Push button operation device

Abstract

To provide a push button operation device that has a simple structure and can reliably operate a switch portion.SOLUTION: A push button operation device according to the present invention includes a cylindrical main body 2 having an open top and accommodating in its bottom a switch 4 that is activated when an actuating member is pressed, and a cylindrical operating unit 3 that is inserted into the top opening of the main body 2 and includes a pressing portion 30 formed on the top and a protruding portion formed in the center of its inside for operating the switch 4. When the peripheral portion of the pressing portion 30 is pressed to press the operating unit 3 down, some of the claws 32 that engage with the side opening 201 of the main body 2 move away from each other, and the protruding portion is configured to press the actuating member against the biasing force such that the claws 32 that are in pressure contact with the side opening 201 are elastically deformed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a push button operation device suitable for operating a computer game machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Gaming machines, such as home video game consoles and commercial video game consoles, have been widely used for a long time, and in recent years, with the development of e-sports, video games have become popular as competitive games. These computer game machines use an operation unit equipped with a complex operation switch such as a joystick lever and multiple push button switches as input devices.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a button input device for a game machine that includes a first case formed in a cylindrical shape with a top portion, a second case formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom portion and supporting the first case so that it can move in a pressing direction, and a switch unit that is attached to the second case and biases the cylindrical first case in a direction away from the second case. Patent Document 2 also describes a push button attachment that includes a base unit that supports a wireless push button slave unit and an operating unit with a protrusion that fits into a locking hole formed in the base unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-18633 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6684097 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned patent documents, the switch unit is operated by sliding and depressing a cylindrical operating unit having a pressing portion formed on a cylindrical main body that houses the switch unit. This requires complex mechanisms, such as a guide mechanism for ensuring space to move the entire operating unit by a predetermined stroke and a pressing mechanism for reliably operating the switch unit, which poses challenges in terms of making the device thinner and more compact.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a push button operating device that has a simple structure and can reliably operate a switch portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The push button operating device according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical main body portion having an open top and accommodating a switch portion in its bottom portion, which is operated when an actuating member is pressed down, and a cylindrical operating portion inserted into the top opening of the main body portion and having a pressing portion formed on the top and a protrusion formed in the center inside the pressing portion for operating the switch portion, the main body portion having a plurality of side openings arranged to surround the actuating member, the operating portion having a gap between its outer surface and an inner surface of the main body portion, and a plurality of claw portions arranged opposite to the side openings protruding from the outer surface and extending in front of the operating portion, The operating part is formed so as to be able to engage with the side opening, and when the operating part is not pressed down, the operating part is held only at a position where the lower end surface of the protrusion abuts the operating member and at a position where the operating part is pushed up by a spring force that urges the operating member upward and the claw portion is pressed against the side opening, and when the peripheral portion of the pressing part is pressed down and the operating part is pressed down, part of the claw portion descends and moves away from the side opening, and the claw portion that is pressed against the side opening is pressed down so as to elastically deform, and the protrusion operates the operating member against the spring force.

[0008] The method of operating a push button operating device according to the present invention is a method of operating a push button operating device in which a switch section, which is operated when an actuating member is pressed, is housed in the bottom of a cylindrical main body section, and the switch section is operated by pressing an operating section inserted into an upper opening of the main body section, wherein the actuating member is pushed up by a biasing force that urges it upward to hold the operating section within the main body section, and the peripheral portion of the pressing section of the operating section is pressed to tilt and press the operating section, thereby pressing the actuating member against the biasing force and operating the switch section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] With the above-described configuration, the present invention holds the operating unit in the main body only at the position where the protrusion abuts the actuating member and the position where the claw presses against the side opening, and a gap is formed between the outer surface of the operating unit and the side where the main body is not present, so the operating unit can be set to a state where it can tilt in the direction in which the actuating member is pressed down. This makes it possible to perform the pressing operation of the operating unit without sliding the entire operating unit, and the operating space for the operating unit can be reduced with a simple structure that has a small number of parts.

