JP5021422B2 - Waterproof structure of switch device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for a switch device that is mounted in an opening of a back door panel of a vehicle, for example.

  For example, a handle for opening and closing is provided on the back door of the vehicle. A door lock device having a latch is connected to the handle, and the door lock device is configured to be automatically opened and closed by an actuator. Some automatic opening and closing by this actuator is made possible by operating a switch device disposed in the vicinity of the handle.

  The switch device is disposed inside the back door panel, and is configured to be operable by exposing the operation portion of the operation member to the outside from the back door panel. Since the vehicle gets wet due to rain or the like, it is necessary to use a waterproof switch device provided with a waterproof cover that prevents intrusion of water droplets from a portion where the operation portion of the operation member is exposed.

  Prior art document information relating to such a switch device includes the following.

JP-A-2005-310706

  In the switch device of Patent Document 1, the operation knob protrudes from an open portion opened in the switch case so that it can be pushed, and the operation knob is covered with an elastic cover. Further, the outer peripheral portion of the elastic cover is sandwiched between the joint portions of the first case and the second case of the switch case to constitute a seal portion that performs a waterproof function.

  In this switch device, since the first case having the electrical contacts is joined so as to cover the second case in which the switch operating portion is disposed, the joint portion of both cases is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the switch device. There is a problem that water tends to accumulate at the joint. In addition, the flange is provided so as to cover the joint, but the joint cannot be completely covered.If there is a gap in the seal due to assembly errors or aging of the seal, it accumulates. There was a concern that water would enter from a slight gap in the seal portion.

  Further, since the seal portion is only provided at the joint portion, if water enters from the seal portion, it is not possible to prevent water entry into the contact portion in the case.

  In order to solve the above problems, by applying an adhesive or the like to the joint portion where the seal portion is formed to fill the gap between the joint portions, the waterproofness is improved and water intrusion is surely prevented. It is generally done. However, when such an adhesive is applied, there is a problem that the production process of the switch device becomes complicated and the productivity is lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof structure for a switch device that has a simple configuration and has a structure in which water does not easily accumulate on the outer peripheral surface of the switch device and can reliably prevent water from entering the contact portion. To do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a switch device according to the present invention is provided in a back door panel of a vehicle, and is attached so as to expose a switch mounting hole opened downward and an operation member from the switch mounting hole. In the waterproof structure of the switch device that can be operated from below, the operation member is movably accommodated, an elastic cover that covers the operation portion of the operation member is provided on one side, and is opposed to the one side on which the elastic cover is provided A switch case having an opening on the other surface side, a projecting portion that has a movable contact inside and operates in response to an operation of the operation member, and is provided to project from the bottom surface so as to surround the movable contact. and the rubber contacts having the engaging rib is formed so as to surround the fixed contact and said fixed contact for switching the movable contacts of said rubber contact, the Rabakonta Engaging ribs can be engaged with grooves and the accommodation recess provided in the bottom surface of the bets, a base member mounting arm portion is provided which can be attached to the back door panel, said operating member of said rubber contact The operation member is disposed between the switch case and the convex portion of the rubber contact so as to be brought into pressure contact with the convex portion and to close the engagement rib of the rubber contact and the concave groove of the base member. The switch case is assembled in the housing recess of the base member from the other open side facing the one surface side where the operation portion of the operation member is disposed, and the outer peripheral surface of the switch case is covered by the base member The configuration is as follows.

  According to this structure, since the joint part of both cases is not formed in the upper surface side which the switch apparatus arrange | positioned by the back door panel so that it can operate from the bottom is wet, water drops collect on the outer peripheral surface of a switch apparatus. Therefore, water intrusion into the switch device can be prevented with a simple configuration.

Further, according to this configuration, water intrusion into the fixed contact portion can be prevented at two locations in the switch device, and the direction opposite to the mounting direction of the switch device that allows the operation member to protrude from below is operable. The engagement rib protruding to the surface can serve as a protective wall for preventing water from entering the contact portion.

Further, according to this configuration, since the concave groove is formed around the fixed contact, the bottom surface of the receiving recess of the base member and the fixed contact are not flush with each other, and from the inner peripheral side surface of the receiving recess to the fixed contact. Since the creepage distance can be increased, water intrusion into the fixed contact portion can be reliably prevented.

Further, with respect to the configuration described above , an air chamber having a concave space is provided on the bottom surface portion of the rubber contact adjacent to the engagement rib, and the engagement rib of the rubber contact is formed in the concave groove of the base member. It is preferable to provide a communication groove on the bottom surface of the housing recess of the base member that allows the air in the convex portion of the rubber contact to move into the air chamber even in a closely engaged state.

  In the waterproof structure of the switch device of the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent water from entering the switch device that can be operated from the lower side disposed on the back door panel.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 6 show a switch device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the switch device 10 is formed on the license plate side (lower side in FIG. 1) with an operation knob 32 for operating a lock device (not shown) disposed on the back door panel 1 of the vehicle by an actuator. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch case 11, the terminal base 20 (base member), the operation member 30, and the rubber contact 40 are generally provided.

  The switch case 11 is disposed inside the opening 2 (switch mounting hole) of the back door panel 1 which is a mounted member, and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped cylinder shape as shown in FIGS. It is. A flange portion 12 is provided on the vehicle outer side (lower side in FIG. 2) of the switch case 11. A waterproof cover 13 (elastic cover) formed of an elastic resin such as an elastomer is integrally provided on the front surface portion of the flange portion 12 on the vehicle outer side by insert molding. The waterproof cover 13 is provided so as to cover the front side of the flange portion 12. The waterproof cover 13 is provided with an operation cover portion 14 projecting so that the operation portion 31 of the operation member 30 abuts from the inner side at the center, and the inner surface side of the back door panel 1 is provided around the operation cover portion 14. A pressure-contact rib 15 is provided in pressure contact with the surface. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, four engagement holes 16 (only two on one side are shown in FIG. 2) are provided on both side surfaces of the switch case 11 when viewed from the flange portion 12. .

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the terminal base 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The terminal base 20 is accommodated in such a manner that the outside of the vehicle (lower side in FIG. 3) on which the switch case 11 can be accommodated is opened. A recess 21 is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of fixed contacts 22, 22 constituting a part of the contact mechanism is provided on the bottom surface of the housing recess 21. The fixed contacts 22 and 22 are formed by exposing a part of a terminal terminal (not shown) that is insert-molded to the terminal base 20 to the outside. The terminal terminal is led out from the bottom surface of the terminal base 20. The lead wire 23 connected by soldering, ultrasonic welding, or the like can be electrically connected to the outside. And the attachment arm part 24 for fixing the switch apparatus 10 to the door panel 1 is provided in the longitudinal side both sides | surfaces of the terminal base 20. As shown in FIG. Further, on both side surfaces of the terminal base 20 in the short direction, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, there are four engagement claws 25 (in FIG. 2, on one side) which can be engaged with the engagement holes 16 of the switch case. Only two are shown).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a substantially circular concave groove 26 is formed on the bottom surface of the receiving concave portion 21 of the terminal base 20 so as to surround the outer periphery of the fixed contacts 22, 22. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a communication groove 27 having a bottom surface formed on the vehicle inner side (upper side in FIG. 3) than the bottom surface of the groove 26 so as to intersect with the groove 26. Two recessed grooves 26 are provided so as to sandwich the fixed contacts 22, 22 in the longitudinal direction of the housing recess 21. The communication groove 27 extends from the inner side of the concave groove 26 where the fixed contacts 22, 22 are provided to the outer side of the concave groove 26 in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating concave portion 21. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the communication groove 27 is not formed in the short direction of the housing recess 21 where the creepage distance (a2) from the inner peripheral side surface of the housing recess 21 of the terminal base 20 to the fixed contacts 22 and 22 is short. Further, a communication groove 27 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the housing recess 21 having a long creepage distance (a1) from the inner peripheral side surface of the housing recess 21 of the terminal base 20 to the fixed contacts 22, 22, thereby entering the switch device 10. Even in this case, the fixed contacts 22 and 22 are structured so that water does not easily reach.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation member 30 is disposed in the switch case 11 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and an operation portion 31 that is processed into an arc shape moves the operation knob 15 together with the operation cover portion 14 of the waterproof cover 13. The control knob 15 is configured so as to protrude from the opening 2 of the back door panel 1 to the outside of the vehicle. Specifically, the operation member 30 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that can be accommodated on the inner surface side of the switch case 11, and the operation portion 31 at the tip thereof has an arc shape. In addition, an uneven guide mechanism (not shown) that guides the operation member 30 linearly in the switch case 11 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the switch case 11 is provided on the side surface of the operation member 30 and the both side surfaces on the inner peripheral side of the switch case 11. It has been. An operation portion 33 that abuts a convex portion 41 of a rubber contact 40 described later is provided at a substantially central portion of the operation member 30 on the vehicle inner side (upper side in FIG. 3). On both sides, relief recesses 34 and 34 are provided to face an air chamber 47 of a rubber contact 40 described later.

