HK1211740B - Click mechanism for electric parts - Google Patents

Description

Clicking mechanism of electric part

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a click mechanism for generating a click feeling (moderate feeling) during operation in an electric component that is rotationally operated.

Background

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a structure described in patent document 1 as a conventional example of such a click mechanism. In fig. 10, 1 denotes a bearing for supporting a rotary operation shaft of the switch, and 2 denotes a rotary plate.

The bearing 1 includes a mounting portion 1a having a mounting screw formed on an outer periphery thereof, and a housing portion 1b integrally formed at one end of the mounting portion 1 a. The mounting portion 1a is formed with a shaft hole through which the rotation operation shaft is inserted, the housing portion 1b is formed with a recess having the shaft hole, and the inner peripheral surface of the recess is formed with irregularities 1c in the circumferential direction.

The rotating plate 2 is housed in the case 1b, and a recess 2a is formed in the upper surface thereof. A spring 3 formed in a U shape is housed and arranged in the recess 2a, and short cylindrical click stoppers 4 are housed and arranged in notches 2b formed in the rotary plate 2 so as to face both leg portions of the U shape of the spring 3. The two click stoppers 4 are biased in opposite directions by the legs of the spring 3, and elastically contact the projections and recesses 1c formed in the housing 1 b.

The rotation operation shaft is inserted into the shaft hole 2c of the rotation plate 2, and the rotation plate 2 and the rotation operation shaft rotate integrally. At this time, the click stopper 4 moves along the irregularities 1c of the case 1b, thereby generating a click feeling.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1 (Japanese patent No. 4755718)

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the conventional click mechanism shown in fig. 10, the two click stoppers 4 are located at positions 180 ° from each other on the rotary plate 2, and are biased in opposite directions by the leg portions of the spring 3, and slide on the same line (on the same concave-convex portion 1 c) on the inner peripheral surface of the housing portion 1 b.

In this case, since the projections and recesses 1c on which the click stopper 4 slides are point-symmetric with respect to the rotation center of the rotary plate 2, the number of clicks (the occurrence of a click feeling) in 360 ° rotation is always even, and an odd number of clicks cannot be realized, and it is impossible to obtain a single number of clicks in 360 ° rotation, for example. For example, when the number of clicks is odd, the rotation angle of less than 180 ° is required.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a click mechanism for an electric component, which can effectively use the entire range of 360 ° rotation, and which is not limited to an even number as in the prior art, and in which the number of clicks can be freely set.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a click mechanism of an electric part having a rotation operation shaft, wherein the click mechanism is constituted by: a spring which is composed of a plate material and is arranged on the rotating plate rotating integrally with the rotating operation shaft; two click stoppers formed in a cylindrical shape, which are disposed at positions 180 ° apart from each other on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate, are displaced from each other in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft, and protrude from the outer peripheral portion so as to be movable in and out; and the inner peripheral surface of the shell for accommodating the rotating plate is provided with a concave-convex part, the upper and lower 2 sections in the axial direction are respectively formed in the circumferential direction, the concave-convex parts of the upper and lower 2 sections are staggered in the circumferential direction, the two click blocks are applied with force through springs, and the peripheral surface part is respectively in elastic contact with the concave-convex parts of the upper and lower 2 sections.

In a second aspect, in addition to the first aspect, the spring is formed in a U shape, and the two click stoppers are urged in mutually opposite directions by both leg portions of the U shape.

In a third aspect, in addition to the first aspect, the spring is formed in an annular shape with a notch cut at one portion, and the two click pieces are urged in mutually opposite directions by the respective half portions of the notch.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a click mechanism of an electric component having a rotation operation shaft, comprising: a spring which is composed of a plate material and is arranged on the rotating plate rotating integrally with the rotating operation shaft; and projections which are formed on the inner peripheral surface of a housing accommodating the rotating plate in the circumferential direction in 2 stages up and down in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft, wherein the projections of the upper and lower 2 stages are circumferentially staggered, and the springs are formed in a U-shape, are outwardly directed at both legs of the U-shape, and are axially staggered, and are integrally formed with projections which protrude from the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate and elastically contact the projections of the upper and lower 2 stages, respectively.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a click mechanism of an electric part having a rotation operation shaft, comprising: a spring which is composed of a plate material and is arranged on the rotating plate rotating integrally with the rotating operation shaft; and projections and recesses formed in circumferential directions of upper and lower 2 stages in an axial direction of the rotation operation shaft on an inner circumferential surface of a housing accommodating the rotation plate, the projections and recesses of the upper and lower 2 stages being staggered in the circumferential direction, the spring being formed in a ring shape having a notch cut at one portion, and being staggered in the axial direction outwardly of each half portion across the notch, and integrally formed with projections projecting from an outer circumferential portion of the rotation plate and being in elastic contact with the projections and recesses of the upper and lower 2 stages, respectively.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a click mechanism of an electric component having a rotation operation shaft, comprising: two springs made of a plate material or a wire material, and disposed on the rotating plate rotating integrally with the rotating operation shaft so as to overlap in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft; and projections formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing accommodating the rotating plate in the circumferential direction in 2 stages from top to bottom in the axial direction, the projections of the 2 stages being offset from each other in the circumferential direction, each spring being formed in a U-shape, and projections formed integrally with each other on the leg portions of the U-shape located on the opposite sides of the two springs, the projections projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate and being in elastic contact with the projections of the 2 stages from top to bottom, respectively.

