JPH0472331B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a push switch used in watches, electronic devices, etc., in which a movable member is installed in a case so as to be movable forward and backward with a spring bias. Regarding a push button switch in which a movable member is locked from a first position to a second position by an initial press, and is released from the lock and returns to the first position by a second press, in particular, a lock of a push button switch with an improved locking mechanism is provided. It is about the mechanism.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of push button switch is generally composed of a metal case 1, a guide mechanism 2, a movable member 3, a coil spring 4, and a terminal plate 5, as shown in FIG. At the four corners of the opening of the case 1, there are terminal boards 5.
It integrally has a mounting piece 1a for mounting the push button switch itself, and is bent to form a mounting plate portion 1b with a hole for fixing the push button switch itself to a device or the like with screws. The guide mechanism 2 includes a fulcrum hole 2a, a metal plate 22 formed by bending both sides and having a leaf spring portion 2b in the center, and a guide pin 24 rotatably supported in the fulcrum hole 2a. The movable member 3 is an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin, and includes a push button portion 3a, a spring accommodating portion 3b into which the coil spring 4 is loaded, and a movable contact 5a.
A groove portion 3c is formed to fixedly accommodate the case 1, and is movable forward and backward within the case 1. A heart-shaped groove 3d is formed in the center of the body of the movable member 3, into which the tip of the guide pin 24 is fitted. The movable member 3 moves from the first position to the second position with the initial pressure.
It is configured to be locked in position, and when pressed again, the lock is released and returned to the first position. Note that the terminal plate 5 is composed of an insulating plate 5b and fixed contacts 5c, 5d, and 5e arranged in a row on the insulating plate 5b. Those fixed contacts 5
It slides between terminals c, 5d, and 5e to switch the contacts.

[Problems to be Solved] However, the push button switch lock mechanism having the heart-shaped cam has the following problems.

For assembly, it is necessary to install the guide pin 24 in the fulcrum hole 2a of the metal plate 22 in advance and then store it in the case 1, which requires a lot of man-hours and increases the cost.

A metal plate 22 and a guide pin 24 are required,
The number of parts is relatively large, and miniaturization cannot be achieved.

The present invention solves the above problems,
A locking mechanism for a push button switch is provided in which the parts of the metal plate 22 and the guide pin 24 are eliminated, and the functions thereof are provided to the movable member and the case instead.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the configuration of the locking mechanism of the push button switch according to the present invention is such that a movable member is installed in the case so as to be movable forward and backward with a spring bias. A push button switch that is locked from a first position to a second position by pressing and is released from locking and returns to the first position by pressing again, includes an engaging body, a locking recess, and a head lateral displacement guide. , a first surface, a second surface, and a stepped portion.

The engaging body is integrally connected to the movable member, has a hook and a contact portion for lateral displacement on its head, and is relatively highly elastic.

The locking recess extends inside the case on a line intersecting the moving direction of the movable member, and receives and engages with the hook so that the movable member is locked in the second position.

The head lateral displacement guide section is located inside the case on the advancing side of the movable member with respect to the locking recess, and extends on a diagonal line with respect to the advancing direction, and furthermore, is located on the advancing side of the movable member with respect to the locking recess. A part of the engaging body is extended in the escape direction, and at least its head is tilted laterally with respect to the advancing direction of the engaging body when the movable member is pressed again. At least the head is tilted in a direction transverse to the direction of travel via the direction abutting portion, thereby making it impossible for the hook to engage with the locking recess when the movable member returns to the first position. be.

The first surface is against which the head of the engaging body at the first position of the movable member collides inside the case.

The second surface is located inside the case at a higher position than the first surface, and receives the front surface of the head between the locking recess and the head lateral displacement guide and is brought into contact with the second surface. be.

The step portion is formed to allow the head to land from the second surface to the first surface during the lateral displacement guidance stroke of the head inside the case.

In addition to the above configuration, the front length of the head, the engagement length of the hook, and the distance between the locking recess and the head lateral displacement guide on the same advancing line of the engaging body are L1, L2, and L3, respectively. and L1>L3>L1-
The dimensional relationship is L2.

[Function] According to this configuration, the movable member moves from the first position against the urging force of the spring by the initial pressure, and the head of the engaging body crosses over the locking recess and moves to the side of the head. As far as the guide part for displacement is concerned, the front length of the head on the same line of movement of the engaging body and the length of the distance between the locking recess and the guide part for lateral head displacement are respectively L1,
L3, and the dimensional relationship is L1>L3, so during the movement of the movable member, the head of the engaging body does not fit into the head locking recess and the head lateral displacement guide, and the head does not fit into the head lateral displacement guide. It passes over the deviation guide part and reaches the advancement limit position. Here, when the pressure on the movable member is released, the movable member is pushed back by the biasing force of the spring, but since the engaging body is formed with elasticity, it is always in a state of pressing the inner surface of the case. Therefore, in the returning process of the engaging body, the hook of the head gradually engages with the head locking recess, and the head as a whole is drawn into the head locking recess and the head lateral displacement guide. As such, its front surface abuts the second surface and the movable member is locked in the second position.

