Touch key switch

Abstract

The utility model relates to a switch device, in particular to a light touch key switch. The light touch key switch comprises a support, a base, a pressing handle and a switch assembly. Sheet-shaped supporting legs are vertically and downwards arranged at the bottoms of the two sides of the support, trapezoidal heads are arranged at the lower ends of the supporting legs, and limiting pieces are arranged on the two sides of the support in a protruding mode. The front end of the base abuts against the support, the rear end of the base abuts against the limiting piece, limiting grooves matched with the limiting piece are vertically formed in the edges of the two sides of the rear end of the base, and a containing cavity with a forward opening is further formed in the base. The switch assembly comprises a first conductive piece, a second conductive piece and an elastic piece, the first conductive piece and the second conductive piece are embedded in the inner bottom of the containing cavity, the elastic piece is connected to the first conductive piece, and a gap is formed between the elastic piece and the second conductive piece; one end of the pressing handle is movably inserted into the containing cavity and used for abutting against the elastic piece. The light touch key switch can be automatically installed through SMT surface assembly technology equipment, and the production efficiency and the product installation quality are improved.

Description

A type of tactile push button switch Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a switching device, and more particularly to a tactile push button switch. Background Technology

[0002] A tactile switch, also known as a push-button switch, is activated by applying pressure in the direction of operation. When the pressure is released, the switch opens. A tactile switch typically consists of a button, a spring, a base, and a support. The support primarily supports and protects the internal components, such as the spring and base. Usually, the support also extends to both sides with support feet for connecting to a circuit board, establishing an electrical connection between the tactile switch and the circuit, enabling the switch to control the circuit's on / off state. Some existing support feet are designed with a bent structure, allowing them to be inserted into the circuit board and held in place. However, the bent support feet are difficult for SMT (Surface Mount Technology) equipment to accurately identify and position in terms of insertion direction, angle, and depth. Therefore, they are generally installed manually, resulting in low installation efficiency and installation quality that is affected by the worker's skill level. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a tactile push button switch that can be automatically installed using SMT surface mount technology equipment, thereby improving production efficiency and product installation quality.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A tactile push-button switch includes a bracket, a base, a pressing handle, and a switch assembly. The bracket has vertically downward-facing sheet-like support feet on both sides of its bottom, with trapezoidal heads at the lower ends of the support feet. Limiting members protrude from both sides of the bracket. The front end of the base abuts against the bracket, and the rear end abuts against the limiting members. Vertically positioned grooves matching the limiting members are provided on both sides of the rear end of the base. The base also has a forward-opening receiving cavity. The switch assembly includes a first conductive element, a second conductive element, and a spring. The first and second conductive elements are embedded in the bottom of the receiving cavity. The spring is connected to the first conductive element and has a gap between it and the second conductive element. One end of the pressing handle is movably inserted into the receiving cavity and abuts against the spring.

[0006] Furthermore, the bracket includes a front end plate and two side plates, which are integrally and vertically disposed on both sides of the front end plate. A mounting groove for accommodating the base is formed between the front end plate and the two side plates. An opening is provided on the side plates along the length direction. A limiting member is located behind the opening. The limiting member is a protruding structure formed by stamping on the side plate toward the mounting groove.

[0007] Furthermore, the upper and lower ends of the limiting groove respectively form a first limiting shoulder and a second limiting shoulder that match the limiting component.

[0008] Furthermore, the front end plate is provided with several fixing posts that are fixedly connected to the base.

[0009] Furthermore, the first conductive element includes a C-shaped conductive sheet, the upper surface of which is provided with a first connecting protrusion protruding from the bottom of the receiving cavity; the second conductive element includes a circular conductive sheet, which is concentrically arranged with the C-shaped conductive sheet, and the upper surface of which is provided with a second connecting protrusion protruding from the bottom of the receiving cavity; the spring is a bowl-shaped metal sheet, the edge of which is fixedly connected to the first connecting protrusion, and the center of which is used to contact the second connecting protrusion.