According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a clicking mechanism of an electric part having a rotation operation shaft, wherein the mechanism is constituted by: two springs made of a plate material or a wire material, and disposed on the rotating plate rotating integrally with the rotating operation shaft so as to overlap in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft; and projections which are formed on the inner peripheral surface of a housing accommodating the rotating plate in the circumferential direction in 2 stages in the axial direction, wherein the projections of the 2 stages are staggered in the circumferential direction, each spring is formed in a ring shape having a notch at one portion, and projections are formed integrally with each other on half portions of the two springs located on opposite sides of the notch, the projections projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate and being in elastic contact with the projections of the 2 stages.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth to seventh aspects, the convex portion is formed in a U-shape, and the spring is formed by bending.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth to seventh aspects, the convex portion is made of resin and is formed integrally with the spring.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is the first to ninth aspects, wherein the convex portions of the concavities and convexities are formed at an odd number at a predetermined pitch over one circumference of the inner peripheral surface.

An eleventh aspect is the first to ninth aspects, wherein the convex portions of the concavities and convexities are formed at one portion of the inner peripheral surface, and the convex portions of the concavities and convexities at the upper and lower 2 stages are located at positions 180 ° from each other.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, since the two protrusions integrally formed with the two click stoppers or the spring for generating the click feeling slide on the different protrusions and recesses, the number of clicks can be freely set, and the full range of 360 ° rotation can be effectively used.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a switch including an embodiment of a click mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a top view of the rotor of FIG. 1, B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D thereof, and C is a bottom view thereof;

fig. 3A is a plan view showing the upper contact holder of fig. 1 and a rotor located at a lower side thereof, and B is a bottom view showing the lower contact holder of fig. 1 and a rotor located at an upper side thereof;

fig. 4A is a plan view showing the click mechanism of fig. 1, and B is a perspective view thereof;

fig. 5A, B is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the rotary plate and the click stopper;

FIGS. 6A to C are perspective views showing examples of the shape of a spring having a convex portion;

FIGS. 7A to C are perspective views showing other examples of the shape of the spring having the convex portion, and D is a perspective view showing the shape of the rotary plate corresponding to the spring A to C;

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of a switchable variable resistor having other embodiments of the clicking mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a top view of the lower base of FIG. 8, and B is a top view of the upper base of FIG. 8;

fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a conventional click mechanism.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a rotary operation type switch as an example of an electric component provided with a click mechanism of the present invention. The switch is constituted by a rotary operation shaft 10, a bearing 20, a ring 29, a housing 30, a rotary plate 40, a spring 50, a click 60, an intermediate plate 70, a lower contact holder 80 holding a contact, a rotor 90, and an upper contact holder 100 holding a contact, a cover 110, and a rivet 120.

The rotary 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 diameter smaller than that of the operation portion 11, and a driving portion 13 coaxially extended from a tip of the holding portion 12 and having a diameter smaller than that of the holding portion 12. An annular groove 12a is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion 12 on the distal end side. The driving portion 13 is formed with two mutually parallel flat surfaces 13a cut parallel to the central axis. The rotation operation shaft 10 is made of resin or metal.

