damaging the design surface.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part showing an assembled state of a switch body 1 and a switch knob 3. In the switch body 1, a hazard warning switch and a function switch (not shown) of an audiovisual device are incorporated. A mounting hole 4 for a switch knob 3 of a hazard warning switch is formed on a front surface 2 of the switch body 1. A plurality of switch buttons 6 of the function switch are fitted on a slope 5 which retreats obliquely upward continuously from the front surface 2. Engagement ridges 7 are formed on both side surfaces of the switch body 1.

At the center of the mounting hole 4, a rectangular cylindrical knob holder 8 is formed. The tip of the knob holder 8 projects from the mounting hole 4. On one side wall 9 facing the longitudinal direction of the knob holder 8, a cut groove 10 is provided in parallel from the tip, thereby forming an engaging piece 11. An engagement claw 12 is formed at a distal end of the outer surface of the engagement piece 11. On the outer surface of the other side wall 13 facing the side wall 9, an engagement projection 14 is formed at a position lower than the tip. In the hole wall 4a on the side facing the side wall 9 of the mounting hole 4, removal holes 4b, 4b are formed at both left and right positions not facing the knob holder 8.
Following the removal holes 4b, 4b, the engagement step portions 4c,
4c is formed.

The switch knob 3 is formed in a cap shape.
An engagement hole 15 that engages with the engagement claw 12 of the knob holder 8 and an engagement hole 16 that engages with the engagement protrusion 14 are formed. When the switch knob 3 is attached until it comes into contact with the distal end of the knob holder 8, the engagement claws 12 and the engagement protrusions 14 are elastically engaged with the engagement holes 15 and 16, respectively, and do not come off.

A fitting recess 22 for fitting the switch body 1 is formed in a center cluster 21 which is fitted and fixed to an instrument panel (not shown). The three other shapes except for the upper portion where the fitting recess 22 is opened are the front surface 2 and the slope 5 of the switch body 1 to be fitted.
It is formed so that it may become flush. An abutting step 23 is formed along the inner edge of the fitting recess 22. The abutting step 23 is located on the front 2 of the switch body 1.
The flanges 2a and 5a of the slope 5 abut. A fitting wall portion 24 and fitting side wall portions 25, 25 rising on both sides of the fitting wall portion 24 are formed continuously with the abutting step portion 23.

In the fitting wall portion 24, at positions corresponding to the holes 4b for removing the switch body 1 to be fitted,
Parallel cut grooves 26 are provided, respectively, whereby engagement projections 27, 27 are formed. The fitting side wall 25 is formed with an engagement groove 28 for engaging the engagement ridge 7 formed on the side surface of the switch body 1. When the switch body 1 is pushed into the fitting recess 22 from the front side of the center cluster 21, the engaging projection 7 engages with the engaging groove 28, and the engaging projections 27, 27 engage with the engaging step portions 4c, 4c. And is fitted and fitted, and does not come off.

In the above-described switch structure, it becomes necessary to replace parts such as switches incorporated in the switch body 1, so that the switch body 1 can be removed from the fitting recess 22 of the center cluster 21, or can be inserted into the fitting recess 22. In some cases, the switch body 1 must be removed in order to remove the instrument panel fixing means provided.

To remove the switch body 1, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, a flathead screwdriver 31 is inserted into the engagement hole 15 of the switch knob 3 projecting from the mounting hole 4. Since the engaging claw 12 formed at the distal end of the knob holder 8 protruding from the mounting hole 4 is engaged with the engaging hole 15, the engaging claw 12 is pressed by the flathead screwdriver 31 and bent. It comes off from the engagement hole 15 (FIG. 3B). Further, the switch knob 3 can be removed from the knob holder 8 by pulling up the switch knob 3 with the inserted flathead screwdriver 31. In this case, the design surfaces of the switch knob 3 and the switch body 1 are not damaged.

Then, a flathead screwdriver 31 is inserted into the mounting hole 4 from which the switch knob 3 has been removed, and from the side of the knob holder 8 into the removing hole 4b. In correspondence with the hole 4b,
Since the engagement projection 27 is formed, the engagement projection 27 is pressed and bent by the flathead screwdriver 31 and disengages from the engagement step 4c of the switch body 1 (FIG. 4). As a result, the switch body 1 can be removed from the fitting concave portion 22, and the design surfaces of the switch body 1 and the center cluster 21 are not damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part showing an assembled state.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a method of removing a switch knob 3;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a method of removing the switch body 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Switch body 3 ... Switch knob 4 ... Mounting hole 4b ... Removal hole 4c ... Engaging step 8 ... Knob holder 9, 13 ... Side wall 11 ... Engagement piece 12 ... Engagement claw 14 ... Engagement projection 15,16 ... Engagement hole 22 ... Fit recess 27 ... Engagement projection 31 ... Flat screwdriver

Claims (2)

[Claims] An engaging piece having an engaging claw formed at a tip thereof is formed on one of side walls of a knob holder protruding from a switch knob mounting hole formed on a switch body, and an engaging protrusion is formed on the other side wall. A switch structure formed by engaging an engagement hole with the engagement claw and the engagement protrusion to attach a switch knob to the knob holder; The removal tool is inserted into the engagement hole located at a position protruding from the outer surface of the body, the engagement claw is pressed to bend the engagement piece to remove the engagement piece from the engagement hole, and the switch knob is pulled up by the removal tool A switch structure characterized in that the switch structure can be removed from the knob holder. 2. An engaging projection formed on a fitting portion is engaged with an engaging hole communicating with a switch knob mounting hole of the switch body, and the switch body is fitted. By inserting and pressing a removal tool from the switch knob mounting hole after being removed, an engagement protrusion engaging with the engagement hole is removed, and the switch body can be removed from the fitting portion. The switch structure according to claim 1, wherein: