HK1162741B - Click mechanism for electric part - Google Patents

Description

Locking mechanism for electric component

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for generating a locking feeling (click feeling) during operation in an electric component that performs a rotation operation or an electric component that performs a slide operation.

Background

As a conventional locking mechanism of this type, for example, as described in patent document 1 or patent document 2, there is a locking mechanism using a ball and a coil spring.

Fig. 1 shows a structure around a switch box and a movable plate of a rotary switch provided with a locking mechanism disclosed in patent document 1, and in fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes the switch box, 2 denotes an operation shaft for performing a rotation operation, and 3 denotes the movable plate fixed to the operation shaft 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a movable contact that contacts a fixed contact (not shown), and 5 denotes a coil spring that biases the movable contact 4 toward the fixed contact and biases the movable plate 3 toward the inner upper wall surface of the switch case 1.

The locking mechanism is composed of a groove 1a formed in the inner peripheral surface of the switch case 1, a ball 6 inserted and mounted in two places on the outer peripheral surface of the movable plate 3, and a coil spring 7, and the ball 6 biased toward the inner peripheral surface of the switch case 1 by the coil spring 7 is engaged with the groove 1a, thereby providing a click feeling.

Patent document 1: (Japanese examined patent publication (Kokoku) No. 2-11701

Patent document 2: japanese Kokoku publication Sho-52-17096

However, in such a configuration, the balls are in elastic contact with the recesses and projections formed in the casing on the counterpart side in an aligned manner as in the above-described conventional example, and the balls form point contact (point contact), and the casing is partially worn, which causes a problem in terms of durability.

In addition, in an electric component such as a switch in which an operation shaft is rotationally operated, for example, a strong torque (step torque (ステップトルク)) needs to be generated in order to obtain a clear click feeling, but a coil spring having a large wire diameter needs to be used in order to generate a strong torque, and therefore, the reduction in size of the electric component is hindered in accordance with the increase in the outer diameter of the coil spring.

On the other hand, in the rotary operation type switch used for the portable electronic device, the operation handle is increased in size while the miniaturization is required, and for this reason, the locking mechanism is required to generate a strong torque which can realize clear switching with good touch and can prevent erroneous rotation.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a locking mechanism for an electrical component, which can provide a good and clear locking feeling, has good durability, and can be miniaturized.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking mechanism for an electrical component having a rotation operation shaft, the locking mechanism comprising: a spring which is disposed on the rotating plate that rotates integrally with the rotating operation shaft and is formed of a plate material or a wire material; a locking stopper which protrudes from an outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate and is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate so as to be able to move in and out; and projections and recesses formed in an inner peripheral surface of a housing accommodating the rotary plate and arranged in a circumferential direction thereof, wherein the locking stopper has a cylindrical shape, and a peripheral surface portion of the locking stopper is urged by the spring to elastically contact the projections and recesses.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking mechanism for an electrical component having a rotation operation shaft, the locking mechanism comprising: a concave-convex part which is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate rotating integrally with the rotating operation shaft and is arranged along the circumferential direction; a locking stopper configured to protrude from an inner peripheral surface of a case that houses the rotating plate and to be capable of moving in and out, the locking stopper being disposed on the case; and a spring disposed in the housing and formed of a plate material or a wire material, wherein the locking stopper has a cylindrical shape, and the spring biases the locking stopper so that a peripheral surface portion of the locking stopper elastically contacts the concave-convex portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking mechanism for an electrical component having a slide operation lever, the locking mechanism comprising: a spring which is disposed on a movable body that slides integrally with the slide operation lever and is formed of a plate material or a wire material; a locking stopper which protrudes from a peripheral edge portion of the movable body and is disposed on the peripheral edge portion of the movable body so as to be able to move in and out; and a recess and a projection formed in an inner wall surface of the recess of the housing having the recess and arranged in a direction in which the movable body slides, the recess slidably accommodating the movable body, the locking stopper having a cylindrical shape, and a circumferential surface portion of the locking stopper being urged by the spring to elastically contact the recess and the projection.

In the present invention, since the cylindrical locking stopper and the spring formed of a plate material or a wire material are used, the locking stopper can be made smaller than a conventional locking mechanism using a ball and a coil spring, and can obtain a strong force while making the locking stopper smaller, thereby achieving a good and clear locking feeling.