The bearing 20 has a mounting portion 21 having a mounting screw formed on an outer periphery thereof, and a rectangular flange 22 integrally formed at one end of the mounting portion 21. The mounting portion 21 is formed with a shaft hole 23 through which the holding portion 12 of the rotary operation shaft 10 is inserted so as to be rotatable about the center. A circular recess 24 is formed on the upper surface side of the flange 22 coaxially with the shaft hole 23, and the shaft hole 23 is opened on the bottom surface thereof. An engagement recess 25 is formed in a side wall portion of the recess 24 adjacent to one side of the flange 22. Two positioning projections 26, 27 are formed on the upper surface of the flange 22 so as to be adjacent to the side opposite to the side on which the engaging recess 25 is formed. The positioning projection 26 is cylindrical, and the positioning projection 27 is oblong cylindrical. In addition, fixing holes 28 are formed in a set of diagonal corners of the upper surface of the flange 22. The bearing 20 is made of resin or metal.

The housing 30 has a rectangular shape similar to the flange 22 of the bearing 20, and has an opening 31 in the center having the same diameter as the recess 24 of the flange 22. On the inner peripheral surface of the opening 31, the upper and lower 2 stages are formed with circumferentially formed valley-shaped irregularities arranged at a predetermined pitch. The upper stage irregularities 32 and the lower stage irregularities 33 are formed so as to be staggered in the circumferential direction such that the irregularities are exactly opposite to each other. On the upper surface of the housing 30, positioning holes 34a are formed in one set of diagonal corner portions, respectively, and fixing holes 34b are formed in the other set of diagonal corner portions, respectively. Positioning holes 35 and 36 are formed at positions corresponding to the positioning projections 26 and 27 of the bearing 20. The engaging convex portion 37 fitted into the engaging concave portion 25 of the bearing 20 is formed to protrude downward. The case 30 is made of resin or metal.

The rotating plate 40 is circular and is formed of resin or metal. A substantially U-shaped recess 41 is formed in the upper surface of the rotating plate 40. A notch 42 communicating with the recess 41 and reaching the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 40 is formed in a portion of the recess 41 forming one leg of the U-shape, and a window hole 43 communicating with the recess 41 and reaching the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 40 is formed in a portion of the recess forming the other leg of the U-shape. These notches 42 and windows 43 are formed at positions 180 ° from each other in the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 40. Further, the cutout 42 is located on the upper surface side of the rotating plate 40, the window hole 43 is located on the lower surface side of the rotating plate 40, and the heights of the respective positions of the cutout 42 and the window hole 43 are shifted.

A shaft portion 44 into which the shaft hole 23 of the bearing 20 is inserted is formed on the lower surface of the rotating plate 40, and a shaft hole 45 (see fig. 4) which is not shown in fig. 1 but through which the driving portion 13 of the rotation operation shaft 10 is inserted is formed in the shaft portion 44. A shaft hole 46 communicating with the shaft hole 45 of the shaft portion 44 and having a diameter larger than that of the shaft hole 45 is formed on the upper surface side of the rotating plate 40. An engaging key 47 projecting from one portion of the inner periphery thereof toward the center and extending in the axial direction is formed in the shaft hole 46, and a projecting portion 48 having a shape matching one of the flat surfaces 13a formed in the driving portion 13 of the rotational operation shaft 10 is formed projecting from the inner periphery of the shaft hole 46 facing the engaging key 47. The diameter of the shaft hole 46 is formed to be large enough to allow insertion and engagement of a rotary shaft 91 of a rotor 90, which will be described later.

The spring 50 is formed in a U-shape, and in this example, a metal plate spring material having a narrow width is bent in a U-shape.

The click stopper 60 is in the shape of a short cylinder, and two click stoppers are used. The clicking stopper 60 is made of metal or resin.

The intermediate plate 70 has a rectangular shape similar to the housing 30, and has a shaft hole 71 formed at the center thereof. The diameter of the shaft hole 71 is formed to be large enough to allow a rotary shaft 91 of the rotor 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 lower surfaces of the other pair of diagonal corner portions. The intermediate plate 70 is made of, for example, resin.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the rotor 90, fig. 2A is a plan view, fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of fig. 2A, and fig. 2C is a bottom view.

The rotor 90 is integrally formed by insert molding a rotary shaft 91, a disk portion 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 portion 92. In fig. 2A and 2C, the sliding contact piece 93 is provided with a plurality of points.

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 rotary shaft 91 is inserted into the shaft hole 46 of the rotary plate 40 by the length of the notches 95 and 96 in the axial direction.

The slide contact 93 is composed of an upper contact 93a and a lower contact 93B, which are formed by drilling a metal plate and bending as shown in fig. 2B, and the upper contact 93a and the lower contact 93B are overlapped.

