Switch device mounting structure

Abstract

This invention provides a mounting structure for a switch device that securely fixes and holds the switch device in its housing. [Solution] A housing section 14 for housing a switch device 10 is provided in the center console 12 of the vehicle. The housing section 14 is provided with a contact piece 56 that extends from the front surface 50 of the housing section toward the switch body 18 of the switch device 10, along a direction that intersects diagonally with the bottom surface 54 of the housing section. The tip surface of the contact piece 56 abuts against the front shoulder portion 46 formed on the front surface 38 of the switch body 18. The contact piece 56 presses the switch body 18 toward the bottom surface 54 and the rear surface 52 of the housing section, and the switch body 18 is held inside the housing section 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment structure of a switch device, particularly a structure for holding the switch device.

Background Art

[0002] Some switch devices are attached by being housed in a concave housing portion formed in a portion to be attached. Patent Document 1 below shows a stop switch (20) that is inserted and housed in a switch insertion hole (3b) of a switch holder (3). An engaging portion (26a) provided on a sleeve body (26) which is a part of the housing of the stop switch (20) engages with the edge of an engaging hole (3e) of the switch holder (3) to hold the stop switch (20) in the switch holder (3). Note that the reference numerals in the parentheses above are the reference numerals used in Patent Document 1 below and are not related to the reference numerals used in the description of the embodiments of the present application.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The switch device of an electric parking brake is housed and attached in a concave housing portion provided in a center console, and the switch device of an electric window is housed and attached in a concave housing portion provided in a door trim. These switch devices are operated by rotating a switch lever so that the front end thereof moves up and down. The switch device needs to be held against the vertical force applied during operation.

[0005] The present invention provides an attachment structure of a switch device that securely fixes and holds the switch device in a housing portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The switch device mounting structure according to the present invention includes a switch device and a recessed housing portion for housing the switch device. The switch device has a switch body and a switch lever rotatably supported on the switch body so that its front end moves up and down. The switch body has a front surface with a shoulder portion formed at the top, a rear surface located back-to-back with the front surface, and a bottom surface located between the front and rear surfaces. The housing portion has a front surface defining the front of the housing portion, a rear surface defining the rear of the housing portion and facing the rear surface, and a bottom surface defining the bottom of the housing portion and facing the bottom surface. Furthermore, the housing portion has a contact piece that extends from the front surface toward the housed switch body in a direction obliquely intersecting the bottom surface of the housing portion, with its tip surface abutting against the ridge of the shoulder portion of the switch body, and which presses the switch body against the bottom surface and rear surface of the housing portion.

[0007] The contact piece presses the switch device against the bottom and rear surfaces of the housing, securing it within the housing.

[0008] In the above-described switch mounting structure, the contact piece may elastically deform when its tip surface is in contact with the ridge of the shoulder portion of the switch body, and this elastic force biases the switch body toward the rear surface of the housing portion.

[0009] In the above-described switch device mounting structure, the contact piece may have a projection on the front edge of its tip surface, and the projection engages with the corner of the shoulder of the switch body to maintain contact between the contact piece and the shoulder.

[0010] In the above-described switch device mounting structure, the direction in which the contact piece extends may intersect the bottom surface of the housing at an angle of 40 to 65 degrees. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The contact piece presses the switch device against the bottom and rear surfaces of the housing, fixing and holding it within the housing. The contact piece resists the operating force that rotates the switch lever upward, holding the switch device within the housing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This diagram shows a switch device and its housing. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the entire switch device. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the switch device and its housing. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a switch device, particularly the contact piece and its surrounding detailed structure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an electric parking brake switch device 10 and a part of the center console 12 of a vehicle to which the switch device 10 is to be installed. Figure 1(a) shows the state before the switch device 10 is installed, and Figure 1(b) shows the state after the switch device 10 has been installed. The switch device 10 is inserted into a concave housing portion 14 provided in the center console 12 along the direction indicated by arrow A. Hereinafter, the direction of arrow A will be referred to as the insertion direction A. When installed, the upper surface of the switch device 10 is substantially flush with the surface of the center console 12. The housing portion 14 also defines a front recess 16 in the area in front of the switch device 10 into which the operator's fingers are inserted.

