Rotary push switch device

• US 20040154910A1
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Yukiharu
• Granted Patent: US 6,867,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/412
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/065 using separate operating parts, e.g. a push button surrounded by a rotating knob
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/42 using cam or eccentric

Abstract

A rotary push switch device includes a cylindrical rotary push knob, which is subjected to push and rotary operations, a rotary drive plate, which is rotated by the rotary push knob, a push knob, which is disposed inwardly of the rotary push knob and pushed, and a push rubber contact element which is pressed by pushing the push knob. When the push knob is subjected to the push operation, the rotary push knob is also pushed in association with the push knob, and when the rotary push knob is subjected to the rotary operation, the push knob is prevented from being rotated in association with the rotary push knob.

Claims

1. A rotary push switch device, characterized by comprising a cylindrical rotary push knob that is subjected to push and rotary operations, a rotary type electric part unit rotated by the rotary push knob, a push knob that is subjected to a push operation;

and a push switching unit pressed by pushing the push knob, wherein when the rotary push knob is subjected to the push operation, the push knob is pushed in association with the rotary push knob, and when the rotary push knob is subjected to the rotary operation, the push knob is prevented from being rotated in association with the rotary push knob.

2. A rotary push switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the push knob is disposed inwardly of the rotary push knob.

3. A rotary push switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary type electric part unit comprises a rotary cam that is coupled with the rotary push knob and operated together with it, the rotary push knob comprises a projection, the push knob is clamped between the projection and the rotary cam, when the rotary push knob or the push knob is subjected to the push operation, the rotary push knob and the push knob are pushed at the same time, and when the rotary push knob is subjected to the rotary operation, the rotary push knob is free to move with respect to the push knob.

4. A rotary push switch device according to claim 3, characterized in that the projection of the rotary push knob is formed in a ring shape.

5. A rotary push switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the push switching unit comprises a holder that holds a substrate on which a stationary contact element is disposed, and the push knob is fixed to the holder through a hook.

6. A rotary push switch device according to claim 5, characterized in that the substrate comprises a light source that illuminates the push knob.