Push Button Structure Stabilizing Switch Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push button structures in electronic appliances, particularly those used in circuit boards, face challenges in reliable operation due to rotational movement and instability when pressed, making it difficult to activate switches effectively and maintain operability.
Innovation Solution
A push button structure with elastic support pieces arranged at opposite ends of the pressing piece, where the tip end is fixed to a circuit board, allowing the operating piece to be supported at two points, reducing the need for a single point of support and stabilizing the pressing action, thus enabling reliable switch activation with reduced force and improved sense of operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the push button is supported by only the bending pieces (cantilevered), then the sense of operation is light, but the push button rotates about the midpoint of the bending axis making it difficult to straightly press the switch
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented from a single cantilevered bending piece into multiple support points: the operating piece is supported at both the first edge (by bending pieces) and the second edge (by the operating piece support portion). This segmentation eliminates rotational movement while maintaining operational responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating piece support portion acts as an intermediary element that provides additional support at the second edge of the operating piece. This intermediary support prevents rotation about the bending axis midpoint while still allowing the push button to activate the switch reliably.
2Ease of operation
If the push button rotates about the midpoint of the bending axis, then the sense of operation is light, but it is difficult to reliably operate the switch provided in the circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is divided between multiple elements: bending pieces supporting the first edge and the operating piece support portion supporting the second edge. This segmentation ensures precise alignment with the switch while maintaining operational responsiveness.
3Reliability
If the operating piece is pushed, then the switch can be activated, but the operating piece may wobble and cause instability in switch operation
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic support pieces automatically adjust to provide stable support at the first edge while the operating piece support portion provides stable support at the second edge. This self-adjusting dual support system eliminates wobble and ensures stable switch operation without requiring additional stabilization mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The push button structure allows for reliable and stable activation of switches with reduced pushing force, enhancing the sense of operation and maintaining stability even with increased button size, while also reducing the number of parts required.
Implementation Method 1
the second edge of the operating piece is kept spaced apart from the operating piece support portion of the button frame by a resilient force of the elastic support piece
Implementation Method 2
the upper edge and the lower edge of the operating piece are moved upward by the resilient forces of the elastic support pieces
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A push button structure includes a push button 16 having an operating piece 16a, a pressing piece 16b and an elastic support piece 16c. The operating piece 16a has an operating surface 16g, and the pressing piece 16b and the elastic support piece 16c are provided at a first edge 16e of the operating piece 16a. The push button 16 is fitted in a button frame 19 provided in an electronic appliance. The push button 16 is configured such that, when the operating surface 16g is not pushed, a second edge 16f of the operating piece 16a which is opposite to the first edge 16e is kept spaced apart from an operating piece support portion 19a of the button frame 19 by a resilient force of the elastic support piece 16c and further that, when the operating surface 16g is pushed, the second edge 16f of the operating piece 16c is brought into contact with the operating piece support portion 19a of the button frame 19 against the resilient force of the elastic support piece 16c and then the pressing piece 16b is moved down about the second edge 16f as a fulcrum to activate a switch 12b provided in the electronic appliance.