Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Actuators
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2002-10-01
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Actuators
C200S517000, C200S296000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06459058
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating device to be used, for example, as an input portion for a game controller. Particularly, the invention is concerned with an operating device wherein an operating button is pushed and is allowed to slide within a housing to effect a switching operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6
is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an operating device for a game controller. As shown in the same figure, the operating device is provided with a housing
30
, a push button
31
, a presser member
32
, and a switch (not shown) which is operated by the push button
31
. The switch is mounted on a printed circuit board received within the housing
30
.
The housing
30
is formed with a forwardly projecting receptacle portion, and in a front side of the housing
30
is formed an insertion opening
38
, while in the interior of the housing
30
is disposed a support member
35
. In the support member
35
, a support plate
35
a
is formed integrally with the housing
30
, and at both ends of the support member
35
are formed support plates
35
b
respectively also in one piece with the housing
30
. The support plates
35
b
support a part of the push button
31
. The support plate
35
a
comprises support plates
35
a
1
,
35
a
2
and
35
a
3
, of which the support plate
35
a
2
, located centrally, is formed with a tapped hole
37
in an upper end thereof. Further, pins
36
extend upward respectively from the support plates
35
a
1
and
35
a
3
which are located on both sides of the support plate
35
a
2
. Near the insertion hole
38
are formed a pair of anti-dislodgement retaining portions
35
c
, one of which is not shown, for preventing outward dislodgement of the push button
31
.
The push button
31
is formed with a pair of slide portions
45
at both ends thereof, the slide portions
45
being longer at their lower portions than at their upper portions. The slide portions
45
are formed in an inverted L shape so as to cover upper ends of the support plates
35
b
. On an upper surface of the push button
31
is integrally formed a retaining lug
40
projecting upward, while on side faces of the push-button switch are integrally formed retaining lugs
39
projecting sideways and outward.
The presser member
32
, which is a plate member, is formed with a screw insertion hole
41
, pin insertion holes
42
for insertion of pins
36
therein, the pin insertion holes
42
being located on both sides of the screw insertion hole
41
, and an opening
43
. The opening
43
is partially cut out to form an anti-dislodgement retaining portion
44
for insertion of the retaining lug
40
therein.
In assembling the operating device thus constructed, the push button
31
is inserted into the housing
30
from above the housing so as to project outward from the insertion opening
38
. At this time, the push button
31
is retained by the retaining lugs
39
and the anti-dislodgement retaining portions
35
c
, whereby the push button
31
is prevented from coming off to the exterior of the housing
30
.
After or before the mounting of the push button
31
, the foregoing printed circuit board with a switch mounted thereon is inserted into the housing
30
so as to be positioned between the support member
35
and the push button
31
. Then, the presser member
32
is mounted from above the push button
31
, whereby the push button
31
is established its position. At this time, the pin insertion holes
42
are fitted on the pins
36
respectively, and after positioning for registration between the tapped hole
37
and the screw insertion hole
41
, a screw
34
is inserted into both holes from the presser member
32
side and is tightened. At the same time, the retaining lug
40
is inserted into the anti-dislodgement retaining portion
44
, whereby the push button
31
is prevented from projecting to a larger extent than a predetermined length.
In the above operating device, when the push button
31
is pushed, the slide portions
45
slide on the upper ends of the support plates
35
b
, and by the bottoms of a pair of frame portions
46
of the presser member
32
the push button
31
is prevented from tilting forward and coming off to the exterior from the housing
30
.
However, in the conventional operating device described above, the assembling process is troublesome and it has so far been impossible to manufacture the device inexpensively.
In assembling the above conventional operating device it is necessary to insert the push button
31
into the housing
30
from above, allow it to project forward from the insertion hole
38
, effect subsequent positioning of the push button
31
with the presser member
32
, and then fasten the push button with the screw
34
. With the push button
31
merely inserted into the housing
30
, the push button may project too much from the insertion hole
38
due to a curved shape of the housing
30
or of the push button, or it may assume an oblique position, thus making engagement of the retaining lug
40
with the anti-dislodgement retaining portion
44
impossible and hence making it impossible to effect positioning of the presser member
32
. Therefore, for making the retaining lug
40
and the anti-dislodgement retaining portion
44
engageable with each other, it is required to mount the presser member
32
while adjusting in which direction the push button
31
should face for example.
Besides, since it is necessary to use the presser member
32
and the screw
34
, the number of components used increases, which is disadvantageous in point of cost. In the case where there are used plural such operating devices, the manufacturing process becomes more complicated and it takes a longer time, thus making it impossible to effect a less expensive manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished for solving the above-mentioned problems and it is an object of the invention to provide an operating device capable of being assembled easily and being manufactured less expensively.
According to the present invention there is provided an operating device comprising a housing, a push button attached to the housing, and a switch portion adapted to be operated by the push button, wherein a support base for supporting the switch portion is received within the housing, the push button is inserted into the housing at a position at which it can push the switch portion and opposedly to the switch portion, and an anti-dislodgement retaining portion for preventing the push button from coming off to the exterior of the housing is formed between the support base and the push button.
Preferably, the support base is provided with a guide portion for restricting the movement of the push button in a direction perpendicular to a pushing direction of the push button and for guiding the movement of the push button in the pushing direction.
According to this construction, not only the push button can be guided in its pushing direction by utilizing the support base which supports the switch portion, but also the movement of the push button in a direction perpendicular to its pushing direction can be restricted. Besides, since it is not necessary to use any positioning or screwing component for the push button, the number of components used can be decreased, thus permitting a less expensive manufacture.
Moreover, the anti-dislodgement retaining portion not only prevents the push button from coming off to the exterior from the housing but also prevents the push button from projecting to the exterior of the housing to an excess degree beyond a predetermined length. Further, the foregoing guide portion can restrict the movement of the push button in a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction and thereby prevent the occurrence of wobbling.
Preferably, the housing is provided with a restricting portion opposedly to the push button on the side opposite to the guide portion to restrict the vertical movement of the push button in cooper
Shinohe Akihiro
Soma Masahiro
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Friedhofer Michael
LandOfFree
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