[0014] Figure 2 shows the switch device 10 alone. Figure 3 schematically shows a cross-section of the switch device 10 and the portion of the center console 12 surrounding the switch device 10. The switch device 10 includes a switch body 18, a switch lever 20 movable relative to the switch body 18, and a push button 22. The switch lever 20 is rotatable within a predetermined range around the pivot axis C relative to the switch body 18. Normally, the switch lever 20 is in the basic position shown by the solid line in Figure 3, and from the basic position, it can rotate to a position where the right end is lowered as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3, and to a position where the right end is raised as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3. The push button 22 is also movable downwards from the basic position shown in Figure 3.

[0015] In this explanation, the side of the switch lever 20 that moves up and down will be referred to as "front," and the opposite side as "rear." The up and down directions in Figure 3 will be referred to as "up" and "down." In each figure, the front is indicated by the arrow FR, and the upward direction is indicated by the arrow UP.

[0016] Rotating the switch lever 20 so that its front end is lowered releases the parking brake, and rotating it so that its front end is raised engages the parking brake. Additionally, when the push button 22 is pressed, the hold function is activated, which engages the parking brake when the vehicle stops. Pressing the pressed push button 22 again releases the hold state.

[0017] The front recess 16 located in front of the switch lever 20 is defined by the curved front wall 24 of the housing 14 and the curved lever front surface 26 of the switch lever 20. A closing wall 28 is provided at the lower edge of the lever front surface 26 to close the gap with the recess front wall 24 when the switch lever 20 rotates. By inserting a finger into the front recess 16 and hooking the finger onto the protruding portion 30 formed on the upper edge of the lever front surface 26 and pulling it up, the switch lever 20 rotates upward. Conversely, by pressing down on the front portion of the lever upper surface 32 of the switch lever 20, the switch lever 20 rotates downward.

[0018] The switch body 18 has a base portion 34 located below the switch lever 20 and the push button 22, and a support portion 36 erected on the base portion 34 to support the switch lever 20 and the push button 22. The base portion 34 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. The switch body 18 has a front body 38 facing forward, a rear body 40 facing backward, and a bottom body 42 facing downward. The front body 38, rear body 40, and bottom body 42 may be the front, rear, and bottom surfaces of the base portion 34, respectively. The front body 38 and rear body 40 are surfaces that align with the insertion direction A and are back-to-back surfaces. The bottom body 42 may be a surface perpendicular to the insertion direction A. A wiring connector 44 for connecting electrical signal wiring is located on the bottom body 42. A front shoulder portion 46 is formed on the upper edge of the front body 38 by the front body 38 and a surface perpendicular to it. A rear shoulder portion 48 is also formed on the rear surface 40 of the main body, with a plane perpendicular to it.

[0019] The housing section 14 of the center console 12 has a housing section front surface 50 defining the front side of the housing section 14, a housing section rear surface 52 defining the rear side of the housing section 14, and a housing section bottom surface 54 defining the bottom of the housing section. The upper part of the housing section front surface 50 constitutes the aforementioned recessed front wall 24, and the lower part faces the main body front surface 38. The housing section rear surface 52 faces the main body rear surface 40, and the housing section bottom surface 54 faces the main body bottom surface 42. The housing section rear surface 52 is a surface that follows the insertion direction A, and the housing section bottom surface 54 may be a surface that is perpendicular to the insertion direction A.

[0020] The accommodating portion 14 is provided with an abutting piece 56 that extends from the front surface 50 of the accommodating portion, particularly from the lower edge 24a of the recessed front wall 24, toward the switch body 18 in the accommodated state. The configuration around the abutting piece 56 is shown enlarged in FIG. 4. The abutting piece 56 extends obliquely downward from the lower edge 24a of the recessed front wall 24 along a direction that obliquely intersects the bottom surface 54 of the accommodating portion. This intersecting angle, more specifically the angle at which the straight line connecting the proximal end and the distal end of the abutting piece 56 intersects the bottom surface 54 of the accommodating portion, may be 40 to 65°, and more preferably 50 to 55°. The distal end of the abutting piece 56 may have a front end surface 56a that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the abutting piece 56. The front end surface 56a of the abutting piece 56 abuts against the front shoulder 46 of the switch body 18, particularly against the ridge line 46a of the front shoulder 46. The abutting piece 56 presses the switch body 18 obliquely downward and presses against the rear surface 52 of the accommodating portion and the bottom surface 54 of the accommodating portion. By this pressing force, the switch device 10 is fixed within the accommodating portion 14. Further, the rear surface 52 of the accommodating portion may be provided with an engaging claw (not shown) that engages with the rear shoulder 48.

