JP6311328B2 - Remote controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote controller, and in particular, when the operation button is fixed in a cantilever manner with a tip end of a hinge arm extending from the operation button as a fulcrum, The present invention relates to a technique capable of preventing unpleasant vibrations and aligning at a predetermined design position even if warpage or distortion due to synthetic resin molding occurs.

  As a push button type operation button, there is known one in which a human pushes an operation button so that the push operation force is transmitted to a switch on an internal substrate to switch the switch. As a remote control including such an operation button, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique that can provide sufficient response and comfort in a pressing operation on the operation button. That is, a plurality of decorative buttons that are inserted through and protruded from the bottom through the panel insertion window are connected in order through the connecting strips on the lower side of the panel, and the extended pieces are further extended from the decorative buttons at both ends. Each of the decorative buttons is supported in a state in which an elastic force is applied to each decorative button in a direction protruding from the insertion window by fixing the distal ends of the extending pieces on both ends to the panel. Then, the flange part projects from both sides of the makeup button around the panel at the lower side of the panel opposite to each other, and protrudes from the front end of the flange part toward the bottom surface of the panel so as to come into contact with the panel. The thing which formed the convex-shaped part which can become a fulcrum is proposed.

JP 2012-178291 A

  By the way, by extending the hinge arm from the operation button and fixing the end of the hinge arm as a fulcrum, the side of the operation button is supported in a cantilever form in the air, and the hinge arm is used for the push-down operation. When the operation button is released, the elastic restoring force vibrates when it returns to the released state, and for example, the “bean” is annoying. May cause excessive noise.

  In addition, parts such as operation buttons are usually formed by synthetic resin molding, but there is a possibility of causing the following inconvenience due to the synthetic resin molding. That is, although the molding dimensions of each part can be formed with considerably high accuracy, when an extended piece such as a relatively thin hinge arm is molded integrally with the operation button, there is a risk of causing warping and distortion after molding. If it is assembled to the remote control housing with warping or distortion, the appearance may deteriorate and the appearance may be impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is when the operation button is supported in a cantilever manner with the tip of a hinge arm extending from the operation button as a fulcrum. However, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller that can suppress vibrations when releasing the operating force. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to ensure that the operation button can be reliably assembled to a normal position with respect to the remote control even if the operation button is warped or distorted during manufacturing.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the operation button is supported in a cantilever shape by a hinge arm extending from the operation button and having a distal end fixed as a fulcrum on the housing side, thereby rearwardly The following specific items are provided for remote controls that can be pushed down. Chi words, a predetermined number of multiple said operation buttons, a state aligned across a slight gap therebetween, by a connecting piece for connecting the front end portion of the hinge arm extending from the operation buttons to each other are integrated as one component, wherein the coupling piece and the fulcrum portion which is fixed as a fulcrum to case side is formed in a portion corresponding to the distal end of the hinge arm of the operation buttons, each operation button or this an abutting portion formed on the hinge arm of the operation button side portion of the front SL in the state in the non-depressed operation of the operation buttons, and the front Symbol respective contact portions so as to restrict the displacement of the forward A pressing member that abuts, and a movable part that is elastically displaced in the front-rear direction and is assembled to the housing so as to abut against the rear surface side of each operation button. When the button is not pressed down In definitive state, the relative operation buttons was be arranged to impart an elastic restoring force of the forward (claim 1).

In the case of the present invention, when a push-down force is applied to the operation button and the push-down operation is performed backward, the hinge arm bends against the elastic restoring force and the operation button moves backward. When the push-down force is released, the operation button receives the elastic restoring force and moves forward to return, but at that time, the contact portion comes into contact with the pressing member and further moves forward. Will be regulated. Therefore, results unwag due to the elasticity of the hinge arm is limited, depress the vibration generator and the time of return from the operation, it is possible to ing to reliably avoid the risk of occurrence of noise caused by vibration. In addition, since the movable part is arranged so as to give a resilient restoring force forward to the operation button in a state where the operation button is not depressed, each operation button is moved forward from the movable part. The elastic restoring force is received, and the contact is maintained in a state where the contact portion is pressed forward against the pressing member by the elastic restoring force. As a result, even if warping or distortion of each operation button due to synthetic resin molding, such as a hinge arm, occurs, the operation buttons are surely placed in the proper positions during the non-depressing operation to perform a plurality of operations. It is possible to keep the buttons flush. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the appearance deterioration due to the warpage and distortion.