  The contact mechanism is actuated by the actuating portion 33 of the operation member 30 by the movement of the operation member 30, and includes fixed contacts 22 and 22 disposed on the bottom surface of the receiving recess 21 of the terminal base 20, and a rubber described later. The movable contact 43 is provided on the convex portion 41 of the contact 40.

  The rubber contact 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular sheet shape by an elastic resin such as silicon rubber. As shown in FIG. 6, a dome-shaped convex portion 41 is formed at the center portion, and a metal base that short-circuits the pair of fixed contacts 22, 22 is formed at the bottom of the base portion 42 inside. A movable contact 43 is provided.

  On the outer periphery of the bottom surface portion of the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40, an engagement rib 44 is provided that protrudes toward the inside of the vehicle (upper side in FIG. 3). This is because the engaging rib 44 fits into the concave groove 26 provided on the bottom surface of the terminal base 20 so that the engaging rib 44 covers the fixed contacts 22, 22 together with the convex portion 41. This is for preventing water droplets that have entered the inside 11 from adhering to the fixed contacts 22, 22. As shown in FIG. 3, a lip portion 45 sandwiched between the outer end portion 17 of the switch case 11 and the bottom surface of the terminal base 20 in the assembled state of the switch device 10 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the rubber contact 40. The lip portion 45 constitutes a waterproof structure of the joint portion between the terminal base 20 and the switch case 11.

  Positioning ribs 46 are provided on the vehicle outer surface side (the lower side in FIG. 3) that engages with the switch case 11 facing the lip portion 45. As shown in FIG. Is vertically installed so as to engage with both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction. The positioning rib 46 is securely held at a predetermined position of the rubber contact 40 even when the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40 is operated, so that the engagement rib 44 and the concave groove 26 are not disengaged. Is. Further, dome-shaped air chambers 47 are formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the convex portion 41, and one end side of the communication groove 27 formed on the bottom surface of the housing concave portion 21 of the terminal base 20 is the convex portion 41. The other end side is located in the air chamber 47 and the inside of the convex portion 41 and the inside of the air chamber 47 form one space through the communication groove 27. As a result, even when the convex portion 41 is compressed by the operating portion 33 of the operation member 30, the air in the convex portion 41 can move to the air chamber 47 through the communication groove 27. It is possible to prevent the engagement rib 41 and the groove 26 from being disengaged due to the pressure.

  Next, the assembly work of the switch device 10 will be described.

  First, a terminal (not shown) and a conductive wire 23 connected to the terminal are integrally formed on the terminal base 20 by insert molding. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. Thus, by providing the lead portion of the lead wire 23 so as to be positioned in the lateral direction of the terminal base 20, it is possible to prevent water from collecting in the lead portion of the lead wire 23.

  Then, the engagement rib 44 of the rubber contact 40 is engaged with the groove 26 formed in the receiving recess 21 of the terminal base 20, and the rubber contact 40 is positioned and disposed in the receiving recess 21 of the terminal base 20. .

  Next, in a state where the operation member 30 is accommodated in the switch case 11 in which the waterproof cover 13 is integrally molded on the front side, the switch case 11 is inserted into the accommodating recess 21 of the terminal base 20 from the opening side, The switch case 11 and the terminal base 20 are assembled together by engaging the engagement claws 25 formed on the side surface of the terminal base 20 with the engagement holes 16 formed on the side surface of the switch case 11. At this time, the lip portion 45 of the rubber contact 40 is sandwiched between the outer end portion 17 of the switch case 11 and the bottom surface of the terminal base 20 so as to be compressed.

