Ball switch

Abstract

A ball switch includes a conductive housing, an insulating base, a conductive terminal, and a conductive ball. The conductive housing includes an inner circumferential surface defining a receiving hole around a central axis. The inner circumferential surface has a first face, a second face, a third face, and a fourth face. On any cross-section taken in the extending direction of the central axis, a first included angle between 5 degrees and 55 degrees is formed between the second face and the central axis. The insulating base is mounted on the conductive housing to close the open end. The conductive terminal is inserted and fixed in the insulating base and has a terminal pin extending into the receiving hole. The conductive ball is located in the receiving hole and can move between a conducting position and a non-conducting position relative to the conductive terminal. In the conducting position, the conductive ball contacts both the conductive terminal and the conductive housing. Thus, the present invention is in a conducting state within a set range of inclination angles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch, and more particularly to a ball switch. Background Art

[0002] Referring to Figure 1 , a ball switch 9 disclosed in Taiwan, China Patent No. I390563B includes a conductive housing 91, two balls 92, an insulating cover 93 and a terminal 94. The conductive housing 91 includes an outer peripheral surface 911 respectively surrounding a central axis L and an inner peripheral surface 913 forming a receiving hole 912, a connecting annular surface 914 and a closing block 915 respectively connecting the outer peripheral surface 911 and the inner peripheral surface 913, and an opening 916 formed by the cooperation of the inner peripheral surface 913 and the connecting annular surface 914. The ball 92 is located in the receiving hole 912 and is conductive. The insulating cover 93 is mounted on the conductive housing 91 to cover the opening 916 and limit the ball 92 in the receiving hole 912. The terminal 94 is inserted and fixed on the insulating cover 93 along the central axis L. When the ball switch 9 is tilted, as long as any one of the balls 92 contacts the conductive housing 91 and the terminal 94 at the same time, the ball switch 9 is in a conductive state.

[0003] However, as long as the tilt angle of the ball switch 9 changes slightly, the ball 92 will move, causing the ball switch 9 to quickly change between the conductive state and the non-conductive state, and it cannot meet the usage requirement of remaining in the conductive state within a set tilt angle range. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a ball switch that remains in a conductive state within a set tilt angle range.

[0005] The ball switch of the present invention is for fixing on a circuit board, the circuit board being located on a placement surface. The ball switch includes a conductive housing, an insulating base, a conductive terminal, and a conductive ball. The conductive housing is for fixing on the circuit board and includes an inner circumferential surface surrounding a central axis perpendicular to the circuit board and defining a receiving hole, an outer circumferential surface opposite to the inner circumferential surface, an open end connecting the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface, and a closed end opposite to the open end. The inner circumferential surface has a first face adjacent to the open end, a second face connecting the first face and extending in a direction away from the open end and gradually away from the central axis in a tapered manner, a third face connecting the second face and extending along the central axis direction, and a fourth face connecting the third face and gradually approaching the central axis in a tapered manner in a direction away from the open end. On any cross-section taken in the extending direction of the central axis, a first included angle is formed between the second face and the central axis, and the first included angle is between 5 degrees and 55 degrees; the insulating base is mounted on the conductive housing to close the open end; the conductive terminal is inserted and fixed in the insulating base and includes a terminal leg extending into the receiving hole; the conductive ball is located in the receiving hole and can move between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. In the conducting position, the conductive ball simultaneously contacts the terminal leg of the conductive terminal and the second face of the conductive housing. In the non-conducting position, the conductive ball disengages from the terminal leg of the conductive terminal.

[0006] For the ball switch of the present invention, the first included angle between the second face and the central axis is substantially 10 degrees. When the ball switch is parallel to the placement surface with respect to the circuit board, the conductive ball is in the conducting position. When the inclination angle of the ball switch with respect to the placement surface relative to the circuit board is greater than 80 degrees, the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position.

[0007] For the ball switch of the present invention, a second included angle is formed between the second face and the fourth face of the conductive housing, and the second included angle is between 100 degrees and 120 degrees.

[0008] For the ball switch of the present invention, the first included angle between the second face and the central axis of the conductive housing is substantially 30 degrees. When the ball switch is parallel to the placement surface with respect to the circuit board, the conductive ball is in the conducting position. When the inclination angle of the ball switch with respect to the placement surface relative to the circuit board is greater than 60 degrees, the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position.