As shown in fig. 2A, the upper contact piece 93a has arc-shaped contact regions (exposed regions) in two concentric and adjacent annular regions. One contact region 93a1 occupying a predetermined angular range is formed in the outer annular region, and two contact regions 93a2 and 93a3 occupying a predetermined angular range are formed in the inner annular region.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 2C, 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 is adjacent to the inner peripheral side in addition to the other annular region. Four contact regions 93b1, 93b2, 93b3, and 93b4 are formed in the outer annular region, respectively, and two contact regions 93b5 and 93b6 are formed in the middle annular region, respectively, within a predetermined angular range. In addition, an annular (360 °) contact region 93b7 is formed in the inner annular region.

Fig. 3A is a view showing the upper surface of the upper contact holder 100 and the upper surface of the rotor 90 located on the lower side in the assembled state.

A circular rotor receiving recess 101 is formed in the lower surface of a rectangular upper contact holder 100 similar to the housing portion 30, and a substantially rectangular window hole 102 is formed in the top surface of the rotor receiving recess 101. An engaging convex portion 103 protruding from the lower surface toward the lower contact holder 80 side and an engaging concave portion 104 adjacent to the engaging convex portion 103 and having a side wall portion cut out with the same width are formed in a side wall portion of the rotor receiving concave portion 101 adjacent to one side of the upper contact holder 100. Positioning holes 105a are formed in one set of diagonal corner portions of the upper contact holder 100, and fixing holes 105b are formed in the other set of diagonal corner portions. 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 three contacts 107a, 108a, 109a together with terminals 107b, 108b, 109b integrally extended therefrom and protruding outward from one side surface of the upper contact holder 100. The three contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a extend inward from the edge of the window hole 102, and the tips thereof are positioned in three annular regions defined in the sliding contact piece 93 of the rotor 90. In this example, each of the contacts 107a, 108a, and 109a has two branch arms, and is in contact with each other at 2-point in each annular region, thereby improving the contact stability (reliability) and the life.

Fig. 3B is a view showing the lower surface of the lower contact holder 80 and the lower surface of the rotor 90 positioned on the upper side in the assembled state.

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

A circular rotor accommodating recess 81 is formed in an upper surface of the lower contact holder 80, and a substantially rectangular window 82 is formed in a bottom surface of the rotor accommodating recess 81. An engaging convex portion 83 protruding from the lower surface toward the upper contact holder 100 side and an engaging concave portion 84 adjacent to the engaging convex portion 83 and having a side wall portion cut out with the same width are formed in a side wall portion of the rotor accommodating concave portion 81 adjacent to one side of the lower contact holder 80. Positioning holes 85a are formed in one set of diagonal corner portions of the lower contact holder 80, and fixing holes 85b are formed in the other set of diagonal corner portions. 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 three contacts 87a, 88a, 89a together with terminals 87b, 88b, 89b integrally extended therefrom and protruding outward from one side surface of the lower contact holder 80. The three contacts 87a, 88a, and 89a extend inward from the edge of the window 82, and the tips thereof are positioned in three annular regions defined in the sliding contact piece 93 of the rotor 90. Each of the contacts 87a, 88a, and 89a has two branch arms, and is in point contact with each other in each annular region 2.

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, as in the intermediate plate 70. The cover 110 is made of, for example, resin.

The parts are assembled as follows.

The rotation operation shaft 10 is inserted into the bearing 20, and is prevented from coming off by fitting a ring 29 into an annular groove 12a formed on the distal end side of the holding portion 12.

The housing 30 is mounted on the flange 22 of the bearing 20. At this time, the positioning projections 26 and 27 of the flange 22 are fitted into the positioning holes 35 and 36 of the housing 30, and the engaging convex portion 37 of the housing 30 is fitted into the engaging concave portion 25 of the flange 22.

The rotating plate 40 is inserted through the shaft hole 45 of the shaft 44 and the shaft hole 46 communicating therewith, the driving portion 13 of the rotating operation shaft 10, and is accommodated in the opening 31 of the housing 30 and the recess 24 of the bearing 20 following the opening 31. In this state, the two click stoppers 60 are disposed in the notch 42 and the window hole 43 of the rotary plate 40, respectively. Next, the spring 50 is accommodated in the recess 41 of the rotating plate 40. At this time, for example, the both end portions of the spring 50 are nipped by tweezers, and the U-shape is narrowed, so that the concave portion 41 can be easily put in. The click stopper 60 may be disposed in the notch 42 after the spring 50 is placed in the recess 41. The two click stoppers 60 are sandwiched between the spring 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the opening 31 of the housing 30.

