JPH11134960A - Push button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a push button switch in which display contents of a display board can be seen only when a light source is turned on. SOLUTION: In a push button switch with a light source,
When the light source is turned on, the display content 2 is placed between the cap 1 having the color plate 11 and the engraving plate 2 engraved with the display content 21.
The translucent sheet 110 is disposed so that the image 1 can be seen through the color plate 11 and the display contents 21 cannot be seen through the color plate 11 when the light source is turned off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push-button switch in which the display contents of a display board are visible through a color plate of a cap when a light source is turned on, and are invisible when the light source is turned off.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in such a pushbutton switch with a light source, when a light source is turned on, the display contents (various characters and figures, etc.) of a display plate (engraving plate) can be clearly seen through a color plate of a cap. I have. In various electronic devices, generally, pushbutton switches having different display contents are arranged side by side, and an operator presses a predetermined pushbutton switch in accordance with the type of display contents viewed through a color plate.

[0003]

However, in the conventional pushbutton switch with a light source, even when the light source is turned off, the engraved plate can be viewed through the color plate of the cap to the extent that the engraved plate is not clear but can be confirmed. The operator can see in advance which push-button switch is related to which function, and the visual impression to the operator is weak when the light source is turned on and the displayed content becomes clearly visible. There's a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch in which the display contents of the display panel can be viewed only when the light source is turned on in view of such a problem.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a push-button switch including a switch unit having an operation unit, and a light source that lights up the operation unit when turned on. In the push button switch, the operation unit includes a display unit in which display contents are not visible when the light source is turned off, and display contents are visible by illumination by turning on the light source. I do.

[0006] With this push-button switch, the display content of the display unit can be viewed only when the light source is turned on, so that the displayed content gives the operator a strong visual impression when the light source is turned on. Further, the push button switch according to the second aspect includes a light source,
A main body fixed to the electronic device, having a housing for the light source, a switch operating part disposed on the front side of the main body and having a light source therein, and a cap with a color plate attached to the switch operating part; A display panel interposed between the switch operation unit and the cap and provided with display contents, and a switch unit disposed on the back side of the main unit, the switch unit being displaced by pushing the cap and displacing the switch operation unit. ON
A push button switch that is turned off, provided with means for preventing the display content of the display plate from being visible through the color plate of the cap when the light source is turned on and the display content of the display plate not being visible through the color plate when the light source is turned off; It is characterized by.

In this push-button switch, when the light source is turned off, the display content of the display plate cannot be seen through the color plate of the cap, so that when the light source is turned on, the display content that appears on the color plate gives the operator a visual impression. Become stronger.
Specifically, the means may be a translucent sheet disposed between the cap and the display panel (Claim 3) or a combination of the color of the color plate of the cap and the color of the display plate. Alternatively, the color plate of the cap may be made of a translucent material (claim 5).

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a push button switch having a light source, a main body having a hole into which the light source is inserted, and fixed to an electronic device, and a front side of the main body. A plunger having a stopper inserted through the hole and engaged with the back side of the main body, a cap with a color plate attached to the plunger, and a display plate interposed between the cap and the plunger and provided with display contents And a translucent sheet interposed between the display plate and the cap to prevent the display contents of the display plate from being seen through the color plate of the cap when the light source is turned off, and a biasing device for urging the plunger away from the main body. A pressure member, a mounting member for fixing and supporting the main body unit to the electronic device, a holder for holding the light source, and a switch unit mounted on the holder, and a plunge by pressing a cap. By displacement, retaining the plunger so as to ON · OFF the switch unit, only when the lighting of the light source, wherein the display content of the display panel is visible through the color plates of the semi-transparent sheet and the cap. Also with this pushbutton switch, the visual impression when the light source is turned on becomes strong as described above.

In the present invention, the display contents provided on the display panel include all kinds of displayable characters, figures, figures, and the like, and the display panel is, for example, an engraved plate engraved with the display contents. is there.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the push button switch according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rest. This push button switch is used to make the display contents of the engraving plate invisible when the light source is turned off by combining the color of the color plate of the cap and the color of the engraving plate. (Switch operation part)
3, a coil spring (biasing member) 4, a main body 5, a fixing ring 6, a mounting nut 7, a lamp (light source) 8, a holder 9, and a microswitch (switch) 10.

The color plate cap 1 has color plates 11 of various colors. The engraving board 2 has various colors and has predetermined display contents (uppercase letters of “BET” in FIG. 1) 21 engraved on the surface thereof. The plunger 3 is white in order to improve light reflectivity, has a hole 31 at the center where the lamp 8 is inserted, and has a pair of leg-shaped stoppers 32 extending in the center axis direction on the back side. The tip of the stopper 32 is a claw 32a bent at a substantially right angle. or,
The pair of retaining members 32 exhibit elasticity in a direction away from each other (outward direction) in a normal state. The engraving plate 2 is accommodated on the front side of the plunger 3, and the cap 1, the engraving plate 2 and the plunger 3 are integrated by fitting the cap 1 on the outer periphery of the plunger 3. Function.

