MEMBER FOR PUSH BUTTON SWITCH AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20090133997A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Company Limited (Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Company Limited (Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kato, Katsuhiko, Uchiyama, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,855,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/293
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/002 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/0021 with metallic appearance, e.g. polymers with dispersed particles to produce a metallic appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/07 metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/044 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

To obtain a member for a push button switch having a natural metallic impression and an upscale impression; enabling a precise arrangement of the push buttons; being capable of being made thinner; and being difficult to get stained, there is provided a member for a push button switch having a configuration in which a gap between adjacent metal push buttons is filled with a transparent organic polymer material, the transparent organic polymer material including a transparent resin sheet extending from an interior surface of the gap to a ceiling surface side of the push button, and a transparent rubber-like elastic material disposed inside the transparent resin sheet.

Claims

1. A member for a push button switch having a configuration in which a gap between adjacent metal push buttons is filled with a transparent organic polymer material, wherein the organic polymer material comprises:

a transparent resin sheet extending from an interior surface of the gap to a ceiling surface side of the push button; and

a transparent rubber-like elastic material disposed inside the transparent resin sheet.

2. A member for a push button switch according to claim 1, further comprising a printing layer or a coloring layer at least in a portion extending toward the ceiling surface side of the metal push button in the transparent resin sheet.

3. A member for a push button switch according to claim 2, wherein a surface of the metal push button has irregularities or a hole so that a number, a symbol, a pattern, or a graphic is formed.

4. A member for a push button switch according to claim 2, wherein a light emitting member is disposed between a surface opposite to the metal push button in the transparent rubber-like elastic material and a circuit board disposed therebelow.

5. A member for a push button switch according to claim 2, further comprising a configuration in which a hole penetrating the metal push button in a direction into and out of the metal push button is formed so that the transparent organic polymer material is made to extend from the hole toward the ceiling surface side of the metal push button.

6. A member for a push button switch according to claim 2, further comprising a sheet provided with a presser for pushing a switch below the transparent rubber-like elastic material.

7. A member for a push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the transparent organic polymer material projects from the surface of the metal push button.

8. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch having a configuration in which a gap between adjacent metal push buttons is filled with a transparent organic polymer material, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a transparent resin sheet to one surface of a metal plate;

forming a hole by performing etching from a surface opposite to the surface having the transparent resin sheet attached thereto in the metal plate to the transparent resin sheet; and

filling the hole with a transparent rubber-like elastic material coated with the transparent resin sheet by injecting the transparent rubber-like elastic material from an outer of the transparent resin sheet toward the hole.

10. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 8, further comprising the step of forming a printing layer or a coloring layer at least in a portion extending toward a ceiling surface side of the metal push button in the transparent resin sheet.

11. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 8, further comprising the step of making irregularities or a hole in the surface of the metal push button to form a number, a symbol, a pattern, or a graphic.

12. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 8, further comprising the step of disposing a light emitting member between the surface opposite to the metal push button in the transparent rubber-like elastic material and a circuit board disposed therebelow.

13. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 8, further comprising the step of forming a hole penetrating the metal push button in a direction into and out of the metal push button,

wherein in the step of filling the hole with the transparent rubber-like elastic material, the transparent organic polymer material is made to extend from the hole to the ceiling surface side of the metal push button.

14. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 8, further comprising the step of providing a sheet including a presser for pressing a switch below the transparent rubber-like elastic material.

15. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 8, wherein in the step of filling the hole with the transparent rubber-like elastic material, the transparent organic polymer material is made to project from the surface of the metal push button.

9. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch having a configuration in which a gap between adjacent metal push buttons is filled with a transparent organic polymer material, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a concave portion by performing etching from one side of a metal plate to a halfway position of a thickness of the metal plate;

attaching a transparent resin sheet to the metal plate so as to close the concave portion of the one side;

forming a hole connected to the concave portion formed in advance by performing etching from a surface opposite to the surface where the transparent resin sheet is attached in the metal plate; and

filling the hole with a transparent rubber-like elastic material coated with the transparent resin sheet by injecting the transparent rubber-like elastic material from an outer of the transparent resin sheet toward the hole.

16. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 9, further comprising the step of forming a printing layer or a coloring layer at least in a portion extending toward a ceiling surface side of the metal push button in the transparent resin sheet.

17. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 9, further comprising the step of making irregularities or a hole in the surface of the metal push button to form a number, a symbol, a pattern, or a graphic.

18. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 9, further comprising the step of disposing a light emitting member between the surface opposite to the metal push button in the transparent rubber-like elastic material and a circuit board disposed therebelow.

19. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 9, further comprising the step of forming a hole penetrating the metal push button in a direction into and out of the metal push button,

wherein in the step of filling the hole with the transparent rubber-like elastic material, the transparent organic polymer material is made to extend from the hole to the ceiling surface side of the metal push button.

20. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a sheet including a presser for pressing a switch below the transparent rubber-like elastic material.

21. A method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch according to claim 9, wherein in the step of filling the hole with the transparent rubber-like elastic material, the transparent organic polymer material is made to project from the surface of the metal push button.