The intermediate plate 70 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 30 by inserting the driving unit 13 into the shaft hole 71, closing the opening 31 of the housing 30 accommodating the rotating plate 40 from above. At this time, the positioning projections 73 of the intermediate plate 70 are fitted into the positioning holes 34a of the housing 30.

The positioning projections 86 of the lower contact holder 80 are fitted into the positioning holes 72a of the intermediate plate 70, and the lower contact holder 80 is positioned and fixed on the intermediate plate 70. From above, the driving portion 13 of the rotation operation shaft 10 is inserted into the shaft hole 94 of the rotor 90, and the lower end portion of the rotation shaft 91 is inserted through the shaft hole 71 of the intermediate plate 70 and engaged with the shaft hole 45 of the rotation plate 40, so that the substantially lower half portion of the disk portion 92 of the rotor 90 is disposed in the rotor housing recess 81 of the lower contact holder 80.

The upper contact holder 100 is covered from above the rotor 90 and fixed to overlap the lower contact holder 80, so that a substantially upper half portion of the disk portion 92 of the rotor 90 is accommodated in the rotor accommodating recess 101 of the 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.

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

In this way, in a state where the respective parts are integrated, two rivets 120 are inserted through the fixing holes 112b of the cover 110, the fixing holes 105b of the upper contact holder 100, the fixing holes 85b of the lower contact holder 80, the fixing holes 72b of the intermediate plate 70, the fixing holes 34b of the housing 30, and the fixing holes 28 of the bearing 20, and the respective parts are fixed and integrated to each other by caulking the tips of the rivets 120, whereby the switch is assembled.

In the switch having the above-described configuration, the rotating plate 40 and the rotor 90 are integrally rotated by the rotation of the rotating operation shaft 10, and the contacts 107a, 108a, 109a, 87a, 88a, and 89a of the upper and lower contact holders 100 and 80 and the upper and lower contact pieces 93a and 93b of the rotor 90 are engaged and disengaged according to the rotation angle, thereby obtaining a desired switch opening/closing signal.

On the other hand, the notch 42 and the window hole 43, which are respectively located on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 40, are shifted from each other in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft 10, and the two click stoppers 60 which protrude from the outer peripheral portion and can move in and out are biased in opposite directions to each other by the two leg portions of the U-shape formed in the U-shape spring 50, and the peripheral surface portions thereof are pressed against the upper stage concave-convex 32 and the lower stage concave-convex 33 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 31 of the housing 30, and are brought into elastic contact with each other. Fig. 4 is a view showing this, and illustration of the rotation operation shaft 10 is omitted.

The click mechanism of the switch will be described below with reference to fig. 4.

When the rotating plate 40 rotates along with the rotation of the rotating operation shaft 10, the two click stoppers 60 also rotate along with the rotating plate 40. At this time, one click 60 moves along the upper-stage unevenness 32 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the opening 31 of the housing 30, and the other click 60 moves along the lower-stage unevenness 33 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the opening 31. The click stoppers 60 move in the direction of moving in and out from the rotary plate 40, and thus a click feeling is generated.

As described above, in this example, the two click pieces 60 slide on the different convexities and concavities 32 and 33. Therefore, as in the conventional example in which the two click stoppers slide on the same unevenness (on the same line) as shown in fig. 10, the number of clicks (click feeling occurrence) in 360 ° rotation is limited to an even number, and the number of clicks can be freely set. In the above example, the upper and lower stages of the concavities and convexities 32 and 33 are both configured by forming convex portions of 15 concavities and convexities at a predetermined pitch within one circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the opening 31 of the housing 30, that is, configured by repeatedly forming the concavities and convexities 15 times in an array, and thereby the number of clicks in 360 ° rotation is 15.

Fig. 5 is a view showing another example of the shape of the rotary plate and the click stopper. In fig. 5A, two click stoppers 61 are formed in a stepped cylindrical shape including a large diameter portion 61a and a small diameter portion 61b, and notches 42' corresponding to the shape of the click stoppers 61 are formed at positions 180 ° apart from each other on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary plate 40A so that the click stoppers 61 can be accommodated and arranged. The two click stoppers 61 are disposed opposite to each other in the vertical direction, and the large diameter portion 61a is in elastic contact with the projections and recesses 32 and 33 of the housing 30. The rotating plate 40B shown in fig. 5B is configured such that a notch 43a reaching the upper surface of the rotating plate 40B is added above the portion where the window hole 43 is formed, as compared with the rotating plate 40 shown in fig. 1.

