Push switch

Abstract

To provide a push switch suitable for reducing the number of switch components and the number of man-hours for assembling the switch.SOLUTION: A push switch PS is equipped with a cam groove 10 and an engaging projection 11 that engages with the cam groove, and when the cam groove 10 exerts a predetermined function (first and second functions), a pair of fixed contacts 9 are in a conductive state (switch-on state) in the first push operation of pressing a button portion 5, and the pair of fixed contacts 9 are brought into a non-conducting state (switch-off state) by a similar second push operation. In other words, switching between the on and off states is performed by two push operations.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a push switch used to operate electronic devices, and is particularly suitable for reducing the number of switch components and the number of steps required to assemble the switch. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a push switch of this type is known, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] The push switch in Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "conventional push switch") employs three elements, namely, a heart cam (21), a leaf spring (13), and a guide pin (11), as specific means for turning the switch on with a first push operation that lowers the switch knob (53) and for turning the switch off with a second push operation.

[0004] However, conventional push switches are structured so that the guide pin 11 is biased toward the heart cam 21 by the aforementioned leaf spring 13. For this reason, the aforementioned leaf spring 13 and guide pin 11 are indispensable as separate parts from the elastic body (specifically, the coil spring 64) that biases the switch knob 53 so as to push it upward on the base 62, which poses problems such as an increase in the number of switch components and the number of steps required for assembling the switch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-262822 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its object is to provide a push switch that is suitable for reducing the number of switch components and the number of steps required for assembling the switch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device having a base, a cylindrical cam arranged on the base, a boss for rotatably positioning the cam around its axis, a slider arranged on the outer periphery of the cam, a button portion provided on an upper portion of the slider, a case for holding the slider so that it can rise and fall relative to the base, an elastic body for urging the slider from the base toward the button portion, a contact brush that rises and falls integrally with the slider, and a fixed contact that is brought into a conductive or non-conductive state in accordance with the rising and falling movement of the contact brush, wherein the cam has a cam groove on its outer periphery, and the slider has an engaging protrusion that engages with the cam groove, and the cam groove moves the engaging protrusion in the same direction as the slider in accordance with the downward movement of the slider when the slider descends against the urging force of the elastic body during a first push operation to press down the button portion. and a second function of lowering the slider in accordance with the downward movement of the slider when the slider is lowered against the biasing force of the elastic body by a second push operation of pressing down the button portion, thereby lowering the engaging protrusion in the same direction as the slider in accordance with the downward movement of the slider, and releasing the holding of the engaging protrusion by the downward movement of the engaging protrusion. When the engaging protrusion is held, the contact brush descends integrally with the slider and comes into contact with the pair of fixed contacts, bringing the pair of fixed contacts into a conductive state, and after the holding is released, the contact brush rises integrally with the slider and comes into contact with the pair of fixed contacts, thereby bringing the pair of fixed contacts into a conductive state. ,before The pair of fixed contacts are in a non-conductive state.

[0008] In the present invention, the cam groove may have a structure in which a vertical groove formed along the sliding direction of the slider and a horizontal groove that goes around the outer periphery of the cam are connected.

[0009] In the present invention, the vertical groove may be characterized in that when the slider descends against the biasing force of the elastic body due to a first push operation to press down the button portion, the vertical groove enables the engagement protrusion to descend in the same direction as the slider in response to the downward movement of the slider, and when the force pressing down the button portion is released after a second push operation to press down the button portion, the vertical groove enables the engagement protrusion to rise in response to the upward movement of the slider due to the restoring force of the elastic body.

[0010] In the present invention, the lateral groove may be characterized by having a first inclined surface that is pressed toward the base by the engaging protrusion, a second inclined surface that is pressed in the opposite direction to the base by the engaging protrusion, and an engaging step that engages with the engaging protrusion when it is caught.

[0011] In the present invention, the lateral groove may further include a back-return prevention step that prevents the engaging projection from moving back. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In the present invention, the specific configuration of the push switch is, as described above, provided with a cam groove and an engaging protrusion that engages with the cam groove, and the cam groove performs the first and second functions described above, so that the first push operation brings the pair of fixed contacts into a conductive state (switch-on state), and the second push operation brings the pair of fixed contacts into a non-conductive state (switch-off state), i.e., the switch switches between on and off states with two push operations. Because this switching can be achieved with just two elements, the cam groove and the engaging protrusion, compared to conventional push switches that achieve this switching with three elements, a heart cam, a leaf spring, and a guide pin, the effect is achieved of reducing the number of switch constituent parts and the number of steps required for assembling the switch. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a push switch to which the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the cam groove used in the push switch in Figure 1. [Figure 3] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the engagement protrusion when a first push operation is performed to press down the push portion in the push switch of FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 when the push switch is in a free state. [Figure 5] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the engagement protrusion after the force pressing down the push portion by the first push operation is released in the push switch of FIG. 1, and the operation of the engagement protrusion when a second push operation is performed to press down the push portion. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 in a state where the slider and its engagement protrusion have been lowered to a first full-travel position by a first push operation. [Figure 7] 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 in a state where the engagement protrusion is held after the force pressing down the push portion by the first push operation is released. [Figure 8]1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 in a state where the slider and its engagement protrusion have been lowered to a second full-travel position by a second push operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a push switch to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a cam groove used in the push switch of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the engagement protrusion in the push switch of FIG. 1 when a first push operation is performed to press down the push portion, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 when the push switch is in a free state.

[0015] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the engagement protrusion in the push switch of FIG. 1 after the force pressing down the push portion by the first push operation is released, and the operation of the engagement protrusion when a second push operation is performed to press down the push portion. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 in a state where the slider and its engagement protrusion have descended to the first full travel position by the first push operation.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 in a state in which the engagement protrusion is held after the force pressing down the push portion by the first push operation is released, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch of FIG. 1 in a state in which the slider and its engagement protrusion have descended to the second full-travel position by the second push operation.

[0017] <<Push Switch PS Overview>> 1 and 4, the push switch PS of this embodiment has, as its components, a base 1, a cylindrical cam 2 arranged on the base 1, a boss 3 that positions the cam 2 so that it can rotate around its axis, a slider 4 arranged on the outer periphery of the cam 2, a button portion 5 provided on the upper part of the slider 4, a case 6 that holds the slider 4 so that it can be raised and lowered relative to the base 1, an elastic body 7 that constantly urges the slider 4 from the base 1 toward the button portion 5, a contact brush 8 that rises and falls integrally with the slider 4, and a pair of fixed contacts 9 that become conductive or non-conductive depending on the raising and lowering movement of the contact brush 8.

[0018] <Explanation of Cam 2 and Slider 4> Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the cam 2 has a cam groove 10 on its outer periphery, the slider 4 has an engaging protrusion 11 that engages with the cam groove 10, and the cam groove 10 has at least the following first and second functions.

[0019] (First function) The first function is that when the slider 4 descends against the force of the elastic body 7 during the first push operation to press down the button portion 5, the engaging protrusion 11 is caused to descend in the same direction as the slider 4 in accordance with the downward movement of the slider 4, and then the entire cam 2 is caused to rotate around its axis, and the engaging protrusion 11 is caused to move relatively a predetermined amount in accordance with this rotational movement of the entire cam 2, thereby keeping the engaging protrusion 11 hooked onto the step.

[0020] (Second function) The second function is to lower the engaging protrusion 11 in the same direction as the slider 4 in accordance with the downward movement of the slider 4 when the slider 4 descends against the spring force of the elastic body 7 by the second push operation of pressing down the button portion 5, and to release the holding of the engaging protrusion 11 by the downward movement of the engaging protrusion 11.

[0021] As a specific embodiment of the cam groove 10 having the first and second functions described above, in the push switch PS of this embodiment, the cam groove 10 has a structure in which a vertical groove 101 formed along the sliding direction of the slider 4 is connected to a horizontal groove 102 that goes around the outer periphery of the cam 2, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5.

[0022] The vertical groove 101 functions as a means for allowing the engagement protrusion 11 to descend in the same direction as the slider 4 in response to the downward movement of the slider 4 when the slider 4 descends against the spring force of the elastic body 7 due to the first push operation of pressing down the button portion 5.

[0023] In addition, this vertical groove 101 functions as a means for enabling the engagement protrusion 11 to rise in response to the upward movement of the slider 4 due to the restoring force of the elastic body 7 when the force pressing down the button portion 5 is released after the second push operation to press down the button portion 5.

[0024] The lateral groove 102 has (1) a first inclined surface S1 that is pressed toward the base 1 by the engaging protrusion 11, (2) a second inclined surface S2 that is pressed in the opposite direction from the base 1 by the engaging protrusion 11, (3) a step D1 (hereinafter referred to as the "engagement step D1") that engages with the engaging protrusion 11 when it is caught, and (4) a step D2 (hereinafter referred to as the "anti-reverse step D2") that prevents the engaging protrusion 11 from moving backward.

[0025] As mentioned above, the first inclined surface S1 is pressed toward the base 1 by the engaging protrusion 11, and therefore is provided on a surface that can face the lower outer periphery of the engaging protrusion 11, specifically on the lower side wall surface of the upper and lower side wall surfaces of the lateral groove 102.

[0026] When the first inclined surface S1 is pressed by the engaging projection 11, the force component acting on the first inclined surface S1 (specifically, the component in the direction that rotates the cam 2 in a predetermined direction) causes the entire cam 2 to rotate about its axis. The direction of this rotational movement of the entire cam 2 is rightward in Figures 2, 3, and 5.

[0027] Meanwhile, in response to the rotational movement of the cam 2 as described above, the engagement protrusion 11 moves relatively within the lateral groove 102 while pressing the first inclined surface S1 as viewed from the cam 2. The direction of this relative movement of the engagement protrusion 11 is opposite to the direction of the rotational movement of the cam 2 described above (leftward in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5).

[0028] As mentioned above, the second inclined surface S2 is pressed in the opposite direction to the base 1 by the engaging protrusion 11, and therefore is provided on a surface that can face the upper outer periphery of the engaging protrusion 11, specifically on the upper side wall surface of the upper and lower side wall surfaces of the lateral groove 102.

[0029] When the second inclined surface S2 is pressed by the engaging projection 11, the force component acting on the second inclined surface S1 (specifically, the component in the direction that rotates the cam 2 in a predetermined direction) causes the entire cam 2 to rotate about its axis. The direction of rotation of the entire cam 2 is also the rightward direction in Figures 2, 3, and 5.

[0030] Meanwhile, in response to the rotational movement of the cam 2 as described above, the engagement protrusion 11 relatively moves within the lateral groove 102 while pressing against the second inclined surface S2 as viewed from the cam 2. The direction of this relative movement of the engagement protrusion 11 is also opposite to the direction of the rotational movement of the cam 2 described above (leftward in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5).

[0031] The engagement step D1 is provided midway along the second inclined surface S2. Therefore, as described above, while the engagement protrusion 11 is moving relatively within the lateral groove 102, the engagement protrusion 11 catches and engages with the engagement step D1, and the engagement protrusion 11 stops and is held at the position of the engagement step D. Furthermore, when the engagement protrusion 11 moves downward within the lateral groove 102 toward the base 1 (in the width direction of the lateral groove 102) and separates from the second inclined surface S2 and exceeds the height of the engagement step D2, the engagement of the engagement protrusion 11 with the engagement step D2 is released (the engagement protrusion 11 is released from its hold).

[0032] The reverse running prevention step D2 is provided midway along the first inclined surface S1. Therefore, as described above, once the engaging protrusion 11 passes over the reverse running prevention step D2 while moving relatively within the lateral groove 102, the reverse running prevention step D2 becomes an obstacle thereafter, preventing the engaging protrusion 11 from moving backward.

[0033] As a specific embodiment of the slider 4, in the push switch PS of this embodiment, the slider 4 has a shape including a slider body 41 slidably inserted into the slide guide hole 61 of the case 6, and a leg portion 42 extending from the bottom of the slider body 41 toward the base 1, and the engagement protrusion 11 is provided on the leg portion 42 (see Figure 4).

[0034] In addition, in the push switch PS of this embodiment, a brush holder 45 is integrally formed on the lower outer periphery of the slider 4, and the contact brush 8 is fitted into and attached to the downward recess 45A of this brush holder 45 (see Figure 4), so that the contact brush 8 can also be raised and lowered integrally with the slider 4.

[0035] <<Explanation of other push switch components>>

[0036] As a specific embodiment of the boss 3, in the push switch PS of this embodiment, the boss 3 stands up from the base 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and the cam 2 is rotatably fitted into the boss 3 of this form. In addition, an elastic body positioning protrusion 31 is formed on the upper end surface of this boss 3 to position and install the elastic body 7.

[0037] The elastic body 7 is arranged in a compressed state between the base 1 and the slider 4 (specifically, the slider main body 41), and is configured so that its elastic restoring force can urge the slider 4 from the base 1 toward the button portion 5.