[0021] A stop projection 58 may be provided on the front end surface 56a of the abutting piece 56 so that the abutting piece 56 does not cross over the ridge line 46a of the front shoulder 46. The stop projection 58 is provided on the edge of the front end surface 56a on the side away from the switch body 18, that is, the front side edge. By the stop projection 58 hitting the corner of the front shoulder 46 from the left side in FIG. 4, the abutting piece 56 is prevented from moving further to the right.

[0022] When installing the switch device 10, insert the switch device 10 into the accommodating portion 14 of the center console 12 along the insertion direction A shown in FIG. 1. In this process, the switch body 18, particularly its base portion 34, pushes the contact piece 56 forward. The contact piece 56 deflects to receive the base portion 34. When the base portion 34 passes through the tip of the contact piece 56, the deflected contact piece 56 extends elastically, and its front end face 56a contacts the ridge line 46a of the front shoulder portion 46. At the same time, the bottom surface 42 of the main body reaches the bottom surface 54 of the accommodating portion. Also, the engaging claw engages with the rear shoulder portion 48 to hold the switch device 10 so that it does not move upward at the rear of the switch device 10. The contact piece 56 is curved when it contacts the front shoulder portion 46, and the elastic force at this time acts on the switch body 18, pressing the switch body 18 toward the rear surface 52 of the accommodating portion and the bottom surface 54 of the accommodating portion. By this force, the switch device 10 is held within the accommodating portion 14 of the center console 12.

[0023] When the switch lever 20 is pulled up, the contact piece 56 is tensed, thereby preventing the switch device 10 from moving upward. For the pushing operation of the switch lever 20, the force is received by the bottom surface 54 of the accommodating portion.

[0024] When removing the switch device 10, insert a tool into the gap 60 between the recessed front wall 24 and the lever front surface 26, deflect the contact piece 56 away from the switch body 18, and release the engagement with the front shoulder portion 46. In this state, by pulling up the switch device 10, the switch device 10 can be removed.

[0025] As described above, the switch device 10 of the electric parking brake has been described. However, for other switch devices, particularly switch devices that are operated by pulling up a switch lever, the above-described mounting structure can also be adopted. As such a switch device, a switch device for an electric window can be cited. The switch device for an electric window is often arranged on the door trim. A structure similar to the above-described accommodating portion may be provided on the door trim, and the switch device may be mounted therein.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0026] 10 Switch device, 12 Center console, 14 Housing section, 16 Front recess, 18 Switch body, 20 Switch lever, 22 Push button, 24 Front wall of recess, 34 Base section, 38 Front of main body, 40 Rear of main body, 42 Bottom of main body, 46 Front shoulder, 46a Ridge of front shoulder, 48 Rear shoulder, 50 Front of housing section, 52 Rear of housing section, 54 Bottom of housing section, 56 Contact piece, 56a Tip surface of contact piece, 58 Retaining projection.

Claims

1. A switch device mounting structure including a switch device and a recessed housing portion for housing the switch device, The aforementioned switch device is A switch body having a front body with shoulders formed at the top, a rear body located back-to-back with the front body, and a bottom body located between the front body and the rear body, A switch lever is rotatably supported on the switch body so that its front end can move up and down, It has, The aforementioned housing section is The front of the housing section, which defines the front side of the housing section, The rear side of the housing section is defined, and the rear surface of the housing section facing the rear surface of the main body, The bottom of the storage section is defined, and the bottom surface of the storage section facing the bottom surface of the main body, A contact piece extending from the front of the housing toward the housed switch body, along a direction diagonally intersecting the bottom surface of the housing, with its tip surface abutting against the ridge of the shoulder portion of the switch body, the contact piece pressing the switch body against the bottom surface and the rear surface of the housing, Having, Switch device mounting structure.

2. A switch device mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the contact piece elastically deforms when its tip surface is in contact with the ridge of the shoulder portion of the switch body, and the elastic force biases the switch body toward the rear surface of the housing portion.

3. A switch device mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein the contact piece has a projection on the front edge of the tip surface, and the projection engages with the corner of the shoulder, thereby maintaining contact of the contact piece with the shoulder.

4. A switch device mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the direction in which the contact piece extends intersects the bottom surface of the housing at an angle of 40 to 65°.

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