In the above example, the two click stoppers and the spring for biasing the click stoppers in the opposite directions are provided separately, but a convex portion may be integrally formed on the spring, and the convex portion may be brought into elastic contact with the concave and convex portions 32 and 33 formed in the housing 30, so that the click stopper is not used. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing various configuration examples of the spring in which the convex portions are integrally formed.

Fig. 6A is a view showing an example of using a U-shaped spring 51 having two integrally formed convex portions, and a convex portion 51a is integrally formed to protrude outward from one leg of the U of the spring 51. The width of the spring 51 is approximately 1/2 of the width of the spring 50 shown in fig. 1, and the spring 51 is formed by bending a metal plate spring material, and the convex portion 51a is formed by bending the spring 51 in a U-shape. The two springs 51 are disposed in the concave portion 41 of the rotating plate 40 in a vertically stacked manner in 2 stages, and at this time, the convex portions 51a of the two springs 51 are stacked so as to be positioned on the opposite side of the leg portion of the U-shape.

The projections 51a of the two springs 51 are positioned in the notch 42 and the window hole 43 in the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 40, respectively, project from the outer peripheral portion, and elastically contact the projections 32 and 33 in the upper and lower 2 stages of the housing 30, respectively. In this example, the convex portion 51a formed integrally with the spring 51 moves along the concave and convex portions 32 and 33, and acts in the direction of moving in and out from the rotating plate 40, thereby generating a click feeling.

Fig. 6B is a view in which the convex portions that elastically contact the concave and convex portions 32 and 33 of the case 30 are made of resin, and in this example, the convex portions 52a are formed integrally with the plate springs 52B that are formed in a U shape. The two projections 52a are formed with a positional shift in the vertical direction (the width direction of the plate spring 52 b). The end surfaces of the convex portions 52a which elastically contact the concave and convex portions 32 and 33 of the case 30 are semi-cylindrical surfaces.

Fig. 6C is a view showing an example in which two convex portions 53a are formed by bending one U-shaped spring 53. In this example, both legs of the U-shape are cut to be divided into two parts in the width direction, and the convex portion 53a is formed by bending one of the two parts so as to form a U-shape. As shown in fig. 6C, one convex portion 53a is formed in the upper half of the leg divided into two in the width direction, and the other convex portion 53a is formed in the lower half of the other leg divided into two in the width direction. In this example, the wide bent portion 53b of the other half portion is formed at the tip of the one half portion of each leg portion on which the convex portion 53a is formed, whereby the elastic force of the spring 53 can be effectively utilized.

In the above-described examples, the springs are all formed in a U shape, but the shape of the springs is not limited to this, and may have the shape shown in fig. 7. The spring 54 shown in fig. 7A is formed of a metal plate spring material, and is formed in an annular shape with a notch cut at one portion, and convex portions 54a that elastically contact the concave and convex portions 32 and 33 of the case 30 are formed outward from each other at each half portion with the notch interposed therebetween. As shown in fig. 7A, the first projection 54a is formed by cutting the lower half in the width direction to have a narrow width, and the second projection 54a is formed by cutting the upper half in the width direction to have a narrow width, so that the two projections 54a are displaced from each other in the width direction (vertical direction) of the spring 54.

The spring 55 shown in fig. 7B is formed in an annular shape with a cutout at one portion, in the same manner as the spring 51 shown in fig. 6A, by using two springs stacked one on top of the other, and in the same manner as the spring 55 shown in fig. 6A with respect to the spring 51 shown in fig. 6A. The two springs 55 are overlapped so that the convex portions 55a are positioned on opposite sides of the circular ring.

The spring 56 shown in fig. 7C is not a plate material, but is a wire material, and is bent in a circular ring shape like the spring 55 shown in fig. 7B, and the convex portion 56a is integrally formed by bending.

Fig. 7D is a view showing the shape of a rotating plate 40C in which an annular spring cut at one portion as shown in fig. 7A to C is housed and arranged, and in this example, the rotating plate 40C includes an annular concave portion 41' in which the spring is housed and two notches 42 ″ in which convex portions of the positioning spring are housed. In addition, another notch 49 communicating with the recess 41' and reaching the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 40C is provided.

