JPH0241846B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a button for operating equipment such as a push switch, in which an operating shaft is in a pushed-in and protruded-out lock and release state.

Prior Art and Problems Some push switches have an unlocked position where the operating rod 12 protrudes and a locked position where the operating rod is pushed in, as shown in FIG. Figure 1
(a) is the former, and (b) is the latter. When the operating rod 12 is pushed in in the state of (a), the operating rod is pushed into the state of (b) and is locked in this state, and in the state of (b). When the operating rod 12 is pressed in this state, the lock is released, and when the pressure is released (released), the operating rod 12 returns to the state shown in (a). For example, when the switch 10 is turned on or off, it is turned off in (a) and turned on in (b).

Generally, a push button is provided at the tip of the operating rod 12 to improve operability and provide an excellent design. FIG. 2 shows an example of this, in which a push button 14 is fitted to the tip of the operating rod 12 I'm letting you do it. 16 is a decorative panel having a hole 18 through which the push button 14 projects. push button 1
4 assumes the protruding position and the retracted position, that is, moves together with the operating rod 12, so the hole 18 needs to be large so that there is a sufficient gap between the push button 14 and the decorative panel 16. If there is no or a small gap, the push button 14 may come into contact with the decorative panel 16 and the movement of the push button 14 may be obstructed, which may result in the switch 10 not operating. However, if a large gap is formed in the hole 18, dust will easily enter the lower part of the decorative panel 16 (inside the housing), and there will also be problems in terms of design.

There is one in which the push button 14 is made of rubber and has a surrounding skirt made of the same rubber. Figure 3 shows an example of this, where the skirt part is a flat part 1 that becomes the base.
4b, and a chevron-shaped part 14a connecting the base part 14b and the lower part of the push button 14.The base part 14b is attached to the protrusion part 16a of the decorative panel 16 to support the push button 14, and the chevron-shaped part 14a is thin. The push button 14 is made to have appropriate elasticity, and when pressed, the push button 14 is pushed in, and when the pressure is released, the push button 14 returns to its original protruding position. Further, these skirt portions 14a and 14b are connected to the push button 14.
The protruding hole 18 is sealed. In this way, the position of the push button 14 is precisely regulated by the skirt portion, so the hole 18 can be made small to reduce the gap, and there is no fear of dust entering the housing through the hole 18.

However, in the button structure shown in FIG. 3, the stable position is when the operating rod 12 of the switch 10 is protruding.
There is a problem in that when the operating rod 12 is in the locked position, the push button part separates from the operating rod. That is, when the push button part 14 is pressed in the unlocked position where the operating rod 12 protrudes as shown in FIG. 3(a), the state shown in FIG. 3(b) is achieved.
The operating rod 12 assumes a pushed-in lock position. When the finger 20 is released in this state, the state shown in FIG. 2(c) occurs, and the push button portion 14 and the operating rod 12 are separated. Note that the lower surface of the push button portion 14 and the upper end surface of the operating rod 12 are only in contact with each other and are not fixed. It is important to be able to determine whether a switch is on or off from its appearance, and with the switch shown in FIGS. In the button structure shown in FIG. 3, since the push button is always in a protruding position when the user's hand is released, it is not possible to determine the switch-on/off state from its appearance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to improve the above-mentioned problems and provide a push switch operation button structure that allows the on-off state of the switch to be determined by its appearance.

Composition of the Invention The present invention provides an operation button for a device such as a push switch, in which the operation bar is in a pushed-in state and in a protruding state. The push button part and the base part are connected so that the back surface and the base part are located on substantially the same plane, and the tip end surface of the operating rod is brought into contact with the back surface of the push button part when the operating rod is pushed in. and an elastic connecting portion that causes the push button portion to protrude by the operating rod when the operating rod is in a protruding state, and the base portion is fixed to a protruding portion that protrudes from the rear surface of the decorative panel. However, this will now be explained in detail with reference to examples.

