Switch and insert molding method

Abstract

The switch is provided with: a long housing having an accommodating part; a first fixed contact member having a first external connection terminal exposed from one end portion of the housing in the longitudinal direction and a central fixed contact exposed from the central portion of the bottom portion of the housing portion, the first fixed contact member extending in the longitudinal direction from the first external connection terminal to the central fixed contact; a second fixed contact member having a second external connection terminal exposed from the other end of the housing in the longitudinal direction and a peripheral fixed contact exposed from the peripheral portion of the bottom of the housing portion, the second fixed contact member extending in the longitudinal direction from the second external connection terminal to the peripheral fixed contact; and a movable contact member capable of being brought into contact with and separated from the central fixed contact by a reverse operation of a pressing operation, the first fixed contact member having an extended support portion protruding from a side portion of the central fixed contact in a short dimension direction of the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a switch and an insert molding method. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a switch device including a resin case formed integrally with a fixed contact member having fixed contacts by insert molding.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-061747 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, in the conventional switch device, particularly when the contact area of ​​the fixed contact is small, there is a possibility that the fixed contact cannot be firmly fixed to the insert-molded housing.

[0008] Means for solving problems

[0009] A switch in one embodiment comprises: a shell of an elongated shape having a receiving portion; a first fixed contact member having a first external connection terminal exposed from an end portion on one side in the long dimension direction of the shell and a central fixed contact exposed from a central portion of a bottom portion of the receiving portion, the first fixed contact member extending along the long dimension direction from the first external connection terminal to the central fixed contact; a second fixed contact member having a second external connection terminal exposed from an end portion on the other side in the long dimension direction of the shell and a peripheral fixed contact exposed from a peripheral portion of the bottom portion of the receiving portion, the second fixed contact member extending along the long dimension direction from the second external connection terminal to the peripheral fixed contact; and a movable contact member that can be in contact with and separated from the central fixed contact by performing a reverse action through a pressing operation, the first fixed contact member having an extended support portion protruding from a side portion of the central fixed contact along the short dimension direction of the shell.

[0010] Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to one embodiment, the fixed contact can be firmly fixed to the insert-molded housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the appearance of a switch according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of a switch according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 3This is a cross-sectional perspective view of the switch according to one embodiment, taken along the YZ plane.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the appearance of a housing included in the switch according to one embodiment.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the appearance of a central fixed contact member and peripheral fixed contact members included in a switch according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 6 This is a plan view of a housing included in a switch according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 7 It is a plan view of a central fixed contact member and peripheral fixed contact members included in a switch according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 8 It is a bottom view of a housing included in the switch according to one embodiment.

[0020] Fig. 9 This is a perspective cross-sectional view of a housing included in a switch according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the following description, for convenience, the Z-axis direction in the figure is set as the up-down direction, the Y-axis direction in the figure is set as the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction in the figure is set as the front-back direction. Among them, the positive direction of the Z-axis is set as the top, the positive direction of the Y-axis is set as the right, and the positive direction of the X-axis is set as the front.

[0022] (Overview of switch 100)

[0023] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a switch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the switch 100 as a whole has a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). Figure 1 As shown, the upper surface 160A and the receiving portion 160B of the housing 160 of the switch 100 are covered by a transparent insulating member 110. A raised portion 111 that bulges upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) is formed in the central portion of the insulating member 110. A pressing body 120 is bonded to the back side (in the negative direction of the Z axis) of the raised portion 111. Thus, the switch 100 can be pressed downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) by the pressing body 120.

[0024] The switch 100 is in the OFF state when the pressing operation is not performed, and is switched to the ON state when the pressing operation is performed downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) of the pressing body 120 .

[0025] (Configuration of switch 100)

[0026] Figure 2 It is an exploded perspective view of the switch 100 according to one embodiment. Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a switch 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along a YZ plane. Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 As shown, the switch 100 includes a housing 160 , a metal contact 130 , a pressing body 120 , and an insulating member 110 in order from the lower side (negative side of the Z axis) in the figure.

[0027] <Housing 160>

[0028] The housing 160 is a container-shaped component having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). When viewed from above, the housing 160 has a long shape with the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) as the long dimension direction and the front-back direction (X-axis direction) as the short dimension direction. The housing 160 has a receiving portion 160B that is recessed downward from the upper surface 160A. The metal contact 130 is received in the receiving portion 160B. For example, the housing 160 is formed integrally with the central fixed contact component 170 and the peripheral fixed contact component 180 by insert molding using a relatively hard insulating raw material (such as a hard resin, etc.).

