Switch device

Abstract

This switch device comprises: a housing having an accommodation part; central fixed contacts disposed at a central portion on the inner bottom surface of the accommodation part; peripheral fixed contacts disposed at a peripheral portion on the inner bottom surface of the accommodation part; a movable contact member provided above the central fixed contacts and the peripheral fixed contacts in the accommodation part; a rubber stem for pressing the movable contact member; a cover member for covering the rubber stem; and a protrusion part provided to protrude downward relative to the lower surface of the rubber stem. The movable contact member has leg parts which extend outward and are constantly in contact with the peripheral fixed contacts. The protrusion part presses the leg parts, and at least a portion of the protrusion part is made of a material harder than that of the rubber stem.

Description

Switch device

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique in which the leg portion of a movable contact member is pressed by a holding portion of an operating member in a push device.

[0003] Utility Model Registration No. 3179036

[0004] However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the entire holding portion of the operating member is made of an elastic material, when the movable contact member performs a reverse operation, the holding portion of the operating member elastically deforms, so that the leg portion of the movable contact member floats from the fixed contact member, and there is a possibility that an abutting sound between the leg portion of the movable contact member and the fixed contact member may occur.

[0005] A switch device according to an embodiment includes a housing having a housing portion, a central fixed contact disposed at a central portion on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion, a peripheral fixed contact disposed at a peripheral portion on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion, a movable contact member provided above the central fixed contact and the peripheral fixed contact in the housing portion, a rubber stem that presses the movable contact member, a cover member that covers the rubber stem, and a protruding portion provided to protrude downward from the lower surface of the rubber stem. The movable contact member has a leg portion that extends outward and always contacts the peripheral fixed contact. The protruding portion presses the leg portion and is made of a material that is at least partially harder than the rubber stem.

[0006] According to the switch device according to an embodiment, the abutting sound between the leg portion of the movable contact member and the fixed contact member can be suppressed.

[0007] External perspective view of a switch device according to one embodiment. Exploded perspective view of a switch device according to one embodiment. Exploded perspective view of a switch device according to one embodiment. Cross-sectional view of a switch device according to one embodiment. External perspective view of the rubber stem of the switch device according to one embodiment. Exploded perspective view of the rubber stem of the switch device according to one embodiment. Exploded perspective view of the rubber stem of the switch device according to one embodiment. Cross-sectional view showing the pressing configuration by the projection of the rubber stem in the switch device according to one embodiment. Exploded perspective view of the rubber stem of a switch device according to one modification of one embodiment. Exploded perspective view of the rubber stem of a switch device according to one modification of one embodiment. Cross-sectional view showing the pressing configuration by the projection of the rubber stem in the switch device according to one modification of one embodiment.

[0008] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience, in the following description, the Z-axis direction in the drawings will be considered as the vertical direction, the Y-axis direction as the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction as the front-back direction. However, the positive Z-axis direction will be considered upward, the positive Y-axis direction as the rightward direction, and the positive X-axis direction as the forward direction.

[0009] (Outline of the switch device 100) Figure 1 is an external perspective view of a switch device 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the switch device 100 is configured such that a rubber stem 140 is superimposed on the upper surface 110A (see Figure 2) of a housing 110, and the rubber stem 140 is covered by a cover member 120. A cylindrical operating part 141 is provided in the center of the rubber stem 140, which protrudes convexly upward (in the positive Z-axis direction).

[0010] The operating portion 141 of the rubber stem 140 penetrates a circular opening 120A formed in the center of the cover member 120 and protrudes upward (in the positive Z-axis direction) above the cover member 120. As a result, the switch device 100 can be operated by pressing the operating portion 141 of the rubber stem 140 downward (in the negative Z-axis direction), and this pressing operation can switch the device from the switch-off state to the switch-on state.

[0011] (Configuration of the switch device 100) Figures 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of a switch device 100 according to one embodiment. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a switch device 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the switch device 100 comprises a housing 110, a metal inverted dome 130, a rubber stem 140, and a cover member 120.

[0012] The housing 110 is a container-like member having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). When viewed from above, the housing 110 is generally square in shape. The housing 110 has a housing portion 110B that is recessed downward from the top surface 110A. A metal inverted dome 130 is housed inside the housing portion 110B. For example, the housing 110 is formed by insert molding using a relatively hard insulating material (e.g., hard resin).

[0013] Each of the left and right sides of the housing 110 has a claw portion 111 that protrudes outward. When the cover member 120 is attached to the upper surface 110A of the housing 110, the claw portion 111 is fitted into the opening 121A of the hook 121 of the cover member 120, thereby engaging the hook 121 and fixing the cover member 120 to the housing 110 (see Figure 1).

[0014] The inner bottom surface of the housing portion 110B of the housing 110 is provided with three central fixed contacts 112A and four peripheral fixed contacts 113A.

[0015] The three central fixed contacts 112A are located in the center of the inner bottom surface of the housing 110B and are positioned opposite the back surface of the top of the metal inverted dome 130. The three central fixed contacts 112A are integrally provided with a single metal, plate-shaped central fixed contact member 112 embedded in the housing 110.

[0016] The four peripheral fixing contacts 113A are provided around the central fixing contact 112A on the inner bottom surface of the housing 110B, and are provided at the four corners of the inner bottom surface of the housing 110B. The four peripheral fixing contacts 113A are integrally provided with a single metal, plate-shaped peripheral fixing contact member 113 embedded in the housing 110. Each of the four peripheral fixing contacts 113A is supported by each of the four legs 132 of the metal inverted dome 130.

[0017] The central fixed contact member 112 and the peripheral fixed contact member 113 are both formed using a conductive plate material (for example, a metal plate) and are embedded in the housing 110 by insert molding. The central fixed contact member 112 has an external connection terminal 112B that protrudes from the front (positive X-axis side) and rear (negative X-axis side) sides of the housing 110. The peripheral fixed contact member 113 has an external connection terminal 113B that protrudes from the front (positive X-axis side) and rear (negative X-axis side) sides of the housing 110.

[0018] The metal inverting dome 130 is an example of a "movable contact member" and is a dome-shaped member that can be inverted. The metal inverting dome 130 is a member made of a thin metal plate and is placed in the housing portion 110B of the housing 110.

[0019] The metal inverted dome 130 has a dome-shaped portion 131 in the center when viewed from above, which is circular when viewed from above and protrudes upward (in the positive Z-axis direction). A circular opening 131A is formed in the center of the dome portion 131 when viewed from above.

[0020] The rectangular outer edge of the metal inverting dome 130 is provided with four legs 132 that project radially outward from each of the four corners. Each of the four legs 132 rests on each of the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A located at the four corners of the inner bottom surface of the housing 110B of the housing 110. As a result, the metal inverting dome 130 is stably supported at four points by the four legs 132 and is electrically connected to each of the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A.

[0021] The metal inverting dome 130 is a so-called "inverting spring." When the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140 is pressed, the top (center) of the dome portion 131 is pressed downward by the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140. When the predetermined operating load is exceeded, the top rapidly deforms elastically into a concave shape (inverting motion). As a result, the metal inverting dome 130 contacts each of the three central fixed contacts 112A at the back side of the top of the dome portion 131, and is electrically connected to each of the three central fixed contacts 112A. Consequently, the metal inverting dome 130 can electrically connect the three central fixed contacts 112A and the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A through the metal inverting dome 130. The metal inverting dome 130 returns to its original convex shape by elastic force when the pressing operation of the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140 is released.

[0022] The rubber stem 140 is a component that is pressed downward by an operator. The rubber stem 140 is placed on the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 and is fixed by the cover member 120 in a state that the housing portion 110B of the housing 110 is closed. The rubber stem 140 is formed using an elastic material (for example, rubber, silicone, etc.). The rubber stem 140 has an operating portion 141 and a base portion 142.

[0023] The operating part 141 is located in the center of the rubber stem 140 and has a cylindrical shape that protrudes upward from the base 142. The operating part 141 penetrates the opening 120A of the cover member 120 and is pressed by the operator. A relatively thin elastic deformation part 141A is provided in an annular shape around the operating part 141. The operating part 141 can move up and down due to the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation part 141A. An annular pressing part 141B is provided at the lower end of the operating part 141. When pressed by the operator, the operating part 141 moves downward, pressing the top of the metal inverted dome 130 with the pressing part 141B.