Next, by pressing again, the engagement of the hook with the head locking recess is gradually released, and the head moves closer to the head lateral displacement guide, but the head remains on the second surface. Therefore, in the progressing process, the contact part for lateral deviation comes into contact with the guide part for lateral deviation of the head,
Due to the reaction, the head is tilted laterally with respect to the advancing direction of the engaging body. When the pressing is continued again, the head side of the engaging body bends more elastically and the head moves along the head lateral displacement guide part, but the head side moves along the head lateral displacement guide part. Since the stepped portion is formed so that the head part lands on the first surface from the second surface, the head part leaves the second surface and lands on the first surface, and then is pressed again. When released, the head is pushed back into sliding contact with the first surface by the biasing force of the spring, and the movable member is thus unlocked and returned to the first position.

[Example] Next, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a push button switch to which an embodiment of the push button switch locking mechanism according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the engaging body constituting the locking mechanism of the push button switch, and FIG. 2A, B,
C, D, and E are a front view, a top view, a rear view, a left side view, and a right side view showing the main parts of the engaging body, respectively, and FIG. 2 F is a view taken along the line FF in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the inside of the case of the push button switch. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing the cutout formed on the inside of the case, FIG. 4B is a cutaway view taken along line B-B of FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is a plan view of FIG. A
FIG.

As shown in these figures, the push-button switch of this example is roughly composed of a case 10, a movable member 12 mounted inside the case so as to be movable back and forth by the spring bias of a coil spring 4, and a terminal plate 5. is locked from the first position to the second position by the initial press, and is released from the lock by the second press and returns to the first position. Among them, the movable member 12 has a head 3
6 has a hook 36a and a contact surface 36b for lateral displacement.
An elastic engaging body 30 including a contact portion for lateral displacement is integrally connected. On the other hand, on the side of the inner surface 1e of the case 10, through which the front surface of the head 36 is guided when the movable member 12 moves back and forth, the movable member 12 is locked in the second position by extending on a line intersecting the direction of movement. A locking recess 42a that receives and engages the hook 36a as shown in FIG. , by pressing the movable member 12 again, the contact surface 3 for the lateral displacement direction is
When the movable member 12 returns to the first position by tilting the head 36 laterally with respect to the traveling direction via the hook 36a and the locking recess 42a,
Head lateral displacement guide portion 44a that disables engagement with
and has. Here, from the state in which the head 36 is tilted until the movable member 12 returns to the first position,
The first surface that the front side of the head 36 contacts is the case 10
When the hook 36a is engaged with the locking recess 42a and until the head 36 is tilted from this engaged state, the locking recess 42a and the head lateral displacement guide 44a are connected to each other. The second surface 46b that the front surface of the head 36 contacts between
The inner surface 1e of the case 10 is formed by a third cut-and-raised piece 46. For this reason,
The second surface 46b is located at a higher position than the inner surface 1e, and the front surface of the head 36 contacts the second surface 46b while the body 34 of the engaging body 30 is elastically deformed. The cut edge of the second surface 46b is the stepped portion 4.
6a, and the stepped portion 46a connects the front of the head 36 to the second surface 46b when the head 36 is tilted.
Then, it is caused to land on the inner surface 1e of the case 10, which is the first surface, by the shape restoring force of the body portion 34.

The movable member 12 is an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin, and includes a push button part 12a, a spring housing part 12b into which the coil spring 4 is loaded, and a groove part 12c in which the movable contact 5a is fixedly housed. It is attached so that it can move forward and backward within the interior.

The engaging body 30 is connected to the movable member 12 at its base 32.
It is made of synthetic resin with relatively high elasticity. This engaging body 30
consists of a base 32, a body 34 and a head 36.
As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the body 34 is formed thinner than the head 36, so that the head 36 is easily flexible in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. The head 36 is formed with a hook 36a and a lateral displacement contact surface 36b serving as a lateral displacement contact portion. The hook 36a has a downward wedge shape and is configured to be inclined in one direction. In this embodiment, the contact surface 3 for lateral displacement
6b is formed at the corner of the top surface of the head 36 at an obtuse angle with respect to the top surface.

The case 1 is made of a single metal plate and has a box shape. At the four corners of the opening of this case 1, mounting pieces 1a for mounting the terminal board 5 are integrally formed, and mounting plate parts 1b with holes for fixing the push button switch itself to equipment etc. are bent and formed. has been done. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 1 of the case 1
A cut-and-raised portion 40 is provided approximately at the center of the inner surface 1e of c as the first surface.