[0010] The peripheral portion of the pressing portion of the operating unit is pressed down, causing a portion of the claw portion to descend and be set in an inclined state away from the side opening, thereby enabling the protrusion to reliably press down the operating member, and the claw portion that presses against the side opening when the operating unit is pressed down elastically deforms, so that when the pressed state is released, the operating unit returns to its original held state, making it possible to perform reliable pressing operations repeatedly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of an embodiment of a push button operating device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main body seen from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a substrate is housed in a main body portion. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the bottom surface of the operation unit faces upward. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the device in a state where the operation unit is not pressed. [Figure 7] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the device in a state where the peripheral portion of the pressing portion is pressed and the operating portion is pressed down. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the device in a state where the central portion of the pressing portion is pressed and the operating portion is pressed down. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is another cross-sectional view showing the device when the operating unit is not pressed. [Figure 10] 10 is another cross-sectional view showing the device in a state where the peripheral portion of the pressing portion is pressed and the operating portion is pressed down. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is another cross-sectional view showing the device in a state where the central portion of the pressing portion is pressed and the operating portion is pressed down. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred examples for carrying out the present invention, and therefore various technical limitations are imposed thereon. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified in the following description to limit the present invention.

[0013] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a pushbutton operation device according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof. Pushbutton operation device 1 includes a cylindrical main body 2 that is open at the top and houses a switch unit 4 in its bottom portion, and a cylindrical operation unit 3 that is inserted into the top opening of the main body and has a pressing unit 30 formed on its top. Switch unit 4 is mounted and housed on a substrate 5 attached to the bottom of main body 2. A pair of connection terminals 6 that are inserted through the bottom of main body 2 are inserted into through holes in substrate 5 and are electrically connected, and connection terminals 6 are connected to switch unit 4 via wiring within substrate 5.

[0014] The push button operation device 1 is attached to the operating mechanism (not shown) of an electrical device such as a game machine, and by connecting the connection terminal 6 to the electrical device, the electrical device can be controlled by a signal generated by operating the switch section 4.

[0015] The main body 2 includes a cylindrical side surface portion 20 and a disk-shaped bottom surface portion 21 integrally formed at the lower end of the side surface portion 20, and an annular flange portion 22 is integrally formed at the upper end of the side surface portion so as to protrude outward. A plurality of side openings are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction in the side surface portion 20. In this example, four rectangular side openings 201 are formed by cutting out the side surface portion 20.

[0016] Furthermore, the side surface portion 20 is provided with a pair of engaging portions 202 that engage with the mounting holes when the push button operation device 1 is inserted into the mounting hole of an electrical device and mounted therein, and the engaging portions 202 are arranged in positions facing each other and are formed to protrude outward. The insides of the engaging portions 202 are open, and by arranging the engaging pieces at the opening positions and connecting the lower ends, when the engaging portions 202 are inserted into the mounting holes, the engaging pieces are pressed and elastically deformed to enter the inner openings, and engage with the mounting holes.

[0017] 3 is a plan view of the main body 2 as viewed from above. A plurality of support protrusions 211 for supporting the board 5 are provided at central and peripheral positions on the bottom surface 21, and a pair of positioning protrusions 212 are provided on both sides of the central support protrusion 211, into which a pair of positioning holes 50 formed in the board 5 are inserted. A pair of terminal insertion holes 213 are formed parallel to the positioning protrusions 212 and penetrate the bottom surface 21, and the mounting portions 60 at the tips of the connection terminals 6 are inserted into the terminal insertion holes 213, respectively, so that the connection terminals 6 are mounted in the through holes 51 formed in the board 5.

[0018] Three narrow, plate-shaped locking portions 214 are erected on the bottom surface 21 at positions between the positioning protrusions 212 and the terminal insertion holes 213 and at positions between pairs of terminal insertion holes 213, and the locking portions 214 fit into three notches 54 formed around the periphery of the substrate 5, so that the locking protrusions at the tips lock the substrate 5 so that it does not move.

