Trigger switch

Abstract

To provide a trigger switch with high safety, including malfunction prevention and theft prevention.SOLUTION: A trigger switch 2 comprises a trigger 20, a shaft member 22, and a housing 21. The trigger switch 2 comprises a stationary engagement part 210 and a movable engagement part 202b that is movable, which are engaged with each other to prevent a movement of the trigger 20. The trigger 20 includes a trigger cap 200, and a holding member 201 that holds the trigger cap 200 and is supported on the shaft member 22. The trigger cap 200 has a regulation part 200b, and can be attached to or removed from the holding member 201. When the trigger cap 200 is removed, the movable engagement part 202b operates to an engagement position to prevent a movement of the trigger 20 caused by a push-in operation. When the trigger cap 200 is attached, the regulation part 200b regulates the operation of the movable engagement part 202b to release the prevention of the movement of the trigger 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a trigger switch that is provided with a trigger that accepts a depression operation. [Background technology]

[0002] A trigger switch used to operate a power tool includes a trigger that is pressed by an operator, and a shaft member that supports the trigger. When the operator places his finger on the trigger and pulls (pushes) it, the shaft member moves in the operating direction, activating the trigger switch and causing the power tool to operate. Such power tools require consideration of safety, such as preventing malfunctions. In addition, many power tools are expensive, and therefore safety considerations are required from the perspective of preventing theft. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a power tool that performs authentication processing and remains usable by transmitting and receiving information to and from an authentication device worn by the user, thereby improving safety from the perspective of preventing theft. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-218575 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Improving safety, such as preventing malfunctions and theft, is an important function of power tools, and various technological developments are required.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a trigger switch which improves safety by preventing malfunction, theft, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a trigger switch is provided which includes a trigger that moves in response to a pressing operation by an operator, an axis member that supports the trigger at one end, and a housing located on the other end of the axis member, the trigger including a fixed engagement portion and an operable movable engagement portion that engage with each other to inhibit movement of the trigger due to the pressing operation, the trigger including a trigger cap having a finger hook portion on which an operator's finger can be hooked, and a holding member that holds the trigger cap and is supported by the axis member, the trigger cap having a regulating portion that regulates the movement of the movable engagement portion to engage with the fixed engagement portion, the trigger cap is attachable and detachable from the holding member, and when the trigger cap is removed, the movable engagement portion operates to an engagement position where it engages with the fixed engagement portion to inhibit movement of the trigger due to the pressing operation, and when the trigger cap is attached, the regulating portion regulates the movement of the movable engagement portion to a release position where it does not engage with the fixed engagement portion, thereby releasing the inhibition of movement of the trigger due to the pressing operation.

[0007] In addition, in the trigger switch, the fixed engagement portion is formed on the housing, the movable engagement portion is part of a movable member attached to the holding member and is configured to move between an engagement position in which it engages with the fixed engagement portion and a release position in which it does not engage with the fixed engagement portion, and the trigger cap, when attached to the holding member, is characterized in that the regulating portion operates the movable engagement portion from the engagement position to the release position.

[0008] In addition, in the trigger switch, the movable member operates between an engagement position and a release position, and has a movable engagement portion that abuts and engages with the fixed engagement portion at the engagement position, and a biasing portion that biases the movable engagement portion from the release position side to the engagement position side, and the regulating portion of the trigger cap regulates the movable engagement portion so that it does not move to the engagement position. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The trigger switch disclosed in the present application prevents the trigger from moving when the trigger cap is removed, which provides excellent advantages such as increased safety. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an electric device disclosed herein; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a trigger switch disclosed herein; [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic exploded view showing an example of a trigger switch disclosed herein; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a trigger cap included in a trigger switch disclosed herein; [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a trigger switch disclosed herein. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a trigger switch disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] <Application Examples> The trigger switch disclosed in the present application is applicable to various electric devices, including electric tools equipped with a drive unit such as a motor, such as an electric drill, an electric screwdriver, an electric wrench, an electric grinder, etc. Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an electric device PT and a trigger switch 2 attached to the electric device PT illustrated in the drawings will be described.