Further, since the cylindrical locking stopper is in line contact with the ball of the conventional point contact, abrasion of the casing on the other side can be reduced, and this effect can realize a locking mechanism having high durability.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional locking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a switch including an embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 3A is a plan view of the rotating body in fig. 2, fig. 3B is a sectional view taken along line D-D of fig. 3A, and fig. 3C is a bottom view of the rotating body in fig. 2.

Fig. 4A is a plan view showing the upper contact holder and the rotating body located on the lower side thereof in fig. 2, and fig. 4B is a bottom view showing the lower contact holder and the rotating body located on the upper side thereof in fig. 2.

Fig. 5A is a plan view showing the locking mechanism in fig. 2, and fig. 5B is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism in fig. 2.

Fig. 6A is a perspective view showing an example of another shape of the spring, fig. 6B is a perspective view showing an example of another shape of the spring, fig. 6C is a perspective view showing an example of another shape of the spring, and fig. 6D is a perspective view showing a shape of the rotating plate corresponding to the spring of fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C.

Fig. 7A is a perspective view showing an example of another shape of the spring, and fig. 7B is a perspective view showing a shape of the rotating plate corresponding to the spring of fig. 7A.

Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 9A is a view for explaining an embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention with respect to an electric component having a slide operation lever, and fig. 9B is a central longitudinal sectional view of fig. 9A.

Fig. 10A is a view showing an example in which the projecting direction of the slide lever is changed from fig. 9A, and fig. 10B is a central longitudinal sectional view of fig. 10A.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of each part showing the structure of a rotary operation type switch as an example of an electric component provided with a locking mechanism of the present invention. The switch is composed of the following components: rotating operation shaft 10, bearing 20, ring 30, rotating plate 40, spring 50, locking stopper 60, intermediate plate 70, lower contact holder 80 for holding a contact, rotating body 90, upper contact holder 100 for holding a contact, cap 110, and rivet 120.

The rotation operation shaft 10 includes: an operation portion 11, a holding portion 12 coaxially extended from a tip of the operation portion 11 and having a smaller diameter than the operation portion 11, and a driving portion 13 coaxially extended from a tip of the holding portion 12 and having a smaller diameter than the holding portion 12. An annular groove 12a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion 12 at the distal end side. Two mutually parallel flat surfaces 13a are formed on the driving portion 13, and the two mutually parallel flat surfaces 13a are formed by cutting in a direction parallel to the center axis. The rotation operation shaft 10 is made of resin or metal.

The bearing 20 has: an attachment portion 21 having an attachment screw formed on the outer periphery thereof and a rectangular case portion 22 integrally formed at one end of the attachment portion 21. A shaft hole 23 is formed in the center of the mounting portion 21, and the holding portion 12 of the rotating operation shaft 10 is rotatably inserted through the shaft hole 23. A circular recess 24 is formed coaxially with the shaft hole 23 on the top surface side of the case 22 (the opposite side to the surface on which the mounting portion 21 is located), and the shaft hole 23 is opened in the bottom surface thereof. On the inner circumferential surface of the recess 24, concave and convex portions 25 having a valley shape are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. On the top surface of the case 22, positioning holes 22a are formed at one set of diagonal corners, respectively, and fixing holes 22b are formed at the other set of diagonal corners, respectively. The bearing 20 is made of resin or metal.

The rotating plate 40 has a circular shape and is formed of resin or metal. A substantially U-shaped recess 41 is formed in the top surface of the rotating plate 40. Notches 42 are formed in the portions of the recessed portion 41 that form the legs of the U-shape, the notches 42 communicating with the recessed portion 41 and reaching the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 40, and notches 43 that are shallower than the notches 42 are formed at positions closer to the front end side than the notches 42 of the legs. The bottom surface of the recess 41 and the bottom surface of the notch 42 form the same plane.

A shaft portion 44 into which the shaft hole 23 of the bearing 20 is inserted is formed on the bottom surface of the rotating plate 40, and a shaft hole 45 (see fig. 5A and 5B) through which the driving portion 13 of the rotating operation shaft 10 is inserted, which is not visible in fig. 2, is formed in the shaft portion 44. A shaft hole 46 having a larger hole diameter than the shaft hole 45 is formed on the top surface side of the rotating plate 40, and the shaft hole 46 communicates with the shaft hole 45 of the shaft portion 44. An engaging key 47 is formed in the shaft hole 46, and the engaging key 47 protrudes from one portion of the inner periphery of the shaft hole 46 toward the center and extends in the axial direction. A protruding portion 48 having a shape conforming to one of the flat surfaces 13a formed in the driving portion 13 of the rotational operation shaft 10 is formed to protrude from the inner periphery of the shaft hole 46 facing the engaging key 47. The hole 46 has a diameter sized to allow insertion and engagement of a rotary shaft 91 of a rotary body 90, which will be described later.

