JP7558746B2 - Intercom Equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an intercom device that is equipped with a push-button that can be operated, such as an intercom master unit.

Conventionally, common intercom devices such as intercom master units are provided with buttons that can be operated by pressing them. Some such buttons have an operating section with an elastic piece that protrudes in a specific direction, and the button is attached to the main body case with the operating section exposed on the surface of the main body case and the surface of the elastic piece abutting against the flat surface of the main body case (for example, Patent Document 1). On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a demand for thinner intercom devices, and so buttons such as the one described above are now being made with thinner operating sections, or with the surface of the operating section roughly flush with the surface of the main body case when attached to the main body case.

JP 2013-206854 A

Conventionally, when buttons are manufactured by injection molding synthetic resin, deformation of the button can occur, such as slight warping of the elastic piece. If the button is deformed in this way and the button mounting structure described above is used, the surface of the operating part will be recessed inward from the surface of the main body case when the button is mounted, which creates a problem of poor appearance, especially in intercom devices that are designed to be thin.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide an intercom device in which the surface of the button's operating part does not become significantly recessed into the inside of the main body case when attached to the main body case, even if the button is deformed.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is an intercom device having an operation window opened on the front of a main body case, and a button having an operation part and an elastic part having an elastic piece extending in any direction up, down, left or right from the operation part, attached inside the main body case so that it can be pressed and operated with the operation part exposed inside the operation window, and a mounting piece that stands up backward is provided at the tip of the elastic piece, while a convex part that protrudes backward and a locking piece that protrudes backward are provided on the inside of the front surface of the main body case, and the button is attached in an inclined position such that the front end of the mounting piece in the elastic part abuts against the rear surface of the convex part, and gradually approaches the front surface of the main body case from the front end of the mounting piece toward the operation part , and in this attached state, the locking piece engages with the rear end of the mounting piece .
According to the present invention, a convex portion protruding rearward is provided on the inside of the front surface of the main body case, and the button is attached by abutting the front end of the mounting piece provided at the tip of the elastic piece in the elastic portion against the rear surface of the convex portion, and in an inclined position gradually approaching the front surface of the main body case from the front end of the mounting piece toward the operating unit.Therefore, even if the elastic piece is deformed, such as bending rearward, an intercom device can be created in which the front surface of the operating part of the button does not significantly recess into the inside of the main body case when attached to the main body case.

The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the operating part is formed in a box shape that opens to the rear, and a flange piece that extends in the direction in which the elastic piece extends is provided on at least the side of the opening edge of the operating part where the elastic piece is located, and the elastic piece extends from the flange piece, and the button is attached with the flange piece interfering with the opening edge of the operating window.
According to the invention described in claim 2, the operating part is formed in a box shape that opens to the rear, and a flange piece that extends in the direction in which the elastic piece extends is provided on the opening edge of the operating part, at least on the side where the elastic piece is located, and the elastic piece extends from the flange piece, and the button is attached in a state in which the flange piece interferes with the opening edge of the operating window.Therefore, especially during normal times when no deformation is occurring in the button, the manner in which the operating part of the button protrudes forward from the operating window can be stabilized, and the appearance of the intercom equipment can be stabilized.

According to the present invention, a convex portion that protrudes backward is provided on the inside of the front face of the main body case, and the button is attached with the front face of the elastic piece abutting against the rear face of the convex portion and in an inclined position that gradually approaches the front face of the main body case from the abutment point of the elastic piece toward the operation part side. Therefore, even if the elastic piece is deformed such as bending backward, the front face of the operation part of the button will not be significantly recessed into the inside of the main body case when attached to the main body case, making it an intercom device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view showing the front side of the intercom master unit. 13 is an explanatory oblique view showing the emergency alarm button from the front side with the button removed from the front case. FIG. 13 is an explanatory perspective view showing the emergency alarm button removed from the front case from the rear side. FIG. 13 is an explanatory perspective view showing an enlarged view of the mounting location of the emergency alarm button on the rear side of the front case. FIG. 1A and 1B are perspective explanatory views showing an emergency alarm button, in which FIG. 13 is an explanatory perspective view showing an emergency alarm button attached to a front case, as viewed from the rear in an enlarged scale. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a vertical cross section of the front case at the mounting position of the emergency alarm button. FIG.

Below, we will explain in detail the intercom master unit, which is one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing the front side of the intercom master unit 1. Figure 2 is an explanatory perspective view showing the emergency alarm button 10 removed from the front case 2 from the front side. Figure 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing the emergency alarm button 10 removed from the front case 2 from the rear side. Figure 4 is an explanatory perspective view showing an enlarged view of the mounting location of the emergency alarm button 10 on the rear side of the front case 2. Figure 5 is an explanatory perspective view showing the emergency alarm button 10, (a) from the front side and (b) from the rear side. Figure 6 is an explanatory perspective view showing an enlarged view from the rear side of the state in which the emergency alarm button 10 is mounted on the front case 2. Figure 7 is an explanatory view showing a vertical cross section of the front case 2 at the mounting position of the emergency alarm button 10.