[0009] For the ball switch of the present invention, the first included angle between the second face of the conductive housing and the central axis is substantially 45 degrees. When the ball switch is placed parallel to the circuit board on the placement surface, the conductive ball is in the conducting position. When the inclination angle of the ball switch relative to the placement surface with respect to the circuit board is greater than 45 degrees, the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position.

[0010] For the ball switch of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the conductive housing further has a fifth face connecting the fourth face and extending along the direction of the central axis and located inside the closed end. The fifth face defines an escape hole communicating the accommodation hole with the outside. The ball switch further includes a closing bead for closing the escape hole.

[0011] For the ball switch of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the conductive housing further has a sixth face connecting the first face and located inside the open end. The radial length of the sixth face is greater than the radial length of the first face. The insulating base includes a base body surrounding the central axis and a jack extending through the base body along the central axis. The base body has an insertion portion inserted into the first face and a retaining ring portion formed by expanding the diameter from the insertion portion and located inside the sixth face.

[0012] For the ball switch of the present invention, the jack of the insulating base is stepped and has a large-diameter section located inside the retaining ring portion and a small-diameter section located inside the insertion portion and communicating the large-diameter section with the accommodation hole. The conductive terminal further includes a terminal head formed by expanding the diameter from the terminal pin. The terminal pin is inserted and fixed in the small-diameter section of the jack, and the terminal head is inserted and fixed in the large-diameter section of the jack.

[0013] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that: by the included angle formed between the second face and the central axis being between 5 degrees and 55 degrees, the conductive ball is still in the conducting position within a set inclination angle range, so that the ball switch is still in the conducting state within the set inclination angle range. Description of the Drawings

[0014] Figure 1 is a combined cross-sectional view of the patent case with the Taiwan, China patent number I390563;

[0015] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the ball switch of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the first embodiment fixed on the circuit board and located on the placement surface;

[0017] Figure 4 is along Figure 3The cross-sectional view taken along the IV-IV line shows that the conductive ball is in the conducting position;

[0018] Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 The cross-sectional view shows that the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position;

[0019] Figure 6 is the cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the ball switch of the present invention, showing that the conductive ball is in the conducting position;

[0020] Figure 7 is similar to Figure 6 The cross-sectional view shows that the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position;

[0021] Figure 8 is the cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the ball switch of the present invention, showing that the conductive ball is in the conducting position; and

[0022] Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8 The cross-sectional view shows that the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position. Detailed Embodiment

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that in the following description, similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0025] Refer to Figures 2 to 4 , the ball switch 201 of the first embodiment of the present invention is for fixing on a circuit board 7, the circuit board 7 is located on a placement surface 8, and the ball switch 201 includes a conductive housing 2, an insulating base 3, a conductive terminal 4, a conductive ball 5, and a closing ball 6.

[0026] The conductive housing 2 is for fixing on the circuit board 7, and includes an inner peripheral surface 22 surrounding a central axis L perpendicular to the circuit board 7 and defining a receiving hole 21, an outer peripheral surface 23 opposite to the inner peripheral surface 22, an open end 24 connecting the inner peripheral surface 22 and the outer peripheral surface 23, and a closed end 25 opposite to the open end 24.

[0027] The inner circumferential surface 22 has a first face 221 adjacent to the open end 24, a second face 222 connecting the first face 221 and extending away from the open end 24 and gradually expanding away from the central axis L, a third face 223 connecting the second face 222 and extending along the direction of the central axis L, and a fourth face 224 connecting the third face 223 and extending away from the open end 24 and gradually approaching the central axis L and tapering.

[0028] On any cross-section taken along the extending direction of the central axis L, a first included angle θ1 is formed between the second face 222 and the central axis L, and the first included angle θ1 is between 5 degrees and 55 degrees.

[0029] In this embodiment, in order to avoid moisture remaining in the conductive housing 2 during electroplating, the inner circumferential surface 22 further has a fifth face 225 connecting the fourth face 224 and extending along the direction of the central axis L. The fifth face 225 defines an air escape hole 227 that communicates the accommodation hole 21 with the outside. After the moisture in the conductive housing 2 is removed through the air escape hole 227, the sealing bead 6 is inserted into the air escape hole 227 to seal the air escape hole 227, making the inside of the ball switch 201 airtight and watertight, and preventing the conductive ball 5 from rusting. In this embodiment, the inner circumferential surface 22 of the conductive housing 2 further has a sixth face 226 connecting the first face 221 and located inside the open end 24, and the radial length of the sixth face 226 is greater than the radial length of the first face 221.