The extensions 54b, 55b, 56b projecting and extending outward are located at the cut-out portions 49 where the annular springs 54 to 56 are formed, which are cut out at one portion. When the springs 54(55, 56) are incorporated into the rotating plate 40C, the pair of extension portions 54b (55b, 56b) are sandwiched by tweezers or the like, and the ring is reduced, whereby the ring can be easily inserted into the recess 41'. The notch 49 becomes an escape groove corresponding to the forceps at this time.

As described above, instead of the structure using the click stopper and the spring, a spring in which a convex portion elastically contacting the concave and convex portions 32 and 33 of the housing 30 is integrally formed may be used. In this case, one spring may be used, or two springs may be used in a stacked manner. The convex portion may be formed by bending the spring, or may be formed by integrally molding the spring with resin. The shape of the spring is not limited to the U-shape, and may be formed in an annular shape with a notch cut at one portion. Further, the spring is not limited to a plate material, and a wire material may be used.

Next, another embodiment of the click mechanism of the present invention shown in fig. 8 will be described.

In this example, a click mechanism is provided in the variable resistor with switch. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing only the configuration of the main part, and the rotary operation shaft 10, the bearing 20, the ring 29, and the rivet 120, which are not shown in fig. 8, are configured in the same manner as those shown in fig. 1. In this example, as in fig. 1, the spring 50 and the two click stoppers 60 are housed and arranged in the rotary plate 40.

In this example, the lower base 130 and the upper base 140 are provided, and the lower rotor 150 and the upper rotor 160 are further provided. As shown in fig. 9A, a collector pattern 131 and a resistor pattern 132 are formed as patterns for variable resistors in the lower base 130. The collector pattern 131 is formed in a ring shape, and the resistance pattern 132 is formed in an arc shape and is formed outside the collector pattern 131. In fig. 9A, terminals 133a to 133c connected to these patterns and led out to the outside are shown.

As shown in fig. 9B, collector patterns 141 and 142 are formed as a switching pattern in the upper base 140. The collector pattern 141 is formed in a ring shape, and the other collector pattern 142 is formed in a ring shape with a part cut out, and is formed outside the collector pattern 141. The cut-out portion of the collector pattern 142 is an OFF portion (OFF region) 142a serving as a switch. In fig. 9B, terminals 143a to 143c connected to these patterns and led out to the outside are shown.

Sliders 151 and 161 are attached to the lower rotor 150 and the upper rotor 160, respectively, and the slider 151 slides on the pattern for variable resistors of the lower base 130, and the slider 161 slides on the pattern for opening and closing of the upper base 140. In this example, the rotation of the rotation operation shaft 10 provides a desired switch opening/closing signal (ON/OFF signal) and also provides a resistance value change output. When the switch is switched between open and closed states, a click feeling is obtained, that is, a click feeling is generated by 360 ° rotation.

On the inner circumferential surface of the opening 31 of the housing 30', the number of clicks for 360 ° rotation should be 1, and the convex portions of the projections and recesses are provided at one location. The upper segment projection 32 'and the lower segment projection 33' are located at 180 deg. to each other.

Thus, according to this example, it is possible to realize a click number of 360 ° rotation of 1, which is not currently possible.

Claims (15)

1. A click mechanism for an electric component having a rotary operation shaft is characterized by comprising:

a spring which is made of a plate material and is disposed on the rotating plate that rotates integrally with the rotating operation shaft;

two click stoppers formed in a cylindrical shape, which are disposed at positions 180 ° apart from each other on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate, are shifted from each other in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft, and protrude from the outer peripheral portion so as to be movable in and out;

a concave-convex formed in the circumferential direction at the upper and lower 2 stages in the axial direction on the inner circumferential surface of the housing accommodating the rotating plate,

the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the concave-convex of the lower 2 sections are staggered in the circumferential direction,

the two click baffles apply force through the spring, the peripheral surface parts of the two click baffles are respectively in elastic contact with the concave-convex parts of the upper and lower 2 sections,

one of the two click stoppers moves along the upper concave-convex portion and the other moves along the lower concave-convex portion.

2. The clicking mechanism of an electrical part of claim 1,

the spring forms a U shape, and the two click baffle blocks are applied with force in opposite directions through two feet of the U shape.

3. The clicking mechanism of an electrical part of claim 1,

the spring is formed in a ring shape with a notch cut at one portion, and the two click stoppers are urged in mutually opposite directions through respective half portions of the notch.