The remote controller of the present invention, as a contact portion, can be constituted by the convex portion protruding forward from the hinge arm of the operation button side portion (claim 2). By doing so, since the convex portion is formed integrally with the hinge arm, it is possible to secure even a little space that can be effectively used on the housing side as compared with the case where the convex portion is formed on the operation button. . In this case, the pressing member is constituted by a plate member attached to the front side of the housing, and each fulcrum portion of the connecting piece is fixed in a state of being sandwiched between the plate member and the housing. (Claim 3). By doing so, the role of fixing each fulcrum portion formed on the connecting piece of the portion corresponding to the tip portion of the hinge arm as a fulcrum by one plate member and the convex portion which is the abutting portion abut. Thus, it is possible to fulfill both the role of regulating forward movement.

The remote controller of the present invention, as a contact portion, constituting a second protrusion protruding from the respective operation button portion opposite to the extending direction of a and the hinge arm a peripheral portion of the operation button (Claim 4). By doing so, the convex portion of the contact portion, instead of the case of forming the respective heat Njiamu, different options are obtained from the case. The second to form a convex portion on the abutment portion and to Kakumisao work button together to form a protrusion in the heat Njiamu, by constituting the contact portion by the convex portion of the both, more reliable vibration An inhibitory action is obtained.

  As a pressing member for forming the second convex portion, it can be constituted by a second plate member attached to the front surface side of the housing. Separately, by attaching the second plate member as a pressing member, the degree of freedom of the installation position of the second convex portion is increased.

As described above, according to the remote controller of the present invention, when the push-down force is applied to the operation button and the push-down operation is performed backward, the hinge arm bends against the elastic restoring force and the operation button moves backward. However, when the push-down force is released, the operation button receives the elastic restoring force and moves forward to return, but at that time, the contact portion comes into contact with the pressing member and further moves forward. Can be regulated. Therefore, results unwag due to the elasticity of the hinge arm is limited, depress the vibration generator and the time of return from the operation, Ru can be reliably avoid risk of occurrence of noise caused by vibration. In addition, since the movable part is arranged so as to give a resilient restoring force forward to the operation button in a state where the operation button is not depressed, each operation button is moved forward from the movable part. The elastic restoring force is received, and the contact is maintained in a state where the contact portion is pressed forward against the pressing member by the elastic restoring force. As a result, even if warping or distortion of each operation button due to synthetic resin molding, such as a hinge arm, occurs, the operation buttons are surely placed in the proper positions during the non-depressing operation to perform a plurality of operations. It is possible to keep the buttons flush. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the appearance deterioration due to the warpage and distortion.

1 is an overall perspective view of a remote control according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the state which removed the display part cover plate, the button main body, and the insulation plate from the remote control of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the back surface side of the button main body of FIG. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a state where a button body is assembled to the housing of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 5. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows in principle the force relationship which acts on a button main body in the assembled state. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state at the time of pushing-down operation in principle. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 5 which shows another form.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. This remote controller can be used, for example, by being installed in a kitchen or a living room to remotely operate a hot water supply apparatus, and also for remotely operating an apparatus other than the hot water supply apparatus. The remote controller 1 is configured by housing a control substrate and a liquid crystal display unit (both not shown) inside a housing 2. The housing 2 can be formed by, for example, synthetic resin molding, and can be configured by combining, for example, a rear case and a front case. The remote controller of the present embodiment can be installed in various postures in addition to being installed by attaching the rear surface side of the housing 2 to the wall surface via, for example, an attachment member. Hereinafter, the terms “upper and lower”, “left and right”, and “front and rear” are used on the assumption that the posture is attached to the wall surface.