The spring 50 has a U-shape, and in the present embodiment, is formed by bending a metal plate spring member having a narrow width into a U-shape.

The locking stopper 60 is formed in a short cylindrical shape, and two locking stoppers 60 are used in this embodiment. The stop 60 is made of metal or resin.

The intermediate plate 70 has a rectangular shape similar to the housing 22 of the bearing 20, and has a shaft hole 71 formed at the center thereof. The hole 71 has a diameter sized to allow a rotary shaft 91 of a rotary body 90 to be rotatably inserted therethrough. Two positioning holes 72a are formed in the intermediate plate 70 adjacent to one side thereof, fixing holes 72b are formed in each of a pair of diagonal corner portions, and positioning projections 73 are formed on the bottom surfaces of the other pair of diagonal corner portions. In fig. 2, the positioning projection 73 on one side is hidden from view. The intermediate plate 70 is made of, for example, resin.

Fig. 3A, 3B, and 3C are views showing details of the rotating body 90, fig. 3A is a plan view, fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line D-D of fig. 3A, and fig. 3C is a bottom view.

The rotating body 90 is integrally formed by insert molding with: a rotary shaft 91, a disk section 92 positioned at the middle of the rotary shaft 91 in the longitudinal direction and coaxial with the rotary shaft 91, and a sliding contact piece 93 held by the disk section 92. In fig. 3A and 3C, the sliding contact piece 93 is marked with a plurality of dots.

The rotary shaft 91 is formed with a shaft hole 94 that engages with the driving portion 13 of the rotary operation shaft 10. Further, notches 95 and 96 that engage with the engagement key 47 and the protrusion 48 of the rotating plate 40, respectively, are formed at the lower end of the rotating shaft 91. Since the notches 95 and 96 have a predetermined length in the axial direction, the depth of insertion of the rotary shaft 91 into the shaft hole 46 of the rotary plate 40 is the axial length of the notches 95 and 96.

The slide contact 93 is composed of an upper contact 93a and a lower contact 93B, and the upper contact 93a and the lower contact 93B are formed by punching from a single metal plate and bending as shown in fig. 3B. The upper contact piece 93a overlaps the lower contact piece 93 b.

As shown in fig. 3A, the upper contact piece 93A has arc-shaped contact regions (exposed regions) in two concentric annular regions adjacent to each other. One contact region 93a1 is formed in the outer annular region to occupy a predetermined angular range, and two contact regions 93a2 and 93a3 are formed in the inner annular region to occupy respective predetermined angular ranges.

As shown in fig. 3C, the lower contact piece 93b has two annular regions having the same diameter as the two annular regions of the upper contact piece 93a, and another annular region adjacent to the inner peripheral side. Four contact regions 93b1, 93b2, 93b3, and 93b4 each occupying a predetermined angular range are formed in the outer annular region, and two contact regions 93b5 and 93b6 each occupying a predetermined angular range are formed in the middle annular region. In addition, an annular (360 °) contact region 93b7 is formed in the inner annular region.

Fig. 4A shows the top surface of the upper contact holder 100 and the top surface of the rotating body 90 located on the lower side in the assembled state.

A circular rotor housing recess 101 is formed in the bottom surface of an upper contact holder 100 having the same rectangular shape as the case 22, and a substantially rectangular window 102 is formed in the top of the rotor housing recess 101. On a side wall portion of the rotor housing recess 101 adjacent to one side of the upper contact holder 100, there are formed: an engaging convex portion 103 protruding from the bottom surface thereof toward the lower side contact holder 80; and an engaging recess 104 formed by cutting out a side wall portion with the same width adjacent to the engaging projection 103. Positioning holes 105a are formed in one set of diagonal corners of the upper contact holder 100, and fixing holes 105b are formed in the other set of diagonal corners. Two positioning projections 106 are formed adjacent to one side of the lead-out terminals 107b, 108b, and 109 b.

