JPH0247809B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] ()...Prior art and its problems Recently, an extremely large number of various microswitches and the switch according to the present invention are used in parts of computers, electronic audio equipment, and other various electrical equipment that require switch operation. Leaf switches similar to the above are currently in use, and the number of leaf switches in use is expected to increase dramatically in the future.

Currently, various types of microswitches have a structure in which various contact mechanisms are enclosed in a case made of plastic or the like, and are highly dust-proof.However, the switch mechanism is enclosed in an extremely small case and is operated from outside the case. Due to this necessity, the structure was complicated, and as a result, it had the disadvantage of being brittle and lacking in durability, and it was also expensive.

On the other hand, leaf switches have a simple switch mechanism consisting of spring pieces with contacts and are exposed, so they are superior in durability and functionality compared to micro switches, and are significantly cheaper. Although it has the characteristic of being inexpensive, on the other hand, since the contact area is exposed, dust tends to adhere to this area, and since voltage is applied when the contact opens and closes, this causes a dust collection effect, which makes the contact area even worse. As a result, problems such as poor contact and resistance due to poor conductivity appear, which is becoming a drawback especially in the contact action of weak currents in modern computers.

()...Object of the present invention The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes the main part of the contact mechanism of the leaf switch, that is, the main part of the contact mechanism of the leaf switch.
Most of the contact spring piece, including the contact part, which is installed almost parallel to the insulating base, is covered with a sealed cover, even though the contact can be opened and closed from the outside. A leaf switch with a sealed cover has been developed which is characterized by having a dust-proofing effect on the contact part and also allowing the switch operation (opening/closing operation of the contact) to be performed without any trouble as in the conventional case.

()...Configuration (1)...That is, the present invention provides a leaf switch in which a plurality of contact spring pieces are embedded in an insulating base in a manner substantially parallel to each other, and a sealed cover that covers the contact spring pieces (excluding the terminal portion). The sealed cover has a space inside that roughly corresponds to the area to be covered by the contact spring piece, and is formed into a rectangular tube shape with a closed end and a closed rear end. In order to connect the cover and the movable contact spring piece, a connector with projecting protrusions on the left and right is embedded in the movable contact spring piece, and small holes or recesses are formed in the left and right side walls inside the sealed cover. In addition, in order to seal the opening of the sealed cover and maintain the distance between the contact spring pieces, a separator is embedded near the base of any contact spring piece, and the contact spring pieces are opened in the sealed cover. Insert the connector of the movable contact spring piece into the small hole or recess to connect the sealed cover and the movable contact spring piece, and seal the opening with a separator to reduce the distance between the contact spring pieces. The switch is constructed so that the sealed cover and the movable contact spring piece work together to connect and disconnect the contacts, that is, open and close the switch, by external operation from outside the sealed cover. This is a leaf switch with a sealed cover, which features:

()...Embodiment (1)...Next, to explain the drawings (Figs. 1 to 4) of the embodiment of the present invention, a plastic insulating base 1
A leaf switch A has contact spring pieces 2a and 2b buried approximately parallel to each other (for example, by insert molding of plastic), and a terminal protruding from one side of the base 1 (a terminal protruding from the other side). It is constructed by fitting a sealed cover B made of an insulating material (for example, a plastic molded product) into a rectangular tube shape to cover the contact spring pieces 2a and 2b including the contacts 5a and 5b (excluding the outer part). It is.

The illustrated leaf switch A is a so-called normally open type, that is, the contacts 5a and 5b are normally open.
This is a leaf switch A of the type in which 5a and 5b are brought into contact (closed) by pressing the contact spring piece 2a on the movable side.

The sealed cover B covers a space C that almost corresponds to the covered part of the contact spring pieces 2a and 2b.
The tip is closed and the rear end is formed inside the opening 11.
A separator 6 is provided near the base 4 of the movable contact spring piece 2a to maintain the distance between the two spring pieces, and a hemispherical protrusion is provided on the left and right sides of the movable contact spring piece 2a. The connector 7 with the protruding element 8 is embedded in each insulating plastic by insert molding (the separator 6 can also be embedded in other contact spring pieces), and on the other hand, the space C of the sealed cover B is Guide grooves 9, 9 for the protrusion 8 and small holes 10, 10 or recesses are formed on the left and right side walls of the lower part, and when the sealed cover B is fitted onto the sleeve, the contact spring pieces 2a, 2b are inserted into the openings. 11 into the space C, the left and right protrusions 8 of the connector 7,
8 into the guide grooves 9, 9 and slide the protrusions 8, 8 into the small holes 10, 10 or recesses, and then connect the sealed cover B and the movable contact spring piece 2a.
By connecting the cover B to the contact spring pieces 2a and 2b, the cover B is removably fitted onto the contact spring pieces 2a and 2b, thereby constructing a sealed leaf switch with a cover according to the present invention.