A coil spring 4 is fitted into the stopper 32 of the plunger 3, and a claw 32 a of the stopper 32 projects from the coil spring 4. The main body 5 is fixed to, for example, a panel of the electronic device, and has a screw portion 51 therefor, as well as the color of the color plate 11 of the cap 1 and the plunger 3.
It takes on a black color to enhance the white color. The front side of the main body 5 is a housing 52 of the plunger 3, and the housing 5
In the center of 2, a hole (storage portion) 53 into which the stopper 8 of the lamp 8 and the plunger 3 is inserted is formed. When the plunger 3 to which the cap 1 and the engraving plate 2 are attached is housed and set in the housing 52 of the main body 5, the end 42 of the coil spring 4 engages around the opening of the hole 53 of the main body 5, The claw portion 32 a of the stopper 32 of the plunger 3 projects from the screw portion 51 of the main body 5.

Therefore, the end 41 of the coil spring 4 is engaged with the back side of the plunger 3 and the end 42 is engaged with the front side of the main body 5, so that the main body 5 fixed to the electronic device can be moved. The plunger 3 is constantly urged in a direction to come out of the housing portion 52 of the main body 5. Further, since the claw 32a of the stopper 32 protrudes from the screw portion 51 of the main body 5, even if the plunger 3 is to be pulled out, the claw 32a hits the screw portion 51. Can be prevented.

The fixing ring 6 is attached to the back side of the main body 5 and supports the main body 5 so as not to move.
The fixing ring 6 has, at the center, a hole 61 into which the screw portion 51 of the main body 5 and the stopper 32 of the plunger 3 are inserted, and four support pieces 62 provided on the outer periphery at equal angular intervals. The fixing ring 6 is attached to the back side of the main body 5 by an attachment nut 7 having a female thread 71. The fixing nut 6 is screwed onto a male screw (not shown) provided on the back side of the fixing ring 6 so that the fixing ring 6 is tightened on the back side of the main body 5, and the support piece 62 of the main body 5 is The main body 5 is engaged with the outer peripheral wall and is supported from the periphery so that the main body 5 does not shake. In this embodiment, a mounting member is constituted by the fixing ring 6 and the mounting nut 7.

The lamp 8 as a light source may be an LED in addition to an ordinary small light bulb. The holder 9 holds the lamp 8 and includes a circular plate 91, four arc-shaped holding pieces 92 provided on the front side of the circular plate 91, and a fixing piece 93 provided on the back side of the circular plate 91. It comprises a lead terminal 94 which is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 81 of the lamp 8. The circular plate 91 has a pair of notches 91a.
The stopper 32 of the plunger 3 is slidably fitted in a. The four holding pieces 92 are equiangularly spaced, and the lamp 8 is accommodated and held in the holding pieces 92. The microswitch 10 is fixed to the fixing piece 93.

The microswitch 10 turns this ON / O
It has a button 101 for FF and a lead terminal 102 connected to an external circuit. With the micro switch 10 fixed to the fixing piece 93 of the holder 9, the button 101 of the switch 10
The two claw portions 32a face each other. Therefore, when the plunger 3 is pushed, the stopper 32 slides while being guided by the notch 91a of the circular plate 91, and the claw 32a pushes the button 101, whereby the switch 10 is turned ON / OF.
F.

In the push button switch configured as described above, as described above, the display content 21 of the engraving plate 2 is turned off when the lamp 8 is turned off by the combination of the color of the color plate 11 of the cap 1 and the color of the engraving plate 2. It is invisible. For this purpose, for example, it is preferable that the color of the color plate 11 and the color of the engraving plate 2 are the same or similar colors. If the colors are the same or similar colors, it is difficult for the display contents 21 to be seen through the color plate 11 when the lamp 8 is turned off. Of course, when the lamp 8 is turned on, the display contents 21 emerge through the color plate 11.

This push button switch (ie, cap 1)
When the plunger 3 is pressed, the plunger 3 is displaced in the accommodating portion 52 of the main body portion 5 so as to sink slightly against the urging force of the coil spring 4, and the stopper 32 of the plunger 3 is moved to the circular plate 9 of the holder 9.
The switch 10 (i.e., the push button switch) is turned ON by sliding the inside of the notch 91a of the first switch and pushing the button 101 of the micro switch 10 by the claw portion 32a. When the pressing is stopped, the plunger 3 is pushed back by the urging force of the coil spring 4, and the claw portion 32 a of the stopper 32 is separated from the button 101 of the microswitch 10. When the button is pressed again, the claw 32a presses the button 101 by the same action, and the switch 10 (the push button switch) is turned off.