The upper contact holder 100 is formed by insert molding with three contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a and terminals 107b, 108b, and 109b that extend integrally from the three contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a and protrude outward from one side surface of the upper contact holder 100. Three contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a extend inward from the edge of window 102, and the tips thereof are located in three annular regions defined by sliding contact piece 93 of rotating body 90. In this embodiment, each of the contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a has two branch arms, and the contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a are brought into two-point contact in each of the annular regions, whereby the contact stability (reliability) and the life can be improved.

Fig. 4B shows the bottom surface of lower contact holder 80 and the bottom surface of rotor 90 located on the upper side in the assembled state.

The lower contact holder 80 has the same structure as the upper contact holder 100, and a contact holder formed as the same component can be used as an upper contact holder and a lower contact holder by changing the vertical direction.

A circular rotor housing recess 81 is formed in the top surface of the lower contact holder 80, and a substantially rectangular window 82 is formed in the bottom plate of the rotor housing recess 81. On a side wall portion of the rotor housing recess 81 adjacent to one side of the lower contact holder 80, there are formed: an engaging convex portion 83 protruding from the bottom surface to the upper side contact holder 100 side; and an engaging recess 84 formed by cutting out a side wall portion of the same width adjacent to the engaging projection 83. Positioning holes 85a are formed in the corner portions of one set of diagonal corners of the lower contact support 80, and fixing holes 85b are formed in the corner portions of the other set of diagonal corners. Two positioning projections 86 are formed adjacent to one side of the lead-out terminals 87b, 88b, 89 b.

The lower contact holder 80 is formed by insert molding with three contacts 87a, 88a, 89a and terminals 87b, 88b, 89b integrally extended from the three contacts 87a, 88a, 89a and protruding outward from one side surface of the lower contact holder 80. Three contacts 87a, 88a, and 89a extend inward from the edge of window 82, and the tips thereof are located in three annular regions defined by sliding contact piece 93 of rotating body 90. Each of the contacts 87a, 88a, and 89a has two branch arms, and forms two-point contact in each annular region.

The cover 110 has the same shape as the intermediate plate 70, and includes a shaft hole 111, two positioning holes 112a, two fixing holes 112b, and two positioning projections 113, similarly to the intermediate plate 70. The cover 110 is made of, for example, resin.

The assembly of the parts is performed as follows.

The rotation operation shaft 10 is inserted through the bearing 20, and the ring 30 is fitted into the annular groove 12a formed at the distal end side of the holding portion 12 of the rotation operation shaft 10, thereby preventing the rotation operation shaft 10 from coming off.

The shaft hole 45 of the shaft portion 44 of the rotating plate 40 and the shaft hole 46 communicating therewith pass through the driving portion 13 of the rotation operation shaft 10, and the rotating plate 40 is accommodated in the recess 24 of the housing portion 22 of the bearing 20. Next, in this state, the spring 50 is housed and arranged in the recess 41 of the rotating plate 40 (see fig. 5A and 5B to be described later). At this time, both end portions of the spring 50 are clamped by, for example, a pincette, and the U-shape is narrowed, so that it can be easily put into the recess 41. The notch 43 of the rotating plate 40 serves as a withdrawing portion of the pincer.

Next, the two locking stoppers 60 are respectively accommodated and arranged in the two notches 42 of the rotating plate 40. The locking stopper 60 is press-fitted into the notch 42 surrounded by the spring 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the recess 24.

The intermediate plate 70 is attached to the top surface of the case 22 by inserting the driving portion 13 through the shaft hole 71 of the intermediate plate 70 and closing the recess 24 of the case 22 in which the rotating plate 40 is housed from above the intermediate plate 70. At this time, the positioning projection 73 of the intermediate plate 70 is fitted into the positioning hole 22a of the housing portion 22.

The positioning projection 86 of the lower contact holder 80 is fitted into the positioning hole 72a of the intermediate plate 70, and the lower contact holder 80 is positioned and fixed on the intermediate plate 70. The driving portion 13 of the rotation operation shaft 10 is inserted through the shaft hole 94 of the rotating body 90, and the lower end portion of the rotation shaft 91 is inserted into and engaged with the shaft hole 46 of the rotating plate 40 through the shaft hole 71 of the intermediate plate 70, so that the substantially lower half portion of the disk portion 92 of the rotating body 90 is disposed in the rotating body housing recess 81 of the lower contact holder 80 from above the lower contact holder 80.