[0019] A pair of mounting holes 52 are formed through the center of the substrate 5, and mounting protrusions protruding from the bottom surface of the switch body 40 of the switch unit 4 are inserted into the mounting holes 52, thereby positioning and mounting the switch unit 4 on the substrate 5. In addition, a pair of pads 53 are formed on the substrate 5 on the outer sides of each mounting hole 52, and the pads 53 are electrically connected to the through holes 51 via internal wiring of the substrate 5. Electrode terminals 42 provided on both sides of the switch body 40 are mounted on the pads 53 by soldering or the like.

[0020] An actuating section 41 is provided on the top surface of the switch section 4, and an actuating member 410 is attached to the actuating section 41 so as to protrude from the top surface. The actuating member 410 is constantly biased upward by the biasing force of an elastic member or the like inside the switch body 40, and when the actuating member 410 is set to the upper position, a switch-off signal is output from the switch section 4. When the actuating member 410 is pressed and moves downward against the biasing force, and is set to the lower position, a switch-on signal is output from the switch section 4.

[0021] 4 is an external perspective view showing the state in which the substrate 5 is accommodated in the main body 2. The substrate 5 is attached by inserting the positioning holes 50 into the positioning protrusions 212 protruding from the bottom surface 21 of the main body 2 and engaging the periphery with the engaging portions 214. The switch unit 4 is mounted by attaching it to the mounting holes 52 of the substrate 5 and connecting the electrode terminals to the pads 53.

[0022] 5 is an external perspective view showing the state in which the underside of the operating unit 3 is facing up. A cylindrical protrusion 33 is provided at the center of the underside of the pressing portion 30 of the operating unit 3, and three abutment portions 34 are provided at equal intervals around the periphery of the protrusion 33. The abutment portions 34 are set to be higher than the protrusion 33, and as will be described later, when the protrusion 33 presses the operating member 410 of the switch unit 4, the abutment portions 34 abut against the upper surface of the substrate 5, preventing the protrusion 33 from pressing the operating member 410 more than necessary.

[0023] A cylindrical side surface portion 31 is integrally formed around the pressing portion 30, and the side surface portion 31 has four claw portions 32 disposed opposite the side opening 201 of the main body portion 2. The claw portions 32 are formed with a predetermined width and are tapered so that the tip portion becomes thicker outward as it approaches the base portion, and a hook-shaped locking portion 320 is formed in the middle portion. The claw portions 32 are set to be slightly inclined outward from the side surface portion 31, and are elastically deformed so as to be inclined inward when pressed from the outside.

[0024] The side surface portion 31 of the operation unit 3 is inserted into the upper opening of the main body portion 2 and is housed in a state where the outer surface of the side surface portion 31 is arranged opposite the inner surface of the side surface portion 20 of the main body portion 2. When the side surface portion 31 is housed in the main body portion 2, the claw portions 32 formed on the side surface portion 31 are engaged with the side openings 201 formed in the side surface portion 20, and a predetermined gap is formed between the inner surface of the side surface portion 20 and the outer surface of the side surface portion 31.

[0025] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation unit 3 is housed in the main body 2. In FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of the operation unit 3 taken along the opposing claw portions 32 is shown.

[0026] A predetermined gap is formed between the outer surface of the side portion 31 of the operating unit 3 and the inner surface of the side portion 20 of the main body 2, and the claw portions 32 of the side portion 31 protrude from the outer surface and engage with the side openings 201 of the side portion 20.

[0027] The inner surface of the side surface 20 of the main body 2 is formed to expand slightly in diameter toward the upper opening, and the outer surface of the side surface 31 of the operating unit 3 is formed to contract slightly in diameter toward the bottom end, with the gap between the two side surfaces being set to be approximately uniform in the vertical direction. Therefore, as will be described later, even if the operating unit 3 is tilted by pressing, the two side surfaces do not come into contact with each other, allowing for smooth operation.

