Depression activated switch

• US 5,909,804 A
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kuratani, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/917,791
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 200/516, 200/517, 200/512, 200/513, 200/521, 200/342, 200/406
• US Class Current: 200/516
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/036 Metallic disc
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/02 After travel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/064 Limitation of actuating pressure

Abstract

A depression actuated switch which is suitable for achieving a reduction thickness and which does not easily malfunction even when an end depressing operation is performed thereon includes: a driving member 4 having a depressing portion 4a and a mounting portion 4b which are connected together by an elastic portion 4c that is elastically deformable during operation; a sheet-like flexible member 2 to the lower surface of which the mounting portion 4b of the driving member 4 is attached; a cushion member 3 which is positioned so as to surround the driving member 4, to the upper surface of which the sheet-like flexible member 2 is glued and which is more liable to be elastically deformed than the sheet-like flexible member 2; a click spring 5 which is arranged below the depressing portion 4a of the driving member 4 and which generates a tactile click feel when it flips over; and a membrane switch 6 arranged below this click spring 5 and which effects conduction between contacts by the click spring 5 which has flipped over.

Claims

1. A depression actuated switch comprising:

a holder which is elastically deformable during operation;

a driving member comprising;

a mounting portion fixed to said holder and displaced by said holder during operation from a first position to a second position;

an elastic portion connected to said mounting portion and elastically deformable during operation; and

a depressing portion connected to said elastic portion and displaced by said elastic portion during operation;

a click spring arranged below said depressing portion, wherein said click spring is flipped over before a displacement of said mounting portion reaches said second position and generates a tactile click feel when flipping over; and

a switch arranged below said click spring and producing an electrical conduction between contact points by said flipped over click spring;

wherein said depressing portion and said mounting portion are partially connected together to thereby form said elastic portion.

2. A depression actuated switch according to claim 1, wherein said depressing portion is provided substantially at the center of said driving member and wherein said mounting portion is provided around said depressing portion.

3. A depression actuated switch comprising:

a holder which is elastically deformable during operation;

a driving member comprising;

a mounting portion fixed to said holder and displaced by said holder during operation from a first position to a second position;

an elastic portion connected to said mounting portion and elastically deformable during operation; and

a depressing portion connected to said elastic portion and displaced by said elastic portion during operation;

a click spring arranged below said depressing portion, wherein said click spring is flipped over before a displacement of said mounting portion reaches said second position and generates a tactile click feel when flipping over; and

a switch arranged below said click spring and producing an electrical conduction between contact points by said flipped over click spring;

wherein a section between said depressing portion and said mounting portion is formed as a thin-walled section to thereby form said elastic portion.

4. A depression actuated switch comprising:

a holder which is elastically deformable during operation;

a driving member comprising;

a mounting portion fixed to said holder and displaced by said holder during operation from a first position to a second position;

an elastic portion connected to said mounting portion and elastically deformable during operation; and

a depressing portion connected to said elastic portion and displaced by said elastic portion during operation;

a click spring arranged below said depressing portion, wherein said click spring is flipped over before a displacement of said mounting portion reaches said second position and generates a tactile click feel when flipping over; and

a switch arranged below said click spring and producing an electrical conduction between contact points by said flipped over click spring;

wherein said holder comprises a sheet-like flexible member with a lower surface and a cushion member with an upper surface, wherein said lower surface is mounted to said mounting portion of said driving member and said cushion member is positioned so as to surround said driving member and said sheet-like flexible member is stacked on said upper surface of said cushion member.

5. A depression actuated switch according to claim 4, wherein said cushion member consists of a foam member that is more deformable than said sheet-like flexible member.

6. A depression actuated switch according to claim 4, wherein said switch element consists of a membrane switch.