[0029] The bottom portion 160C of the housing portion 160B of the housing 160 has a central portion 160Ca and a peripheral portion 160Cb.

[0030] The central portion 160Ca is formed at the center of the bottom portion 160C. The central fixed contact 171 of the central fixed contact member 170 is provided in the central portion 160Ca.

[0031] The peripheral portion 160Cb is formed outside the central portion 160Ca so as to surround the central portion 160Ca. The peripheral portion 160Cb is higher than the central portion 160Ca. The peripheral fixed contact 181 of the peripheral fixed contact member 180 is provided in the peripheral portion 160Cb. The metal contact 130 is placed on the peripheral portion 160Cb.

[0032] The central fixed contact member 170 and the peripheral fixed contact member 180 are metal and substantially flat plate-shaped members. The central fixed contact member 170 and the peripheral fixed contact member 180 are integrally provided on the housing 160 by insert molding. For example, the central fixed contact member 170 and the peripheral fixed contact member 180 are formed by processing a metal plate using various processing methods (e.g., stamping, bending, laser processing, etc.).

[0033] The central fixed contact member 170 is an example of a "first fixed contact member". The central fixed contact member 170 has a central fixed contact 171 at the end on the left side (negative side of the Y axis) and a first external connection terminal 172 at the end on the right side (positive side of the Y axis). The central fixed contact 171 is arranged at the central portion 160Ca of the bottom 160C of the housing 160. The first external connection terminal 172 is exposed from the side surface of the right side (positive side of the Y axis) of the housing 160 and is connected to the outside. The other parts of the central fixed contact member 170 (parts other than the central fixed contact 171 and the first external connection terminal 172) are buried in the housing 160.

[0034] The peripheral fixed contact member 180 is an example of a "second fixed contact member". The peripheral fixed contact member 180 has a pair of peripheral fixed contacts 181 at the end on the right side (positive side of the Y axis) along the front-to-back direction (X axis direction), and has a second external connection terminal 182 at the end on the left side (negative side of the Y axis). The pair of peripheral fixed contacts 181 is arranged at the peripheral portion 160Cb of the bottom 160C of the housing 160. The second external connection terminal 182 is exposed from the side surface of the left side (negative side of the Y axis) of the housing 160 and is connected to the outside. The other parts of the peripheral fixed contact member 180 (parts other than the peripheral fixed contacts 181 and the second external connection terminal 182) are buried in the housing 160.

[0035] <Metal Contact 130>

[0036] The metal contact 130 is an example of a "movable contact component". The metal contact 130 is a dome-shaped component that is convex upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) and has a top 131 in the center. The metal contact 130 is formed using one or more thin metal plates. In the present embodiment, as an example, the metal contact 130 is formed by overlapping two thin metal plates. The metal contact 130 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 160B of the housing 160 and is placed on the peripheral portion 160Cb of the bottom 160C of the accommodating portion 160B. As a result, the metal contact 130 is electrically connected to the peripheral fixed contact component 180 by contacting the peripheral fixed contact 181 provided in the peripheral portion 160Cb. The metal contact 130 is a so-called "reversal spring". When the pressing operation based on the pressing body 120 is performed, the top 131 is pressed downward by the pressing body 120. When the prescribed operation load is exceeded, the top 131 is elastically deformed into a concave shape (reversal action) suddenly. As a result, the metal contact 130 contacts the central fixed contact 171 at the back side of the top 131, and is further electrically connected to the central fixed contact component 170. When the metal contact 130 is released from the pressing force from the pressing body 120, it returns to its original convex shape by elastic force.

[0037] In addition, in the present embodiment, the metal contact 130 has four legs 132, and the four legs 132 are protruded in four different directions when viewed from above by cutting off a part of a dome-shaped metal plate that is circular when viewed from above. In addition, in the present embodiment, the four legs 132 of the metal contact 130 are respectively placed on the peripheral portion 160Cb of the housing 160, and two of the legs 132 are in contact with the peripheral fixed contacts 181.

