Switch structure

Details Switch structure Switch structure

2003-07-01

2004-10-26

Scott, James R. (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Multiple circuit control

Multiple switch

C200S315000, C200S343000, C200S344000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06809273

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch structure used in an operation switch panel for an air conditioner, an audio system, and so on, for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a switch structure shown in
FIG. 12
is used in an operation switch panel for an air conditioner, an audio system, and so on, for a vehicle.
The switch comprises a push button section P
5
attached to a supporting member P
1
in such a way that the push button section P
5
can pivot around a pivot shaft P
3
as a center, a push rod section P
9
pushed inward by the push button section P
5
while being guided by a guide section P
7
when the push button section P
5
pivots, and a switch element P
11
that is turned on and off by the push rod section P
9
pushed inward.
Another switch structure shown in
FIG. 13
comprises a push button section P
5
formed integrally with the push rod section P
9
while being pivotally attached to the supporting member P
1
via a hinge P
13
and a switch element P
11
that is turned on and off by the push rod section P
9
.
In these switch structures, the back of the push button section P
5
is generally illuminated by a light source section P
17
attached to a substrate P
15
for night illumination, but the light source section P
17
are often shared with a plurality of switch structures to reduce the manufacturing cost of the switch.
In these cases, the light source section P
17
is, as a consequence, installed at a position away from the position directly under the push button section P
5
so that other switch structures are also illuminated and, therefore, the distance between the substrate P
15
and the push button section P
5
is large so that a light path from the light source section P
17
to the back of the push button section P
5
is ensured.
However, in the switch structure shown in
FIG. 12
, as the push rod section P
9
and the push button section P
5
are separate parts, there is the cost of the part, a die and assembly for each part, resulting in a rise in the manufacturing cost. Moreover, a problem occurs that a sound of parts returning into place is produced between the push button section P
5
and the push rod section P
9
, resulting in a loss of excellent feel of the switch.
In the switch structure shown in
FIG. 13
, as the push rod section P
9
is formed integrally with the push button section P
5
, the movement of the push rod section P
9
, while the push button section P
5
pivots, is not a linear one toward the switch element P
11
but a pivot movement about the hinge P
13
as a center.
As a consequence, as shown in
FIG. 14
, when the push button section P
5
pivots and the push rod section P
9
pushes in the switch element P
11
, the push rod section P
9
tilts with respect to the switch element P
11
and the tip of the push rod section P
9
is offset from the center of the switch element P
11
. Particularly when the distance between the substrate P
15
and the push button section P
5
is set large in order to ensure the light path from the light source section P
17
to the push button section P
5
and, accordingly, the push rod section P
9
is long, the amount of the offset amount is large.
As described above, if the push rod section P
9
tilts with respect to the switch element P
11
or the tip of the push rod section P
9
is offset from the center of the switch element P
11
, a problem occurs that the contact point of the switch element P
11
does not conduct electricity or that the operability is marred.
Moreover, if the operating stroke of the push button section P
5
is shortened, the problem of the offset of the push rod section P
9
can be resolved to a certain extent but in this case another problem occurs that the operability of the switch is marred.
The present invention has been developed with the above-mentioned problems being taken into consideration and the object is to provide a switch structure, the manufacturing cost of which is low, which operates stably, and the operability and the excellent feel are maintained.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a push rod section is provide with a flexible portion and when a push button section is pushed and moves rotationally, the push rod section comes into contact with a guide section and bends the flexible portion and at the same time the push rod section is guided by the guide section and pushes a switch element.
Due to the rotational movement of the push button section, the push rod section comes into contact with the guide section and bends the flexible portion of the push rod section even if the push rod section as a whole tilts with respect to the switch element and, therefore, the switch element can be securely turned on and off and excellent operability can be obtained.
Moreover, as the push rod section is integrated with the push button section as a part thereof, the manufacturing cost can be reduced compared to a case where the push rod section is manufactured as a separate part. In addition, it is unlikely that a sound of parts returning into place is produced between the push button section and the push rod section or that the excellent feel of the switch structure is marred.
When the push rod section pushes the switch element, the angle of a contact portion (the vicinity of the portion that comes into contact with the switch element) of the push rod section with respect to the direction of movement of the switch element is within the range in which the effects of the present invention (that is, the push rod section can securely turn on and off the switch element and the operability is excellent) can be obtained (for example, the contact portion of the push rod section is in parallel with the direction of movement of the switch element).
According to a second aspect of the present invention, as a push button section is attached to a supporting member via a hinge, it is possible to move the push button section rotationally about the hinge as a center by pushing part of the push button section.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, as the distance in the pushing direction between a flexible portion of a push rod section and a switch element is almost equal to the distance between a hinge and the switch element, it is unlikely that the flexible portion bends considerably (compared to a case where the flexible portion is nearer to the switch element than to the hinge) when a push button section pivots. Due to this, the pivot movement of the push button section does not require a large operating force and therefore excellent operability can be obtained.
In addition, as the amount of flexure at the flexible portion is small, it is unlikely that a large stress is exerted on the flexible portion and therefore the durability of the push rod section is improved.
The pushing direction in this case is reffered to, for example, a direction in which the push button section is pushed or a direction in which the push rod section pushes the switch element.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as a push button section is attached pivotally to a supporting member, it is possible to make the push button section pivot around a pivot shaft as a center by pushing part of the push button section.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, as the distance in the pushing direction between a flexible portion of a push rod section and a switch element is almost equal to the distance between a shaft of rotational movement and the switch element, it is unlikely that the flexible portion bends considerably (compared to a case where the flexible portion is nearer to the switch element than to the shaft of rotational movement) when a push button section pivots. Due to this, the pivot movement of the push button section does not require a large operating force and therefore excellent operability can be obtained.
In addition, as the amount of flexure at the flexible portion is small, it is unlikely that a large stress is exerted on the flexible portion and therefore th

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