Compact Silent Switch With Elastic Touch Piece
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional push button switches require separate springs for operation and return, leading to a large main body and hindered downsizing, making it difficult to achieve a compact silent-type switch.
Innovation Solution
A switch design featuring a push button with an elastic touch piece that abuts the base when pushed and the cover when returned, integrated into a compact assembly with a box-form base and frame-shaped cover, utilizing a return spring and light guide for silent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate springs are provided for operation and return, then the switch can achieve reliable operation and return functions, but the main body becomes large and downsizing is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the operation spring and return spring into a single integrated elastic member (push button assembly). The push button itself serves as the elastic member that provides both the operation function (when pressed) and the return function (when released), eliminating the need for separate spring components. This merging of functions into a single component directly reduces the main body volume while maintaining reliable operation and return capabilities.
2Volume of stationary object
If the switch is downsized, then the overall dimensions are reduced, but it becomes difficult to maintain silent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a cushioning member (damping element) positioned between the push button and the contact terminals. This cushioning member is integrated into the compact switch structure and serves to absorb impact noise when the push button is pressed or released. By incorporating this cushioning mechanism within the downsized structure, the patent maintains silent operation while achieving compact dimensions, as the cushioning material absorbs the impact energy that would otherwise generate noise.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for spring mechanisms, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple spring components into a single integrated push button assembly. The push button itself is designed as an elastic member that inherently provides both the operation spring function (resisting compression during pressing) and the return spring function (providing restoring force after pressing). This integration reduces the number of separate components from two or more springs to a single elastic member, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining optimized spring functions through careful design of the push button's material properties and geometric shape.
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 achieves a compact and silent switch operation by absorbing impact noise through the elastic touch piece's dual abutment points, reducing the overall size and noise generation during operation and return.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic touch piece formed in a sidewall of a sliding part of the push button, wherein the push button is vertically and slidably installed in a space formed by assembling the cover to the base, wherein a free end of the elastic touch piece is configured to abut the base when the push button is pushed, and the free end is configured to abut the cover when the pushed push button is returned
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A switch comprising: a cover (80); a base (20); and a push button (70) comprising: an elastic touch piece (73) formed in a sidewall of a sliding part of the push button (70), wherein the push button (70) is vertically and slidably installed in a space formed by assembling the cover (80) to the base (20), wherein a free end of the elastic touch piece (73) is configured to abut the base (20) when the push button (70) is pushed, and the free end is configured to abut the cover (80) when the pushed push button (70) is returned.