Panel switch movable contact body and panel switch using the movable contact body

• US 5,924,555 A
• Filed: 10/16/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Yuji, Sadamori, Akira, Sako, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US08/951,810
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1 B, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/512-517, 200/304, 200/305, 200/313, 200/314, 29/412
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7006 comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/026 Adhesive sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/026 Eccentric actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple

Abstract

In a panel switch movable contact body, and a panel switch using the movable contact body, the upwardly curved upper surface of a dome-shape movable contact 1 made of a thin elastic metal plate is bonded to a sheet 12 of insulating film whose lower surface is coated with an adhesive agent 12A, and the opening of the dome-shaped movable contact 1 is closed with a separator 13 which is bonded to the adhesive surface of the sheet 12. Hence, the panel switch movable contact body, and the panel using the latter is small in the number of components, and low in manufacturing cost, and can be assembled with high efficiency.

Claims

1. A movable contact body for a panel switch, said movable contact body comprising:

a sheet made of an insulating film, said sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being coated with an adhesive agent;

a conductive film formed on the upper surface of said sheet;

a dome-shaped movable contact, said movable contact being formed from a thin elastic metal plate and being directly bonded to the adhesive agent on the lower surface of said sheet such that an upwardly curved upper surface of said movable contact is covered by said sheet; and

a separator releasably bonded to the adhesive agent on said lower surface of said sheet and covering a lower opening of said dome-shaped movable contact.

2. A panel switch comprising a movable contact body as claimed in claim 1, wherein, after said separator is released from said adhesive agent, said adhesive agent is bonded to a wiring board, said wiring board having a central stationary contact and an outside stationary contact, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of said dome-shaped movable contact is in contact with said outside stationary contact while a central top portion of said movable contact confronts the central stationary contact.

3. A movable contact body for a panel switch, said movable contact body comprising:

a sheet made of an insulating film, said sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being coated with an adhesive agent;

a dome-shaped movable contact formed from a thin elastic metal plate, said movable contact being directly bonded to the adhesive agent on the lower surface of said sheet such that an upwardly curved upper surface of said movable contact is covered by said sheet and such that a lower peripheral edge of said movable contact is spaced from the adhesive agent on the lower surface of said sheet; and

a separator releasably bonded to the adhesive agent on said lower surface of said sheet and covering a lower opening of said dome-shaped movable contact.

4. A panel switch comprising a movable contact body as claimed in claim 3, wherein, after said separator is released from said adhesive agent, said adhesive agent is bonded to a wiring board, said wiring board having a central stationary contact and an outside stationary contact, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of said dome-shaped movable contact is in contact with said outside stationary contact while a central top portion of said movable contact confronts the central stationary contact.

5. A movable contact body for a panel switch, said movable contact body comprising:

a sheet made of an insulating film, said sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being coated with an adhesive agent;

a dome-shaped movable contact, said movable contact being formed from a thin elastic metal plate and being directly bonded to the adhesive agent on the lower surface of said sheet such that an upwardly curved upper surface of said movable contact is covered by said sheet; and

a separator releasably bonded to the adhesive agent on said lower surface of said sheet and covering a lower opening of said dome-shaped movable contact;

wherein said adhesive agent is coated on the lower surface of said sheet such that said adhesive agent is not applied to a part of said lower surface of said sheet which corresponds to the lower peripheral edge of said movable contact.

6. A panel switch comprising a movable contact body as claimed in claim 5, wherein, after said separator is released from said adhesive agent, said adhesive agent is bonded to a wiring board, said wiring board having a central stationary contact and an outside stationary contact, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of said dome-shaped movable contact is in contact with said outside stationary contact while a central top portion of said movable contact confronts the central stationary contact.

7. A movable contact body for a panel switch, said movable contact body comprising:

a sheet made of an insulating film, said sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being coated with an adhesive agent;

a dome-shaped movable contact defining a hole at a central, top portion thereof, said movable contact being formed from a thin elastic metal plate and being directly bonded to the adhesive agent on the lower surface of said sheet such that an upwardly curved upper surface of said movable contact is covered by said sheet; and

a separator releasably bonded to the adhesive agent on said lower surface of said sheet and covering a lower opening of said dome-shaped movable contact;

wherein said adhesive agent is coated on the lower surface of said sheet such that said adhesive agent is not applied to a part of said sheet which is located around said hole.

8. A panel switch comprising a movable contact body as claimed in claim 7, wherein, after said separator is released from said adhesive agent, said adhesive agent is bonded to a wiring board, said wiring board having a central stationary contact and an outside stationary contact, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of said dome-shaped movable contact is in contact with said outside stationary contact while a central top portion of said movable contact confronts the central stationary contact.

9. A movable contact body for a panel switch, said movable contact body comprising:

a sheet made of an insulating film, said sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being coated with an adhesive agent;

a dome-shaped movable contact, said movable contact being formed from a thin elastic metal plate and being directly bonded to the adhesive agent on the lower surface of said sheet such that an upwardly curved upper surface of said movable contact is covered by said sheet; and

a separator releasably bonded to the adhesive agent on said lower surface of said sheet and covering a lower opening of said dome-shaped movable contact;

wherein a depressing protrusion is formed on a part of the upper surface of said sheet which corresponds to a central top of said movable contact.

10. A panel switch comprising a movable contact body as claimed in claim 9, wherein, after said separator is released from said adhesive agent, said adhesive agent is bonded to a wiring board, said wiring board having a central stationary contact and an outside stationary contact, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of said dome-shaped movable contact is in contact with said outside stationary contact while a central top portion of said movable contact confronts the central stationary contact.