JPS6096053A - Key top structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the structure by forming incorporatedly a frame, a key top, a couple of right and left support arms having elasticity and connecting the frame and key top and forming a connecting part between the support arm and the key top on a circumferential face opposite side so as to support stable the key top and eliminate the need for restoring spring. CONSTITUTION:Key tops 10a-10l are not connected directly with the frame 15 and supported freely vertically with a couple of right and left support arms 25, 26 having an elasticity respectively, support arms 25, 26 are prolonged from the inner side face of a rear face plate 13c of a frame 13. Its free end is connected to the circumference at the opposite side to a rear face plate 13c of the key tops 10b, 10c and 10d. Thus, the key tops 10b, 10c and 10d are independently each other, descended with the elastic deformation of a couple of support arms 25, 26 at depressing and elevated and restored by the elastic restoration of the support arms 25, 26 when released externally.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a structure of a key top suitable for use in a push-button dial of a telephone.

[Prior art]

Traditionally, telephones have employed rotary dials and push-button dials. Of these, push-button dials operate a switch by pressing the key top (push button) to connect a telephone line, and do not require a mechanical mechanism compared to rotary dials, so they have fewer parts. 1 Improved assembly workability and made it thinner and lighter, and in addition to dial buttons from θ to 9, memory,
Since it is equipped with function buttons such as redial, it has the advantage of being highly functional and convenient. There are two types of key tops: one in which each key top is formed separately, and one in which multiple key tops are formed integrally and adjacent key tops are connected to each other.In the former case, the number of parts increases. This increases manufacturing and assembly work, and there is a risk of incorrect assembly, so it is necessary to pay close attention to this. On the other hand, although the latter has the advantage of eliminating the above disadvantages,
Because adjacent key tops are connected by a connecting plate,
When one key top is pressed, other adjacent key tops also move, resulting in a lack of independence.

In addition, each type uses a spring to return each key top, so it is necessary to assemble the spring.
Furthermore, due to variations in the springs, it was difficult to achieve a uniform operating feel.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and includes integrally forming a frame, a key top, and a pair of left and right support arms each having elasticity and connecting the frame and the key top. The connecting part between the arm and the key top is opposite to the f-A side of the key top.
Due to the extremely simple structure of placing the joint part at a slightly higher position than the top surface of the frame, there is no need for a return spring, and even if multiple key tops are integrally molded, they can be independent. To provide a structure of key tops that can uniformize the stability, operational feel, and height of each key top.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the key top according to the present invention is applied to a push-button dial of a home telephone.
The figure is a plan view of the key top, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the key top. In FIG. 1, a home telephone 1 has a telephone housing 2. Transmitter 3. It has a push-button dial 4 and the like and is installed on a tabletop or wall surface, and this in-home telephone 1 is connected to indoor wiring via a telephone cord 5.

The telephone housing 2 is composed of a shallow box-shaped lower body 2A with an open upper surface, and an upper body 2B that is integrally connected to the lower body 2A. In the front half, there are three horizontally arranged buttons corresponding to the push button dial 4,
A total of 12 round holes 11, 4 of which are 9, are formed in the vertical direction.

The push button dial 4 is formed of a plastic material such as ABS into a cylindrical shape, and numbers 0 to 9 are displayed on the top surface by two-color molding, thereby forming ten key tops 10a to 10j that constitute a push button dial button. and 10t on the two key tops 10 which are also formed in a cylindrical shape and constitute the function buttons of the memory dial by displaying * and φ symbols on the top surface by two-color molding. The key tops 10a to IOt are inserted into the round holes 11 of the upper housing 2B from the inside so as to be freely slidable in the axial direction, and their upper ends protrude outside. Further, the push button dial 4 is formed simultaneously with the molding of the key tops 1'0'a to 10t, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a frame 1 that surrounds these key tops 10a to 10t.
3, and three partition plates 14A, 14B, and 14C that partition the inside of this frame body 13 into four long spaces in the left-right direction, and these form a frame 15. The frame 13 has a total of three elastic retaining pieces 16 (see FIG. 4), one formed on the left side plate and two on the right side plate 13b, and a pair of left and right screws formed on the rear plate 13c. Mounting part 17
The three elastic retaining pieces 16 connect the lower part to the body 2A.
The screw mounting portion 17 is inserted into a retaining hole (not shown) of a printed circuit board 18 housed in the interior so as to be parallel to the inclined upper surface of the upper housing 2B and engaged with the circuit board 18. It is configured to be fixed to the inner bottom surfaces of the two lower electric bodies by a set screw 19.

Each of the partition plates 14A, 14B, and 14C is located between each row of the key tops 10a to 10t, and a pair of left and right pins 23 are integrally provided on the lower end surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 23 are inserted into small holes 24 formed in the printed circuit board 16, respectively.

Each of the key tops 10a to 101 is not directly connected to the frame 15, but is supported by a pair of left and right elastic support arms 25, 26 so as to be vertically movable. The pair of support arms 25 and 26 are curved y-symmetrically and surround the outer periphery of the upper end of each of the key tops 10a to 10t, and their bases are connected to the frame 15 side. In this case, three key tops 10b and 10c display numbers 1 to 3 and are arranged in a horizontal line.

a pair of left and right support arms 25 each supporting 10d;
26 extends from the inner surface of the rear plate 1.3c of the frame 13, and its free end is connected to the key tops 10b, 10.
c, 10d is coupled to the peripheral surface on the opposite side to the rear plate 13c side. Therefore, each key top 10b, 10
c and 10d are independent of each other, and are configured to descend due to the elastic deformation of the pair of support arms 25.26 during a suppressing operation, and to return upward due to the elastic return of the support arms 25.26 when released from external force. has been done. On the other hand, the key tops 10e, 10f, and 10g in the second row, the key tops 10h, 10i, and 10J in the third row, and the key tops in the fourth row.