[0013] <Electric device PT> FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the electric device PT disclosed in the present application. The electric device PT disclosed in the present application can be applied to various devices such as electric tools such as an electric drill, an electric screwdriver, an electric wrench, and an electric grinder, as well as water guns, paint guns, and model guns equipped with a trigger switch 2. The electric device PT illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a main body device 1, and a trigger switch 2 that receives a pressing operation by a user is incorporated in the main body device 1. The electric device PT illustrated in FIG. 1 has a shape in which a hand-held part is attached to a substantially cylindrical main body part that houses a drive part (not shown) such as an electric motor. In the following description, as shown in the figure, the direction of the substantially cylindrical main body part is described as up, and the direction of the hand-held part is described as down. Also, the direction in which a rotary tool part such as a drill is attached is described as the front, and the direction in which the trigger switch 2 is pressed is described as the rear. That is, in the trigger switch 2 incorporated in the electric device PT, the direction from the front to the rear is the operation direction in which it is pressed by a pressing operation. These directions are for the convenience of explanation and do not limit the directions in which the electric device PT and the trigger switch 2 can be used.

[0014] <Trigger switch 2> Next, the trigger switch 2 provided in the electric device PT will be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application. The trigger switch 2 includes members such as a trigger 20, a housing 21, a shaft member 22, and a switching lever 23.

[0015] The trigger 20 is a member that receives a pressing operation by the user, and is incorporated in the electric device PT in an exposed state so as to be operable. The housing 21 contains various components such as various circuits and a spring that biases against the pressing of the trigger 20, and is incorporated inside the electric device PT. The shaft member 22 is a member that connects the trigger 20 and the housing 21. The shaft member 22 is a long and slender metal plunger, and is illustrated in FIG. 2 in a state in which it is covered with a flexible bellows. The shaft member 22 supports the trigger 20 at its front end (one end side), and its rear end (the other end side) is inserted inside the housing 21. The switching lever 23 is a member for switching settings such as the operating direction and operating mode.

[0016] Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded view showing an example of the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application. In Fig. 3, in order to easily visually recognize the trigger 20 and its peripheral members included in the trigger switch 2 in the present application, the above-mentioned bellows, the switching lever 23, a part of the housing 21, and the internal configuration of the housing 21 are omitted. The trigger 20 included in the trigger switch 2 includes various components such as a trigger cap 200, a holding member 201, a movable member 202, and a detachment prevention member 203.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the trigger cap 200 included in the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the trigger cap 200 constituting the trigger 20 included in the trigger switch 2 from a left side perspective. The trigger cap 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The trigger cap 200 can be attached to and detached from the holding member 201. The trigger cap 200 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape with the upper and rear open. The trigger cap 200 has a finger hook portion 200a on the front surface on which the operator's finger is hooked, and the finger hook portion 200a is curved in a concave shape so that the finger can be easily hooked. A restricting portion 200b protruding toward the rear is formed on the inner wall surface of the front of the trigger cap 200. The restricting portion 200b has a substantially rectangular plate shape in a plan view, and is formed in a cantilever state on the inner wall surface of the trigger cap 200 so that the longitudinal direction is the front-rear direction. The restricting portion 200b of the trigger cap 200 restricts the movement of the movable engaging portion 202b of the movable member 202 as described below.

[0018] Returning to FIG. 3, the holding member 201 is supported by the front end of the shaft member 22. The holding member 201 allows the trigger cap 200 to be attached and detached, and has the function of holding the attached trigger cap 200 when the trigger cap 200 is attached. The holding member 201 has unevenness formed on the front and side surfaces, and when the trigger cap 200 is attached, the unevenness fits into the unevenness formed on the inner wall surface of the trigger cap 200. Therefore, by appropriately designing the unevenness of the holding member 201 and the trigger cap 200, it is also possible to configure the trigger cap 200 so that it can be attached only to a specific holding member 201.

[0019] The movable member 202 is configured using members such as a torsion spring (torsion coil spring) and a leaf spring. The movable member 202 exemplified in this application is a torsion spring in which two coils are formed as the urging portion 202a, and one arm extending long from the urging portion 202a functions as the movable engagement portion 202b. The movable member 202 is movably attached to the holding member 201 by a guide rod (not shown) that is inserted into the urging portion 202a. The movable member 202 has the movable engagement portion 202b extending rearward, and is urged by the urging portion 202a so that the movable engagement portion 202b swings from the release position to the engagement position.