[0024] The base portion 142 is a flat plate-shaped part provided around the operating portion 141. The base portion 142 is integrally provided with the operating portion 141 and supports the operating portion 141 so that it can move up and down. In a top view, the outer shape of the base portion 142 is substantially the same as the outer shape of the housing 110 (i.e., roughly square). The rubber stem 140 is fixed to the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 by the base portion 142 being pressed down from above by the cover member 120.

[0025] The cover member 120 is a flat, metal member. When viewed from above, the cover member 120 has a roughly square shape. The cover member 120 is fixedly attached to the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 with the base 142 of the rubber stem 140 sandwiched between them, thereby covering the rubber stem 140 and the upper surface 110A of the housing 110, and fixing the rubber stem 140 to the upper surface 110A of the housing 110.

[0026] For example, the cover member 120 is formed by processing a metal plate using a method such as press working. In a top view, a circular opening 120A is formed in the center of the cover member 120 to allow the operating portion 141 of the rubber stem 140 to protrude upward.

[0027] Furthermore, each of the pair of left and right sides on the outer periphery of the cover member 120 is provided with a hook 121 that hangs downward. The hook 121 has an opening 121A into which a claw portion 111 provided on the side surface of the housing 110 is fitted. In this way, the hook 121 is hooked onto the claw portion 111, and the cover member 120 can be fixed to the housing 110.

[0028] Furthermore, a bent portion 121B is provided in the center of the portion of the hook 121 below the opening 121A, which is bent in a V-shape toward the inside (towards the center of the housing 110).

[0029] (Operation of the switch device 100) In one embodiment of the switch device 100, when the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140 is not pressed, the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140 is in its highest initial position, and the dome portion 131 of the metal inverted dome 130 is in an initial convex position upward. At this time, each of the four legs 132 of the metal inverted dome 130 is in contact with each of the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A, but is not in contact with any of the three central fixed contacts 112A. That is, the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A and the three central fixed contacts 112A are not electrically connected to each other. For this reason, when the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140 is not pressed, the switch device 100 is in the switched-off state.

[0030] In one embodiment of the switch device 100, when the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140 is pressed, the operating part 141 of the rubber stem 140 moves downward, and the annular pressing part 141B provided at the lower end of the operating part 141 presses down on the central part (around the opening 131A) of the dome portion 131 of the metal inverted dome 130. As a result, the dome portion 131 of the metal inverted dome 130 elastically deforms into a concave shape (inverts), and the back side of the central part of the dome portion 131 of the metal inverted dome 130 contacts each of the three central fixed contacts 112A. As a result, in one embodiment of the switch device 100, the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A and the three central fixed contacts 112A become electrically connected to each other via the metal inverted dome 130, and the switch device 100 is switched on.

[0031] (Configuration of the rubber stem 140) Figure 5 is an external perspective view of the rubber stem 140 included in the switch device 100 according to one embodiment. Figures 6 and 7 are exploded perspective views of the rubber stem 140 included in the switch device 100 according to one embodiment.

[0032] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the rubber stem 140 has a main body portion 140A and a spacer member 144. The main body portion 140A is made of an elastic material and has the operating portion 141 and base portion 142 described above.

[0033] The main body portion 140A has four projections 145 that protrude downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from the four corners on the lower surface of the base portion 142. Each of the four projections 145 is integrally provided with the main body portion 140A and is made of an elastic material. Each of the four projections 145 has a cylindrical outer shape. In addition, each of the four projections 145 has a recess 145A in the center when viewed from above, which is cylindrically recessed downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from the upper surface of the base portion 142. The core material 144B of the spacer member 144 is inserted into the recess 145A from above (in the positive Z-axis direction). However, the tip of the projection 145 is closed and does not penetrate the recess 145A.

[0034] The spacer member 144 has a plate-like shape made of a hard resin, which is harder than the main body portion 140A (i.e., the elastic material). When viewed from above, the outer shape of the spacer member 144 is substantially the same as the outer shape of the base portion 142 of the main body portion 140A (i.e., substantially square). The spacer member 144 is placed on top of the base portion 142 of the main body portion 140A. In this way, the spacer member 144 can reinforce the base portion 142 of the main body portion 140A.