  Further, the operation member 30 is held between the switch case 11 and the rubber contact 40 in a state where the operation portion 33 of the operation member 30 is in pressure contact with the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40. Therefore, the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40 is held in the switch device 10 in a state of being slightly compressed toward the bottom surface side (upper side in FIG. 4) of the receiving concave portion 21 of the terminal base 20 as shown in FIG. 4. The engagement rib 44 of the rubber contact 40 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the concave groove 26 formed in the receiving concave portion 21 of the terminal base 20. As a result, water intrusion into the fixed contacts 22, 22 is prevented by the engagement rib 44 of the rubber contact 40 and the concave groove 26 formed in the accommodation concave portion 21 of the terminal base 20.

  In addition, a communication groove 27 is formed in the concave groove 26 formed in the receiving concave portion 21 of the terminal base 20 so that the air in the convex portion 41 can move to the air chamber 47, but as described above. Since the creeping distance (a2) from the inner peripheral surface of the housing recess 21 of the terminal base 20 is long in the longitudinal direction of the housing recess 21, the possibility of water intrusion from the communication groove 27 is extremely low. Yes.

  When the operation knob 15 is operated, the operation portion 33 of the operation member 30 further compresses the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40, and the movable contact 43 and the terminal base 20 in the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40 are compressed. The fixed contacts 22 and 22 in the housing recess 21 come into contact and switch. Then, when the operation of the operation knob 15 is stopped, the movable contact 43 in the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40 becomes the fixed contact 22 in the accommodating concave portion 21 of the terminal base 20 by the biasing force of the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40. , 22, and the operation member 30 returns to the state shown in FIG. 3.

  An operation for attaching the switch device 10 assembled in this way to the back door panel 1 will be described.

  The opening 2 of the back door panel 1 is formed slightly larger than the outer shape of the operation knob 15 of the switch device 10 so that the switch device 10 can be easily mounted. Ten attachment arm portions 24 are brought into contact with the attachment portion 3 in the back door panel 1. Then, by fixing the mounting arm portion 24 of the terminal base 20 from the inside of the vehicle to the mounting portion 3 in the back door panel 1 with a screw or the like, the press-contact rib 15 of the waterproof cover 13 is pressed against the inner surface of the opening 2 of the door panel 1. In this state, the switch device 10 is mounted in the back door panel 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the switch device 10 attached to the back door panel 1 is attached to the operation knob 15 toward the lower side of the vehicle on which a license plate (not shown) is installed. Therefore, water intrusion from the opening 2 of the back door panel 1 is prevented by the pressure contact rib 15 of the waterproof cover 13, but water droplets that have entered the back door panel 1 adhere to the switch device 10 from the terminal base 20 side. However, in the switch device 10 of the present invention, since the joint portion between the switch case 11 and the terminal base 20 is not formed on the inner surface of the vehicle (upper side in FIG. 2), water is present on the outer peripheral surface of the switch device 10. The water droplets that are difficult to collect and adhere to the terminal base 20 flow downward due to the vibration of the vehicle, and the possibility that the water droplets enter the switch device 10 can be extremely reduced.

  Furthermore, even when a water droplet enters from between the terminal base 20 and the switch case 11, the fixed contacts 22, 22 are not limited as long as they do not exceed the lip portion 45 of the joint portion and the engaging ribs 44 formed around the fixed contacts 22, 22. There is no risk of water droplets adhering to the surface. And since the engagement rib 44 protrudes on the opposite side to the mounting direction of the switch apparatus 10, the engagement rib 44 plays the role of a waterproof wall, and the fixed contacts 22 and 22 are easily arrange | positioned by the water droplet. The inside of the concave groove 26 has a structure that is difficult to enter. Since the communication groove 27 is formed on the inner side of the vehicle (upper side in FIG. 2), the possibility of water intrusion from the communication groove 27 is extremely low.

