JPH09320393A - Switch button fitting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the fitting of switch buttons to an operation panel, and enhance operation performance by mutually coupling through a hinge portion which is integrally formed with the push buttons and is elastically bendable, and engaging a hinge with a hook provided on the operation panel. SOLUTION: When one set of two switch buttons 10 are integrally coupled by a hinge portion 20 and are fitted to an operation panel 30, push-button portion 11, 12 are simultaneously mounted in the fitting openings 31, 32, and the protrusion portion of the hinge portion 20 which is elastically bendable is thrust into the L-shaped hook portion 35 of the operation panel 30 and is engaged therewith so that a boss portion 36 is fitted into the insertion hole of the hinge portion 20, and the switch buttons 10 are positioned to the operation panel 30 and are engaged and fixed so as to be pushing movable. In this state, when a push button 12 is pushed, the thin thickness portion 23 of an arm portion 22 is elastically bent so as to push an intermittent operation switch 70 to make on-off. Thereby, a stable operation action is obtained, and the switch button 10 is hardly detached so as to enhance fitting performance, and the fitting of plural switch buttons is facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch button mounting structure for individually mounting a plurality of switch buttons on an operation panel so that they can be individually pushed. Regarding what you did.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of switch buttons are individually attached to an operation panel such as a remote controller so that they can be individually pushed, the operation panel 60 is exemplified as shown in FIG. 5 (when there are two switch buttons). Switch buttons 50, 50 each provided with a push button portion 52 with a locking collar portion 54 in each of the mounting openings 62, 62 provided in the
The push button parts 52, 5 are attached to the
2 presses down the tactile switch 72 on the wiring board 70 arranged in the operation panel 60 by the pressing rod portion 56 that extends downward (ON-O).
FF).

In this case, the urging force for returning the switch button 50 to the original position is provided by a spring built in the tact switch 72 and a return force (not shown) connected to each of the switch buttons 50, 50. It is obtained by a hinge or a return coil spring or the like which is separately arranged.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional switch button mounting structure has the following problems.

That is, since it is necessary to separately attach a plurality of switch buttons, it is necessary to adjust the posture and position of each switch button individually, which takes a lot of time and labor. It is necessary to separately prepare hinges and coil springs, etc. for use, and when viewed as a whole, the number of parts and assembly man-hours increase, which is disadvantageous in terms of production control and inventory control. Each switch button is independent. Therefore, the operability of them is likely to vary, and the pushbuttons, hinges, etc., have not been specially devised in terms of their shapes or mounting / fixing methods, so there are many cases in which they may come off or become immobile. At the same time, the movement during pressing operation is not stable, and it is difficult to obtain good operability. Also, the attachment of the push button part, hinge, etc. Constant work (eg welded fixing work, Hamagogakaritome work, etc.) it has been a cumbersome.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to attach a plurality of switch buttons to respective operation panels relatively easily and easily without any trouble. In addition to being able to reduce the number of parts to facilitate production management and inventory management, it is also possible to prevent problems such as the switch buttons coming off or getting stuck.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable switch button mounting structure in which good and stable operability without variation among the switch buttons can be obtained.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a switch button mounting structure according to the present invention is for mounting a plurality of switch buttons on an operation panel so as to be individually pushable. The push button portions of the switch button are connected to each other by an elastically bendable hinge portion integrally formed therewith, and the hinge portion is locked by a hook portion provided on the operation panel. Is characterized by.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a thin-walled portion is formed in the arm portion connecting each of the push button portions of the hinge portion and the fulcrum base portion locked by the hook portion in a direction transverse to the arm portion.

In another preferred aspect, a positioning boss portion provided on the operation panel is fitted to the hinge portion.

In the switch button mounting structure having such a structure, since the plurality of switch buttons are integrally connected by the hinge part, when mounting them on the operation panel, the push button parts of all the switch buttons are mounted. At the same time at the same time in the mounting opening provided on the operation panel, and the elastically bendable hinge portion interconnecting all the push button portions is locked by the hook portion provided on the operation panel. .