[0035] A circular opening 144A is formed in the center of the spacer member 144 when viewed from above. The operating portion 141 and the elastically deformable portion 141A of the main body 140A are positioned in the opening 144A. As a result, the spacer member 144 can reinforce the base portion 142 of the main body 140A without interfering with the operating portion 141 and the elastically deformable portion 141A of the main body 140A.

[0036] The spacer member 144 has four core materials 144B that protrude downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from the four corners on its lower surface. Each of the four core materials 144B is integrally provided with the spacer member 144, that is, it is made of a hard resin which is harder than the main body 140A (i.e., the elastic material). Each of the four core materials 144B has a cylindrical shape and is inserted into each of the recesses 145A of the four projections 145 of the main body 140A.

[0037] (Pressing configuration by projection 145 of rubber stem 140) Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the pressing configuration by projection 145 of rubber stem 140 in a switch device 100 according to one embodiment.

[0038] As shown in Figure 8, the rubber stem 140 has a spacer member 144 that is placed on top of the base portion 142 of the main body portion 140A. In this case, each of the four core materials 144B of the rubber stem 140 is inserted into the recess 145A of each of the four projections 145 of the main body portion 140A. As a result, each of the four projections 145 has a hard core material 144B inside, increasing its rigidity.

[0039] Furthermore, since the spacer member 144 has four core materials 144B each integrally provided in a predetermined position, by simply placing the spacer member 144 on top of the base portion 142 of the main body portion 140A, each of the four core materials 144B can be inserted together into the recesses 145A of the four protrusions 145.

[0040] As shown in Figure 8, the rubber stem 140 is fixed onto the housing 110 by the cover member 120, so that each of the four protrusions 145 can press against each of the four legs 132 of the metal inverted dome 130 from above, and press against each of the four peripheral fixing contacts 113A provided on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion 110B of the housing 110.

[0041] As a result, the switch device 100 according to one embodiment can stably maintain a state in which each of the four legs 132 of the metal inverted dome 130 is connected to each of the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A.

[0042] In particular, each of the four protrusions 145 has a rigid core material 144B inside, so its rigidity is increased. Therefore, when the metal reversing dome 130 performs a reversing operation, elastic deformation of the protrusion 145 can be suppressed. For this reason, each of the four protrusions 145 can firmly hold the leg portion 132 of the metal reversing dome 130, so that even when the metal reversing dome 130 performs a reversing operation, the leg portion 132 of the metal reversing dome 130 does not lift off from the peripheral fixed contact 113A. Therefore, according to the switch device 100 according to one embodiment, the contact sound between the leg portion 132 (movable contact member) of the metal reversing dome 130 and the peripheral fixed contact member 113 can be suppressed.

[0043] In addition, each of the four protrusions 145 is made of an elastic material for the skin portion including the tip portion that contacts the leg portion 132 of the metal reversing dome 130. Therefore, the skin portion can absorb the vibration and contact sound of the leg portion 132 of the metal reversing dome 130 when the metal reversing dome 130 performs a reversing operation.

[0044] (Modified Example of Rubber Stem 140) FIGS. 9 and 10 are exploded perspective views of a rubber stem 140-2 included in a switch device 100 according to a modified example of one embodiment. The rubber stem 140-2 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a modified example of the rubber stem 140.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the rubber stem 140-2, the main body portion 140A has four circular through-holes 146 that penetrate the four corners of the base portion 142 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0046] In addition, in the rubber stem 140-2, the spacer member 144 has four protrusions 144C that protrude downward (negative Z-axis direction) from the four corners of the lower surface. Each of the four protrusions 144C is integrally provided on the spacer member 144, that is, it is made of a hard resin, which is a material harder than the main body portion 140A (that is, the elastic material). Each of the four protrusions 144C has a columnar shape and is inserted into each of the four through-holes 146 of the main body portion 140A.

