Push button switch device

• US 7,994,447 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IDEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: IDEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sakai, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa; Felix O
• Application Number:
  US12/310,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20100224471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 200/529, 200/520, 200/345, 200/344, 200/339, 200/509, 200/510, 200/244
• US Class Current: 200/529
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/044 Light
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 Larger or different actuating area
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/05 Key offset in relation to switch site
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/026 above actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/002 Bell crank

Abstract

Upward urging force by operation force of a tact switch and restoring force of a rubber body are applied to an operation body via a pressing body. Then, pressing operation of a push button section causes the operation body to press down the rear ends of left and right sections of the pressing body. This follows that, with both contact sections in contact with a step section functioning as the support points, an operation section on the front end of the pressing body is pressed up to turn on the tact switch. In this process, when the push button section is pressed, the center of rotation of the operation body is changed depending on which portion of the push button section is pressed, causing the distance between a pressed portion of the operation body and the center of the rotation are almost equal independent of which portion is pressed. As a result, the load to operate the push button section is substantially equalized independent of which portion of the operation body is pressed. Also, the load to operate the operation body can be changed as desired by changing the position of the step section which is to be in contact with both contact sections functioning as the support point for the pressing body.

Claims

1. A push button switch device wherein a switch element switched on or off by a downward pressing operation of a push button section is disposed in a switch case as shifted toward a first end from the center of the push button section, the push button switch device comprising:

an operation body which is disposed in the switch case and is movable upward or downward as interlocked with the pressing operation of the push button section or with a releasing operation thereof, a plurality of engagement portions of which are formed on edges thereof and are engaged with edges of the switch case in order to prevent disengagement from the switch case, and a pressed portion of which is rotated downward about at least one of the engagement portions that corresponds to the pressed portion when the pressing operation is performed;

a pressing body which is disposed in the switch case at place under the operation body, which is oscillatably supported on a support point located at any position between first and second ends thereof for seesaw movement between the first and second ends thereof, and which presses the switch element by means of the first end thereof moved upward;

an urging element for urging downward the first end of the pressing body and for urging upward the second end thereof; and

a contact section which abuts against the second end of the pressing body as formed substantially centrally of a lower side of the operation body, and which moves down the second end of the pressing body against the urging force of the urging element as driven by the downward movement of the operation body interlocked with the pressing operation of the push button section.

2. A push button switch device according to claim 1, wherein the urging element is the switch element and the urging force derives from an operation force on the switch element.

3. A push button switch device according to claim 1, wherein a flexible rubber body covering the switch element is interposed between the switch element and the first end of the pressing body and wherein the urging element is the rubber body and the urging force derives from a restoring force of the rubber body.

4. A push button switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a projection is provided at the switch case or the pressing body and the position of the projection defines the support point of the pressing body.

5. A push button switch device according to claim 4, wherein the position of the projection can be shifted in a direction toward the first end of the pressing body and in a direction toward the second end thereof and can be fixed to place.

6. A push button switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the operation body has a generally rectangular configuration and the plural engagement portions are formed at the four corners of the operation body.

7. A push button switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a circuit board disposed in the switch case on a first-end side thereof and having the switch element and a light emitting device mounted thereon, and an optical guiding member for guiding light from the light emitting device to the push button section.

8. A push button switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

a backside cover mounted to a back side of the switch case in a manner to be slidable in opposite directions parallel to the back side of the switch case and to be removable from the switch case;

a first hook body for mounting/retaining switch device which is integrated with a first end of the backside cover with respect to a sliding direction thereof;

a second hook body formed at a second end of the switch case with respect to the sliding direction; and

an urging body disposed between the back side of the switch case and the backside cover and urging the backside cover relative to the switch case in one way of the sliding direction.