The cut-and-raised portion 40 includes a first cut-and-raised piece 42 that forms a locking recess 42a, and a head lateral displacement guide portion 44a.
It consists of a second cut and raised piece 44 that forms a step surface 46a and a third cut and raised piece 46 that forms a step surface 46a and a second surface 46b.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the first cut-and-raised piece 42 is cut along an imaginary line 42l by cutting the upper side and both sides of a substantially rectangular shape so as to intersect with the moving direction (indicated by an arrow) of the movable member 12. The upper edge is tilted slightly to the right. By forming the first raised piece 42, a locking recess 42a capable of receiving the hook 36a is provided, as shown in FIG. 4C.

The second cut-and-raised piece 44 is located on the advancing side of the movable member 12 with respect to the locking recess 42a, that is, the first cut-and-raised piece 42, and is arranged so as to be diagonal at an appropriate angle with respect to the direction of movement of the movable member 12. Cut both sides and draw imaginary line 4
4l, and the long side end of the triangle is tilted slightly to the right. Such second cut and raised piece 4
4, the long side ends thereof become guide portions 44a for lateral displacement of the head, as shown in FIG. 4C. The left side portion of the head lateral displacement guide portion 44a extends in the escape direction with respect to the first cut and raised piece 42.

The third cut and raised piece 46 is connected to the first cut and raised piece 42 and the second cut and raised piece 46.
Both sides cut by cutting and raising the cut and raised piece 44 and the upper side of the trapezoid including this are cut, and the lower side part is bent twice, and the stepped surface 46a
and a second surface 46b. In this example, the second
The surface 46b is gradually lowered toward the right.

The upper edge of the first cut and raised piece 42 and the second cut and raised piece 42
The height relationship between the long side ends of 4 is not very strict, and in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The long side end of the second cut and raised piece 44 is slightly lower than the upper side end of the second cut and raised piece 42; may be slightly higher. Further, the second surface 46b is the first cut and raised piece 42.
It is lower than the upper side end and the long side end of the second cut and raised piece 44.

Due to the initial pressure, the movable member 12 moves against the biasing force of the coil spring 4, and along with this, the head 36 of the engaging body 30 slides on the inner surface 1e of the case 10. proceed in the same direction. Fourth
As shown in FIG. The length of the distance from the long side end is L1, L2, respectively.
L3, and the dimensional relationship is L1>L3>L1-L2.

Next, to explain the operation of the above embodiment, first, due to the initial pressure, the movable member 12 having the engaging body 30 in the state A in FIG. Moved from the position, the head 36 of the engaging body 30 passes over the first cut and raised piece 42 as in the state shown in FIG. 5A, and then as in the state in FIG. 5A, , leading to the second cut and raised piece 44. Here, the front length of the head 36 of the engaging body 30 on the same traveling line and the distance length between the upper edge of the first cut and raised piece 42 and the head lateral displacement guide part 44a are respectively L1 and L3, Since the dimensional relationship is L1>L3, the head 36 of the engaging body 30 is located between the head locking recess 42a and the head lateral displacement guide 44a, that is, the second position during the movement of the movable member 12. It does not fit into the surface 46b, but passes over the head lateral displacement guide portion 44a and reaches the advancement limit position. Here, when the pressure on the movable member 12 is released, due to the biasing force of the coil spring 4,
Although the movable member 12 is pushed back, its engaging body 30
Since it is formed with elasticity, it is always in a state of pressing against the inner surface 1e of the case 10,
Therefore, during the return process of the engaging body 30, the hook 36a of the head 36 slips under the first cut and raised piece 42. Here, L3>L1-L
2, the head 36 as a whole gradually engages with the head locking recess 42a, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 5B. The movable member 12 collides with the second surface 46 so as to be drawn between it and the lateral shift guide portion 44a, and thus the movable member 12 is locked in the second position.
When this lock is engaged, the upper end of the first cut and raised piece 42 is slightly inclined to the right, and the third cut and raised piece 42 is tilted slightly to the right.
Since the second surface 46b of 6 is gradually lowered in the right direction, the hook 36a is securely locked.

Next, when the pressure is applied again, the engagement of the hook 36a with the locking recess 42a is gradually released.
The head 36 moves toward the head lateral displacement guide portion 44a, but since the head 36 is on the second surface 46b, as shown in FIG. While the contact portion 36b is in contact with the head lateral displacement guide portion 44a, the head 36 is tilted laterally with respect to the advancing direction of the engaging body 30 due to the reaction. If you continue pressing again,
The head 36 of the engaging body 30 is
While bending the side more elastically, the head 36 moves along the head lateral displacement guide section 44a, but in the middle of the lateral displacement guide stroke of the head 36, the head 36
Since the stepped portion 46a is formed so as to land from the surface 46b to the first surface, that is, the inner surface 1e,
As in the state B of FIGS. 4 and 5D, the head 36 is separated from the second surface 46b and lands on the inner surface 1e. After that, when the pressure is released again, as shown in FIG. So, the fifth
The movable member 12 returns to the first position as in the state shown in FIG. D.