Upper contact holder 100 is fixed to lower contact holder 80 while being overlapped with upper contact holder 90 so as to cover the upper part of rotary body 90 so that the substantially upper half of disk portion 92 of rotary body 90 is accommodated in rotary body accommodating recess 101 of upper contact holder 100. At this time, the engaging convex portion 103 and the engaging concave portion 104 of the upper contact holder 100 are fitted into the engaging concave portion 84 and the engaging convex portion 83 of the lower contact holder 80, respectively, and are positioned with each other.

The upper end of the rotating shaft 91 of the rotating body 90 is inserted into the shaft hole 111 of the cover 110, the cover 110 is overlapped on the upper side contact holder 100, the positioning projection 113 is fitted into the positioning hole 105, and the positioning projection 106 is fitted into the positioning hole 112 a. Accordingly, the contacts 87a, 88a, and 89a of the lower contact holder 80 elastically contact the bottom surface of the disk portion 92 of the rotating body 90, and the contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a of the upper contact holder 100 elastically contact the top surface of the disk portion 92 of the rotating body 90.

In this way, in a state where the respective parts are combined, two rivets 120 are inserted into fixing hole 112b of cover 110, fixing hole 105b of upper contact holder 100, fixing hole 85b of lower contact holder 80, fixing hole 72b of intermediate plate 70, and fixing hole 22b of bearing 20, and the tips of rivets 120 are riveted, whereby the respective parts are integrally fixed to each other, and the switch is assembled.

In the switch configured as described above, the rotating plate 40 and the rotating body 90 rotate integrally by the rotation of the rotating operation shaft 10, and contact and separation according to the rotation angle are performed between the upper contact piece 93a and the lower contact piece 93b of the rotating body 90 and the contacts 107a, 108a, 109a, 87a, 88a, and 89a of the upper contact holder 100 and the lower contact holder 80, thereby obtaining a desired switch opening/closing signal.

On the other hand, the notch 42 disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 40 and the two locking stoppers 60 protruding from the outer peripheral portion and capable of moving in and out are biased in opposite directions by the legs of the U-shaped spring 50, and the circumferential surface portions of the locking stoppers 60 are pressed by the irregularities 25 to be brought into elastic contact, and the irregularities 25 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the recess 24 of the flange portion 22 of the bearing 20. Fig. 5A and 5B show the above-described situation, and the rotary operation shaft 10 is not shown.

The locking mechanism in this switch will be described below with reference to fig. 5A and 5B.

If the rotating plate 40 rotates along with the rotation of the rotating operation shaft 10, the locking stopper 60 also rotates along with the rotating plate 40. At this time, the locking stopper 60 moves along the concave-convex portion 25 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion 24 of the housing portion 22 of the bearing 20 and moves in the direction of moving in and out from the rotating plate 40, so that a locking feeling is generated. Further, since the locking stopper 60 is pressed against the inner circumferential surface on which the irregularities 25 are formed only by the spring 50, the locking stopper 60 moves while rotating (rotating) alone.

As described above, although the cylindrical locking stopper 60 is used in the present embodiment, since the locking stopper 60 performs the same rotational movement as the conventional ball, a good locking feeling equivalent to that of the ball can be obtained. Further, the following effects can be obtained with respect to the conventional locking mechanism using the ball and the coil spring.

Since the locking stopper is cylindrical, the locking stopper makes line contact (every line) with the inner peripheral surface of the housing, and abrasion of the housing can be reduced as compared with the case of a ball in point contact, and durability can be improved by this effect.

Since the locking stopper is cylindrical, for example, even if the radial size (diameter of the cylinder) of the locking stopper is the same as the diameter of the ball, the axial size (length of the cylinder) of the locking stopper can be made smaller than the ball, and accordingly, the rotating plate for housing and holding the locking stopper can be made thin, so that the locking mechanism can be made compact, and the miniaturization of the electric component can be facilitated.

By using the plate spring, the axial dimension of the rotary plate can be reduced compared to the coil spring, and at the same time, a strong torque can be generated.

In the above-described embodiment, the spring for urging the stopper is a U-shaped plate spring, but the spring is not limited to this, and may be configured as shown in fig. 6A, 6B, 6C, or 7A.

