Stacked Push Switch Contact Structure to Prevent Cover Sheet Damage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In existing push switches with stacked metal contacts, the rotation stoppers of the uppermost metal contact can jump up and damage the cover sheet when the contacts are inverted by pressing.
Innovation Solution
The push switch design includes a housing with a first accommodating portion for the movable contact member, which is formed of stacked metal plates. The lowermost metal plate has rotation stoppers that project outward and contact an inner wall of the housing to prevent rotation, while the uppermost metal plate lacks rotation stoppers to prevent damage to the cover member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rotation stoppers are provided on all metal contacts including the uppermost one, then rotation of all metal contacts can be suppressed, but the rotation stoppers will jump up and damage the cover sheet when the contacts are inverted by pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing rotation stoppers only on specific metal contacts (lowermost and intermediate contacts) while deliberately omitting them from the uppermost metal contact. This localized differentiation allows each contact to have appropriate rotation control based on its position and function, preventing cover sheet damage while maintaining necessary rotation suppression where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the rotation control function by dividing the metal contacts into different groups: the lowermost contact with rotation stoppers for stable rotation suppression, intermediate contacts with rotation stoppers for controlled rotation, and the uppermost contact without rotation stoppers to allow inversion without damaging the cover sheet. This segmentation enables differentiated rotation control strategies for different parts of the contact assembly.
2Reliability
If rotation stoppers are provided on the lowermost metal plate, then rotation of the lowermost metal plate is suppressed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotation stopper function with the housing structure by integrating the rotation stoppers into the lowermost metal plate itself rather than adding separate external components. The stoppers are formed as integral parts of the metal plate, combining the contact function and rotation control function into a single unified structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining rotation stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A push switch includes: a housing including a first accommodating portion; a central fixed contact provided at a bottom of the first accommodating portion; a movable contact member arranged in the first accommodating portion and configured to contact the central fixed contact with a center portion of the movable contact member by inverting of the movable contact member upon receiving a pressing force from above; and a cover member configured to cover an upper portion of the first accommodating portion.