  When the operation knob 15 of the switch device 10 configured as described above is operated, the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40 is compressed and deformed by the operating portion 33 of the operation member 30, and the two fixed contacts 22 and 22 are compressed. The movable contact 43 is short-circuited. Then, a door lock actuator (not shown) is driven in accordance with an electric signal output from the switch device, the locked state of the back door lock device is released, and the back door can be opened.

  By operating the operation knob 15, the air in the convex portion 41 moves to the air chamber 47 through the communication groove 27, so that the engagement rib 44 is detached from the concave groove 26, resulting in malfunction. There is no.

  The waterproof structure of the switch device of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the waterproof cover 13 is formed integrally with the switch case 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rubber waterproof cover 13, which is a separate member, together with the rubber contact 40, is used. And may be assembled so as to be in pressure contact with the joint portion of the terminal base 20.

  Further, the communication groove 27 and the air chambers 47 and 47 may be provided only on one side of the convex portion 41 of the rubber contact 40, and the air chambers 47 and 47 are not particularly limited to the dome shape.

  Further, the terminal base 20 may be provided with an engaging claw 25 so as to be engaged with the engaging hole 16 of the switch case 11. If comprised in this way, the part which water accumulates on the outer peripheral surface of the switch apparatus 10 can be eliminated completely.

  Further, by forming the outer peripheral surface of the terminal base 20 on the bottom surface side (upper side in FIG. 2) into a tapered shape, a curved surface shape, or the like, it is possible to make it difficult for water droplets to accumulate on the surface of the switch device 10, and thus waterproof Can be improved.

  Moreover, the other member to be attached to which the switch device 10 is attached is not limited to the back door panel 1 of the vehicle. For example, a switch base (attached member) is attached to the back door panel, and the switch device is attached to the switch base. You may make it provide the opening part to attach. Further, the present invention is not limited to a vehicle switch device, and any configuration can be adopted as long as the switch device is attached to the opening of the attached member. The shape is not particularly limited to a flat plate shape.

It is a top view of the switch apparatus in this embodiment. It is a side view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. It is a top view of the terminal base in this embodiment. It is the (a) top view, (b) 6b-6b sectional view, and (c) bottom view of the rubber contact in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Back door panel, 2 ... Opening part (switch attachment hole), 10 ... Switch apparatus, 11 ... Switch case, 13 ... Waterproof cover (elastic cover), 20 ... Terminal base (base member), 21 ... Housing recessed part, 22, 22 ... fixed contact, 24 ... mounting arm part, 26 ... concave groove, 27 ... communication groove, 30 ... operation member, 40 ... rubber contact, 41 ... convex part, 43, 43 ... movable contact, 44 ... engagement rib, 47 ... Air chamber.

Claims (2)

A switch mounting hole provided in a back door panel of the vehicle and opened downward;
In the waterproof structure of the switch device that is mounted so that the operation member is exposed from the switch mounting hole, and the operation member can be operated from below,
A switch case in which the operation member is movably accommodated, an elastic cover that covers the operation portion of the operation member is provided on one side, and the other side facing the one side on which the elastic cover is provided;
A rubber contact having a movable contact inside, and having a convex portion that operates in response to an operation of the operation member, and an engagement rib that protrudes from the bottom surface so as to surround the periphery of the movable contact; ,
A housing contact recess formed on a bottom surface of the rubber contact, the fixed contact for switching with the movable contact, and a recess groove engageable with the engagement rib of the rubber contact ; A base member provided with an attachment arm that can be attached to the back door panel ;
The operating member is pressed against the convex portion of the rubber contact, and the operating member is protruded from the convex shape of the switch case and the rubber contact so that the engaging rib of the rubber contact and the concave groove of the base member are in close contact with each other. The switch case is assembled into the receiving recess of the base member from the other open side facing the one side where the operating portion of the operating member is disposed, and the base member A waterproof structure for a switch device, characterized in that the outer peripheral surface of the switch case is covered. An air chamber having a concave space is provided on the bottom surface of the rubber contact adjacent to the engagement rib,
Even when the engagement rib of the rubber contact is in close contact with the concave groove of the base member, the communication groove that allows the air in the convex portion of the rubber contact to move into the air chamber is accommodated in the base member. The waterproof structure of the switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the waterproof structure is provided on a bottom surface of the recess .

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