[0038] <Pressing Body 120>

[0039] The pressing body 120 is a component disposed on the top 131 of the metal contact 130 and in the space on the back side of the raised portion 111 of the insulating member 110. The pressing body 120 has a circular shape when viewed from above, and has a three-dimensional shape protruding upward from the top 131 of the metal contact 130. The pressing body 120 is formed using a resin raw material such as PET. The pressing body 120 has a curved upper surface portion along the raised portion 111 of the insulating member 110, and the upper surface portion is bonded to the back side portion of the raised portion 111 of the insulating member 110 by any bonding means (for example, laser welding, etc.). In the present embodiment, the pressing body 120 has a three-dimensional shape in which a hemispherical shape is flattened in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). However, this is not limited to the above, and the pressing body 120 may also be a cylindrical shape, an ellipsoid, etc. In addition, the pressing body 120 is not limited to having a circular shape when viewed from above.

[0040] <Insulating member 110>

[0041] The insulating member 110 is a sheet-like component disposed on the upper surface 160A of the shell 160. The insulating member 110 is formed using a resin material such as PET. When viewed from above, the insulating member 110 has a shape substantially the same as the upper surface 160A of the shell 160, that is, a substantially rectangular shape with the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) as the long dimension and the front-back direction (X-axis direction) as the short dimension. The insulating member 110 is bonded to the upper surface 160A of the shell 160 by any bonding means (for example, laser welding, etc.) while covering the upper surface 160A of the shell 160. The insulating member 110 seals the receiving portion 160B of the shell 160 by closing the upper opening of the receiving portion 160B. A raised portion 111 that bulges upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) is formed in the central portion of the insulating member 110. As shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, a pressing body 120 is bonded to the back side of the raised portion 111 .

[0042] (Operation of switch 100)

[0043] When the pressing body 120 is not pressing, the metal contact 130 contacts the peripheral fixed contacts 181 and does not contact the central fixed contact 171. Therefore, when the pressing body 120 is not pressing, the switch 100 is in the OFF state.

[0044] Furthermore, when the switch 100 of one embodiment is pressed by the pressing body 120, the pressing body 120 presses the top 131 of the metal contact 130, causing the top 131 of the metal contact 130 to be elastically deformed into a concave shape (reverse action). As a result, the metal contact 130 contacts the central fixed contact 171 through the back side of the top 131 and is electrically connected to the central fixed contact member 170. As a result, the central fixed contact member 170 and the central fixed contact 171 are electrically connected to the peripheral fixed contact members 180 and the peripheral fixed contacts 181 via the central fixed contact member 170, and the switch 100 is switched to the on state.

[0045] When the pressing operation by the pressing body 120 is released, the metal contact 130 returns to its original convex shape by its own elastic force. As a result, the metal contact 130 is released from contact with the central fixed contact 171 and the switch 100 returns to the OFF state.

[0046] (Configuration of Central Fixed Contact Member 170 and Peripheral Fixed Contact Member 180)

[0047] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the appearance of the housing 160 included in the switch 100 according to one embodiment. Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the appearance of the central fixed contact member 170 and the peripheral fixed contact members 180 included in the switch 100 according to one embodiment. Figure 6 It is a top view of the housing 160 included in the switch 100 according to one embodiment. Figure 7 It is a plan view of the central fixed contact member 170 and the peripheral fixed contact members 180 included in the switch 100 according to one embodiment.

[0048] like Figures 4 to 7 As shown, the central fixed contact member 170 has a central fixed contact 171 at the left end (negative side of the Y axis) and a first external connection terminal 172 at the right end (positive side of the Y axis). The central fixed contact 171 is arranged at the central portion 160Ca of the bottom 160C of the housing 160. The first external connection terminal 172 is exposed from the side surface of the housing 160 on the right side (positive side of the Y axis).

[0049] In addition, if Figure 5 and Figure 7As shown, the central fixed contact member 170 has an embedded portion 173 embedded in the housing 160 between the central fixed contact 171 and the first external connection terminal 172. The embedded portion 173 extends in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) and in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) as the width direction.

[0050] In addition, if Figures 4 to 7 As shown, the peripheral fixed contact member 180 has a pair of peripheral fixed contacts 181 at the right end (positive side of the Y axis) and a second external connection terminal 182 at the left end (negative side of the Y axis). The pair of peripheral fixed contacts 181 are arranged at the peripheral portion 160Cb of the bottom 160C of the housing 160. The second external connection terminal 182 is exposed from the side surface of the left side (negative side of the Y axis) of the housing 160.