[0038] As a specific embodiment of the elastic body 7, the push switch PS of this embodiment employs a coil spring 71. The upper end of this coil spring 71 abuts against the slider 4 (specifically, the lower surface of the slider main body 41) as shown in FIG. 4, and the lower end of the coil spring 71 is fitted into the elastic body positioning protrusion 31 on the upper end surface of the boss 3.

[0039] As a specific embodiment of the contact brush 8 and the fixed contacts 9, in the push switch PS of this embodiment, the contact brush 8 is formed so that its tip is bifurcated (see FIG. 1), and a pair of fixed contacts 9 is provided corresponding to the bifurcated shape (see the same figure). Then, when the bifurcated parts at the tip of the contact brush 8 come into contact with the corresponding fixed contacts 9, the pair of fixed contacts 9 becomes conductive (switch ON state) through the contact brush 8.

[0040] As an example of a structure in which a button portion 5 is provided on the top of the slider 4, the push switch PS of this embodiment employs a configuration in which a button mounting hole 44 (see Figure 4) is provided on the top surface of the slider body 4, a corresponding button mounting protrusion 51 (see the same figure) is provided on the underside of the button portion 5, and the button mounting protrusion 51 is fitted into and fixed in the button mounting hole 44, but this configuration is not limited to this.

[0041] As a specific embodiment of the case 6, the push switch PS of this embodiment employs a configuration in which a slide guide hole 61 that opens along the sliding direction of the slider 4 is formed in the case 6, and the slider 4 is slidably inserted into the slide hole 61. The case 6 is fixed to the base 1. A known latching structure using a claw or the like can be used as the fixing means.

[0042] <<Operation explanation of push switch PS>> FIG. 4 shows the push switch PS in a free state, that is, a state in which no force is applied to press down the button part 5 and the slider 4 is raised to its maximum.

[0043] In the free state shown in Fig. 4, the slider 4 is biased by the elastic body 7 in a direction away from the base 1 (upward in Fig. 4), and is raised to its maximum. At this time, the protrusion 11 is located at the top of the inner side of the longitudinal groove 101 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the contact brush 8 is separated from the pair of fixed contacts 9 as shown in Fig. 4, so that the pair of fixed contacts 8 are in a non-conductive state, i.e., the switch is in an OFF state.

[0044] Next, in the free state as described above, when the button portion 5 is pressed with a fingertip and a pressing force greater than the spring force of the elastic body 7 acts on the button portion 5, that is, when the first push operation is performed, the pressing force acts from the button portion 5 to the elastic body 7 via the slider 4.

[0045] As a result, the elastic body 7 is compressed and elastically deformed, and in response to this elastic deformation, the slider 4 moves downward toward the base 1, and the engaging protrusion 11 of the slider 4 moves downward along the vertical groove 101 (see arrow A in Figures 2 and 3). At this time, the contact brush 8 also moves downward toward the base 1 together with the slider 4.

[0046] As described above, in front of the direction of travel of the engaging protrusion 11 descending along the vertical groove 101, i.e., at the bottom of the vertical groove 101, there is a first inclined surface S1 of the horizontal groove 102 (see Figures 2 and 3), and this first inclined surface S1 is pressed by the engaging protrusion 11.

[0047] At this time, a force component that rotates the entire cam 2 around its axis is generated on the first inclined surface S1 according to its inclination angle, so that the entire cam 2 rotates around its axis (rotation to the right in Figures 2, 3, and 5).

[0048] Then, in response to the rotational movement of the entire cam 2 as described above, the engagement protrusion 11 enters the lateral groove 102 from the vertical groove 101 and moves relatively within the lateral groove 102 (relative movement to the left in Figures 2, 3, and 5. As a result, the engagement protrusion 11 passes over the first anti-reverse step D2(1) of the lateral groove 102 as shown in Figure 2 (see arrow B in Figures 2, 3, and 5).

[0049] As described above, when the engaging protrusion 11 passes over the first anti-reverse step D2(1) of the lateral groove 102, the slider 4 and its engaging protrusion 11 are in the most lowered state, that is, the first push operation causes the slider 4 and its engaging protrusion 11 to be lowered to the first full-travel position as shown in Figure 6. In this state, the engaging protrusion 11 has already passed over the first anti-reverse step D2(1), so the engaging protrusion 11 will not move backward.

