Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Multiple circuit control – Multiple switch
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-24
2003-08-05
Enad, Elvin (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Multiple circuit control
Multiple switch
C200S302200, C200S314000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06603083
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a display-transmissible push switch structure and, more particularly, to a display-transmissible push switch structure to operate equipment such as an audio system and an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, wherein a key switch body of synthetic resin is integrally provided with an elastic sealing member of such a rubber on the circumference thereof to improve a dust and water proofing property.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 20
shows an arrangement of push-type key switch bodies
127
-
129
and a display
130
on a center cluster
126
of a dashboard
125
of a motor vehicle.
The key switch bodies
127
-
129
are arranged around the display
130
. With the key switch bodies
127
-
129
, equipment such as an air conditioner and an audio system operates, is adjusted, or is selected, and for example, shift of volume and sound quality of the audio system, shift of air quantity and blowing-out position of the air conditioner, selection of a radio station, and the like are carried out. The key switch bodes
127
-
129
and the display
130
are assembled onto the center cluster
126
as a switch structure body (i.e., switch module).
FIG. 21
is a front view showing a conventional push switch structure. The key switch bodies
127
-
129
are classified into two types. The one is the key switch body
127
on which characters showing mode, function, or the like are directly printed. The other type is of transmissible key switch bodies
128
,
129
capable of transmitting indication of the display
130
, which key switch bodies are arranged in parallel to a display surface of the display
130
.
A whole area
130
a
of the display
130
is larger than the display window
135
of a front cover
134
made of synthetic resin, and the transmissible key switch bodies
128
,
129
are arranged on a side end and a bottom end of the display (i.e., displaying area)
130
, respectively. The key switch body
128
at the side end indicates such a channel or frequency of the radio station, and the key switch body
129
at the bottom end indicates such an air quantity or a blowing-out direction of the air conditioner.
FIG. 22
is a perspective view showing the push switch structure of FIG.
21
.
In
FIG. 22
,
134
is the front cover made of synthetic resin,
127
-
129
are the key switch bodies,
130
is the display,
136
is a control substrate, and
137
indicates a metal casing.
The key switch bodies
127
-
129
, a through hole
139
for an adjusting knob
138
, a display window
140
for the display
130
, an inserting portion
141
for a cassette tape recorder or CD (i.e., compact disc memory) are provided in the front cover
134
. The transmissible key switch bodies
128
,
129
are arranged on the front side of the display
130
, and the letter—letter-printed key switch body
127
is arranged outside the display
130
.
The display
130
is assembled onto the control substrate
136
, on which a push-button switch (a microswitch)
141
a for the letter—letter-printed key switch body
127
is provided. The transmissible key switch body
128
is fixed to the front cover
134
in a state of being assembled onto a small electrode substrate
142
. An indicating means such as LCD (i.e., liquid crystal display) and ELD (i.e., electroluminescent display) is used for the display
130
.
Equipment
143
(not specifically illustrated) such as CD (i.e., compact disc memory) and a cassette tape recorder is arranged in the casing
137
, and an assembly
144
of the display
130
and the control substrate
135
, the key switch bodies
127
-
129
, and the front cover
134
are fixed to the front side of the casing
137
. The casing is fixed to the vehicle body (i.e., the backside of the center cluster
126
of
FIG. 23
) by a bracket
145
.
FIG. 23
is a perspective view showing a main portion, i.e., an assemblage structure of the transmissible key switch body
128
, of the push switch structure of FIG.
21
. The key switch bodies
129
are connected to a thin plate-like fixing plate
147
through an elastic portion
146
. The key switch bodies
128
are assembled onto an electrode substrate
142
. Openings
148
for the key switch bodies
128
are provided on the electrode substrate
142
.
A fixing plate
147
is positioned by a projecting portion
149
of the electrode substrate
142
. The key switch bodies
128
are supported in a cantilevered state. The other end of the key switch body
128
is put into contact with a push-button switch
150
on the electrode substrate. By pushing the key switch body
128
, the push-button switch
150
is pushed, and a contact point of the electrode substrate
142
is connected. A spring (not illustrated) for restoration is built in the push-button switch
150
, and a clicking-feel at switch-operation is exhibited by means of spring-force.
The electrode substrate
142
is connected to the control substrate
130
(
FIG. 18
) on a side of the display with connectors
151
,
152
. The center side of the key switch body
128
is formed out of a transparent resin member and the circumference is surrounded with a opaque resin member, whereby light leak and transmission of indication from the neighboring key switch body
128
are prevented.
Since indication of the display
130
transmits the key switch body
128
, various kinds of indications are obtained with one switch, whereby reduction of switch is attained. And, by using the thin elastic portion
146
as a hinge of the key switch body
128
, thin-modeling of the switch is attained.
With respect to the above conventional structure, however, dust or water invades the inside of the key switch body, which could cause poor contact of switch and a fog of an inner surface of the key switch body, and indication of the transmissible key switch body would get unvisible in a dusty, humid, rainy, or badly temperature-changing atmosphere, or a fitting work of switch, for example. Also, there would be a limitation in thinning the structure of switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a push switch structure, wherein water-and-dust proofing property of a push switch is improved and therefore deterioration of visibility of a transmissible switch displaying portion is dissolved and wherein the push switch is thinner and downsized, can securely be water-and-dustproofing, can be smoothly securely operated, and further is of low cost.
To achieve the above object, as a first aspect of the present invention, a push switch structure for a display includes: a key switch body capable of transmitting indication of the display; and an elastic sealing member adhering to a circumference of the key switch body so as to seal the key switch body.
As a second aspect of the present invention, in the structure with the above first aspect, the push switch structure further includes: an electrode substrate, wherein the key switch body has a transmissible portion and a non-transmissible portion and an elastic contact to electrically come into contact with the electrode substrate is provided in the non-transmissible portion.
As a third aspect of the present invention, in the structure with the above second aspect, the metal contact is provided in one non-transmissible portion of the key switch body and a hinge is provided in the other non-transmissible portion of the key switch body.
As a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the structure with the above second aspect, the non-transmissible portion is formed with the elastic sealing member and the elastic sealing member is supported by the metal contact.
As a fifth aspect of the present invention, a push switch structure for a display includes: a key switch body capable of transmitting indication of the display and having a collar portion; an elastic sealing member having an opening portion to receive the key switch body; and a cover to push the collar portion of the key switch body toward the elastic sealing member so that the colla
Amari Takeyuki
Furuya Yoshiyuki
Enad Elvin
Klaus Lisa N.
Yazaki -Corporation
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