Switch

• US 6,943,311 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Miyako, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/865,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/339, 200511-517, 200/553, 200/561
• US Class Current: 200/517
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/018 Tumbler
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/062 Damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/16 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/60 Mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock

Abstract

A switch that dampens noise that is produced when the switch is operated. The switch includes a wiring board. A resiliently deformable rubber contact is arranged on the wiring board. The rubber contact includes a contact portion for electrically contacting the wiring board when the rubber contact is deformed. A pusher contacts and deforms the rubber contact. A button contacts the pusher when operated. The rubber contact includes an elastic portion that contacts the button before the button contacts the pusher.

Claims

1. A switch comprising:

a wiring board;

a resiliently deformable rubber contact arranged on the wiring board, the rubber contact including a contact portion electrically connected to the wiring board when the rubber contact is deformed;

a pusher for contacting and deforming the rubber contact; and

an operating body for contacting the pusher when operated, wherein the rubber contact includes an elastic portion that contacts the operating body before the operating body contacts the pusher.

2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the pusher includes a contact surface for contacting the operating body and a hole extending through the contact surface, and the elastic portion extends from the contact surface of the pusher through the hole facing towards the operating body.

3. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the elastic portion of the rubber contact includes a recess facing towards the operating body.

4. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the operating body includes a cutaway portion located at a position corresponding to the elastic portion so that the elastic portion first contacts the operating body when the operating body is operated and thereafter enters a state in which the operating body is not in contact with the elastic portion while the operating body is operated.

5. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the rubber contact is dome-shaped and includes an inner top portion and an outer top portion, the contact portion being arranged on the inner top portion of the rubber contact, and the elastic portion being arranged on the outer top portion, wherein the rubber contact includes a hollow portion defined between the contact portion and the elastic portion.

6. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the elastic portion is formed integrally with the rubber contact.

7. A switch comprising:

a wiring board;

a resiliently deformable rubber contact arranged on the wiring board, the rubber contact including a contact portion electrically connected to the wiring board when the rubber contact is deformed;

a pusher for contacting and deforming the rubber contact, the pusher including a contact surface; and

an operating body for contacting the contact surface of the pusher when operated, wherein the rubber contact includes an elastic portion extending from the contact surface toward the operating body to contact the operating body before the operating body contacts the contact surface of the pusher.

8. The switch according to claim 7, wherein the rubber contact includes a thin portion for facilitating deformation of the elastic portion when contacting the pusher.

9. The switch according to claim 7, wherein the elastic portion of the rubber contact includes a recess facing towards the operating body.

10. The switch according to claim 7, wherein the elastic portion is formed integrally with the rubber contact.