Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Contact
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-17
2002-05-21
Bradley, P. Austin (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Contact
C174S261000, C439S876000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06392174
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board and a switch using the same. Particularly, the invention is concerned with a printed circuit board with fixed contacts of a switch formed thereof, as well as a switch using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional printed circuit board and a switch using the same will be described below with reference to drawings.
FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view for explaining a conventional printed circuit board and a switch using the same. This conventional switch is disposed integrally with a vehicular steering wheel for example and is used for setting a cruising speed in vehicular auto-cruising, for switching over from one such cruising speed to another, and for radio channel selection.
FIG. 4
is a sectional view of a principal portion for explaining the switch shown in FIG.
3
.
In
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a mounting member
1
is formed by molding an insulating molding material such as, for example, a glass-filled epoxy resin. The mounting member
1
has a flat plate-like support member
1
a
and a plurality (for example, three) of cylindrical boss portions
1
b
projecting outward (upward) at predetermined positions of the support member
1
a.
The boss portions
1
b
of the mounting member
1
are each composed of a large-diameter portion
1
c
and a small-diameter portion
1
d
, with a stepped portion being formed by the large- and small-diameter portions
1
c
,
1
d
. The boss portions
1
b
constitute mounting means.
A printed circuit board
2
is formed by molding an insulating molding material such as, for example, a glass-filled epoxy resin or phenolic resin and it has a flat plate-like board portion
2
a
, circuit patterns
2
b
formed in a predetermined shape on at least one side of the board portion
2
a
and having a predetermined electrical function, and a plurality (for example, 3+2=5) of circular mounting holes
2
c
and
2
g
formed in the board portion
2
a
at positions where the circuit patterns
2
b
are not formed.
In an inner walls
2
d
and
2
h
of the mounting holes
2
c
and
2
g
, the board portion
2
a
is arranged so as to exposed. For example, the mounting holes
2
c
and
2
g
are formed by blanking with use of a press.
A pair of oppositely disposed fixed patterns
2
e
of a switch
10
which will be described later are connected to each of the circuit patterns
2
b
, which patterns have a predetermined electrical function.
An elastic member
3
is formed in a generally flat plate shape by molding a transparent or translucent elastic material such as rubber and it is provided with a base portion
3
a
, a plurality (for example, three) of generally cylindrical retaining portions
3
b
for retaining upper end portions of the boss portions
1
b
of the mounting member
1
, and boss portions
3
g
which are inserted through the mounting holes
2
g
formed in the printed circuit board
2
to mount the elastic member
3
to the printed circuit board
2
. The retaining portions
3
b
and the boss portions
3
g
are formed in an outwardly projecting state from the base portion
3
a.
Movable contact portions
4
, which are integral with the elastic member
3
, are each formed in a generally dome shape by molding and are each provided with a generally cylindrical pressing portion
4
a
and a movable contact
4
b
(see
FIG. 4
) provided on the underside of the pressing portion
4
a
. The elastic member
3
integral with the movable contact portions
4
is disposed on the printed circuit board
2
by a suitable means so that the paired fixed contacts
2
e
of the printed circuit board
2
are opposed to the movable contact
4
b
in each movable contact portion
4
. The switch
10
is formed by moving the movable contact
4
b
into contact with and away from the fixed contacts
2
e
(making ON and OFF).
The following description is now provided about a mounting process for mounting the printed circuit board and the elastic member to the mounting member.
According to this mounting process, first the mounting member
1
and the printed circuit board
2
are disposed so that the small-diameter portions
1
d
of the boss portions
1
b
on the mounting member are inserted respectively through the mounting holes
2
c
formed in the printed circuit board
2
. As a result, the printed circuit board
2
is brought into engagement with the mounting member
1
and is positioned relative to the mounting member. Thus, the printed circuit board is made integral with the mounting member. The insertion of the small-diameter portions
1
d
into the mounting holes
2
c
is effected in a slightly tight fitting condition.
Next, in the state in which the mounting member
1
and the printed circuit board
2
are thus rendered integral with each other, the elastic member
3
is put on the printed circuit board so that the boss portions
3
g
of the elastic member
3
are inserted respectively through the mounting holes
2
g
formed in the printed circuit board and so that the small-diameter portions
1
d
of the mounting member
1
are respectively fitted in the retaining portions
3
b
of the elastic member. As a result, the paired fixed contacts
2
e
on the printed circuit board
2
are opposed to the movable contact
4
b
of each movable contact
4
. In this way the mounting member
1
, the printed circuit board
2
and the elastic member
3
are rendered integral with one another.
In the conventional printed circuit board
2
described above, the board portion
2
a
(cut-out surfaces of the printed circuit board) are exposed as they are to the mounting holes
2
c
formed by blanking with a press in the printed circuit board, so if the small-diameter portions
1
d
of the mounting member
1
are inserted into the mounting holes
2
c
in a slightly tight fitting condition, a powdery material
5
(see
FIG. 4
) formed by the blanking from the board portion
2
a
is scattered to one side of the printed circuit board
2
. The powdery material
5
thus scattered drops onto the fixed contacts
2
e
(circuit patterns
2
b
) on the printed circuit board
2
, thus giving rise to the problem that the contact between the fixed contacts
2
e
and the movable contact
4
b
both constituting a switch becomes unstable.
The problem of the powdery material
5
arises also in case of inserting the boss portions
3
g
of the elastic member
3
in a slightly tight fitting condition into the mounting holes
2
g
formed in the printed circuit board
2
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished for solving the above-mentioned problem and it is an object of the invention to provide a printed circuit board
2
free from a fear of scattering of a powdery material from the mounting holes
2
c
or
2
g
, as well as a switch using such a printed circuit board.
In the printed circuit board according to the present invention, circuit patterns are formed on a board portion which is formed of an insulating-material, and mounting holes are formed in the board portion, the mounting holes being subjected to a through-hole plating method to form electrically conductive through-hole-plated plating layers respectively therein, further, boss portions of a mounting member formed of an insulating material are inserted respectively into the mounting holes to mount the printed circuit board to the mounting member.
In the printed circuit board according to the present invention, the electrically conductive plating layers formed respectively in the mounting holes are independent of the circuit patterns.
In the printed circuit board according to the present invention, the circuit patterns have fixed contacts of a switch.
The switch using a printed circuit board according to the present invention has the printed circuit board, a mounting member formed with boss portions, and a movable contact disposed in an opposed relation to fixed contacts, the boss portions of the mounting member being inserted respectively into mounting holes formed in the printed circuit board
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Bradley P. Austin
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Klaus Lisa N.
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