JP6882969B2 - Push button switch member - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a push button switch member.

As switches for a wide variety of devices such as in-vehicle devices, communication devices, audio devices, and household electric appliances, conventionally, push button switch members having a pressing portion, a thin-walled movable portion, and a base portion (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). (See) is known.

FIG. 10 shows a plan view (10A) and a B1-B1 line sectional view (10B) of a conventionally known push button switch member. The push button switch member 101 shown in FIG. 10 is connected to the pressing portion 110, the thin-walled movable portion 120 which is connected to the radial outer circumference in the plan view of the pressing portion 110, and the thin-walled movable portion 120 which is connected to the radial outer circumference in the plan view. The base portion 130 and the contact portion 140 projecting toward the opposite side of the pressing portion 110 are provided in the inner space of the dome formed by the thin-walled movable portion 120. The pressing portion 110, the thin-walled movable portion 120, and the base portion 130 are made of the same type of rubber-like elastic body.

Further, FIG. 11 shows a plan view (11A) and a B2-B2 line sectional view (11B) of another conventionally known push button switch member. In the other known push button switch member 102, one or more protruding portions in which the pressing portion 150 corresponding to the above-mentioned pressing portion 110 partially protrudes from the top surface 151 on the top surface 151 in a plan view opposite to the base portion 130. It has the same shape as the push button switch member 101 of FIG. 10 except that it has 152.

Further, FIG. 12 shows a plan view (12A) and a sectional view taken along line B3-B3 (12B) of yet another conventionally known member for a push button switch. In the further known push button switch member 103, the pressing portion 160 corresponding to the above-mentioned pressing portion 110 is formed with a hole portion 162 that opens toward the top surface 161 and faces inward from the top surface 161. Except for the point, it has the same form as the push button switch member 101 of FIG.

According to the conventionally known push button switch members 101, 102, 103 described above, the thin-walled movable portion 120 is elastically deformed by downward pressing from the pressing portions 110, 150, 160 and its release operation. For this reason, the push button switch members 101, 102, and 103 are often used in push-type switches.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-235006 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-12249

Conventionally known push button switch members 101, 102, 103 have excellent functions as push button switch members, but there is room for further improvement in order to make them more excellent push button switch members.

When the push button switch members 101, 102, 103 are incorporated into the push button switch, the push button switch members 101, 102, 103 can be thinly moved by applying a downward pressing force to the pressing portions 110, 150, 160 of the push button switch members 101, 102, 103. The portion 120 is deformed, and along with this, the pressing portions 110, 150, 160 suddenly descend toward the substrate, and the switch is turned on.

Some push button switch members are required to have a soft feel after the switch is turned on (the feeling that the push is stopped after the switch is turned on is not sudden). For example, the push button switch member for starting and stopping the engine of an automobile is used frequently and tends to leave an impression, so it is strongly required that the feel when pushed in is soft, and the switch is used. The sudden increase in load after it is turned on tends to be disliked by users.

Regarding the push button switch member 101, it is difficult to sufficiently suppress a sudden increase in load after the switch is turned on. Further, if the stroke after the switch is turned on is lengthened, the deformation of the thin-walled movable portion 120 becomes large, so that the thin-walled movable portion 120 is likely to be broken.

Further, although the push button switch member 102 has a softer pressing feel than the push button switch member 101, it is still difficult to sufficiently suppress a sudden increase in load after the switch is turned on. Is. Further, as in the case of the push button switch member 101, if the stroke after the switch is turned on is lengthened, the shape deformation of the thin-walled movable portion 120 also becomes large, so that the thin-walled movable portion 120 is likely to break. ..

Since the push button switch member 103 has a hole 162 formed in the push button 160, the deformation of the push button 160 can be made larger than that of the push button switch members 101 and 102. Therefore, in the case of the push button switch member 103, it is possible to sufficiently suppress a sudden increase in the load after the switch is turned on. However, even in the push button switch member 103, the problem that the thin-walled movable portion 120 is likely to break cannot be solved.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a push button switch that can sufficiently suppress a sudden increase in load after the switch is turned on and is less likely to break the thin-walled movable portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a member.

[1] The push button switch member according to the embodiment for achieving the above object has a pressing portion, a thin-walled movable portion connected to the outer circumference in the radial direction in a plan view of the pressing portion, and a thin-walled movable portion in a plan view. A push button switch member that is provided with a base portion connected to the outer circumference in the radial direction in order toward the pushing direction of the pressing portion. At least the pressing portion and the thin movable portion are both rubber-like elastic bodies, and the pressing portion is a ceiling. The first region from the surface to the middle position of the thickness in the pushing direction has a low hardness portion having a rubber hardness lower than that of the second region, which is closer to the thin movable portion than the first region.