[0030] The insulating base 3 is installed on the conductive housing 2 to close the open end 24, and includes a base body 31 surrounding the central axis L and a jack 32 passing through the base body 31 along the central axis L. The base body 31 has an insertion portion 311 extending towards the closed end 25 and a retaining ring portion 312 formed by expanding the diameter of the insertion portion 311 and located inside the sixth face 226. The jack 32 is in a stepped shape and has a large aperture section 321 located inside the retaining ring portion 312 and a small aperture section 322 located inside the insertion portion 311 and communicating with the large aperture section 321.

[0031] The conductive terminal 4 is inserted and fixed in the jack 32 of the insulating base 3, and includes a terminal pin 41 inserted and fixed in the small-diameter section 322 and extending into the accommodating hole 21, and a terminal head 42 formed by expanding the diameter of the terminal pin 41 and embedded and fixed in the large-diameter section 321. The terminal pin 41 has a free end 411, and the free end 411 is approximately located at the junction of the first face 221 and the second face 222.

[0032] The conductive ball 5 is located in the accommodating hole 21 and can move relative to the conductive terminal 4 between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. Refer to Figure 4 , in the conducting position, the conductive ball 5 contacts both the terminal pin 41 of the conductive terminal 4 and the second face 222 of the conductive housing 2. Refer to Figure 5 , in the non-conducting position, the conductive ball 5 disengages from the terminal pin 41 of the conductive terminal 4.

[0033] Refer to Figure 4 、 Figure 5 , during use, when the ball switch 201 and the circuit board 7 are placed parallel to the placement surface 8, the conductive ball 5 is in the conducting position, causing the ball switch 201 to be in a conducting state. When the ball switch 201 and the circuit board 7 are inclined relative to the placement surface 8, and the inclination angle of the circuit board 7 relative to the placement surface 8 is greater than 80 degrees, the conductive ball 5 moves away from the terminal pin 41 and is in the non-conducting position, causing the ball switch 201 to be in a non-conducting state.

[0034] The first included angle θ1 between the second face 222 of the ball switch 201 and the central axis L is substantially 10 degrees. Thus, when the inclination angles of the ball switch 201 and the circuit board 7 relative to the placement surface 8 are less than 80 degrees, the conductive ball 5 still contacts the terminal pin 41 and is in the conducting position, causing the ball switch 201 to still be in the conducting state. When the inclination angles of the ball switch 201 and the circuit board 7 relative to the placement surface 8 are greater than 80 degrees, the conductive ball 5 moves away from the terminal pin 41 in a direction away from the terminal pin 41 and is in the non-conducting position, causing the ball switch 201 to be in the non-conducting state. Therefore, the present invention can achieve the purpose and effect that within a set inclination angle range, the ball switch 201 is still in the conducting state.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, a second included angle θ2 is formed between the second face 222 and the fourth face 224. The second included angle θ2 is between 100 degrees and 120 degrees. Preferably, the second included angle θ2 is 110 degrees, so as to prevent the conductive ball 5 from being stuck between the second face 222 and the fourth face 224, and to prevent the situation where the conductive ball 5 cannot smoothly move from the non-conductive position to the conductive position.

[0036] Refer to Figure 6 、 Figure 7 The ball switch 202 of the second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the ball switch 201 of the first embodiment, and also includes a conductive housing 2, an insulating base 3, a conductive terminal 4, a conductive ball 5 and a closing ball 6. The difference between the two is that:

[0037] In this second embodiment, the first included angle θ1 between the second face 222 of the conductive housing 2 and the central axis L is substantially 30 degrees. When the ball switch 202 is placed parallel to the circuit board 7 on the placement surface 8, the conductive ball 5 is located at the conductive position, making the ball switch 202 in the conductive state. When the inclination angle of the ball switch 202 relative to the placement surface 8 with respect to the circuit board 7 is greater than 60 degrees, the conductive ball 5 is located at the non-conductive position, making the ball switch 202 in the non-conductive state.

[0038] Therefore, the second embodiment of the present invention can also achieve the same purpose and effect as the first embodiment.

