Switch device
The switch device addresses the issue of foreign matter intrusion by using a swingable operation part with a panel and suppression part, ensuring reliable operation by minimizing debris entry and preventing malfunctions.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYO DENSO CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
Smart Images
Figure JP2025045615_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Switch device
[0008]
[0001] The present invention relates to a switch device.
[0002] An automobile is provided with a switch device for raising and lowering a side window glass. As such a switch device, for example, the device (power window switch) described in Patent Document 1 is known. The device described in Patent Document 1 includes a push-pull type operation knob, a switch case that rotatably supports the operation knob, and a switch cover (panel) that covers a part of the operation knob from above.
[0003] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-92737
[0004] However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, a gap is formed between the operation knob and the switch cover. When the size of the gap changes over time, for example, foreign matters such as sand or food scraps may enter through the gap, inhibiting the rotation of the operation knob, that is, there is a possibility of malfunction of the operation knob.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a switch device capable of suppressing the intrusion of foreign matters (such as sand or food scraps) into the inside of the switch device.
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the switch device of the present invention includes an operation part supported so as to be swingable, and a panel arranged so that at least a part thereof faces the operation part, the panel exposing a part of the operation part so that the operation on the operation part is possible, and a suppression part that suppresses the intrusion of foreign matters between the operation part and the panel from a part side of the operation part exposed from the panel.
[0007] According to the present invention, the intrusion of foreign matters (such as sand or food scraps) into the inside of the switch device can be suppressed.
[0008] This is a perspective view of the switch device according to the first embodiment. This is an exploded perspective view of the switch device shown in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view (vertical cross-sectional view) taken along line A-A in Figure 1. This is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the operating part and the panel of the switch device according to the second embodiment, with the operating part in its original position. This is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the operating part and the panel of the switch device according to the second embodiment, with the operating part rotated.
[0009] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the configurations described in the following embodiments are merely illustrative, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in each embodiment. For example, each part constituting the present invention can be replaced with any configuration that can perform a similar function. In addition, any configuration may be added. Furthermore, any two or more configurations (features) from each embodiment can be combined.
[0010] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switch device according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch device shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view (vertical cross-section) taken along line A-A in Figure 1. For the sake of explanation, in the following, one of the horizontal directions will be referred to as the "X-axis direction," the direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction will be referred to as the "Y-axis direction," and the vertical direction will be referred to as the "Z-axis direction." The side of the arrow in each axis direction will be referred to as the "positive side," and the side opposite the positive side will be referred to as the "negative side." The positive side in the Z-axis direction may be referred to as "up (or upward)," and the negative side in the Z-axis direction may be referred to as "down (or downward)."
[0011] The switch device 1 shown in Figure 1 is a power window switch that can be installed, for example, on the driver's side of a car and can operate the opening and closing of the car's windows. The switch device 1 comprises operating units 2A to 2D, a panel 3 (shown as dashed lines in Figure 1), a support base 4, and a circuit base unit 5. Operating units 2A to 2D are arranged on the XY plane. Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, operating unit 2B is located on the negative Y-axis side relative to operating unit 2A. Operating unit 2C is located on the positive X-axis side relative to operating unit 2A. Operating unit 2D is located on the negative Y-axis side relative to operating unit 2C. If the switch device 1 is installed in a right-hand drive car, operating unit 2A is operated when opening and closing the driver's side window. Operating unit 2B is operated when opening and closing the passenger side window. Operating unit 2C is operated when opening and closing the window of the seat behind the driver. The control unit 2D is operated when opening and closing the window glass of the passenger seat behind the passenger seat. Note that the applicable devices for the switch device 1 are not limited to power window switches; for example, any device that allows at least control units 2A to 2D to swing freely is acceptable. Also, while the number of control units arranged in the switch device 1 is four in this embodiment, it is not limited to this; at least one is sufficient. Since control units 2A to 2D have the same configuration except for their location, control unit 2B will be described as a representative example.