Embodiment of the invention FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the button structure according to the invention,
(a) is a cross-sectional view including the decorative panel part, (b) is a plan view of the button part, and (c) is a side view of the same, with the right half being a cross-section.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the button structure of FIG. 3 in comparison with FIG. 5, and the same parts are given the same reference numerals. Fifth
As shown in the figure, in the present invention, the connecting portion 14a forming the skirt portion of the push button portion 14 is made flat in substantially the same manner as the base portion 14b, and is pleated in the vertical direction to provide elasticity. In this example, the folds are square annular grooves projecting downward, but the folds may have a wave-shaped cross section and may have any shape. The button structure shown in FIG. 5 is in a stable state as shown, and remains in this state unless an external force is applied. On the other hand, in the conventional button structure shown in FIG. 4, the protruding state shown in FIG. 4 is a stable state, and it remains in this state unless an external force is applied. The tip end surface of the operating rod 12 of the switch 10 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the push button portion 14, and this is done in a state in which the operating rod is pushed in. Therefore, when the operating rod 12 is in a protruding state, the operating rod pushes up the push button portion 14.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which this button mechanism is combined with the switch 10. (a) shows a state in which the operating rod 12 is protruded, and the push button portion 14 is pushed up by the operating rod 12,
It protrudes from the decorative panel 16. This push button part 1
4 is pressed by hand, the state shown in FIG. 4(b) is reached, the operating rod 12 is pushed into the locked state, and the push button 14 returns to its initial stable state in which it cannot be pushed up by the operating rod 12. Since the stable state of the push button portion 14 is as described above, even when the operating rod 12 assumes the pushed-in lock position, the push button portion and the operating rod do not separate as shown in FIG. 3(c). The states shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) correspond to the on and off states of the switch 10, and therefore, whether the switch is on or off can be easily determined by simply looking at whether the push button portion 14 is protruding or not.

FIG. 7 shows a button structure for a plurality of push switches. (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a side view. This example is for five push switches arranged in two stages, and each button has a structure on the base part 14b.
are connected and integrated. If the material is rubber, such a structure can be made all at once using a mold. Of course, plastic or the like may be used as the material, but since only the connecting portion 14a requires elasticity, metal may also be used, such as by making this portion have a bellows structure to give it elasticity. 20 indicates a screw hole. A screw hole is provided at an appropriate position in the base portion, and a screw is passed through this portion and screwed. However, adhesive or other appropriate means may be used for fixing.

Audio cassette decks and the like are equipped with various operation buttons such as play, reverse, fast forward, and rewind, and the present invention can also be applied to the operation buttons of such devices.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, an operating button that can indicate the protruding state and the pushed-in state of the operating rod is obtained, and a switch having an operating rod having lock and release positions, It is extremely effective when applied to levers, etc. This button structure also has a dustproof and waterproof function, so it is effective even when applied to this type of equipment. Furthermore, the operation button is easy to attach, and the push button can be moved from a stable state to a protruding state with a small amount of force, thereby providing stable movement.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a push switch, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation button, Figs. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing other examples of an operation button, and Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation button shown in FIG. 5 attached to the push switch.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of operation buttons for the switch array. In the drawing, 12 is an operating shaft, 10 is a push switch, 14 is a push button part, 14a is a connecting part, and 14b is a base part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An operating button for a device such as a push switch in which the operating bar is in a pushed-in state and in a protruding state, comprising: a push-button portion having a flat back surface, a base portion for mounting, and a push-button portion in which the push-button is held in a stable state; The push button part and the base part are connected so that the back surface and the base part are located on substantially the same plane, and the tip end surface of the operating rod is brought into contact with the back surface of the push button part when the operating rod is pushed in. and an elastic connecting portion that causes the push button portion to protrude by the operating rod when the operating rod is in a protruding state, and the base portion is fixed to a protruding portion that protrudes from the rear surface of the decorative panel. Buttons for operation.