[0010] Furthermore, the first conductive element also includes a first welding pin, one end of which is connected to a C-shaped conductive sheet, and the other end extends vertically downward through the base; the second conductive element also includes a second welding pin, one end of which is connected to a circular conductive sheet, and the other end extends vertically downward through the base.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, this utility model achieves at least the following beneficial effects:

[0012] This utility model's tactile push button switch can be automatically installed using SMT surface mount technology equipment. The corresponding pick-up and moving mechanism on the surface mount technology equipment picks up the tactile push button switch and moves it above the through-hole pads on the circuit board, allowing it to be placed directly on the through-hole pads. Because the support feet at the bottom of the bracket are vertical plates with trapezoidal heads, the support feet can easily insert into the through-hole pads and be fixed by subsequent solder paste processes. Compared to existing bent support feet, this eliminates the drawback of requiring manual insertion and installation. This tactile push button switch can achieve automated material feeding and installation using SMT surface mount technology equipment, improving production efficiency and product installation quality. Simultaneously, the limiting components on both sides of the bracket can limit the front and rear movement of the base. The limiting grooves on the base cooperate with the limiting components to achieve upper and lower limit movement of the base, preventing separation of the base from the bracket and ensuring the structural stability of the tactile switch. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0014] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of this utility model from another perspective;

[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the base of this utility model.

[0016] The following are the labels in the diagram: 1. Bracket; 11. Front end plate; 111. Fixing post; 12. Side plate; 121. Opening; 2. Base; 21. Limiting groove; 211. First limiting shoulder; 212. Second limiting shoulder; 22. Receiving cavity; 3. Press handle; 4. First conductive element; 41. C-shaped conductive sheet; 411. First connecting protrusion; 42. First welding pin; 5. Second conductive element; 51. Circular conductive sheet; 511. Second connecting protrusion; 52. Second welding pin; 6. Spring; 7. Support foot; 71. Trapezoidal head; 8. Limiting element. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present application may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided herein to make the disclosure of this application more complete and to fully convey the concept of the present application to those skilled in the art.

[0018] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "several" or "more than" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified. In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" a second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or it can include contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Moreover, "above," "over," and "on top" of a second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" of a second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1-3, a tactile push button switch of this application includes a bracket 1, a base 2, a pressing handle 3, and a switch assembly. The tactile push button switch is used on a circuit board (PCB).

[0020] The bracket 1 has sheet-like support feet 7 vertically downwards on both sides of its bottom. Each support foot 7 has a trapezoidal head 71 at its lower end. The support feet 7 support the circuit board and also serve as an electrical connection to ground the bracket 1. Limiting members 8 protrude from both sides of the bracket 1. The base 2 abuts against the bracket 1 at its front end and against the limiting members 8 at its rear end. The rear edges of the base 2 have vertically arranged limiting grooves 21 that match the limiting members 8. The upper and lower ends of the limiting grooves 21 respectively form a first limiting shoulder 211 and a second limiting shoulder 211 that match the limiting members 8. The two limiting shoulders 212, the limiting member 8 cooperates with the base 2 to limit the base 2 in the front-back direction and the up-down direction. The base 2 is also provided with a receiving cavity 22 with an opening 121 facing forward. The switch assembly includes a first conductive member 4, a second conductive member 5 and a spring 6. The first conductive member 4 and the second conductive member 5 are embedded in the bottom of the receiving cavity 22. The spring 6 is connected to the first conductive member 4 and there is a gap between it and the second conductive member 5. One end of the pressing handle 3 is movably inserted into the receiving cavity 22 and is used to abut against the spring 6.

[0021] The tactile push button switch of this utility model can be automatically installed on a circuit board using SMT surface mount technology equipment. The tactile push button switch is placed on a tape reel, which is unwound and transported to the reading position of the surface mount equipment by a corresponding conveyor. A corresponding suction and moving mechanism picks up the tactile push button switch, removes it from the tape reel, and places it on the corresponding position on the through-hole pad of the circuit board. Since the support foot 7 at the bottom of the bracket 1 is a vertical piece with a trapezoidal head 71, the suction and moving mechanism can place it directly on the through-hole pad. The support foot 7 can be easily inserted into the through-hole pad and fixed by subsequent solder paste processes. Compared with the bent support foot 7, which requires manual insertion and installation, this tactile push button switch can be automatically loaded and installed using surface mount equipment, improving production efficiency and product installation quality. At the same time, the limiting members 8 on both sides of the bracket 1 can limit the front and rear of the base 2. The limiting groove 21 on the base 2 cooperates with the limiting member 8 to achieve the upper and lower limit of the base 2, which can prevent the base 2 from separating from the bracket 1 and ensure the structural stability of the tactile switch.

[0022] Optionally, the bracket 1 includes a front plate 11 and two side plates 12. The two side plates 12 are integrally and vertically disposed on both sides of the front plate 11. An installation groove for accommodating the base 2 is formed between the front plate 11 and the two side plates 12. An opening 121 is provided on the side plate 12 along the length direction. The limiting member 8 is located behind the opening 121. The limiting member 8 is a protrusion structure formed by stamping on the side plate 12 toward the installation groove.