[0012] The operating unit 2B is supported on the support base 4 so as to be able to swing. In this embodiment, the swinging operation is a rotational operation as shown in Figure 3, but it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be a rotational operation accompanied by movement in the X-axis direction or a rotational operation accompanied by movement in the Z-axis direction. The operating unit 2B has two side wall portions 21 arranged opposite each other in the Y-axis direction, a connecting portion (linking portion) 22 connecting the two side wall portions 21 to each other, and a finger rest portion 23 provided on the upper side of the connecting portion 22. Each side wall portion 21 is a flat plate shape parallel to the XZ plane.
[0013] As shown in Figure 3, the connecting portion 22 connects the two side wall portions 21, excluding the lower parts. A finger rest portion 23 is provided protruding from the negative X-axis portion of the connecting portion 22. A finger rest portion 23 can be used to rest a finger during rotation. The ON state and OFF state of the switch device 1 are switched in accordance with the rotation operation of the operating portion 2B. In this embodiment, by rotating the operating portion 2B in the direction of arrow α (see Figure 3) with a finger rested on the finger rest portion 23, the switch device 1 becomes ON (first ON state). This opens the window glass. By releasing the finger from the finger rest portion 23, the operating portion 2B returns to its original position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 56, which will be described later, and the switch device 1 becomes OFF. Furthermore, by rotating the operating part 2B in the direction of arrow β (see Figure 3) while a finger is placed on the finger rest 23, the switch device 1 is turned ON (second ON state). This closes the window glass. Then, by releasing the finger from the finger rest 23, the operating part 2B returns to its original position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 56, as described above, and the switch device 1 is turned OFF.
[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the support base 4 includes a base body 41 that covers the circuit base unit 5 from above, a support portion 42A that rotatably supports the operating portion 2A, a support portion 42B that rotatably supports the operating portion 2B, a support portion 42C that rotatably supports the operating portion 2C, and a support portion 42D that rotatably supports the operating portion 2D. The base body 41 is box-shaped with an open bottom. The circuit base unit 5 is housed inside the base body 41. The support portions 42A to 42D have the same configuration except for their different positions on the upper part of the base body 41, so the support portion 42B will be described as representative. The support portion 42B is provided on the upper part of the base body 41. The support portion 42B has a shaft portion 421 that rotatably supports the operating portion 2B around an axis (rotation axis) O421 parallel to the Y-axis. This allows the operating unit 2B to be rotated in the direction of arrow α and arrow β (see Figure 3). The support base 4 is also provided with a coil spring 56 that biases the operating unit 2B, a support member 57 that supports the coil spring 56 from below, and a light guide member 58 that functions as a light guide path.
[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the circuit base unit 5 comprises a circuit base 51 with an electrical circuit (not shown) built in, and a cover member 52 that covers the circuit base 51 (electrical circuit) from above. The electrical circuit is connected to a control device (not shown) of an automobile in a communicative manner and is a switching circuit that switches between the ON state and the OFF state of the switch device 1. The cover member 52 is made of various rubber materials such as silicone rubber, and has a contact member (not shown) integrally provided on it that opens and closes the electrical circuit formed in the circuit base unit 5.
[0016] Furthermore, the circuit base unit 5 includes a functional unit 53A arranged in correspondence with the operating unit 2A, a functional unit 53B arranged in correspondence with the operating unit 2B, a functional unit 53C arranged in correspondence with the operating unit 2C, and a functional unit 53D arranged in correspondence with the operating unit 2D. Since the functional units 53A to 53D have the same configuration except for their different arrangements on the upper part of the circuit base 51, the functional unit 53B will be described as representative. The functional unit 53B has a first rod 54 that transmits the pressing force from the operating unit 2B to the cover member 52, and a second rod 55 that transmits the pressing force from the operating unit 2B to the cover member 52.
[0017] The first rod 54 is a rod-shaped member provided along the Z-axis direction. When the operating part 2B is rotated in the direction of arrow α against the biasing force of the coil spring 56, the first rod 54 receives a pressing force from the operating part 2B and moves downward (negative side in the Z-axis direction), that is, it transmits the pressing force from the operating part 2B to the cover member 52. Then, a first contact member (not shown) provided on the cover member 52 comes into contact with the electrical circuit. As a result, the switch device 1 becomes ON (first ON state), and therefore the window glass becomes open. Note that in the configuration shown in Figure 2, two first rods 54 are arranged along the Y-axis direction, but the configuration is not limited to this.