The intercom master unit 1 has a main body case consisting of a front case 2 arranged at the front and a rear case 3 attached to the rear of the front case 2. A display unit 4 is provided at the center of the front of the main body case for displaying images captured by the intercom slave unit (not shown). A microphone unit (not shown) for communicating with the intercom slave unit is provided above the display unit 4 on the front of the main body case. Meanwhile, a speaker unit 7 for communicating with the intercom slave unit is provided below the display unit 4 on the front of the main body case. Furthermore, a response button 5 for responding to a call from the intercom slave unit, setting buttons 6, 6, etc. for the unit's own settings, and emergency alarm buttons 10, 10 for emergency use are provided on the front of the main body case. Such an intercom master unit 1 is installed on a wall or the like in a room, and displays an image on the display unit 4 in response to a call from the intercom slave unit, and when the response button 5 is operated, it becomes possible to communicate with the intercom slave unit.

Here, a mounting structure of the emergency alarm button 10, which is a main part of the present invention, will be described.
The emergency alarm button 10 includes an operating section 11 for a user to press, elastic pieces 12, 12 for holding the operating section 11 in an initial position, and an elastic section having an attachment piece 13 for attaching to the rear side of the front case 2. The operating section 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape that bulges forward and opens backward, and flange pieces 11a that extend outward in the up, down, left, and right directions are provided along the rear edge of the operating section 11. The elastic pieces 12, 12 are provided side by side below the operating section 11, and both elastic pieces 12 extend downward from the lower edge of the operating section 11 (the tip of the part of the flange piece 11a that protrudes downward). An attachment piece 13 is provided to connect the tips of both elastic pieces 12, 12. The attachment piece 13 is formed in a plate shape that stands up in the front-rear direction in a state where it is bent backward from the tips of the elastic pieces 12, 12. The left and right ends of the mounting piece 13 extend outward beyond the elastic pieces 12 and are bent upward (i.e., bent portions 13a, 13a are provided at the left and right ends of the mounting piece 13). An operating protrusion 14 that protrudes rearward is provided at a location approximately in the center of the rear surface of the operating unit 11.

On the other hand, the mounting structure of the emergency alarm button 10 on the front case 2 side is provided with an operation window 20 for exposing the operation unit 11. A locking piece 21 with a downwardly protruding claw at its tip is provided on the rear side of the front case 2 below the operation window 20. On the left and right sides of the locking piece 21 on the rear side of the front case 2, ribs 22, 22 protruding rearward are provided in the left and right direction. In addition, a first positioning rib 23 protruding rearward is provided on the upper side of the outer end of each rib 22 in the left and right direction when the locking piece 21 is in the center, on the rear side of the front case 2, while a second positioning rib 24 protruding rearward is provided on the lower side of the positioning rib 23 on either side of the rib 22 at the outer end of each rib 22 in the left and right direction.

In the mounting structure of the emergency alarm button 10, the emergency alarm button 10 is mounted with the operation part 11 exposed in the operation window 20 and the rear end of the mounting piece 13 engaged with the locking piece 21. In this mounted state, the upper surface of the mounting piece 13 abuts against the lower surface of the locking piece 21. The left and right ends of the mounting piece 13 are located between the first positioning rib 23 and the second positioning rib 24, respectively, and each bent portion 13a is located outside the first positioning rib 23 in the left-right direction. That is, the mounting piece 13 is restricted in its movement in the front-rear direction by the locking piece 21, in its movement in the up-down direction by the locking piece 21 and the second positioning ribs 24, 24, and in its movement in the left-right direction by the first positioning ribs 23, 23. In addition, in the mounted state, the front end of the mounting piece 13 abuts against the ridges 22, 22 (the mounting piece 13 rides up on the rear side of the ridges 22, 22). Therefore, the emergency alarm button 10 in the attached state is not parallel to the rear surface of the front case 2, but is inclined so that it gradually approaches the rear surface of the front case 2 from the tips of the elastic pieces 12, 12 toward the operating unit 11. When removing the emergency alarm button 10, the locking piece 21 is elastically deformed to release the locking state between the locking piece 21 and the attachment piece 13.

However, normally, the flange 11a of the operation unit 11 interferes with the opening edge of the operation window 20 (particularly, as shown in FIG. 7, the portion of the flange 11a that spreads downward from the operation unit 11 interferes with the lower edge of the operation window 20). Therefore, the elastic pieces 12, 12 bend, and the front surface of the operation unit 11 is exposed in the operation window 20 in a state approximately parallel to the front surface of the front case 2. Even if the elastic pieces 12, 12 are deformed such as being bent slightly forward, the elastic pieces 12, 12 interfere with the rear surface of the front case 2, and the front surface of the operation unit 11 can be exposed in the operation window 20 in a state approximately parallel to the front surface of the front case 2. Furthermore, even if the elastic pieces 12, 12 are deformed, such as being slightly bent backward, because the emergency button 10 is attached in the above-mentioned inclined position, the front surface of the operating unit 11 is prevented from being significantly recessed backward (inside the main body case) beyond the front surface of the front case 2 when the emergency button 10 is attached.

