Sealed Push Switch Cap Structure for Waterproof Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional push switches with dome-shaped movable contacts face issues with waterproofness when subjected to impact, high load, or high pressure, leading to positional shifts, deformations, and loosening of engagement, which compromise their waterproof and resistance characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A push switch design featuring a case with a sealing groove and a cap with a sealing protrusion that compressively deforms within the groove, combined with a frame that reinforces the case from both sides, ensuring liquid-tight sealing and enhanced impact, load, and pressure resistance without additional parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is held between the case and cover using conventional engagement structures, then the push switch can be assembled, but gaps may form between the cap and case under impact, load, or pressure, compromising waterproofness
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing protrusion is formed from the elastic base portion of the cap, utilizing elastic deformation to maintain continuous contact and sealing between the cap and case under various mechanical stresses, preventing gap formation while maintaining positional stability
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing protrusion changes its physical state through elastic deformation, allowing it to compress under load and return to original shape, maintaining sealing pressure and preventing gaps that would compromise waterproofness
2Reliability
If additional sealing parts are added to prevent gaps and improve waterproofness, then sealing reliability improves, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the cap structure itself through the sealing protrusion formed from the elastic base portion, eliminating the need for separate sealing components while maintaining waterproofness
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic base portion of the cap serves dual functions: structural support and sealing, with the sealing protrusion automatically deforming to maintain contact and prevent gaps without requiring additional sealing mechanisms
3Strength
If the case structure is reinforced to improve impact and pressure resistance, then structural strength improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic base portion with sealing protrusion provides flexible reinforcement that absorbs impact and pressure forces, protecting the case structure without requiring additional rigid reinforcement components
Solution Approach 2:
The cap combines rigid and elastic materials, with the elastic base portion providing both sealing and structural reinforcement functions, improving impact resistance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
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 design maintains waterproofness and improves impact resistance, load resistance, and pressure resistance by preventing gaps between the cap and case, even under strong impacts or high pressures, while reducing the number of parts and reinforcing the case structure.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing protrusion of the cap is compressively deformed in the sealing groove of the case in a state that the cap is held on the case by the cover
Implementation Method 2
a sealing protrusion protruding from a peripheral edge portion of the base portion toward a lower side for liquid-tightly sealing the sealing groove of the case
Implementation Method 3
a push switch which operates with a click feeling by a pressing operation... utilizing a dome-shaped movable contact
Data Source
AI summary
A push switch contains a case including a containing portion and a sealing groove; a pair of contacts disposed in the containing portion so as to be spaced apart from each other; a movable contact which is disposed above the pair of contacts in the containing portion; a cap including a base portion disposed on the case and a sealing protrusion protruding from a peripheral edge portion of the base portion toward a lower side for liquid-tightly sealing the sealing groove of the case; and a cover attached to the case from an upper side so as to hold the cap on the case. The sealing protrusion of the cap is compressively deformed in the sealing groove of the case, and thereby the sealing groove of the case is liquid-tightly sealed.