[0051] In addition, if Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the peripheral fixed contact member 180 has an embedded portion 183 embedded in the housing 160 between a pair of peripheral fixed contacts 181 and the second external connection terminal 182. The embedded portion 183 extends in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) and in the front-back direction (X-axis direction) as the width direction.

[0052] Here, if Figure 5 to Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , the central fixed contact member 170 has an extension support portion 176 protruding from the side of the central fixed contact 171 in the short dimension direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 160. The extension support portion 176 is formed integrally with the central fixed contact 171, that is, has a horizontal flat plate shape. In addition, when viewed from above (Z-axis positive direction), the extension support portion 176 has a substantially rectangular shape.

[0053] Thus, the switch 100 according to one embodiment can partially increase the contact area of ​​the central fixed contact 171 with respect to the housing 160 in the short dimension direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 160 , and thus can firmly fix the central fixed contact 171 to the housing 160 .

[0054] In addition, if Figure 5 to Figure 7 As shown, a pair of extension support portions 176 are provided line-symmetrically with the central fixed contact 171 sandwiched therebetween. Specifically, a pair of extension support portions 176 are provided line-symmetrically at the side of the front side (positive side of the X-axis) of the central fixed contact 171 and the side of the rear side (negative side of the X-axis) of the central fixed contact 171.

[0055] Thus, the switch 100 of one embodiment can locally and line-symmetrically expand the contact area of ​​the central fixed contact 171 relative to the shell 160 in both directions of the short dimension direction (X-axis direction) of the shell 160, so that the central fixed contact 171 can be fixed to the shell 160 more reliably and in a well-balanced manner in the short dimension direction (X-axis direction).

[0056] In addition, if Figure 6 As shown, the extension support portion 176 is embedded in the housing 160. Thus, the switch 100 according to one embodiment can fix the central fixed contact 171 to the housing 160 more firmly.

[0057] In addition, if Figure 5 as well as Figure 7 As shown, in the switch 100 according to one embodiment, a mountain shape formed by a central fixed contact 171 of a central fixed contact member 170 and a valley shape formed by a pair of peripheral fixed contacts 181 of a peripheral fixed contact member 180 are arranged to face each other.

[0058] Thus, the switch 100 according to one embodiment can arrange the central fixed contact 171 closely between the pair of peripheral fixed contacts 181 , and thus can achieve miniaturization of the dimension of the housing 160 in the longitudinal direction.

[0059] In addition, an insert molding method of the shell 160 of the switch 100 according to one embodiment includes: a configuration step, in which a central fixed contact component 170 and a peripheral fixed contact component 180 are configured in a mold having a gate on the lower side of the extended support portion 176 (at a position opposite to the back side of the extended support portion 176); and a resin ejection step, in which resin is ejected from the gate configured on the lower side of the extended support portion 176 to the back side of the extended support portion 176 to fill the resin into the mold.

[0060] Therefore, the rear surface of the extension support portion 176 serves as a receiving portion for receiving the resin ejected from the gate during insert molding of the housing 160 .

[0061] Thus, in the switch 100 according to one embodiment, when insert molding the housing 160 , the pressure of the resin ejected from the gate is not applied to the center portion of the center fixed contact 171 , and thus deformation of the center fixed contact 171 can be suppressed.

[0062] In addition, the switch 100 of one embodiment does not use a pin for pressing the central fixed contact 171 to the mold when insert molding the housing 160, and the resin ejected from the gate is received by the extended support portion 176, so that the displacement of the central fixed contact member 170 caused by the flow of the resin can be suppressed. Therefore, the switch 100 of one embodiment can prevent pin marks from being formed on the housing 160, and thus the intrusion of flux into the housing 160 can be suppressed.

[0063] (Configuration of Bottom Surface 160D of Casing 160)

[0064] Figure 8 It is a bottom view of the housing 160 included in the switch 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 9 It is a perspective cross-sectional view of a housing 160 included in the switch 100 according to one embodiment.

[0065] In the case 160 of the switch 100 of one embodiment, a gate of the mold is arranged on the lower side of the extension support portion 176 during insert molding. Figure 8 as well as Fig. 9 As shown, a concave gate mark 161 is formed on the bottom surface 160D of the housing 160 at a position overlapping with the extended support portion 176 .

