Push button switch device and sewing machine provided therewith

• US 20100314229A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ominato, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,247,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/314
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 69/04 Manual drives
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 79/00 Incorporations or adaptations of lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: D05D 2205/08 Buttons, e.g. for pattern selection; Keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/046 Multi-colour or double shot injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/014 Sewing machine

Abstract

A push button switch device mounted on an equipment body includes a push button member disposed on a cover constituting an outer surface of the equipment body, the push button member being configured to be light-transmissible, a switching element located behind the push button member so that its operation axis substantially corresponds with a central axis of the push button member, light sources disposed around the switching element to illuminate the outer surface of the push button member, the light sources being operated by the push button member, and an incidence plane located on a rear surface of the push button member so that light from the light sources is incident thereon, the incidence plane including a concave curved surface that is located so as to substantially face the light sources and a flat or convex curved surface located outside and is continuous to the concave curved surface.

Claims

1. A push button switch device which is provided on an equipment body, comprising:

a push button member which is disposed on a cover constituting an outer surface of the equipment body so as to be depressible, the push button member being configured to be light-transmissible and having an outer surface and a rear surface;

a switching element provided behind the push button member so that an operation axis thereof substantially corresponds with a central axis of the push button member;

a plurality of light sources which is disposed around the switching element to illuminate the outer surface of the push button member, the light sources being operated by the push button member; and

an incidence plane which is provided on the rear surface of the push button member so that light from the light sources is incident thereon, the incidence plane including a concave curved surface that is located so as to substantially face the light sources and flat or convex curved surface that is located outside the concave curved surface and is continuous to the concave curved surface.

2. The push button switch device according to claim 1, wherein the incidence plane is formed into such an inclined surface that an outer part thereof is spaced farther away from the light sources.

3. The push button switch device according to claim 1, wherein the push button member includes a transparent member constituting a rear surface of the push button member including the incidence plane and a light scattering member which scatters light through the transparent member to at least an outer surface of the push button member.

4. The push button switch device according to claim 2, wherein the push button member includes a transparent member constituting a rear surface of the push button member including the incidence plane and a light scattering member which scatters light through the transparent member to at least an outer surface of the push button member.

5. The push button switch device according to claim 1, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.

6. The push button switch device according to claim 2, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.

7. The push button switch device according to claim 3, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.

8. The push button switch device according to claim 4, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.

9. A sewing machine comprising:

a sewing machine body; and

a push button switch device provided on the sewing machine body and including;

a push button member which is disposed on a cover constituting an outer surface of the equipment body so as to be depressible, the push button member being configured to be light-transmissible and having an outer surface and a rear surface;

a switching element provided behind the push button member so that an operation axis thereof substantially corresponds with a central axis of the push button member;

a plurality of light sources which is disposed around the switching element to illuminate the outer surface of the push button member, the light sources being operated by the push button member; and

an incidence plane which is provided on the rear surface of the push button member so that light from the light sources is incident thereon, the incidence plane including a concave curved surface that is located so as to substantially face the light sources and flat or convex curved surface that is located outside the concave curved surface and is continuous to the concave curved surface.

10. The sewing machine according to claim 9, wherein the incidence plane is formed into such an inclined surface that an outer part thereof is spaced farther away from the light sources.

11. The sewing machine according to claim 9, wherein the push button member includes a transparent member constituting a rear surface of the push button member including the incidence plane and a light scattering member which scatters light through the transparent member to at least an outer surface of the push button member.

12. The sewing machine according to claim 10, wherein the push button member includes a transparent member constituting a rear surface of the push button member including the incidence plane and a light scattering member which scatters light through the transparent member to at least an outer surface of the push button member.

13. The sewing machine according to claim 9, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.

14. The sewing machine according to claim 10, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.

15. The sewing machine according to claim 11, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.

16. The sewing machine according to claim 12, wherein the push button member has a recess which is formed in a central rear surface so as to be located inside the incidence plane and a light scattering surface which is provided on an inner surface of the recess so as to scatter light.