[0020] The movable engagement portion 202b of the movable member 202 is formed to be swingable about the biasing portion 202a as a swing axis between an engagement position and a release position. The engagement position is a position where the movable engagement portion 202b rises diagonally upward and rearward from the biasing portion 202a, and the release position is a position where the movable engagement portion 202b descends from the biasing portion 202a so as to be approximately horizontal. When the movable engagement portion 202b is located at the engagement position, it engages with a fixed engagement portion 210 formed on the housing 21 side, and the engagement between the movable engagement portion 202b and the fixed engagement portion 210 prevents the movement of the trigger 20 caused by depression.

[0021] The detachment prevention member 203 is a substantially U-shaped clip that fixes the trigger cap 200 attached to the holding member 201 so as not to come off. The detachment prevention member 203 fits into the side and lower parts of the holding member 201, and supports the trigger cap 200 attached to the holding member 201 from the inside.

[0022] The housing 21 is in the shape of a substantially rectangular box, and has an opening formed in the front surface through which the shaft member 22 is inserted, and an opening formed in the top surface through which the shaft of the switching lever 23 is inserted. Furthermore, the housing 21 has a fixed engagement portion 210 formed on the front surface thereof, which protrudes forward. The fixed engagement portion 210 has a substantially rectangular plate shape in a plan view, and is formed in a cantilever state on the front surface of the housing 21 such that the longitudinal direction is the front-rear direction. The fixed engagement portion 210 of the housing 21 and the movable engagement portion 202b of the movable member 202 engage with each other to prevent the movement of the trigger 20 due to the pressing operation.

[0023] <Installation / Removal of Trigger Cap 200> Next, a state in which the trigger cap 200 is attached and a state in which it is removed will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the trigger switch 2 from a left side perspective. In order to facilitate understanding of the inside, the switching lever 23 and the internal configuration of the housing 21 are omitted. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the trigger cap 200 is attached to the holding member 201. When the trigger cap 200 shown in FIG. 5 is attached, the restricting portion 200b of the trigger cap 200 is positioned so as to press the movable engaging portion 202b of the movable member 202 downward, and restricts the operation of the movable engaging portion 202b so as to be positioned at a release position where the movable engaging portion 202b does not engage with the fixed engaging portion 210 of the housing 21. The movable engaging portion 202b of the movable member 202 is biased by the biasing portion 202a so as to rise and move to the engaging position, but the restricting portion 200b restricts the movable engaging portion 202b from moving to the engaging position. Since the movable engagement portion 202b is located at the release position where it does not engage with the fixed engagement portion 210, it does not engage with the fixed engagement portion 210 in response to a pressing operation on the trigger 20. In other words, the inhibition of movement of the trigger 20 is released.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the trigger switch 2 from a left side perspective. In order to facilitate understanding of the inside, the internal configurations of the switching lever 23 and the housing 21 are omitted. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the trigger cap 200 is removed from the holding member 201. In the state in which the trigger cap 200 shown in FIG. 6 is removed, the movable engagement portion 202b of the movable member 202 is not restricted in operation by the regulating portion 200b, and is therefore biased by the biasing portion 202a to a raised engagement position. Since the movable engagement portion 202b is positioned at the engagement position, even if the operator performs a pressing operation on the trigger 20, the movable engagement portion 202b abuts against and engages with the fixed engagement portion 210, and thus the movement of the trigger 20 is suppressed.

[0025] As described above, the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application includes the trigger cap 200 that can be attached to and detached from the holding member 201. When the trigger cap 200 is removed, the fixed engagement portion 210 and the movable engagement portion 202b engage with each other, thereby preventing the trigger 20 from moving due to a pressing operation. When the trigger cap 200 is attached, the movable engagement portion 202b is restricted from moving to a release position where it does not engage with the fixed engagement portion 210, and therefore the prevention of the movement of the trigger 20 is released, allowing the trigger 20 to move due to a pressing operation.

[0026] Therefore, the trigger switch 2 disclosed herein provides an excellent effect of improving safety by preventing, for example, the occurrence of a malfunction in which the trigger 20 is unintentionally pressed and the electric device PT is operated by removing the trigger cap 200. Furthermore, the trigger switch 2 disclosed herein provides an excellent effect of improving safety, such as preventing theft, because in a state in which the trigger cap 200 is removed, the electric device PT cannot be operated unless a mating trigger cap 200 is attached.

[0027] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as being restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is described by the claims, and is not restricted in any way by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes within the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

[0028] For example, in the above embodiment, the movable member 202 having the movable engagement portion 202b is attached to the holding member 201, and the fixed engagement portion 210 is formed in the housing 21. However, the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application is not limited to this and can be modified into various forms. For example, the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application can be developed into various forms, such as attaching the movable member 202 having the movable engagement portion 202b to the housing 21 and forming the fixed engagement portion 210 in the holding member 201.