  On the front surface of the housing 2 (see also FIG. 2), a button body 3 is assembled in the middle in the vertical direction, and the lower half opens and closes by rotating around the axis X with the button body 3 in between. When the lid 21 (shown only in FIG. 1) is opened, the individual operation unit 22 for detailed setting (shown only in FIG. 1) covered with the insulating cover plate 5 is exposed, and the upper half is exposed. The display part cover plate 4 provided with the display window 41 is assembled | attached to the display surface part 24 (refer FIG. 2) of the housing | casing 2 by means, such as adhesion | attachment or welding. The insulating cover plate 5 is also attached to the housing 2 by means such as adhesion or welding. The display portion cover plate 4 constitutes a plate member (first plate member) as a pressing member of the present invention, and the insulating cover plate 5 constitutes a second plate member as another pressing member.

  The button body 3 is an integrated body in which a predetermined number (four in the illustrated example) of the operation buttons 31, 31,. That is, although the operation buttons 31 (see FIG. 2) are separated and independent from each other, the left and right sides of the pair of hinge arms 32, 32 extending upward from the operation buttons 31 are connected to each other. All of the operation buttons 31, 31,... Are integrally connected through a connecting piece 33 extending in the direction to form one part. As shown in FIG. 3, a fulcrum portion 331 is formed on the connecting piece 33 at a portion corresponding to the distal end portion of the pair of hinge arms 32, 32 for each operation button 31, and each fulcrum portion 331 has a predetermined amount forward. While being projected and formed thicker by a predetermined amount in the front-rear direction than the other parts, a positioning fitting hole 332 is formed. Each hinge arm 32 is formed with a convex portion (first convex portion) 321 that protrudes forward from a base position on the operation button 31 side, which is a portion on the operation button 31 side. The protruding amount of the convex portion 321 is set to be the same as the protruding amount of the fulcrum portion 331. Furthermore, the 2nd convex part 311 which protrudes toward the downward direction from the lower end edge of each operation button 31 is formed. Each second convex portion 311 abuts on the rear surface (rear surface) of the insulating cover plate 5 in a state where the second convex portion 311 enters a later-described recess 254 formed in the housing 2 so that each operation button 31 does not jump forward. (See FIGS. 5 and 6). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, an endless rib-shaped peripheral wall 34 that protrudes rearward along the outer periphery by a predetermined dimension and a center transmission portion that protrudes rearward from the center position are provided on the rear surface (back surface) of each operation button 31. 35 is formed. Each operation button 31 has a display relating to main operations such as “operation on / off”, “calling”, “tracking”, and “bathroom automatic” on the front surface in the case of a remote controller for a water heater. (Not shown) is attached, and the front surface (front surface) is a part that is pushed down by the user, for example, by hand.

  The assembly structure of the button main body 3 to the housing 2 will be described. A plurality of (four in the illustrated example) button operation units 23, 23,... ) Is provided. Each button operation part 23 includes a movable part 25 and a holding part 26 for holding and fixing each hinge arm 32 and connecting piece 33 of the button body 3. The movable unit 25 (see FIG. 3) includes an endless rib-shaped peripheral wall 251 that protrudes forward by a predetermined dimension from a bottom surface 250 that is recessed backward by a predetermined depth from the front surfaces of the individual operation unit 22 and the display surface unit 24, and a peripheral wall 251. An arm portion 253 that extends from the front end side position to the center position and supports the center transmission portion 252 in a cantilever manner. As a result, when the center transmission portion 252 is pushed rearward, the arm portion 253 is bent by elastic deformation, the center transmission portion 252 is displaced toward the rear side, and the switch 61 on the substrate 6 (see FIG. 6) is pushed down. Switchable. At this time, the center transmitting portion 252 has a predetermined minute amount (the front end surface of which is in contact with the rear end surface of the center transmitting portion 35 in a state where the button body 3 is assembled to the housing 2 as described later). It is set in advance so as to protrude forward by a lap amount α) corresponding to a restoring force application to be described later. In addition, the code | symbol 254 in FIG. 3 is a recessed part formed in the lower side of the formation space containing the bottom face 250 of the movable part 25, and can accommodate the said 2nd convex part 311. FIG.