Here, even when the plunger 3 is to be pulled out of the main body 5, the claw 32a of the retaining member 32 is
Of the plunger 3 is prevented. The engraving plate 2 may have a simple circular shape as shown in FIG.
May be provided. A projection (not shown) is provided on the front side of the plunger 3 corresponding to the notch 22, and the notch 22 is fitted to the projection, so that the engraving plate 2 is fixed to the plunger 3 so as not to move. Thereby, the engraving plate 2 is rotated and its position is not shifted, and the display content 2
It is possible to prevent a problem that the display of 1 is oblique or reverse. The shape and number of the notches 22 may be changed as appropriate, and a projection is formed on the front side of the plunger 3 accordingly. Alternatively, a projection may be provided on the engraving plate 2 and a groove in which the projection fits may be formed on the front side of the plunger 3.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a push button switch according to another embodiment. However, the rest is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. This push button switch is
A feature is that a translucent sheet 110 is disposed between the engraving plate 2 and the engraving plate 2. The translucent sheet 110 makes the display contents 21 of the engraving plate 2 invisible when the lamp 8 is turned off. The translucent sheet 110 may be a single unit or may be integrally attached to the back side of the cap 1. As the translucent sheet 110, any material may be used as long as the display contents 21 of the engraving plate 2 cannot be seen through the color plate 11 when the lamp 8 is turned off.

Even with this push button switch, when the lamp 8 is turned off, the display contents 2 of the engraving plate 2 are displayed by the translucent sheet 10.
When the lamp 8 is turned on, the display contents 21 can be seen through the translucent sheet 110 and the color plate 11. Of course, the operation when the push button switch is pressed is as described above. Further, as another embodiment, when a member such as the translucent sheet 10 is used, the cap 1
Color plate 11 may be made of a translucent material. That is, the color plate 11 may also serve as the translucent plate. In this case, the number of parts is reduced.

In the pushbutton switch shown in the above embodiment, the plunger 3 including the cap 1 and the engraving plate 2 is circular, but other various shapes such as triangular, elliptical, square, rectangular, semicircular, etc. It may be. in this case,
What is necessary is just to change the shape of each element etc. according to each shape.

[0023]

As described above, in the push-button switch according to the first aspect, the display content of the display section can be viewed only when the light source is turned on, so that the display content provided to the operator when the light source is turned on. Impression is stronger. In the pushbutton switch according to the second and tenth aspects, when the light source is turned off, the display content of the display plate is not visible through the color plate of the cap, so that the display content that emerges on the color plate when the light source is turned on is operated. The visual impression given to the person becomes stronger.

Therefore, when the push button switch of the present invention is provided in various electronic devices, the operator can strongly recognize the meaning of the display content that appears when the push button switch is turned on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a push button switch according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rest of the push button switch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a modification of the engraving plate in the push button switch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a push button switch according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cap 2 Engraving board (display board) 3 Plunger (switch operation part) 4 Coil spring (biasing member) 5 Main body part 6, 7 Mounting member 8 Lamp (light source) 10 Micro switch (switch part) 11 Color plate 21 Display contents 32 Retaining 110 Translucent sheet

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A push-button switch comprising: a switch unit having an operation unit; and a light source that illuminates the operation unit when lit, wherein a display content of the operation unit is invisible when the light source is turned off. A push-button switch including a display unit in which display contents can be viewed with illumination by lighting of a light source. 2. A light source, a main body having a storage portion for the light source and fixed to an electronic device, a switch operation portion disposed on a front side of the main body portion and having a light source therein, and a switch operation portion. A cap with a color plate attached, a display plate interposed between the switch operation unit and the cap, and provided with a display content, and a switch unit arranged on the back side of the main body unit, by pressing the cap In the push button switch for turning on / off the switch unit by the displacement of the switch operation unit, when the light source is turned on, the display content of the display plate can be seen through the color plate of the cap, and when the light source is off, the display content of the display plate is the color plate A push button switch comprising means for making it invisible through a push button. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means is a translucent sheet disposed between the cap and the display panel.
Pushbutton switch as described. 4. The push-button switch according to claim 2, wherein said means is based on a combination of a color of a color plate of a cap and a color of a display plate. 5. The push button switch according to claim 2, wherein said means comprises a color plate of the cap made of a translucent material. 6. The push button switch according to claim 3, wherein said translucent sheet is provided integrally with a cap. 7. The push button switch according to claim 2, wherein said display plate is fixed to a switch operation section. 8. The push-button switch according to claim 2, wherein said switch operating portion has a stopper which is inserted into a storage portion of said main body portion and engages with a back side of said main body portion. 9. The push-button switch according to claim 8, wherein said switch operating section turns on / off the switch section by retaining. 10. A light source, a main body having a hole into which the light source is inserted, the main body being fixed to an electronic device, and a front side of the main body being inserted through the hole of the main body to form a rear side of the main body. A plunger having a stopper to be engaged, a cap with a color plate attached to the plunger, a display plate interposed between the cap and the plunger, and a display content provided thereon,
A translucent sheet interposed between the display panel and the cap for preventing display contents of the display panel from being seen through the color plate of the cap when the light source is turned off, and an urging member for urging the plunger away from the main body. And a mounting member for fixing and supporting the main body to the electronic device, a holder for holding the light source, and a switch mounted on the holder, and the displacement of the plunger by pushing the cap causes the plunger to be disengaged. A push button switch characterized in that the stop turns on and off the switch section, so that the display contents of the display board can be seen through the translucent sheet and the color plate of the cap only when the light source is turned on.