[0050] 6 (a state in which the slider 4 and its engaging protrusion 11 have been lowered to the first full-travel position by the first push operation), the contact brush 8 comes into contact with the pair of fixed contacts 9, so that the pair of fixed contacts 9 are in a conductive state via the contact brush 8, i.e., the switch is in an ON state. Also, at this time, the engaging protrusion 11 of the slider 4 faces the second inclined surface S2 in the lateral groove 102 with a predetermined gap therebetween, as shown in FIG.

[0051] Then, when the force pressing down on the button portion 5 by the first push operation is released, such as by removing the fingertip from the button portion 5, that is, when the first push operation is completed, the restoring force of the elastic body 7 pushes the slider 4 and its engagement protrusion 11 upward in a direction away from the base 1 (see arrow C in Figures 2 and 5), and the second inclined surface S2 of the lateral groove 102 is pressed by the engagement protrusion 11.

[0052] As a result, a force component is generated on the second inclined surface S2 that causes the entire cam 2 to rotate around its axis according to the inclination angle, causing the entire cam 2 to rotate around its axis (rotation to the right in Figures 2 and 5).

[0053] Then, in response to the rotational movement of the entire cam 2 as described above, the engagement protrusion 11 moves relatively within the lateral groove 102 while pressing against the second inclined surface S2 (relative movement to the left in Figures 2 and 5), and gets caught on the engagement step D1 within the lateral groove 102 at the destination position (see arrow 2 in Figures 2 and 5).

[0054] The engagement projection 11 caught on the engagement step D1 cannot move any further, so the rotational movement position of the cam 2 and the downward movement positions of the slider 4 and its engagement projection 11 are temporarily held near the engagement step D1.

[0055] At this time, as shown in Figure 7, the previously described contact state (switch ON state) between the contact brush 8 and the pair of fixed contacts 9 is maintained. This switch ON state does not transition to the switch OFF state unless a second push operation, which will be described later, is performed.

[0056] Thereafter, a second push operation is performed to press down the button part 5, and when a pressing force greater than the biasing force of the elastic body 7 acts on the button part 5, the pressing force acts on the elastic body 7 from the button part 5 via the slider 4, just as in the first push operation.

[0057] As a result, the elastic body 7 is compressed and elastically deformed, and in response to this elastic deformation, the slider 4 and the engaging protrusion 11 move downward toward the base 1. As a result, when the engaging protrusion 11 passes over the engaging step D1 (see arrow E in Figures 2 and 5), the engagement of the engaging protrusion 11 with the engaging step D1 described above is released.

[0058] Then, after the engagement is released as described above, the engagement protrusion 11 presses the first inclined surface S1 in the lateral groove 102. This causes the entire cam 2 to rotate about its axis (rotational movement to the right in FIGS. 2 and 5). In response to this rotational movement, the engagement protrusion 11 moves relatively while pressing the first inclined surface S1 of the lateral groove 102 (relative movement to the left in FIGS. 2 and 5), and the engagement protrusion 11 moves away from the engagement step D1 and passes over the second backflow prevention step D2(2) of the lateral groove 102 (see the arrows in FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0059] At this time, the slider 4 and its engaging protrusion 11 are lowered to the second full travel position as shown in Figure 8. At this point, the engaging protrusion 11 has cleared the second anti-reverse step D2(2) of the lateral groove 102, so the engaging protrusion 11 will not move back.

[0060] Finally, when the force pressing down button 5 is released by a second push operation, such as by removing one's finger from button 5, that is, when the second push operation is completed, the restoring force of elastic body 7 pushes slider 4 and its engaging protrusion 11 upward in a direction away from base 1 (see arrow T in Figures 2 and 5). Contact brush 8 is also pushed upward together with slider 4.

[0061] Then, the second inclined surface S2 of the lateral groove 102 is pressed by the engagement protrusion 11 being pushed up as described above, causing the entire cam 2 to rotate about its axis (rotational movement to the right in FIGS. 2 and 5). In response to this rotational movement, the engagement protrusion 11 moves relatively within the lateral groove 102 while pressing against the second inclined surface S2 of the lateral groove 102 (relative movement to the left in FIGS. 2 and 5), and finally enters the longitudinal groove 101 (see arrow T in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5).

[0062] The engagement protrusion 11 that has entered the vertical groove 101 moves further together with the slider 4 in the direction away from the base 1 due to the restoring force of the elastic body 7, and both the slider 4 and its engagement protrusion 11 return to the state they were in before the first push operation, i.e., the position they were in when they were in the free state (see arrows C in Figures 2 and 3).