4. A click mechanism for an electric component having a rotary operation shaft is characterized by comprising:

a spring which is made of a plate material and is disposed on the rotating plate that rotates integrally with the rotating operation shaft;

an indentation formed in the circumferential direction at each of upper and lower 2 stages in the axial direction of the rotation operation shaft on the inner circumferential surface of a housing accommodating the rotation plate,

the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the concave-convex of the lower 2 sections are staggered in the circumferential direction,

the spring is formed into a U shape, two leg parts of the U shape are mutually outward and mutually staggered in the axis direction, a convex part is integrally formed,

the convex parts protrude from the outer periphery of the rotating plate and elastically contact with the concave-convex parts of the upper and lower 2 sections,

one of the convex portions moves along the upper concave-convex portion, and the other moves along the lower concave-convex portion.

5. A click mechanism for an electric component having a rotary operation shaft is characterized by comprising:

a spring which is made of a plate material and is disposed on the rotating plate that rotates integrally with the rotating operation shaft;

an indentation formed in the circumferential direction at each of upper and lower 2 stages in the axial direction of the rotation operation shaft on the inner circumferential surface of a housing accommodating the rotation plate,

the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the concave-convex of the lower 2 sections are staggered in the circumferential direction,

the spring is formed in a ring shape with a notch at one portion, and is formed with a convex portion integrally formed by being mutually shifted in the axial direction and facing outward at each half portion across the notch,

the convex parts protrude from the outer periphery of the rotating plate and elastically contact with the concave-convex parts of the upper and lower 2 sections,

one of the convex portions moves along the upper concave-convex portion, and the other moves along the lower concave-convex portion.

6. A click mechanism for an electric component having a rotary operation shaft is characterized by comprising:

two springs made of a plate material or a wire material, and disposed on a rotating plate that rotates integrally with the rotating operation shaft so as to overlap in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft;

a concave-convex formed in the circumferential direction at the upper and lower 2 stages in the axial direction on the inner circumferential surface of the housing accommodating the rotating plate,

the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the concave-convex of the lower 2 sections are staggered in the circumferential direction,

each of the springs is formed in a U-shape, and convex portions are formed integrally with each other at leg portions of the U-shape located on mutually opposite sides of the two springs,

the convex parts protrude from the outer periphery of the rotating plate and elastically contact with the concave-convex parts of the upper and lower 2 sections,

one of the convex portions moves along the upper concave-convex portion, and the other moves along the lower concave-convex portion.

7. A click mechanism for an electric component having a rotary operation shaft is characterized by comprising:

two springs made of a plate material or a wire material, and disposed on a rotating plate that rotates integrally with the rotating operation shaft so as to overlap in the axial direction of the rotating operation shaft;

a concave-convex formed in the circumferential direction at the upper and lower 2 stages in the axial direction on the inner circumferential surface of the housing accommodating the rotating plate,

the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the concave-convex of the lower 2 sections are staggered in the circumferential direction,

each of the springs is formed in a ring shape having a notch cut at one portion, and convex portions are formed integrally with each other on half portions of the two springs located on mutually opposite sides across the notch,

the convex parts protrude from the outer periphery of the rotating plate and elastically contact with the concave-convex parts of the upper and lower 2 sections,

one of the convex portions moves along the upper concave-convex portion, and the other moves along the lower concave-convex portion.

8. The clicking mechanism for electric parts according to any one of claims 4 to 7,

the convex part forms a U shape, and the spring is formed by bending.

9. The clicking mechanism for electric parts according to any one of claims 4 to 7,

the convex portion is made of resin and is formed integrally with the spring.

10. The clicking mechanism for an electric part according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the convex portions of the projections and recesses are formed in an odd number at a predetermined pitch over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface.

11. The clicking mechanism for an electric part according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the convex part of the concave-convex is formed at one part of the inner peripheral surface, and the convex parts of the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the lower 2 sections are positioned at 180 degrees with each other.

12. The clicking mechanism for an electrical part of claim 8,

the convex portions of the projections and recesses are formed in an odd number at a predetermined pitch over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface.

13. The clicking mechanism for an electrical part of claim 9,

the convex portions of the projections and recesses are formed in an odd number at a predetermined pitch over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface.

14. The clicking mechanism for an electrical part of claim 8,

the convex part of the concave-convex is formed at one part of the inner peripheral surface, and the convex parts of the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the lower 2 sections are positioned at 180 degrees with each other.

15. The clicking mechanism for an electrical part of claim 9,

the convex part of the concave-convex is formed at one part of the inner peripheral surface, and the convex parts of the concave-convex of the upper 2 sections and the lower 2 sections are positioned at 180 degrees with each other.