[0018] The second rod 55 is a rod-shaped member provided along the Z-axis direction. When the operating part 2B is rotated in the direction of arrow β against the biasing force of the coil spring 56, the second rod 55 receives a pressing force from the operating part 2B and moves downward, that is, it transmits the pressing force from the operating part 2B to the cover member 52. Then, a second contact member (not shown) provided on the cover member 52 comes into contact with the electrical circuit. As a result, the switch device 1 becomes ON (second ON state), and therefore the window glass becomes closed. Note that in the configuration shown in Figure 2, two second rods 55 are arranged along the Y-axis direction, but the configuration is not limited to this.
[0019] The coil spring 56 is positioned above the support member 57. The coil spring 56 and the support member 57 are positioned between the operating unit 2B and the support base 4. The coil spring 56 is compressed in the Z-axis direction and is formed on the base body 41 of the support base 4. The inclined surface against which the lower part of the support member 57 abuts biases the operating unit 2 to return to its original position after rotation. When the operating unit 2B returns to its original position, the pressing force from the operating unit 2B is released from the first rod 54, allowing it to move upward. This turns the switch device 1 OFF.
[0020] The light guide member 58 transmits light from a light source (not shown) to the operating unit 2B. This allows a predetermined part of the operating unit 2B (for example, the finger rest 23) to emit light, improving the visibility of the operating unit 2B, for example, at night. The light source is provided on the electrical circuit of the circuit base unit 5.
[0021] As shown in Figure 1, a panel 3 is positioned above the operating sections 2A to 2D. The panel 3 is plate-shaped and is positioned so that at least a portion of the connecting portion 22 faces the operating sections 2A to 2D. The panel 3 also has an opening 31 that exposes (partially) the finger rests 23 of operating sections 2A and 2B, and an opening 32 that exposes (partially) the finger rests 23 of operating sections 2C and 2D. This allows for operation of the operating sections 2A to 2D.
[0022] As shown in Figure 3, in the switch device 1, a gap 10 is formed between the connecting portion 22 of the operating section 2B and the back surface (bottom surface) 33 of the panel 3 (the same applies to operating sections 2A, 2C, and 2D). For example, if the size of the gap 10 changes over time, foreign matter such as sand or food debris may enter through the gap 10 and obstruct the rotation of the operating section 2B. However, the switch device 1 is configured to suppress the occurrence of such a phenomenon. The configuration and operation will be explained below.
[0023] As shown in Figure 3, a restraining portion 6 is provided on the connecting portion 22 of the operating portion 2B at a different position from the finger rest portion 23. The restraining portion 6 is a part that prevents foreign matter from entering the gap 10 from the finger rest portion 23 side of the operating portion 2B that is exposed from the opening 31 of the panel 3. In this embodiment, the restraining portion 6 is composed of a protrusion 24 provided on the portion of the connecting portion 22 of the operating portion 2B that is covered by the panel 3. The protrusion 24 projects toward the back surface 33 of the panel 3, that is, toward a direction perpendicular to the axis O421, which is the rotation axis of the operating portion 2B (positive side in the Z-axis direction). In particular, in this embodiment, the protrusion 24 has a curved convex surface 241 that is curved in an arc shape around the axis O421. The radius of curvature R of the curved convex surface 241 is preferably 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 5 mm or more and 7 mm or less.
[0024] On the other hand, a recess 34 is provided on the back surface 33 of panel 3 in the portion facing the convex portion 24. The recess 34 has a curved concave surface 341 that curves in an arc shape around the axis O421. The curved convex surface 241 of the convex portion 24 and the curved concave surface 341 of the recess 34 face each other in a non-contact state with a gap 10 in between. In this case, the distance L between the curved convex surface 241 and the curved concave surface 341, that is, the size of the gap 10, is preferably, for example, 0.4 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less, and more preferably 0.4 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less.
