JP2580234B2 - Push button switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a push-button switch.
The present invention relates to a so-called push-lock / turn-reset type push-button switch which is locked when an operation button is pushed in, and is unlocked when the operation button is rotated in a predetermined direction to release the operation button.

<Prior art> A conventional push button switch of this type has a rectangular housing at the rear of an operation unit, and a stopper or the like is disposed using four corners of the housing, and is integrally formed with the push button in an axial direction and A cylindrical cam or the like is provided at the rear of the movable portion that is displaced in the circumferential direction, and the function of the push lock and the turn reset is controlled by engaging the cylindrical cam or the like with the above-described stopper or the like. (For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 54-139276 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-124281) <Problems to be Solved by the Invention> According to such a conventional technique, since it has a rectangular housing, it is mounted on a panel. Occupied area, the required depth behind the panel becomes large and a large occupied volume is required,
Further, there is a disadvantage that the number of components such as a cam, a stopper, and a spring for pressing the stopper is large, and the number of steps of the assembling work is also increased.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks all at once, and to drastically reduce the size and weight and reduce the manufacturing cost.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of the embodiments.

The push button switch according to the present invention includes a generally cylindrical fixed member 1 and a generally cylindrical movable member 2 made of elastic plastic and fitted inside the fixed member and slidingly displaced in the axial direction. An operation button 3 provided at the front end of the movable member 2, the fixed member 1 and the movable member 2;
The spring 4 is mounted so as to press the movable member 2 forward with respect to the fixed member 1, and both ends in the axial direction are fixed to the fixed member 1 and the movable member 2, respectively. A spring portion 5 integrally formed with the movable member 2 and having a free end formed in an arc-like rod shape and having a free end protruding outward in a natural state; and a rear end face of the spring portion 5 The movable member 2
And a structure formed on the fixed member 1, wherein the spring portion 5 projects outward when the operation button 3 and the movable member 2 are in the first state in which they are returned. Step 8 formed between the restraining surface 6 for restraining the operation and the space 7 for releasing the restraint when the operation button 3 and the movable member 2 are pushed in the second state. When the operation button 3 and the movable member 2 are rotated by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction from the state described above, the operation button 3 and the movable member 2 are caused by the axial restoring force of the spring 4.
Is characterized by having a spring portion control structure comprising a reset passage 9 of the spring portion 5 for returning the spring to the first state.

<Operation> In the return state, the operation button 3 and the movable member 2 are located forward by the force of the spring 4, and at this time, the tip of the spring portion 5 integrally formed with the movable member 2 abuts on the restraining surface 6 of the fixed member 1. In contact. When the operation button 3 is depressed from this return state, the distal end of the spring portion 5 is displaced while sliding on the restraining surface together with the movable member 2, and is released to the space portion 7 after passing the step portion 8, and the spring is released. The tip of the part protrudes outward. In this state, the movable member 2 for the presence of the step 8
Is unable to return to the front and is locked in the pushed state. In the second state, the movable member is allowed to rotate in the circumferential direction. When the operation button 3 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the reset direction (circumferential direction), the barrier of the step portion is removed, and the movable member is fixed. The movable member 2 changes forward with respect to the fixed member 1 by the axial restoring force of the spring 4 through the reset passage 9 formed in the member 1, and then the movable member 2
Returns to the return state. That is, since both ends of the spring 4 are fixed to the fixed member 1 and the movable member 2, respectively, when the operation button 3 is rotated in the reset direction (circumferential direction), the spring 4 is torsionally deformed. The movable member 2 is rotated in the opposite direction to the operation when the operation button is operated by the force of the deformation of the spring 4 to return to the original state, and returns to the return state.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view (BB section in FIG. 2) of a return state (first state) of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an AA section in FIG. The figure is shown.

The fixing member 1 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and has a stepped portion 10 for mounting from the front into the circular hole of the panel and a mounting male screw 11 behind the stepped portion, and a rear end for connecting the switch portion 12. Cuts 13... 13 are formed. The movable member 2 fitted inside the fixed member 1 is formed of a plastic material having elasticity, and has a cylindrical shape in which a cavity 14 in which a light source for illumination can be provided as necessary is formed in the center. ,
An operation button 3 is mounted on the front end. Fixing member 1
A spring (spring spring) 4 is provided between a shoulder 15 formed on the inner surface of the movable member 2 and a shoulder 16 formed on the outer surface of the movable member 2. Both ends of the spring 4 are recessed by the shoulder 15 and the shoulder 16. It is fitted into and fixed to.