[0029] That is, the trigger switch 2 disclosed in the present application can be developed into various forms according to the following supplementary notes.

[0030] (Appendix 1) A trigger switch including a trigger that moves in response to a push-in operation by an operator, a shaft member that supports the trigger at one end, and a housing that is located on the other end of the shaft member, A fixed engagement portion and a movable engagement portion are engaged with each other to inhibit the movement of the trigger due to a pressing operation, The trigger is A trigger cap having a finger hook portion on which an operator's finger can be hooked; a holding member that holds the trigger cap and is supported by the shaft member; Equipped with The trigger cap is The movable engagement portion has a restricting portion that restricts the operation of engaging with the fixed engagement portion, The holding member is attachable to and detachable from the holding member, When the trigger cap is removed, the movable engagement portion moves to an engagement position where it engages with the fixed engagement portion to prevent the trigger from being moved by a pressing operation; When the trigger cap is attached, the restricting portion restricts the movement of the movable engaging portion to a release position where the movable engaging portion does not engage with the fixed engaging portion, thereby releasing the restriction on the movement of the trigger caused by a pushing operation. A trigger switch characterized by:

[0031] (Appendix 2) 2. The trigger switch according to claim 1, The fixed engagement portion is formed on the housing, The movable engagement portion is a part of the movable member attached to the holding member, The locking mechanism is movable between an engagement position where it engages with the fixed locking portion and a release position where it does not engage with the fixed locking portion, The trigger cap is When the movable engaging portion is attached to the holding member, the movable engaging portion is moved from an engaging position to a releasing position by the restricting portion. A trigger switch characterized by:

[0032] (Appendix 3) 3. The trigger switch according to claim 2, The movable member is the movable engagement portion that moves between an engagement position and a release position and abuts against and engages with the fixed engagement portion at the engagement position; a biasing portion that biases the movable engagement portion from a release position side to an engagement position side; having The restricting portion of the trigger cap restricts the movable engaging portion from moving to the engaging position. A trigger switch characterized by: [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] PT electric equipment 1. Main unit 2 Trigger switch 20 Trigger 200 Trigger Cap 200a Finger hook 200b Regulatory Department 201 Retaining member 202 Movable parts 202a Biasing part 202b Movable engagement part 203 Detachment prevention member 21 Case 210 Fixed engagement part 22 Shaft member 23 Switching lever

Claims

1. A trigger switch including a trigger that moves in response to a push-in operation by an operator, a shaft member that supports the trigger at one end, and a housing that is located on the other end of the shaft member, A fixed engagement portion and a movable engagement portion are engaged with each other to inhibit the movement of the trigger due to a pressing operation, The trigger is A trigger cap having a finger hook portion on which an operator's finger can be hooked; a holding member that holds the trigger cap and is supported by the shaft member; Equipped with The trigger cap is The movable engagement portion has a restricting portion that restricts the operation of engaging with the fixed engagement portion, The holding member is attachable to and detachable from the holding member, When the trigger cap is removed, the movable engagement portion moves to an engagement position where it engages with the fixed engagement portion to prevent the trigger from being moved by a pressing operation; When the trigger cap is attached, the restricting portion restricts the movement of the movable engaging portion to a release position where the movable engaging portion does not engage with the fixed engaging portion, thereby releasing the restriction on the movement of the trigger caused by a pushing operation. A trigger switch characterized by:

2. 2. The trigger switch according to claim 1, The fixed engagement portion is formed on the housing, The movable engagement portion is a part of the movable member attached to the holding member, The locking mechanism is movable between an engagement position where it engages with the fixed locking portion and a release position where it does not engage with the fixed locking portion, The trigger cap is When the movable engaging portion is attached to the holding member, the movable engaging portion is moved from an engaging position to a releasing position by the restricting portion. A trigger switch characterized by:

3. 3. The trigger switch according to claim 2, The movable member is the movable engagement portion that moves between an engagement position and a release position and abuts against and engages with the fixed engagement portion at the engagement position; a biasing portion that biases the movable engagement portion from a release position side to an engagement position side; having The restricting portion of the trigger cap restricts the movable engaging portion from moving to the engaging position. A trigger switch characterized by:

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