  The holding portion 26 is formed in the lower end region of the display surface portion 24, and the display portion cover plate 4 is attached to the housing 2 by bonding or the like to the display surface portion 24 so that the hinge arms 32 are shielded. On the other hand, each fulcrum portion 331 of the connecting piece 33 can be sandwiched between the casing 2 and fixed. The structure of the holding part 26 will be described in detail. A vertical extension extending upward from the bottom surface 250 of the movable part 25 in order to immerse and accommodate the pair of hinge arms 32 and 32 for each operation button 31 of the button body 3. There are provided a direction ditch 261 and a side ditch 262 that is continuous with the upper end side of each ditch 261 and extends in the left-right direction so that the connecting piece 33 is immersed therein. Each of the horizontal grooves 262 is formed with fixing portions 263, 263,... Each having a support surface at a position protruding forward from the groove bottom by a predetermined amount at each central position of the pair of vertical grooves 261, 261. A protrusion 264 that protrudes forward and can be fitted into the fitting hole 332 of the connecting piece 33 is formed on the H.263.

  Then, after the button body 3 is put on the movable portions 25 and the holding portions 26 to be in the state shown in FIG. 5, the display portion cover plate 4 and the insulating cover plate 5 are assembled by bonding or the like, as shown in FIGS. It will be in the state shown in That is, when the button main body 3 (see FIG. 3) is put on the movable portions 25 and the holding portions 26, positioning projections 264, 264,... Are formed in the fitting holes 332, 332,. The connecting piece 33 is fitted into the lateral groove 262 in the fitted state, each hinge arm 32 is fitted into the vertical groove 261, and each operation button 31 is put on the movable portion 25, and at the same time, each second The convex part 311 is accommodated in the recess 254 (see FIG. 5). When the button body 3 is assembled to the housing 2, the display unit cover plate 4 (see FIG. 6) is assembled to the display unit 24 by bonding or the like, and the insulating cover plate 5 is similarly assembled by bonding or the like. While the fulcrum part 331 of the piece 33 is fixed in a state of being sandwiched between the display part cover plate 4 and the fixing part 263 of the holding part 26, the hinge arm 32 floats in the air from the groove bottom of the vertical groove 261. Thus, the operation button 31 is held in a cantilever state as a free end. At the same time, the first convex portion 321 contacts the rear surface (back surface) of the display unit cover plate 4, while the second convex portion 311 (see FIG. 7) contacts the rear surface (back surface) of the insulating cover plate 5. Become. In addition, the rear end surface of the center transmission portion 35 of each operation button 31 held in a cantilever state is disposed in a state where it abuts on the front end surface of the center transmission portion 252 of the movable portion 25.

  At this time, since the front end face of the center transmission part 252 of the movable part 25 is set to be positioned a predetermined minute amount ahead of the original contact position with the center transmission part 35 of each operation button 31, It will be in the following state. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the center transmission portion 35 of each operation button 31 is positioned at the front position by the wrap amount α (for example, α = 0.10 to 0.15 mm) which is the minute amount. The center transmission part 252 of the set movable part 25 is in a state of being in contact with the center transmission part 252 in a state in which the center transmission part 252 is pressed rearward by the protrusion amount α. In other words, the first convex portion 321 of each hinge arm 32 abuts on the display unit cover plate 4 and is restricted from moving forward, and the second convex portion 311 also abuts on the insulating cover plate 5 and moves forward. Therefore, each operation button 31 is kept in contact with the center transmission portion 252 of the movable portion 25 being pushed backward by the amount of the lap amount α, and at the same time, A predetermined elastic restoring force acts from the center transmission part 252 of the movable part 25 from the rear to the front. The first convex portion 321 is pressed against the back surface of the display unit cover plate 4 by the elastic restoring force, and the second convex unit 311 is the back surface of the insulating cover plate 5. On the other hand, the contact is maintained in a state where a pressing force is applied toward the front. As a result, even if warping or distortion occurs, for example, in each hinge arm 32 of the button main body 3 due to the synthetic resin molding, the operation buttons 31 are surely aligned in the proper positions during the non-depressing operation. It becomes possible to maintain the plurality of operation buttons 31, 31,. For this reason, the appearance deterioration due to the warpage and distortion can be avoided.