[0028] 6, when the operating unit 3 is not pressed down, the lower end surface of the protrusion 33 provided at the center of the lower surface of the pressing unit 30 abuts against the operating member 410 of the switch unit 4. An upward biasing force is constantly acting on the operating member 410 of the switch unit 4, causing the protrusion 33 to rise and push up the operating unit 3. Meanwhile, because the claws 32 are engaged with the side openings 201, the operating unit 3 is held within the main body 2 only at the positions where the protrusions 33 abut against the operating member 410 and where the claws 32 are in pressure contact with the upper end surfaces of the side openings 210.

[0029] A gap is formed between the side surfaces of the main body 2 and the operating unit 3, allowing the operating unit 3 to move left and right by the distance of the gap. Therefore, to prevent the protruding portion 33 from moving left and right and coming out of contact with the operating member 410, it is preferable to set the distance from the contact portion of the lower end surface of the protruding portion 33 that abuts against the operating member 410 to the outer periphery of the operating member 410 wider than the gap.

[0030] Therefore, when the operating unit 3 is not pressed down, the actuating member 410 is set to the upper position and switched off, and the operating unit 3 is held in the pushed-up position. In addition, since the multiple claws 32 around the operating unit 3 are in pressure contact with the side opening 210 of the main body 2, the operating unit 3 is held within the main body 2 in a stable state.

[0031] 7 shows a state in which the operating unit 3 is pressed by pressing a peripheral portion of the pressing portion 30. Because a gap is formed between the main body 2 and the side surface of the operating unit 3, the pressed peripheral portion is pressed down, causing the operating unit 3 to tilt, and some of the claw portions 32 descend and move away from the side opening 201. An upward force acts on the claw portions 32 other than the moved-away claw portions 32 with the pressing operation acting around the protruding portion 33 that abuts against the operating member 410 as a fulcrum, causing the claw portions 32 to elastically deform while being pressed against the side opening 201. Therefore, a downward force acts on the protruding portion 33 that serves as the fulcrum, causing the protruding portion 3 to press down the operating member 410 against the biasing force.

[0032] Therefore, when the peripheral portion of the pressing portion 30 is pressed to press the operating portion 3, the operating portion 3 is set in an inclined state, some of the claw portions 32 are separated from the side opening 201, and the protrusions 33 press the actuating member 410, thereby switching on the switch portion 4. When the pressing state of the pressing portion 30 is released, the upward biasing force of the actuating member 410 pushes up the protrusions 33, and the elastically deformed claw portions 32 are restored to their original state and return to the unpressed state described in FIG. 6, and the switch portion 4 is switched off.

[0033] Therefore, if some of the claw portions 32 are separated to ensure space in which the operating member 410 can be pressed, the switch portion 4 can be reliably switched on, and the operation of the operating portion 3 can be performed without sliding the entire operating portion 3 along a guide or the like.This reduces the operating space of the operating portion 3 with a simple structure that has a small number of parts, and makes it possible to make the entire device more compact.

[0034] Furthermore, since the operating distance of the pressing portion 30 is short and the pressing force of the actuating member 410 and the restoring force due to the elastic deformation of the claw portion 32 cause the operating portion 3 to instantly return to its original, unpressed state, the operating portion 3 can be operated repeatedly at high speed.

[0035] 8 shows a state in which the operation unit 3 is pressed by pressing the center portion of the pressing unit 30. When the center portion of the pressing unit 30 is pressed, the protrusion 33 is pressed, and the actuating member 410 is pressed against the biasing force. In this case, the entire pressing unit 30 descends, and all of the claws 32 are separated from the side openings 201. As the operation unit 3 descends, the abutment portions 34 provided on the underside come into contact with the upper surface of the substrate 5, and the operation unit 3 is in a stable state, allowing the switch unit 4 to be pressed and switched on.

[0036] Therefore, whether pressing the pressing portion 30 from the peripheral portion to the center portion, the switch portion 4 can be reliably operated, thereby improving the operability of the push button operation device. Also, the protrusion 33 is brought into direct contact with the operating member 410, and the pressing operation of the pressing portion 30 is performed by moving the protrusion 33 up and down within the same range as the vertical operating range of the operating member 410, so that the responsiveness of the operation can be improved with a pressing operation similar to that of directly operating the operating member 419.

