Pushbutton switch device

• US 7,960,665 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEC Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: IDEC Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Sakai, Takayuki, Yuasa, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon; Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US11/794,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 200/345, 200/520, 200/341
• US Class Current: 200/345
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/24 biased to return to normal position upon removal of operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part

Abstract

Provided is a pushbutton switch device provided with a switch case in which a depressing member is arranged which, when moved downwards, depresses a switch. Arranged inside the switch case is an operating member which, when depressed, comes into contact with the depressing member to move the depressing member downwards. Provided in the peripheral edge of the operating member are a plurality of engagement portions to be engaged with the peripheral edge of the switch case. When the operating member is depressed, the depressed portion of the operating member rotates downwardly using, as a fulcrum, the engagement portion corresponding to the depressed portion of the operating member.

Claims

1. A pushbutton switch device comprising:

a switch case;

a switch arranged in the switch case and deviated from a central portion of the switch case toward an end portion side of the switch case;

a depressing member, in the form of a unbroken band, which is arranged in the switch case and has a locked portion, the locked portion being formed on one side of the depressing member and locked to the switch case, the depressing member being vertically movable using the locked portion as a fulcrum and urged upwardly, wherein the depressing member depresses the switch when moved downwards; and

an operating member which is arranged above the depressing member in the switch case so as to be vertically movable by external pressure, a central portion of the operating member being surrounded by the depressing member, the operating member having

a main portion,

a plurality of engagement portions engaged with a peripheral edge of the switch case so as not to be detached from the switch case, and

an abutment portion which, when depressed, comes into contact with an upper surface of the depressing member to cause the depressing member to move downwardly against an upward urging force, wherein,

when the operating member is depressed away from a center of the operating member, a depressed portion of the operating member rotates downwardly using, as a fulcrum, at least one of the engagement portions of the plurality of engagement portions located opposite to the depressed portion.

2. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein the depressing member is urged by a first urging member.

3. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is urged upwardly by an urging member.

4. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein

the depressing member is urged by a first urging member;

and

the operating member is urged upwardly by a second urging member.

5. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of engagement portions are outwardly directed from a bottom surface of the main portion of the operating member.

6. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein

the depressing member is formed of an elastic member;

and

an end of the depressing member is locked to the switch case to impart an urging force to an opposite end of the depressing member.

7. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 6, wherein the end of the depressing member locked to the switch case, the center of the switch, and the center of the switch case are arranged in a row.

8. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein

the depressing member is formed of an elastic member, the depressing member is locked to the switch case at one end of the depressing member to impart an urging force to the other end of the depressing member, and is urged by a first urging member;

and

the operating member is upwardly urged by a second urging member.

9. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 8, wherein the end of the depressing member locked to the switch case, the center of the switch, and the center of the switch case are arranged in a row.

10. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of engagement portions of the operating member are formed at opposing positions along a bottom surface of a peripheral edge of the main portion of the operating member.

11. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 10, wherein

a first pair of the engagement portions of the plurality of engagement portions of the operating member are formed on the same side as an end of the depressing member locked to the switch case;

and

a second pair of the engagement portions of the plurality of engagement portions of the operating member are formed on the opposite side of the locked portion of the depressing member.

12. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 1, wherein the depressing member and the operating member are formed in a substantially symmetrical configuration.

13. The pushbutton switch device according to claim 12, wherein the depressing member and the operating member are formed in a rectangular configuration.