[0063] At this time, the contact brush 8 slides on the fixed contacts 9 in response to the movement of the slider 4 and finally separates from the fixed contacts 9, so that the pair of fixed contacts 8 enters a non-conductive state, that is, a switch-off state.

[0064] In short, in the push switch PS of this embodiment, the first push operation places the pair of fixed contacts 9 in a conductive state (switch-on state), and the second push operation places the pair of fixed contacts 9 in a non-conductive state (switch-off state). In other words, the switch switches between on and off states with two push operations.

[0065] As described above, the push switch PS of this embodiment is specifically configured to include the cam groove 10 and the engaging protrusion 11 that engages with the cam groove 10, and the cam groove 10 performs the first and second functions described above, so that the pair of fixed contacts 9 are brought into a conductive state (switch-on state) with a first push operation, and the pair of fixed contacts 9 are brought into a non-conductive state (switch-off state) with a second push operation, i.e., the switch is configured to switch between on and off states with two push operations. Because such switching can be achieved with just two elements, the cam groove 10 and the engaging protrusion 11, it is possible to reduce the number of switch components and the number of steps required for assembling the switch, compared to conventional push switches that achieve such switching with three elements: a heart cam, a leaf spring, and a guide pin.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and many modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] PS Push Switch 1 base 2 Cam 3. Boss 4 Slider 5 Button section 6 cases 7 Elastic Body 8 Contact Brush 9 Fixed contacts 10 Cam groove 11 Engagement protrusion 31 Elastic body positioning protrusion 41 Slider body 42 Legs 43 Stopper protrusion 44 Button mounting hole 45 Brush holder 45A Downward recess 51 Button mounting protrusion 61 Slide guide hole 71 Coil spring 101 Vertical groove 102 Yokomizo S1 First inclined surface S2 Second inclined surface D1 Step (engagement step) D2 step (step to prevent back-flow)

Claims

1. With the base, a cylindrical cam disposed on the base; a boss for positioning the cam so that it can rotate about its axis; a slider disposed on the outer periphery of the cam; a button portion provided on the upper portion of the slider; a case that holds the slider so that the slider can be raised and lowered relative to the base; an elastic body that biases the slider from the base toward the button portion; a contact brush that moves up and down together with the slider; a pair of fixed contacts that are brought into a conductive or non-conductive state in response to the up-and-down movement of the contact brush; and The cam has a cam groove on its outer periphery, the slider includes an engagement protrusion that engages with the cam groove, The cam groove is a first function of causing the engaging protrusion to descend in the same direction as the slider when the slider descends against the biasing force of the elastic body by the first push operation of pressing down the button portion, and then causing the entire cam to rotate about its axis, and causing the engaging protrusion to move relatively a predetermined amount in response to this rotational movement of the entire cam, thereby holding the engaging protrusion in a state where it is caught on the step; a second function of lowering the engaging protrusion in the same direction as the slider when the slider is lowered against the biasing force of the elastic body by a second push operation of pressing down the button portion, and releasing the holding of the engaging protrusion by the lowering movement of the engaging protrusion; When the engaging projection is held, the contact brush descends together with the slider and comes into contact with the pair of fixed contacts, thereby bringing the pair of fixed contacts into a conductive state, and after the holding is released, the contact brush ascends together with the slider and comes into a state separated from the pair of fixed contacts, thereby bringing the pair of fixed contacts into a non-conductive state. A push switch characterized by:

2. The cam groove has a structure in which a vertical groove formed along the sliding direction of the slider and a horizontal groove that goes around the outer periphery of the cam are connected.

2. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The vertical groove allows the engaging protrusion to descend in the same direction as the slider in response to the downward movement of the slider when the slider descends against the biasing force of the elastic body due to a first push operation to press down the button portion, and allows the engaging protrusion to ascend in response to the upward movement of the slider due to the restoring force of the elastic body when the force pressing down the button portion is released after a second push operation to press down the button portion.

3. The push switch according to claim 2, wherein:

4. The lateral groove includes a first inclined surface that is pressed toward the base by the engaging protrusion, a second inclined surface that is pressed in a direction opposite to the base by the engaging protrusion, and an engaging step that engages with the engaging protrusion when it is caught.

3. The push switch according to claim 2, wherein:

5. The lateral groove further includes a back-return prevention step that prevents the engagement projection from moving back.

5. The push switch according to claim 4, wherein:

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