[0066] Therefore, the switch 100 of one embodiment does not have a gate mark 161 formed on the bottom surface 160D of the shell 160 at a position overlapping with the central fixed contact 171, so that the strength reduction of the position overlapping with the central fixed contact 171 (i.e., the part supporting the central fixed contact 171 from the back side) can be suppressed, thereby suppressing the deformation of the central fixed contact 171 when the metal contact 130 abuts when a pressing operation is performed.

[0067] In addition, since the gate mark 161 is concave, when the gate is cut off from the shell 160, even if burrs are generated in the shell 160, the burrs will be generated in the concave shape, so that the burrs will not protrude downward from the bottom surface 160D of the shell 160.

[0068] In the switch 100 according to one embodiment, the back surface of the peripheral fixed contact 181 further serves as a receiving portion for receiving the resin ejected from the gate during insert molding of the housing 160 .

[0069] Therefore, when insert molding the housing 160, the switch 100 of one embodiment does not use a pin for pressing the peripheral fixed contact 181 to the mold. The peripheral fixed contact 181 receives the resin ejected from the gate, thereby suppressing the displacement of the peripheral fixed contact 181 caused by the flow of the resin.

[0070] In addition, by also configuring a mold gate on the lower side of the peripheral fixed contact 181, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 as well as Fig. 9 As shown, a concave gate mark 161 is also formed on the bottom surface 160D of the housing 160 at a position overlapping with the peripheral fixed contact 181 .

[0071] As mentioned above, although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0072] This international application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-149124 filed on September 20, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0073] Description of Reference Numerals

[0074] 100 switches

[0075] 110 Insulation

[0076] 111 ridge

[0077] 120 Pressing Body

[0078] 130 Metal contact (movable contact part)

[0079] 131 Top

[0080] 132 Legs

[0081] 160 Shell

[0082] 160A upper surface

[0083] 160B Containment Sector

[0084] 160C bottom

[0085] 160Ca central part

[0086] 160Cb peripherals

[0087] 160D bottom

[0088] 161 Gate traces

[0089] 170 Central fixed contact component (first fixed contact component)

[0090] 171 Central fixed contact

[0091] 172 first external connection terminal

[0092] 173 Buried Department

[0093] 176 extension support

[0094] 180 peripheral fixed contact member (second fixed contact member)

[0095] 181 peripheral fixed contacts

[0096] 182 second external connection terminal

[0097] 183 Buried Department

Claims

1. A switch, characterized in that: have: A housing of elongated shape having a receiving portion; A first fixed contact member having a first external connection terminal exposed from one end of the housing in the long dimension direction and a central fixed contact exposed from the central portion of the bottom of the accommodating portion, wherein the first fixed contact member is extended along the long dimension direction from the first external connection terminal to the central fixed contact; A second fixed contact member having a second external connection terminal exposed from the other end of the housing in the long dimension direction and a peripheral fixed contact exposed from the peripheral portion of the bottom of the accommodating portion, the second fixed contact member extending from the second external connection terminal to the peripheral fixed contact along the long dimension direction; as well as The movable contact part is capable of contacting and separating with the central fixed contact by performing a reverse action through a pressing operation. The first fixed contact member has an extended support portion protruding from a side portion of the central fixed contact in a short dimension direction of the housing.

2. The switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extension support portions are provided in pair in line symmetry with the central fixed contact being sandwiched therebetween.

3. The switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: The extension support portion is embedded in the housing.

4. The switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mountain shape formed by the central fixed contact of the first fixed contact member and the valley shape formed by the peripheral fixed contacts of the second fixed contact member are arranged to face each other.

5. The switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear surface of the extended support portion serves as a receiving portion for receiving resin ejected from a gate during insert molding of the housing.

6. The switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom surface of the housing has a concave gate mark formed at a position overlapping with the extension support portion, and has no gate mark formed at a position overlapping with the central fixed contact.

7. An insert molding method, which is an insert molding method for the housing of the switch according to claim 5, characterized in that: Include: a disposing step of disposing the first fixed contact member and the second external connection terminal in a mold having a gate at a position facing the back surface of the extending support portion; as well as The resin ejecting step ejects the resin from the gate to the back surface of the extension support portion to fill the mold with the resin.

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