[0025] The synergistic effect of the convex portion 24 and the concave portion 34 effectively prevents foreign matter from entering the gap 10 from the finger rest portion 23 side of the operating portion 2B, that is, prevents foreign matter from entering the interior of the switch device 1. In particular, in the switch device 1, even if foreign matter begins to enter the gap 10, it must then overcome the convex portion 24 (curved convex surface 241) (hereinafter referred to as "action 1") and pass through the extremely narrow gap 10 between the convex portion 24 and the concave portion 34 (hereinafter referred to as "action 2"). The synergistic effect of action 1 and action 2 makes it possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter from entering the interior of the switch device 1. This makes it possible to suppress malfunctions of the operating portion 2B due to the intrusion of foreign matter.
[0026] The convex portion 24 and the concave portion 34 may face each other in contact to the extent that the operating portion 2B can rotate. Furthermore, the direction of protrusion of the convex portion 24 is not limited to the positive Z-axis direction (opposite to the direction of gravity), but may be, for example, in the upper left direction in Figure 3, or in the upper right direction in Figure 3. Also, the panel 3 may omit the concave portion 34. In this case, the curved convex surface 241 of the convex portion 24 and the back surface 33 of the panel 3 may be in contact or not in contact.
[0027] <Second Embodiment> The second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 4A and 4B, focusing on the differences from the previously described embodiment, and similar matters will be omitted from the description. Figure 4A is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the operating part and the panel of the switch device according to the second embodiment, and is a vertical cross-sectional view when the operating part is in its original position. Figure 4B is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the operating part and the panel of the switch device according to the second embodiment, and is a vertical cross-sectional view when the operating part has been rotated. As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, in this embodiment, the suppression part 6 is provided on the back surface 33 of the panel 3. The suppression part 6 protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the axis O421 (negative side in the Z-axis direction) and is composed of a convex part 35 facing the connecting part 22 of the operating part 2B. The convex part 35 also has a rounded surface 351 at its top. The surface 351 is in a non-contact state with the connecting part 22 of the operating part 2B. This suppression unit 6 can sufficiently prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the switch device 1.
[0028] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist.
[0029] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-007165, filed on 17 January 2025, and all of its contents are incorporated herein by reference.
[0030] 1 Switch device 2A-2D Operating section 23 Finger rest 24 Protrusion 3 Panel 34 Recess 35 Protrusion 6 Restriction section
Claims
1. A switch device comprising: an operating section supported so as to be swingable; a panel positioned so as to face the operating section in at least a portion thereof, the panel exposing a portion of the operating section so as to be operable; and a suppression section that prevents foreign matter from entering between the operating section and the panel from the side of the operating section exposed from the panel.
2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the suppression unit is provided on the operating unit.
3. The switch device according to claim 2, wherein the suppression portion is composed of a protrusion provided on the portion of the operating portion covered by the panel, projecting toward the opposing surface of the panel.
4. The switch device according to claim 3, wherein the operating part is a member that is rotated as the swinging operation, and the protrusion protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the operating part.
5. The switch device according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion has a curved convex surface that curves in an arc shape around the pivot axis.
6. The switch device according to claim 3, wherein the panel is provided on a surface facing the operating section and has a recess that faces the convex portion in a non-contact state or in a contact state.
7. The switch device according to claim 6, wherein the operating part is a member that is rotated as the swinging operation, and the recess has a curved concave surface that curves in an arc shape around the rotation axis of the operating part.
8. The switch device according to claim 6, wherein the convex portion and the concave portion face each other in the non-contact state, and the distance between the convex portion and the concave portion is 0.4 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less.
9. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the operating portion is provided protruding from a position different from the restraining portion of the operating portion and has a finger rest portion on which a finger can be placed when the swinging operation is performed.
10. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the suppression unit is provided on the panel.
11. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the switch device is configured to switch between an ON state and an OFF state in accordance with the swinging operation of the operating part.