Under these circumstances, when each push button portion is pressed, the arm portion connecting each push button portion in the hinge portion and the fulcrum base portion locked by the hook portion elastically bends, A push rod portion provided downwardly on the push button portion pushes a tact switch arranged in the operation panel to switch its operation state (ON-OFF).
Be done).

In this case, if a thin-walled portion is formed in the arm portion of the hinge portion in a direction crossing the arm portion, the thin-walled portion serves as an elastically bending center, and the movement during the pressing operation is stable. A good feeling of operation can be obtained.

Further, if the operation panel is provided with a positioning boss and the boss is fitted to the hinge, the switch button is not easily detached, and the assembling property is improved. Rattling and behavior are less likely to occur.

By doing so, a plurality of switch buttons can be attached to the operation panel relatively easily and easily without any trouble, and
The number of parts is reduced and production control and inventory control can be performed easily.In addition, it is possible to prevent problems such as the switch buttons coming off or becoming stuck, and the good and stable operability with no variation in each switch button. can get.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a set of two switch buttons 10 constituting a main part of an embodiment of a switch button mounting structure according to the present invention, which is used for a relatively small electronic device (remote controller or the like). The state of being incorporated in the operation panel 30 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 4, the switch button 10 includes a push button portion 11 having an elongated rectangular box shape with a bottom opening.
12 and a hinge portion 20 that connects them to each other and has a U-shaped plan view
It is made of synthetic resin and is integrally molded. In the push button portions 11 and 12, a plate-like push rod portion 14 for pushing the tact switch 72 (see FIG. 2) on the wiring board 70 arranged in the operation panel 30 is directed downward. Is installed vertically.

Further, the mounting openings 3 of the operation panel 30 are provided on the lower outer peripheral edges of the push button portions 11 and 12 on the opposite side and the rear side.
Collar-shaped locking portions 11a, 12a locked to the edges of 1, 32
Is provided, and a predetermined number of identification protrusions 11b are formed on the upper surfaces of the push button portions 11 and 12 so as to be aligned in a straight line in the vertical direction at a predetermined interval, but the protrusions 11b are not always formed. You don't have to.

The hinge portion 20 corresponds to the push button portion 1
1, 12 are connected to the front end portions of the arm portions 21 and 22 and a fulcrum base portion 25 that connects these arm portions 21 and 22, and the end portions of the arm portions 21 and 22 on the fulcrum base portion 25 side. Is formed with thin-walled portions 23, 23 each having an arcuate outer peripheral surface in a direction crossing the same.

Circular insertion holes 26, 26, 26 for positioning are formed in a straight line near the center and left and right ends of the fulcrum base 25, and an arc shape is formed on the rear side of the center insertion hole 26. A small cutout 27 is formed. Further, between the insertion holes 26-26 at the front end of the fulcrum base 25, 2
Small rectangular protrusions 28, 28 are provided between 6 and 26.

On the other hand, the operation panel 30 is attached to the upper surface side of a device body case (not shown),
As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 in addition to FIG. 1, the lower surface has a thin box shape, and the push button of the switch button 10 is located on the left and right sides near the front end in the longitudinal direction. A rectangular mounting opening 31, into which the parts 11 and 12 are mounted,
32 are formed. Between the mounting openings 31 and 32 and on the rear side thereof, openings 33, 33 and 34 for mounting different operating means (keys, trackballs, etc.) are formed.

On the inner top surface of the operation panel 30, two L-shaped projections 28, 28 projecting from the fulcrum base 25 of the hinge portion 20 of the switch button 10 are abutted and locked. The hook portions 35, 35 are provided, and cylindrical boss portions 36, 36, 36 that are inserted and fitted into the insertion holes 26, 26, 26 formed in the fulcrum base portion 25 of the hinge portion 20 are projected. ing.