  Furthermore, in the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of vibration when the pressing force after the pressing operation of each operation button 31 is released and the possibility of noise generation due to the vibration generation. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when a push-down force is applied to the front surface of each operation button 31 with a finger, for example, and the push-down operation is performed backward, each operation button 31 uses the fulcrum portion 331 as a fulcrum, In response to the elastic restoring force, the switch 61 is switched by moving the center transmitting portion 252 of the movable portion 25 backward against the elastic restoring force. When the finger is released and the pressing force is released (released), each operation button 31 receives the elastic restoring force from the movable portion 25 and moves forward to return to the original non-depressing operation state. Become. At that time, the first convex portion 321 contacts the rear surface of the display unit cover plate 4 and the second convex portion 311 contacts the rear surface of the insulating cover plate 5 to prevent further forward movement. Therefore, as a result of restricting the swingback due to the elasticity of the hinge arm 32, it is possible to reliably avoid the occurrence of vibration upon return from the push-down operation and the occurrence of noise due to the vibration. The action and effect for avoiding the possibility of noise generation due to the occurrence of vibration can be obtained as long as either the first convex portion 321 or the second convex portion 311 is formed. Further, in order to avoid the possibility of noise generation due to vibration generation, it is not necessary to apply the elastic restoring force corresponding to the predetermined protrusion amount α as described above, and therefore the movable portion 25 is omitted and the elasticity of the hinge arm 32 is eliminated. The switch 61 can also be configured to be switchable by a push-down operation based on bending.

<Other embodiments>
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Other various embodiment is included. That is, the convex portion 312 provided on the upper edge of each operation button 31 is used instead of the first convex portion 321 (see FIG. 5) of the above embodiment, or each operation is performed instead of the second convex portion 311. The convex part 313 provided in the left-right both sides position of the lower end edge of the button 31 can be used, respectively (refer FIG. 10). In this case, when the first convex portion 321 is formed integrally with the hinge arm 32 as in the embodiment, the space surrounded by the pair of hinge arms 32 and 32 and the connecting piece 33 is operated by, for example, each operation button. The LED can be effectively used as an installation place of the LED representing the situation. Moreover, although the convex part 321 formed in the hinge arm 32 was shown as an abutment part, it is not restricted to this, For example, the front surface of a hinge arm itself is a display part cover by making the thickness of a hinge arm the same thickness as the fulcrum part 331. It is possible to make contact with the rear surface of the plate 4. In this case, ing to the front of the hinge arm constitutes an abutment.

1 Remote control 2 Housing 4 Display unit cover plate (plate member, holding member)
5 Insulation cover plate (second plate member, holding member)
25 Movable part 31 Operation button 32 Hinge arm 311 Second convex part (contact part)
321 1st convex part (the convex part which protrudes ahead from a hinge arm, contact part)
331 supporting point (tip of hinge arm)

Claims (5)

Operation buttons, the tip extends from the operation button is supported like a cantilever by a fixed hinge arm as a fulcrum in the casing side, thereby, Te remote odor that is operably configured depressed toward the rear ,
A predetermined number of the plurality of operation buttons are arranged as a single component by connecting pieces that connect the tip end sides of the hinge arms extended from the operation buttons with a slight gap therebetween. The connection piece is formed with a fulcrum portion fixed as a fulcrum on the housing side at a portion corresponding to the tip of the hinge arm of each operation button,
Wherein a contact portion formed on the hinge arm of the operation button side portion of the operation button or this, in a state before the SL during non depressing operation of the operation button, so as to restrict the displacement of the forward before SL and abutting pressing members each abutting portion, and a said longitudinal assembled to the housing direction elastically displaceable movable part as after by side and opposing abutment of the operation buttons,
The movable portion is disposed so as to give a forward elastic restoring force to the operation buttons in a state in which the operation buttons are not pressed down.
A remote control characterized by that. The remote control according to claim 1,
The abutting portion is before Symbol hinge arm of each operation button side portion is constituted by a protrusion protruding forward, the remote controller. The remote control according to claim 2,
The pressing member is constituted by a plate member attached to the front side of the casing , and each fulcrum portion of the connecting piece is fixed in a state of being sandwiched between the plate member and the casing. Remote controller. The remote control according to claim 1 ,
The contact portion is constituted by a second protrusion protruding from the respective operation button portion opposite to the front SL extending direction of the hinge arm a peripheral portion of the operation button, Remote controller. The remote control according to claim 4,
The pressing member is a remote control configured by a second plate member attached to the front side of the casing.

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