[0039] Refer to Figure 8 、 Figure 9 The ball switch 203 of the third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the ball switch 201 of the first embodiment, and also includes a conductive housing 2, an insulating base 3, a conductive terminal 4, a conductive ball 5 and a closing ball 6. The difference between the two is that:

[0040] In this third embodiment, the first included angle θ3 between the second face 222 of the conductive housing 2 and the central axis L is substantially 45 degrees. When the ball switch 203 is placed parallel to the circuit board 7 on the placement surface 8, the conductive ball 5 is located at the conductive position, making the ball switch 203 in the conductive state. When the inclination angle of the ball switch 203 relative to the placement surface with respect to the circuit board 7 is greater than 45 degrees, the conductive ball 5 is located at the non-conductive position, making the ball switch 202 in the non-conductive state.

[0041] Therefore, the third embodiment of the present invention can also achieve the same purpose and effect as the first embodiment.

[0042] In summary, the first included angle θ1 between the second face 222 of the conductive housing 2 of the present invention and the central axis L is between 5 degrees and 55 degrees. Thereby, the ball switches 201, 202, and 203 of the present invention can still be in the conducting state within the set tilt angle range, so the object of the present invention can indeed be achieved.

[0043] The above are only the embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of implementation of the present invention cannot be limited thereby. All simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the content of the specification of the present invention still fall within the scope covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. A ball switch for fixing on a circuit board, the circuit board being located on a placement surface; characterized in that: The ball switch includes: A conductive housing for being fixed on the circuit board, and including an inner peripheral surface surrounding a central axis perpendicular to the circuit board and defining a receiving hole, an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface, an open end connecting the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, and a closed end opposite to the open end. The inner peripheral surface has a first face adjacent to the open end, a second face connecting the first face and extending away from the open end and gradually away from the central axis in a tapered manner, a third face connecting the second face and extending along the direction of the central axis, and a fourth face connecting the third face and gradually approaching the central axis in a tapered manner away from the open end. On any cross-section intercepted in the extending direction of the central axis, a first angle is formed between the second face and the central axis, and the first angle is greater than or equal to 5 degrees and less than or equal to 55 degrees; An insulating base installed on the conductive housing to close the open end; A conductive terminal inserted and fixed on the insulating base and including a terminal pin extending into the receiving hole; And A conductive ball located in the receiving hole and movable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. In the conducting position, the conductive ball contacts the terminal pin of the conductive terminal and the second face of the conductive housing simultaneously. In the non-conducting position, the conductive ball disengages from the terminal pin of the conductive terminal.

2. The ball switch according to claim 1, wherein: The first angle between the second face and the central axis is 10 degrees. When the ball switch is placed parallel to the circuit board on the placement surface, the conductive ball is in the conducting position. When the inclination angle of the ball switch relative to the placement surface with respect to the circuit board is greater than 80 degrees, the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position.

3. The ball switch according to claim 2, wherein: A second angle is formed between the second face and the fourth face of the conductive housing, and the second angle is greater than or equal to 100 degrees and less than or equal to 120 degrees.

4. The ball switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first angle between the second face and the central axis of the conductive housing is 30 degrees. When the ball switch is placed parallel to the circuit board on the placement surface, the conductive ball is in the conducting position. When the inclination angle of the ball switch relative to the placement surface with respect to the circuit board is greater than 60 degrees, the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position.

5. The ball switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first angle between the second face and the central axis of the conductive housing is 45 degrees. When the ball switch is placed parallel to the circuit board on the placement surface, the conductive ball is in the conducting position. When the inclination angle of the ball switch relative to the placement surface with respect to the circuit board is greater than 45 degrees, the conductive ball is in the non-conducting position.

6. The ball switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner peripheral surface of the conductive housing further has a fifth face connecting the fourth face and extending along the direction of the central axis and located inside the closed end. The fifth face defines an escape hole communicating the receiving hole with the outside. The ball switch further includes a closing bead closing the escape hole.

7. The ball switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner circumferential surface of the conductive housing further has a sixth face that connects the first face and is located within the open end. The radial length of the sixth face is greater than the radial length of the first face. The insulating base includes a base body that surrounds the central axis and a jack that penetrates the base body along the central axis. The base body has an insertion portion that is inserted into the first face and a retaining ring portion that is formed by expanding the diameter from the insertion portion and is located within the sixth face.

8. The ball switch according to claim 7, characterized in that: The jack of the insulating base is stepped and has a large-diameter section located within the retaining ring portion and a small-diameter section located within the insertion portion and connecting the large-diameter section and the accommodation hole. The conductive terminal further includes a terminal head formed by expanding the diameter from the terminal leg. The terminal leg is inserted and fixed within the small-diameter section of the jack, and the terminal head is inserted and fixed within the large-diameter section of the jack.

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