[0047] (Pressing Configuration by the Through-Hole 146 of the Rubber Stem 140) FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a pressing configuration by the protrusion 144C of the rubber stem 140-2 in the switch device 100 according to a modification of an embodiment.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 11, the rubber stem 140-2 is provided such that the spacer member 144 is overlapped on the upper side of the base 142 of the main body portion 140A. At this time, each of the four protrusions 144C of the rubber stem 140-2 is inserted into each of the four through-holes 146 of the main body portion 140A. As a result, each of the four protrusions 144C has a tip protruding downward from the lower surface of the base 142 of the main body portion 140A.

[0049] Further, since each of the four protrusions 144C is integrally provided at a predetermined position in the spacer member 144, by simply overlapping the spacer member 144 on the upper side of the base 142 of the main body portion 140A, each of the four protrusions 144C can be inserted into each of the four through-holes 146 collectively.

[0050] Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the rubber stem 140-2 is fixed on the housing 110 by the cover member 120, each of the four protrusions 144C can press each of the four legs 132 of the metal inverted dome 130 from above and press against each of the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A provided on the inner bottom surface of the housing portion 110B of the housing 110.

[0051] As a result, the switch device 100 according to a modification of an embodiment can stably maintain a state in which each of the four legs 132 of the metal inverted dome 130 is connected to each of the four peripheral fixed contacts 113A.

[0052] In particular, each of the four protrusions 144C is integrally provided on the spacer member 144 made of hard resin, and therefore has higher rigidity than the main body portion 140A of the rubber stem 140-2. As a result, the protrusions 144C do not elastically deform when the metal inversion dome 130 is inverted. Therefore, each of the four protrusions 144C prevents the legs 132 of the metal inversion dome 130 from lifting off the peripheral fixed contact 113A, even when the metal inversion dome 130 is inverted. Accordingly, according to the switch device 100 according to one modification of one embodiment, contact noise between the legs 132 of the metal inversion dome 130 (movable contact member) and the peripheral fixed contact member 113 can be suppressed.

[0053] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications or changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims.

[0054] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-180676, filed on 16 October 2024, and the entire contents of said application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0055] 100 Switch device 110 Housing 110A Top surface 110B Housing section 111 Claw section 112 Central fixed contact member 112A Central fixed contact 112B External connection terminal 113 Peripheral fixed contact member 113A Peripheral fixed contact 113B External connection terminal 120 Cover member 120A Opening 121 Hook 121A Opening 130 Metal inverting dome (movable contact member) 131 Dome section 131A Opening 132 Leg section 140, 140-2 Rubber stem 140A Main body section 141 Operating section 141A Elastic deformation section 141B Pressing section 142 Base section 144 Spacer member 144A Opening 144B Core material 144C Protrusion 145 Protrusion 145A Recess 146 Through hole

Claims

1. A switch device comprising: a housing having a housing section; a central fixed contact located in the center of the inner bottom surface of the housing section; a peripheral fixed contact located in the peripheral area of ​​the inner bottom surface of the housing section; a movable contact member provided above the central fixed contact and the peripheral fixed contact in the housing section; a rubber stem that presses against the movable contact member; a cover member that covers the rubber stem; and a projection provided that protrudes below the lower surface of the rubber stem, wherein the movable contact member has legs that extend outward and are in constant contact with the peripheral fixed contact; and the projection presses against the legs and is made of a material that is at least partially harder than the rubber stem.

2. The switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection is integrally provided with the rubber stem, and the projection has a core material made of a harder material than the rubber stem inside.

3. The switch device according to claim 2, characterized in that the core material is a columnar shape made of hard resin.

4. The switch device according to claim 3, further comprising a plate-shaped spacer member made of the hard resin, wherein the rubber stem has a plurality of protrusions, and the spacer member has a plurality of core materials that protrude downward from a plurality of positions corresponding to the plurality of protrusions.

5. The switch device according to claim 4, characterized in that the spacer member is provided on top of the rubber stem and is covered together with the rubber stem by the cover member.

6. The switch device according to claim 1, further comprising a plate-shaped spacer member made of hard resin, which is placed on top of the rubber stem and covered together with the rubber stem by the cover member, wherein the spacer member has a plurality of protrusions that protrude below the lower surface of the rubber stem by passing through the through hole of the rubber stem.

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