In addition, if the front surface of the operation unit 11 of the emergency alarm button 10 is used as a display surface and a display such as "alarm sound stopped/restored" is to be provided on the display surface, the emergency alarm button 10 can be engaged with the front case 2 as described above, and a display can be provided on the front surface of the operation unit 11 by printing from the front side of the front case 2 while the emergency alarm button 10 is engaged with the front case 2 in this manner. By providing a display on the front surface of the operation unit 11 while the emergency alarm button 10 is engaged with the front case 2 in this manner, it is possible to provide displays on multiple buttons (at least two emergency alarm buttons 10, 10 in this embodiment) at the same time, compared to providing displays on each button and then assembling the buttons to the front case. In some cases, displays can be provided on the buttons as part of the printing process on the front surface of the front case 2, improving manufacturing efficiency.

According to the intercom master unit 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, the emergency alarm button 10 is provided with the operating section 11, the elastic pieces 12, 12 extending downward from the operating section 11, and the mounting piece 13 provided at the tip of the elastic pieces 12, 12, while the rear surface of the front case 2 is provided with ridges 22, 22 protruding rearward. When attaching the emergency alarm button 10, the front end of the mounting piece 13 is abutted against the rear surface of the ridges 22, 22, so that the front end of the mounting piece 13 is gradually inclined toward the rear surface of the front case 2 from the tip of the elastic pieces 12, 12 toward the operating section 11. Therefore, even if the elastic pieces 12, 12 are deformed, such as bending rearward, the intercom master unit 1 can be made such that the front surface of the operating section 11 does not significantly dent toward the inside of the main case when attached to the front case 2.

Furthermore, the operation unit 11 is provided with flange pieces 11a that extend up, down, left, right and outward, and elastic pieces 12, 12 extend from the flange piece 11a, so that when the emergency alarm button 10 is attached, the flange piece 11a of the operation unit 11 interferes with the opening edge of the operation window 20. That is, even though it is attached in the inclined position as described above, the above interference causes the elastic pieces 12, 12 to bend, so that the front surface of the operation unit 11 is exposed in the operation window 20 in a state that is approximately parallel to the front surface of the front case 2. Therefore, especially during normal times when the emergency alarm button 10 is not deformed, the forward protrusion of the operation unit 11 from the operation window 20 can be stabilized, and the appearance of the intercom master unit 1 can be stabilized.

The intercom device according to the present invention can be modified as necessary, not only in its overall configuration, but also in the configuration of the speaker section, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the surface with the display unit is the front surface of the main body case, but there is no problem if the top, bottom, side, etc. in the above embodiment are the front surface as defined in the claims. In other words, the position where the button is provided can be appropriately changed in design.
In addition, in the above embodiment, two elastic pieces extend downward from the operating portion, and attachment pieces are provided at the tips of these elastic pieces to form the elastic portion of the button, with the front ends of the attachment pieces abutting against the rear surface of the convex portion; however, the configuration of the elastic portion, such as the extension direction and number of the elastic pieces and the position of the attachment pieces, can be modified as appropriate, and it is of course possible to configure the surface of the elastic pieces to abut against the rear surface of the convex portion, and the position of the convex portion can also be modified as appropriate in conjunction with these modifications.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a protruding ridge extending in a predetermined direction is provided as the convex portion, but the specific configuration of the convex portion can be appropriately modified in design, for example, by arranging a plurality of projections in a row in a predetermined direction as the convex portion.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the emergency alert button is the button according to the present invention, but the present invention can also be suitably adopted for other buttons such as a response button or a setting button.
In addition, although the above embodiment describes an intercom parent unit, the present invention can also be suitably adopted for other intercom devices, such as intercom sub units, so long as the operating part of a button that can be operated by pressing it is exposed on the front surface of the main body case.

1: Intercom master unit (intercom device), 2: Front case (main body case), 3: Rear case, 10: Emergency alarm button (button), 11: Operation section, 11a: Flange section, 12: Elastic piece (elastic section), 13: Mounting piece (elastic section), 20: Operation window, 21: Locking piece, 22: Protrusion (convex section).

Claims (2)

An intercom device in which an operation window is provided on a front surface of a main body case, and a button having an operation unit and an elastic portion having an elastic piece extending in any one of up, down, left and right directions from the operation unit is attached inside the main body case so as to be operable by being pressed in with the operation unit exposed inside the operation window,
The tip of the elastic piece is provided with an attachment piece that stands upright toward the rear.
A protrusion protruding rearward and a locking piece protruding rearward are provided on the inside of the front surface of the main body case,
The button is attached in an inclined position such that a front end of the attachment piece of the elastic portion abuts against a rear surface of the protrusion, and the front end of the attachment piece gradually approaches the front surface of the main body case from the front end of the attachment piece toward the operation unit .
In this mounted state, the locking piece is locked to the rear end of the mounting piece . The operating portion is formed in a box shape that opens backward, and a flange portion that expands in a direction in which the elastic piece extends is provided on at least a side of an opening edge of the operating portion where the elastic piece is located, and the elastic piece extends from the flange portion,
The intercom device according to claim 1, wherein the button is attached in a state where the flange portion interferes with an opening edge of the operation window.

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