Two-position pushbutton switch

• US 6,492,602 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Asai, Akira, Sato, Shigenori, Oba, Katsuichi, Homma, Sachiko
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/778,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1.B, 200/16.D, 200/17.B, 200/406, 200/516
• US Class Current: 200/1.00B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/44 having two or more snap-action motions in succession
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/038 to be bridged by a dome shaped contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/036 Metallic disc
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/054 Mounting of key housings on same printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/028 Key stroke
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/038 Folding of flexible printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/042 Snap coupling; Snap mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2233/036 with limited freedom

Abstract

In a two-position pushbutton switch, a cushioning member is placed on at least one of first and second click springs, and the click spring is pressed via the cushioning member, thereby making a first press stroke long. A guide member is provided to guide the motion of a driving member. The driving member is slid along the guide member in the pressing direction of a key top.

Claims

1. A two-position pushbutton switch comprising:

a first click spring to be inverted by a first working force;

a first switch section to be operated by inversion of said first click spring;

a driving member having a flat portion that opposes and presses said first click spring;

a second switch section laid on a surface of the flat portion of said driving member;

a second click spring to be inverted by a second working force, different from the first working force, so as to operate said second switch section; and

a key top for pressing said second click spring,

wherein a cushioning member is placed on at least one of said first and second click springs and said at least one of said first and said second click spring is pressed via said cushioning member, and

wherein a surface area of the flat portion of the driving member is at least as large as a surface area of the first and second click springs.

2. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning member is placed on said second click spring.

3. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning member is placed on said first click spring.

4. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

a casing for holding said key top,

wherein an operating portion of said key top is exposed from an opening portion of said casing, and said key top is elastically pressed against said casing and supported therein by said cushioning member.

5. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein the first working force for said first click spring is greater than the second working force for said second click spring.

6. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 5, wherein a diameter of said first click spring is smaller than that of said second click spring, and a thickness of said first click spring is greater than that of said second click spring.

7. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 1, wherein said first and second click springs are made of a metal leaf spring and also serve as movable contacts of said first and second switch sections.

8. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible insulating substrate having fixed contacts for said first and second switch sections,

wherein said flexible insulating substrate is bent in the shape-of the letter S and is placed opposed to said first and second click springs.

9. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

a support member for supporting said first switch section,

wherein said support member has a plurality of guide projections extending in a pressing direction of said key top, and said driving member is slid along said guide projections in the pressing direction.

10. A two-position pushbutton switch comprising:

a first click spring to be inverted by a first working force;

a first switch section to be operated by the inversion of said first click spring;

a driving member having a flat portion that opposes and presses said first click spring;

a second switch section placed on a surface of the flat portion of said driving member;

a second click spring to be inverted by a second working force, different from the first working force, so as to operate said second switch section;

a key top for pressing said second click spring; and

a guide member for guiding a motion of said driving member,

wherein said driving member is slid along said guide member in a pressing direction of said key top,

wherein a surface area of the flat portion of the driving member is at least as large as a surface area of the first and second click springs.

11. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 10, wherein said guide member includes a plurality of guide projections arranged to surround said second switch section, and a support member is further provided so as to support said first-switch section.

12. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 11, wherein said guide projections are shaped like a bendable column, and hook portion are formed at leading ends of said guide projections so as to retain said driving member.

13. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 11, wherein said guide member has a connecting portion for connecting said guide projections.

14. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 13, wherein said first switch section is placed on a flexible insulating substrate, a projection is formed at a bottom of said connecting portion of said guide member, said guide member is mounted on said support member by said projection, and said flexible insulating substrate laid on said support member is sandwiched between said support member and said connecting portion.

15. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 11, wherein said driving member has a flat portion for holding said second switch section thereon, and said flat portion has a plurality of guide portions to be guided by said guide projections.

16. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 10, wherein fixed contacts of said first and second switch sections are formed on a flexible insulating substrate, and said flexible insulating substrate is placed in a form bent in the shape of the letter S.

17. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 16, wherein said driving member has a pair of projecting latch portions, said flexible insulating substrate has a pair of holes, and said second switch section is held on said driving member by latching said latch portions in said holes.

18. A two-position pushbutton switch according to claim 10, wherein said first and second click springs are made of a metal leaf spring, and also function as movable contacts of said first and second switch sections.