The spring 51 shown in fig. 6A is formed of a plate material and has an annular shape with a notch formed at one portion, and the spring 51 is provided with a wide portion for generating a strong torque at a part thereof.

The spring 52 shown in fig. 6B has no wide portion relative to the spring 51 shown in fig. 6A.

The spring 53 shown in fig. 6C is curved in a circular ring shape, like the spring 52 shown in fig. 6B, using a wire instead of a plate material.

Fig. 6D shows the shape of the rotating plate 40 ' that houses and disposes the annular springs 51, 52, 53 having notches at one portion, and in this embodiment, the rotating plate 40 ' includes an annular concave portion 41 ' that houses the springs and two notches 42 in which the locking stoppers 60 are disposed, and is provided with another notch 49 that communicates with the concave portion 41 ' and reaches the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 40 '.

The cut portions of the annular springs 51, 52, 53 having the cut portions formed at one portion are positioned at the cut portions 49, and extension portions 51a, 52a, 53a extending to the outside are positioned. When the springs 51(52, 53) are incorporated into the rotating plate 40 ', the springs 51(52, 53) can be easily incorporated into the recess 41' by, for example, pinching the pair of extensions 51a (52a, 53a) with the pincette to reduce the diameter of the ring, and the notch 49 becomes the exit portion of the pincette at that time. When the springs 51, 52, and 53 are used, the two locking stoppers 60 are biased in opposite directions to each other through the respective half portions of the notches of the annular rings. In the case of using the spring 51, a groove corresponding to a wide portion is formed in the bottom surface of the recess 41'.

The spring 54 shown in fig. 7A is U-shaped like the spring 50, and is formed by bending a wire without using a plate material, and fig. 7B shows the rotating plate 40 ″ that houses the spring 54.

As described above, the spring for urging the stopper 60 is not limited to the plate material, and may be formed by bending a wire, and the bent shape is not limited to the U shape, and may be an annular shape.

Next, an embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention shown in fig. 8 will be explained.

In this embodiment, on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 210 that rotates integrally with the rotation operation shaft, valley-shaped concave-convex portions 211 are formed in a row along the circumferential direction, and a cylindrical locking stopper 230 and a spring 240 are arranged on the housing 220 side.

The rotating plate 210 has a shaft hole 212, and a rotating operation shaft is inserted through the shaft hole 212, and the rotating plate 210 is rotatably accommodated in a circular recess 221 of the housing 220. The spring 240 is formed by bending a plate spring member in an arcuate shape, and the spring 240 is received in the recess 222 adjacent to the circular recess 221 of the housing 220.

A groove 223 communicating with the circular recess 221 and the recess 222 is formed between the circular recess 221 and the recess 222 of the housing 220, and the locking stopper 230 is disposed in the groove 223. The locking stopper 230 is protruded from the inner circumferential surface of the circular recess 221 and the inner wall surface of the recess 222, respectively, and is movable in and out. The locking stopper 230 is biased by a spring 240, and its peripheral surface portion elastically contacts the concave-convex portion 211 on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 210.

In this embodiment, in contrast to the locking mechanism shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the locking stopper 230 and the spring 240 are arranged on the fixed side (the housing side), but the above-described locking mechanism may be adopted in accordance with the structure of the electrical component.

Although the above description has been made of the locking mechanism of the electric component having the rotational operation shaft, the locking mechanism of the present invention can be applied to a linear movement type electric component having a slide operation lever. Fig. 9A and 9B show the structure thereof, and in fig. 9A and 9B, reference numeral 310 denotes a slide operation lever, and 320 denotes a housing.

A cylindrical locking stopper 330 and a U-shaped spring 340 formed of a plate spring are disposed on the movable body 350. The movable body 350 is integrally formed with the slide operation handle 310 and slides integrally with the slide operation handle 310. The movable body 350 has a disc shape in this embodiment, a recess 351 is formed on one surface thereof, and notches 352 reaching the outer peripheral surface from the recess 351 are formed on the radially opposite sides, respectively.

The spring 340 is housed and arranged in the recess 351 of the movable body 350, and two locking stoppers 330 are arranged in the notches 352 in the peripheral edge portion, respectively. The locking stopper 330 protrudes from the peripheral edge of the movable body 350 and can move in and out.