In the switch button mounting structure of this embodiment having such a structure, since two switch buttons 10 are integrally connected by the hinge portion 20, they are connected to the operation panel 30. When mounting, the push button portions 11 and 12 of the switch button 10 are attached to the mounting openings 31 and 32 provided in the operation panel 30 substantially at the same time, and the push button portions 11 and 12 are elastically connected to each other. Rectangular protrusion 2 of flexible hinge 20
8 and 28 parts are pushed into L-shaped hook parts 35 and 35 provided on the operation panel 30 side to be brought into contact and locked, and at the same time, boss parts 36, 36 and 3 provided to the operation panel 30.
6 is inserted and fitted into the insertion holes 26, 26, 26 of the hinge portion 20. As a result, the switch button 10 is positioned on the operation panel 30 and is locked and fixed in a pushable state.

Under these circumstances, when the push button portions 11 and 12 are pressed, the push button portions 11 and 12 of the hinge portion 20 are connected to the fulcrum base portion 25 locked by the hook portions 35 and 35. Arms 21, 22 (thin-walled part 2
3, 23) is elastically bent, and the push button portion 11,
The pressing rod portion 14 vertically extending downward from 12 presses the tact switch 70 arranged in the operation panel 30 to switch its operation state (ON-OFF).

In this case, the thin-walled portions 23, 23 are formed on the arm portions 21, 22 of the hinge portion 20 in a direction traversing the arm portions 21, 22.
Since the thin-walled portions 23, 23 are elastically bent at the center, the movement at the time of pressing operation is stable and a good operation feeling is obtained.

Further, the operation panel 30 is provided with positioning boss portions 36, 36, 36, which are inserted and fitted into the insertion holes 26, 26, 26 of the hinge portion 20. The switch button 10 is made hard to come off, the assemblability is improved, and undesired backlash and behavior are less likely to occur.

By doing so, a plurality of switch buttons can be attached to the operation panel relatively easily and easily without any trouble, and
The number of parts is reduced and production control and inventory control can be performed easily.In addition, it is possible to prevent problems such as the switch buttons coming off or becoming stuck, and the good and stable operability with no variation in each switch button. can get.

Although a set of two switch buttons has been exemplified above, three or more switch buttons can be connected by a hinge portion in the same manner as described above to form one set.
Also in this case, substantially the same action and effect can be obtained.

[0029]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the switch button mounting structure of the present invention, a plurality of switch buttons can be mounted on the operation panel relatively easily and easily without much trouble. As well as
The number of parts is reduced and production control and inventory control can be performed easily.In addition, it is possible to prevent problems such as the switch buttons coming off or becoming stuck, and the good and stable operability with no variation in each switch button. It has an excellent effect of being obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a pair of switch buttons, which constitutes a main part of an embodiment of a switch button mounting structure according to the present invention, is incorporated in an operation panel 30 of a relatively small electronic device. .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the switch button shown in FIG. 1, (A)
Is a plan view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a sectional view taken along the line CC of (A).

FIG. 5 is a diagram provided for explaining an example of a conventional switch button mounting structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Switch Button 11, 12 Push Button Part 20 Hinge Part 21, 22 Arm Part 23 Thin Part 25 Support Point Base 26 Insertion Hole 30 Operation Panel 31, 32 Mounting Opening 35 L-shaped Hook Part 36 Boss Part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A switch button mounting structure for mounting a plurality of switch buttons on an operation panel so as to be individually pushable, wherein an elastically bendable hinge in which a push button portion of the switch button is integrally formed with them. The switch button mounting structure is characterized in that the hinge part is connected to each other by a hook portion provided on the operation panel. 2. A thin-walled portion is formed in a direction that traverses an arm portion connecting each of the push button portions of the hinge portion and a fulcrum base portion locked by the hook portion. Switch button mounting structure described in 1. 3. The switch button mounting structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a positioning boss portion provided on the operation panel is fitted to the hinge portion.