According to this configuration, the inner surface 1e of the case 10 has a cam function and an engaged function, and the engaging body 30 is made flexible to exhibit a cam follower function, so that the number of parts can be reduced. can be reduced and is easy to assemble. In addition, in manufacturing the parts, only a slight cutting work is required on the inner surface 1e of the case 10 compared to the conventional method, and the manufacturing of the engaging body 30 is different from the manufacturing of the movable member 12 using a mold different from the conventional method. It can be achieved at the same time. Note that if the case 10 is made of a synthetic resin molded product, the cutting work can be omitted.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing another embodiment of the engaging body. This engaging body 50 is different from the engaging body 30 in that the hook 5 of the head 52 is
A curved notch 54a is formed in the body portion 54 on the opposite side of the constriction portion 52c of 2a. With this configuration, when the head 52 of the engaging body 50 lands on the step surface 46a from the second surface 46b, it is possible to improve the torsional balance and increase the strength. Note that 52b is a contact surface for lateral displacement.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the locking mechanism of the push button switch according to the present invention has the following effects: Since the separate metal plate and guide pin can be omitted, the number of assembly steps can be reduced. can reduce manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, since the number of parts is small, it is possible to reduce the size.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a push button switch to which an embodiment of the push button switch locking mechanism according to the present invention is applied. Figure 2 A, B, C, D, and E are
These are a front view, a top view, a rear view, a left side view, and a right side view showing the main parts of the engaging body in the same example, and FIG. 2F is cut along the line FF in FIG. 2A. FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the inside of the case in the same embodiment. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing the cutout formed inside the case in the same embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4A. . FIGS. 5A, B, C, and D are explanatory diagrams each showing the operation mode of the engaging body in the same embodiment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing another embodiment of the engaging body. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a conventional push button switch. 1, 10...Case, 1a...Mounting piece, 1b...
...Mounting part with holes, 1c...Bottom plate, 1e...Inner surface,
2... Guide mechanism, 22... Metal plate, 2a... Fulcrum hole, 2b... Leaf spring part, 3, 12... Movable member, 3a, 12a... Push button part, 3b, 12b...
Spring housing portion, 3c, 12c...Groove portion, 3d...Heart-shaped groove portion, 4...Coil spring, 5...Terminal board,
5a...Movable contact, 5b...Insulating plate, 5c, 5
d, 5e... fixed contact, 30, 50... engaging body,
32... Base, 34, 54... Trunk, 36, 52
...Head, 36a, 52a...Hook, 36b,
52b...Abutment surface for lateral displacement, 40...Edge portion, 4
2...first cut piece, 42a...lock recess,
42l...Imaginary line, 44...Second cut piece, 44
a... Guide part for lateral head displacement, 44l... Imaginary line,
46...Second cut and raised piece, 46a...Step surface, 46
b... second surface, 52b... constriction, 54a...
...Curved notch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A movable member is installed in the case so as to be able to advance and retreat with a spring bias, and this movable member is locked from the first position to the second position by the initial press, and is released from the lock by the second press, and returns to the first position. In the push-button switch that returns to normal, the movable member is integrally connected with an elastic engaging body having a hook and a lateral displacement contact portion on the head, and the front of the head is On the inner side of the guided case,
a locking recess extending on a line intersecting the moving direction and receiving and engaging the hook so that the movable member is locked in the second position;
On the moving direction side of the movable member with respect to the locking recess, it extends on a diagonal line with respect to the moving direction of the movable member, and when the movable member is pressed again, at least the head a head lateral displacement guide part that tilts the part laterally with respect to the traveling direction to disable engagement between the hook and the locking recess when the movable member returns to the first position; Until the movable member returns to the first position from the tilted state of the head, the first surface in contact with the front surface of the head, and when the hook engages with the locking recess and this engaged state. until the head tilts, a second surface where the front surface of the head contacts at a position higher than the first surface between the locking recess and the head lateral displacement guide; a stepped portion that causes the front of the head to land on the first surface from the second surface when the portion is tilted;
, and the front length of the head, the engagement length of the hook, and the distance between the locking recess and the head lateral displacement guide on the same traveling line of the engaging body are L1 and L2, respectively. , L3, they have a dimensional relationship of L1>L3>L1-L2.