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Multidirectional operating switch and multidirectional operating apparatus using the same

  • US 5,889,242 A
  • Filed: 10/13/1997
  • Issued: 03/30/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A multidirectional operating switch, comprising:

  • a dome-shaped movable contact made of a resilient thin metal plate;

    a box-shaped case including, on a bottom surface thereof, an outer fixed contact on which an outer peripheral lower end portion of the dome-shaped movable contact is placed, and a plurality of inner fixed contacts provided inside positions corresponding to the outer peripheral lower end portion of the dome-shaped movable contact so as to be equiangular and equidistant from a center of the dome-shaped movable contact;

    a cover including a through hole at a center thereof, the cover being provided so as to cover an upper opening of the case; and

    an operating member including a shaft portion and a flange portion integrally formed at a lower end of the shaft portion, in which the shaft portion extends upwards out of the through hole of the cover, an upper surface of the flange portion is in contact with an inner surface of the cover, a periphery of the operating member is fitted to and supported by an inner wall of the case so that the operating member is not rotatable but is tiltable and movable vertically, first pressing portions are provided respectively at positions on a lower surface of the operating member corresponding to the plurality of inner fixed contacts, and the plurality of first pressing portions are in contact with the dome-shaped movable contact,wherein the switch performs a tilting operation in multiple directions so as to generate a signal by tilting the shaft portion of the operating member.

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