At the rear end of the movable member 2, two springs 5,
5 are provided. The stem of the spring portion 5 is formed integrally with the movable member 2 and has a free-end circular-arc-shaped tip, and a projecting portion 17 slightly projecting outward is formed at the tip of the spring portion 5. When no force is applied, the protruding portion 17 is formed so as to protrude outward as shown by a solid line in FIG.

At the rear end of the movable member 2, a ring member 20 is fixed integrally with the movable member 2. As shown in a perspective view in FIG. 5, the ring member 20 has a ring shape covering the arc-shaped spring portions 5, 5, and is fixed to the movable member 2 at two places on the front surface thereof. , 21 are formed, a small projection 22 is formed on the inner surface of the locking portion 21, and small holes 23, 23 into which the small projection 22 fits are formed at the rear end of the movable member 2.

The ring member 20 cooperates with the movable member 2 to form the spring portions 5,5.
Operation space and the operation button 3
This function reliably transmits the motion of the switch to the switch unit 12.

At the rear end of the fixing member 1, spring portion control structures for performing a push lock / turn reset function in cooperation with the two spring portions are formed at two places symmetrical with the axis.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a restraining surface 6 for restraining the distal end protruding portion 17 of the spring portion 5 from protruding outward, a space portion 7 continuing to the rear thereof, a restraining surface 6 and a space portion 7 are provided. Is formed between the steps. In FIG. 2, the range in which the suppression surface 6 is formed is indicated by α in FIG. In the embodiment, α = 140 °. Therefore, the depressing surface 6 and the step 8 are not formed in the range of (180 ° -α),
It is continuous with the space 7 that releases 17. This (180 ゜-
The axial groove 18 in the range α) constitutes the first half of the reset passage 9. An inclined surface 19 for returning from the front part of the groove 18 to the restraining surface 6 constitutes the rear half part of the reset passage 9.

FIG. 3 shows the first state (lower half) shown in FIG. 1 together with the second state (upper half) locked by pressing the operation button. FIG. 4 also shows the above-described second state (solid line) and the state of the spring portion when the operation button is rotated in the reset direction from that state (two-dot chain line).

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, since a generally cylindrical movable member is fitted inside a generally cylindrical fixed member,
As before, an illumination light source can be provided at the axis of the movable member, and furthermore, the spring portion is integrally formed with the movable member, and the spring portion control structure for engaging with the movable member is integrally formed with the fixed member. In addition, no parts are required for performing the push-lock / turn-reset function, and the entire device is housed in a cylindrical housing.

Also, a ring member individually formed at the rear end of the movable member 2
Since the 20 is fixed, not only is it easy to form the arc-shaped spring portions 5,5, but also the movement of the spring portions 5,5 is limited in the radial direction, so that no external axial force acts on the spring portions. Thus, the durability and reliability of the spring portion are improved.

Furthermore, for the first half where the operation buttons and the like are provided,
The rear half with the built-in push lock / turn reset mechanism has been made lighter than before, so the center of gravity of the whole has moved forward, and the rear protrusion like the conventional rear rectangular housing has been eliminated, In combination with the provision of the step portion 10 and the mounting male screw 11 as shown in the embodiment, the push button switch can be mounted from the front of the control panel, and the efficiency of the control panel mounting operation is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view (BB section of FIG. 2) showing a first state of the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the embodiment, showing a first state (lower half) and a second state (upper half) together with a longitudinal section. FIG. FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the ring member 20 of the above embodiment and its peripheral portion. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fixed member 2 ... Movable member 3 ... Operation button 4 ... Spring 5 ... Spring part 6 ... Suppression surface 7 ... Space part 8 ... Step part 9 ... Reset passage 20 ... Ring member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A movable member having a cylindrical shape as a whole, a movable member having a cylindrical shape as a whole, which is made of elastic plastic and is fitted inside the fixed member and slidably displaces in the axial direction. An operation button provided at the front end, mounted between the fixed member and the movable member so as to press the movable member forward with respect to the fixed member, and both ends in the axial direction are fixed to the fixed member and the movable member, respectively. And a spring portion, the root portion of which is integrally formed with the movable member, the tip of which is in the form of an arc-shaped rod forming a free end, the free end of which is formed to protrude outward in a natural state, A ring member which covers the rear end surface of the spring portion and is fixed to the movable member; and a structure formed on the fixed member, wherein the operation button and the movable member are returned to a first position. In the state of A step formed between a restraining surface for restraining the spring portion from projecting outward and a space for releasing the restraint in the second state in which the operation button and the movable member are pushed in; and When the operation button and the movable member are rotated by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction from the second state, the operation button and the movable member are returned to the first state by an axial restoring force of the spring. A push button switch having a spring portion control structure including a reset passage for the spring portion.