[0037] 9 to 11 show cross-sectional views of one contact portion 34 of the operating unit 3, with FIG. 9 showing the operating unit 3 in an unpressed state, FIG. 10 showing the operating unit 3 in a pressed state by pressing the peripheral portion of the pressing portion 30, and FIG. 11 showing the operating unit 3 in a pressed state by pressing the central portion of the pressing portion 30.

[0038] As shown in Figure 9, when the operating unit 3 is not pressed down, the abutment portion 34 is spaced apart from the upper surface of the substrate 5, and the distance between the lower end surface of the abutment portion 34 and the upper surface of the substrate 5 is approximately the same as the distance between the lower end surface of the protrusion 33 and the upper surface of the main body portion 40 of the switch unit 4.

[0039] 10 and 11, when the operation unit 3 is pressed down, the lower end surfaces of the contact portions 34 come into contact with the upper surface of the substrate 5, preventing the operation unit 3 from being pressed further, and preventing excessive pressing of the operation unit 3. Furthermore, since the contact portions 34 are provided at equal intervals around the periphery of the protruding portion 33, the contact portions 34 come into contact with the upper surface of the substrate 5 no matter which part of the pressing portion 30 is pressed, thereby improving the safety of operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 push button operating device, 2 main body, 20 side surface, 21 bottom surface, 22 flange, 201 side opening, 202 engaging portion, 211 support projection, 212 positioning projection, 213 terminal insertion hole, 214 latching portion, 3 operating portion, 30 pressing portion, 31 side surface, 32 claw portion, 33 protrusion, 34 contact portion, 4 switch portion, 40 main body, 41 operating portion, 410 operating member, 42 electrode terminal portion, 5 substrate, 50 positioning hole, 51 through hole, 52 mounting hole, 53 pad, 54 notch

Claims

1. The device comprises a cylindrical main body portion having an open top and accommodating a switch portion in the bottom portion, the switch portion being operated when an actuating member is pressed down; and a cylindrical operating portion which is inserted into the open top portion of the main body portion and has a pressing portion formed on the top and a protrusion formed in the center inside the pressing portion for operating the switch portion. The main body is formed with a plurality of side openings arranged to surround the actuating member, and the operating portion has a gap formed between an outer surface and an inner surface of the main body, and a plurality of claws arranged opposite to the side openings protrude from the outer surface so as to be engageable with the side openings, When the operating portion is not pressed down, the operating portion is held only at a position where the lower end surface of the protrusion abuts against the actuating member and a position where the operating portion is pushed up by an urging force that urges the actuating member upward and the claw portion is in pressure contact with the side opening, When the peripheral portion of the pressing portion is pressed and the operating portion is pressed down, a portion of the claw portion descends and moves away from the side opening, and the claw portion that is pressed against the side opening is pressed down so as to elastically deform, causing the protrusion portion to operate the operating member against the spring force.

2. 2. The push button operating device according to claim 1, wherein the lower end surface of the protrusion is set so that the distance from the contact portion of the actuating member to the outer periphery is wider than the gap.

3. 3. The push button operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating portion has a plurality of abutment portions protruding between the claw portion and the protrusion portion, and the abutment portions are configured to abut against the main body portion at a predetermined pressing position of the pressing portion.

4. A method for operating a push button operation device, comprising: a switch unit that is operated when an actuating member is pressed, and is housed in a bottom portion of a cylindrical main body; and an operating unit that is inserted into an upper opening of the main body and is pressed to operate the switch unit, A method for operating a push button operating device in which the actuating member is pushed up by an upward biasing force to hold the operating unit within the main body, and the peripheral portion of the pressing portion of the operating unit is pressed to tilt and press down the operating unit, thereby pressing the actuating member against the biasing force and operating the switch unit.

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