[0023] Optionally, the front end plate 11 is provided with a plurality of fixing posts 111 that are fixedly connected to the base 2.

[0024] Optionally, the first conductive element 4 includes a C-shaped conductive sheet 41, the upper surface of which is provided with a first connecting protrusion 411 protruding from the bottom of the receiving cavity 22; the second conductive element 5 includes a circular conductive sheet 51, which is concentrically arranged with the C-shaped conductive sheet 41, and the upper surface of the circular conductive sheet 51 is provided with a second connecting protrusion 511 protruding from the bottom of the receiving cavity 22; the spring sheet 6 is a bowl-shaped metal sheet, the edge of which is fixedly connected to the first connecting protrusion 411; when the center of the spring sheet 6 contacts the second connecting protrusion 511, the first conductive element 4 and the second conductive element 5 are connected.

[0025] The first conductive element 4 also includes a first solder pin 42, one end of which is connected to the C-shaped conductive sheet 41, and the other end extends vertically downward through the base 2; the second conductive element 5 also includes a second solder pin 52, one end of which is connected to the circular conductive sheet 51, and the other end extends vertically downward through the base 2. The first solder pin 42 and the second solder pin 52 are used to solder onto the circuit board, thereby connecting the tactile push button switch to the circuit.

[0026] When this utility model is in use, when the handle 3 is not pressed, the spring 6 is in a naturally convex state, the C-shaped conductive sheet 41 and the circular conductive sheet 51 are disconnected, and the circuit is in an open circuit state; when the handle 3 is pressed, the handle 3 presses the spring 6, and when the spring 6 is deformed to the critical point, it suddenly collapses, producing a "click" feeling, the spring 6 is flattened, and the center of the spring 6 contacts the second connecting protrusion 511, forming a conductive path, and the current is conducted through the first welding pin 42 and the second welding pin 52; after the external force of the handle 3 is removed, the elasticity of the spring 6 causes it to return to its original shape, the center of the spring 6 separates from the second connecting protrusion 511, and the circuit returns to the open circuit state.

[0027] It should be understood that all the above embodiments are exemplary and not restrictive. Any modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made by those skilled in the art to the specific embodiments described above under the concept of this utility model shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this utility model.

Claims

1. A tactile push-button switch, characterized in that: The device includes a bracket, a base, a pressing handle, and a switch assembly. The bracket has vertically downward-facing sheet-like support feet on both sides of its bottom, with trapezoidal heads at the lower ends of the support feet. Limiting members protrude from both sides of the bracket. The front end of the base abuts against the bracket, and the rear end abuts against the limiting members. Vertically positioned grooves matching the limiting members are provided on both sides of the rear end of the base. The base also has a forward-opening receiving cavity. The switch assembly includes a first conductive element, a second conductive element, and a spring. The first and second conductive elements are embedded in the bottom of the receiving cavity. The spring is connected to the first conductive element and has a gap between it and the second conductive element. One end of the pressing handle is movably inserted into the receiving cavity and abuts against the spring.

2. The tactile button switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bracket includes a front plate and two side plates. The two side plates are integrally and vertically disposed on both sides of the front plate. A mounting groove for accommodating the base is formed between the front plate and the two side plates. An opening is provided on the side plate along the length direction. The limiting member is located behind the opening and is a protrusion formed by stamping on the side plate toward the mounting groove.

3. The tactile button switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper and lower ends of the limiting groove respectively form a first limiting shoulder and a second limiting shoulder that match the limiting component.

4. The tactile button switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front end plate is provided with several fixing posts that are fixedly connected to the base.

5. The tactile button switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first conductive element includes a C-shaped conductive sheet, the upper surface of which is provided with a first connecting protrusion protruding from the bottom of the receiving cavity; the second conductive element includes a circular conductive sheet, which is concentrically arranged with the C-shaped conductive sheet, and the upper surface of which is provided with a second connecting protrusion protruding from the bottom of the receiving cavity; the spring is a bowl-shaped metal sheet, the edge of which is fixedly connected to the first connecting protrusion, and the center of which is used to contact the second connecting protrusion.

6. The tactile button switch according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first conductive element further includes a first welding pin, one end of which is connected to the C-shaped conductive sheet, and the other end extends vertically downward through the base; the second conductive element further includes a second welding pin, one end of which is connected to the circular conductive sheet, and the other end extends vertically downward through the base.

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