10, a pair of support arms 25 and 26 that respectively support 10a and 10A are connected to each of the partition plates 14A and 14B,
It extends from the inner surface of 14C. The pair of support arms 25 and 26 intersect with the upper surface of the frame 15 at an appropriate angle θ1, for example, about 4°, so that their free ends, that is, the side where they are connected to each of the key tops 10a to 101, are connected to the frame 15. From the top of 15" float on one side 4
There are two.

As shown in FIG. 6, a four part 30 is formed on the lower end surface of each of the key tops 10a to 10t, and a protrusion 31 is protruded from approximately the center of this recessed part 30. The printed circuit board 18
The protrusion 3 of each key top 10a to 10t is provided on the second side of the key top 10a to 10t.
A push button switch 32 is provided corresponding to 1.

In such a configuration, the push button dial 4 is assembled on the printed circuit board 18, and this printed circuit board 18 is attached to the lower part 1.
When the push button dial 4 is housed and fixed in the body 2A and fixed to the inner bottom surface of the two upper housings with a set screw 19, and then the upper chamber body 2B is connected to the lower housing 2A, the push button dial 4 is are housed in the telephone electric body 2, and the upper end of each key top 10a to 10t is connected to the upper housing 2B.
It protrudes to the outside from the round hole 11 of. In this stored state, the inner side of the upper heavy body 2B and the upper surface of the frame 15 are in close contact with each other. Therefore, each key top 10a to 10
All the support arms 25 and 26 that respectively support the upper housing 2B are pressed by the inner surface of the upper housing 2B, and are elastically deformed to become flush with the upper surface of the frame 15, as shown by the chain lines in FIG. All key tops 10a-10
The protruding dimensions of t from the round hole 11 are made uniform. Further, since the support arms 25 and 26 are pressed against the inner surface of the upper housing 2B, each of the key tops 10a to 101
The key tops 10a to 101 have good stability, and each key top 10a to 101 has a return habit due to its own elasticity, so there is no need for a spring as in the conventional case, and each key top 10a
It is possible to uniformize the operational feel of ~10t.

In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment explained the case where it was applied to a push-button type dial of a telephone, the present invention is not limited to this, and each t-t
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to operation buttons of alk electrical equipment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the structure of the key top according to the present invention is
A frame, a key top spaced apart from the frame, and a pair of left and right support arms that have elasticity and support the key top in a vertically movable manner are integrally formed, and one end of the pair of support arms is connected to the frame. The other end is connected to the peripheral surface of the key top on the opposite side from the frame side, and this key top side connection part is located slightly above the top surface of the frame, so that the key top can be stably supported. Moreover, the structure is simple and does not require a return spring. In addition, even if multiple key tops are formed by integral molding, each key top can be made independent, providing excellent operability. When brought into contact with the inner surface of the key top, the pair of support arms are elastically deformed and the protruding dimensions of each key top can be made uniform, making it suitable for implementation in a push-button dial of a telephone.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the key top according to the present invention is applied to a push-button dial of a home telephone;
The figure is a plan view of the key top, Figure 3 is a side view of the key top, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the elastic retaining piece, Figure 5 is a side view of the partition plate, and Figure 6 is a partially broken view of the key top. It is an enlarged sectional view. , 1...home phone, 2...phone as body, 4...
...Push button dial, 10a-10t...Key top, 13...Frame, 14A, 14B, 14C...
...Partition plate, 15...Frame, 25.26...
・Support arm. Procedural amendment (voluntary) 1. Display of the case 1982 Patent Application No. 2028692, Name of the invention Structure of the key top 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent Applicant name (name) (363) Tamura Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 5,
Target of amendment (1) Detailed description of the invention column in the specification (1) "Telephone housing" in the fourth line of page 4 of the specification is amended to read "telephone housing." (2) "Lower body" in the 9th line of the same page is corrected to "lower casing". (3) Same as above, page 5, line 20 and page 6, line 1:
The lower casing 2A is configured. " is corrected to "is fixed to the inner surface of the upper housing 2B, and the upper surface of the frame 15 is configured to be in close contact with the inner surface of the upper housing 2B." (4) Same as above, page 8, lines 3 to 7, "Fix the push button dial 4..." to "Fix the push button dial 4 to the inner surface of the upper housing 2B with the set screws 19." , the printed circuit board 18 is assembled on the lower surface of this push button-dial 4.'' (5-n) After the ``turn.'' on the 6th line of page 9 of the same page, ``Also, even if there are variations in manufacturing and assembly, each switch 32 has an upward escape of each key top 10a to 10t. This is particularly effective for switches with small strokes, since the switch 32 will not be left in a state where it cannot be pressed.In that case, the return force of the switch 32 itself will
It is desirable that the return force be larger than ~10t. ” is inserted. (6) After "possible," in line 7 of page 10 of the same document, "In addition, variations in the switches can be absorbed by the upward escape of each key top, so there is no need to press the switch. , is especially effective for switches with small strokes, and inserts ". (7) Correct figures 2 and 3 as shown in the attached sheet. that's all

Claims (1)

[Claims] A frame, a key top spaced apart from the frame, and a pair of left and right support arms connecting the key top and the frame are integrally formed, and each of the pair of support arms extends from the frame. The key top is elastic and has a free end that is connected to a peripheral surface of the key top opposite to the frame and is slightly raised above the top surface of the frame. structure.