(2)...Leaf switch A of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6
is a so-called continuous type leaf switch, which has a configuration in which a plurality of unit leaf switches each having contact spring pieces 2a and 2b are arranged side by side, and each of the contact spring pieces 2a and 2b of each unit switch (however, excluding the terminal part) A flat box-like cover B is fitted over the cover B, which covers them together, and the protrusion 8 of the connector 7 of the movable contact spring piece 2a is inserted into the small hole 10 of the sealed cover B. 10 and connect them so that each contact spring piece 2b and the sealed cover B work together, and when the sealed cover B is pressed down with a pressing force P etc., each contact spring piece 2b Working together, the contact 5b is connected to each opposing contact spring piece 2a.
The switch operation is performed by making contact with and separating from the contact 5a.

In addition, multiple units of contact spring pieces are buried in parallel in a common insulating base 1 to create a connected leaf switch A.
Although it is not shown in the drawings, it is also possible to configure individual leaf switches in which contact spring pieces of each unit are embedded in individual insulating bases and arranged in parallel on a common base, etc. is also optional.

()...Function, effect (1)...In the above configuration, the separator 6 embedded in the base 4 of the contact spring piece 2a is located near the opening 11 of the space C and maintains the distance between the contact spring pieces 2a and 2b. At the same time, the contact spring pieces 2a, 2b and the sealed cover B are tightly attached to the upper and lower sides of the opening 11, and the contact spring pieces 2a and 2b are supported in the attached state. Space C
Since the inside is sealed, it is possible to effectively prevent dust from entering the space C.

(2)...Then, when the sealed cover B is pressed from the outside in the above configuration state, the cover B and the connector 7
The movable contact spring pieces 2a connected with each other work together to flex and their contacts 5a contact (close) the contacts 5b of the opposing contact spring pieces 2b, and when the pressure is released, the sealed cover B and the contact spring pieces 2a returns to its original position due to the resilient restoring force of the contact spring piece, and contacts 5a and 5b
The switch is opened and the switch can be opened and closed very accurately without any problems.

(3) As described above, the sealed leaf switch with cover of the present invention seals and covers the leaf switch, especially the contact spring piece (excluding the terminal part) including the contact part, which was previously completely exposed. As a result, it effectively protects against the harmful effects of contamination of the contact area with dust, and also allows the switch to operate completely in the same way as conventional switches, which is superior in durability and lower in cost than conventional switches. By adding the sealed and dust-proof performance of a micro switch to the unique leaf switch, there are many benefits that make it possible to construct an extremely excellent leaf switch.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are examples of the present invention and are approximately 3-5cm
Figure 1 is a partially cutaway front view of the switch of the present invention, which is constructed by fitting a sealed cover onto a normally open type leaf switch, and Figure 2 is a partially cutaway bottom view of the switch. Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of the sealed cover, Fig. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view thereof, and Fig. 5 is a flat box with unit leaf switches buried in parallel in a common insulating base. FIG. 6 is a partially cut-away front view of a switch of the present invention constructed by fitting a sealed cover of the shape of a cylindrical shape into the sleeve, and FIG. 6 is a partially cut-away bottom view thereof. Code, A...Leaf switch, B...Sealed cover, C...Space, P...Pushing force, 1...Insulation base, 2a, 2b...Contact spring piece, 4...Base, 5
a, 5b... Contact, 6... Separator, 7...
Connector, 8... Protrusion, 9... Guide groove, 10...
...Small hole, 11...opening.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A leaf switch in which a plurality of contact spring pieces are embedded substantially parallel to each other in an insulating base, and a sealed cover that covers the contact spring pieces (excluding the terminal portion) is fitted over the leaf switch. The sealed cover has a space inside thereof that corresponds approximately to the covered part of the contact spring piece, and is formed into a rectangular tube shape with a closed end and an open rear end, and the sealed cover and the movable contact In order to connect the spring pieces, a connector with projecting protrusions on the left and right is embedded in the movable contact spring piece, and small holes or recesses are formed in the left and right side walls inside the sealed cover. In order to seal the opening of the cover and maintain the distance between the contact spring pieces, a separator is embedded near the base of any contact spring piece, and the contact spring piece is inserted into the sealed cover from the opening and movable. The connector of the side contact spring piece is fitted into the small hole or recess to connect the sealed cover and the movable side contact spring piece, and the opening is sealed with a separator to maintain the distance between the contact spring pieces. The switch is characterized in that the sealed cover and the movable contact spring piece work together to connect and disconnect the contacts, that is, open and close the switch, by an external operation from outside the sealed cover. Leaf switch with sealed cover.