A rectangular recess 321 is formed in case 320, movable body 350 is slidably received in recess 321, and an elongated opening 322 communicating with the bottom surface side of recess 321 is formed in the surface of case 320 adjacent to the surface on which recess 321 is formed. The movable body 350 is disposed in the recess 321, and the slide lever 310 protrudes outward from the opening 322 and is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the opening 322.

Valley-shaped convexes and concaves 323 are formed in the inner wall surface of the concave portion 321 along the sliding direction of the movable body 350 that slides together with the slide lever 310, and the two locking stoppers 330 are biased in opposite directions by the springs 340 to elastically contact the convexes and concaves 323.

In this embodiment, with such a configuration, a click feeling can be obtained along with the sliding operation of the slide operation lever 310. Although not shown in fig. 9A and 9B, a switch or a variable resistor that operates in accordance with the operation of the slide operation lever 310 is disposed on the surface side of the case 320 where the recess 321 is formed, and the movable portion is configured to slide integrally with the movable body 350.

Fig. 10A and 10B show an example in which the direction in which the slide lever 310 protrudes outward is changed from the configuration shown in fig. 9A and 9B, and such a configuration can also be adopted. In addition, portions corresponding to fig. 9A and 9B are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Claims (4)

1. An engagement mechanism for an electrical component having a rotation operation shaft, comprising:

a rotating plate having a recess and a notch communicating with the recess and reaching an outer peripheral surface formed on one surface thereof, and rotating integrally with the rotating operation shaft;

a spring formed of a U-shaped plate material or wire material and housed in the recess;

a locking stopper which protrudes from an outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate and is disposed in the notch of the rotating plate so as to be able to move in and out;

convexes and concaves formed in a circumferential direction of an inner circumferential surface of a housing accommodating the rotary plate,

the locking stopper is cylindrical, and is urged by the spring so that a peripheral surface portion of the locking stopper elastically contacts the concave-convex portion, and moves while rotating independently, that is, rotating, and generates a locking feeling when the rotation operation shaft is operated.

2. An engagement mechanism for an electrical component having a rotation operation shaft, comprising:

a rotating plate having a recess and a notch communicating with the recess and reaching an outer peripheral surface formed on one surface thereof, and rotating integrally with a rotating operation shaft;

a spring formed of an annular plate material or a wire material having a notch formed at one portion thereof and accommodated in the recess;

a locking stopper which protrudes from an outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate and is disposed in the notch of the rotating plate so as to be able to move in and out;

convexes and concaves formed in a circumferential direction of an inner circumferential surface of a housing accommodating the rotary plate,

the locking stopper is cylindrical, and is urged by the spring so that a peripheral surface portion of the locking stopper elastically contacts the concave-convex portion, and moves while rotating independently, that is, rotating, and generates a locking feeling when the rotation operation shaft is operated.

3. A locking mechanism for an electrical component having a slide operation lever, comprising:

a movable body having a recess and a notch reaching an outer peripheral surface from the recess formed on one surface thereof, and sliding integrally with the slide operation lever;

a spring formed of a U-shaped plate material or wire material and housed in the recess;

a locking stopper which protrudes from a peripheral edge portion of the movable body and is disposed in the notch of the movable body so as to be able to move in and out;

a recess formed in an inner wall surface of the recess of the housing having the recess and arranged in a direction in which the movable body slides, the recess slidably accommodating the movable body,

the locking stopper is cylindrical, and is biased by the spring so that a peripheral surface portion of the locking stopper elastically contacts the concave-convex portion, thereby generating a locking feeling when the slide operation lever is operated.

4. A locking mechanism for an electrical component having a slide operation lever, comprising:

a movable body having a recess and a notch reaching an outer peripheral surface from the recess formed on one surface thereof, and sliding integrally with the slide operation lever;

a spring formed of an annular plate material or a wire material having a notch formed at one portion thereof and accommodated in the recess;

a locking stopper which protrudes from a peripheral edge portion of the movable body and is disposed in the notch of the movable body so as to be able to move in and out;

a recess formed in an inner wall surface of the recess of the housing having the recess and arranged in a direction in which the movable body slides, the recess slidably accommodating the movable body,

the locking stopper is cylindrical, and is biased by the spring so that a peripheral surface portion of the locking stopper elastically contacts the concave-convex portion, thereby generating a locking feeling when the slide operation lever is operated.