[2] In the push button switch member according to another embodiment, 0.5 ≦ T2 / T1 when the thickness of the pressing portion in the pushing direction is T1 and the thickness of the low hardness portion in the pushing direction is T2. The relationship of ≦ 0.8 is preferable.

[3] In the push button switch member according to another embodiment, the rubber hardness of the low hardness portion measured using a type A durometer conforming to JIS K 6253 is set to H1, and the rubber hardness of the second region according to the measurement is set to H1. When H2, it is preferable to satisfy the relationship of H2-H1 ≧ 30.

[4] The push button switch member according to another embodiment is also a connecting portion between the pressing portion and the thin-walled movable portion in a vertical cross-sectional view, with respect to the width of the connecting inner portion inside the thin-walled movable portion. Therefore, it is preferable that the width of the connecting outer portion outside the thin-walled movable portion in the connecting portion is the same or smaller.

[5] In the push button switch member according to another embodiment, the pressing portion has one or more protruding portions on the top surface thereof that partially project to the opposite side to the base portion in a plan view. preferable.

[6] In the push button switch member according to another embodiment, it is preferable that the pressing portion has a hole portion that opens to the top surface side and goes inward from the top surface to the low hardness portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a push button switch member which can sufficiently suppress a sudden increase in load after the switch is turned on and is less likely to break the thin-walled movable portion.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view (1A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A1-A1 (1B) of the push button switch member according to the first embodiment, respectively. FIG. 2 shows a plan view (2A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A2-A2 (2B) of the push button switch member according to the second embodiment, respectively. FIG. 3 shows a plan view (3A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A3-A3 (3B) of the push button switch member according to the third embodiment, respectively. FIG. 4 shows a plan view (4A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A4-A4 (4B) of the push button switch member according to the fourth embodiment, respectively. FIG. 5 is a diagram (5A) showing the results of a simulation of the shape of Comparative Example 1 in a buckling state, a diagram (5B) showing the results of a simulation of stress of Comparative Example 1, and a buckling state of Comparative Example 2. (5C) showing the simulation result regarding the shape in the above, the figure (5D) showing the simulation result regarding the stress for Comparative Example 2, and the figure (5E) showing the simulation result regarding the shape in the buckling state for Example 1. The figure (5F) which shows the result of the simulation about the stress about Example 1 and the figure (5G) which superposed the simulation result about the shape in a buckling state about Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, respectively, are shown. FIG. 6 shows the results of simulations relating to loads for Example 1, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2. FIG. 7 shows the results of simulations relating to loads for Example 1, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2. FIG. 8 shows the results of the keystroke test for Examples 2 to 5 and Comparative Examples 3 and 4. FIG. 9 shows the results of the keystroke test for Examples 6 to 8 and Comparative Example 5. FIG. 10 shows a plan view (10A) and a B1-B1 line sectional view (10B) of a conventionally known push button switch member. FIG. 11 shows a plan view (11A) and a B2-B2 line sectional view (11B) of another conventionally known push button switch member. FIG. 12 shows a plan view (12A) and a sectional view (12B) of another conventionally known push button switch member.

Next, the push button switch member according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that each embodiment described below does not limit the invention according to the claims. Moreover, not all of the elements and combinations thereof described in each embodiment are essential for the solution of the present invention. In each embodiment, components having the same basic configuration and features may use the same reference numerals in common to the respective embodiments, and description thereof may be omitted.

(First Embodiment)
1. 1. Structure of push button switch member First, the push button switch member according to the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view (1A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A1-A1 (1B) of the push button switch member according to the first embodiment, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment includes a pressing portion 10, a thin-walled movable portion 20 connected to the outer periphery in the radial direction in a plan view of the pressing portion 10, and a thin-walled movable portion 20. The base portion 30 connected to the outer circumference in the radial direction in a plan view is provided in order in the pushing direction of the pressing portion 10. The pressing portion 10, the thin-walled movable portion 20, and the base portion 30 are all rubber-like elastic bodies. The pressing portion 10 has a low hardness portion 12 having a lower rubber hardness than the second region closer to the thin movable portion 20 than the first region in the first region from the top surface 11 to a position in the middle of the thickness in the pushing direction. ..

Further, the push button switch member 1 further includes a contact portion 40 projecting toward the side opposite to the pressing portion 10 in the inner space of the dome formed by the thin-walled movable portion 20. The contact portion 40 is fixed to a rubber-like elastic body protruding downward from the top portion of the dome. However, the contact portion 40 may be directly fixed to the top portion of the dome. Further, it is sufficient that at least the pressing portion 10 and the thin-walled movable portion 20 are made of a rubber-like elastic body, and the base portion 30 may be made of a material other than the rubber-like elastic body.

The pressing portion 10, the thin-walled movable portion 20, the base portion 30, and the contact portion 40 may be manufactured separately and then joined, or may be manufactured by a method such as integral molding. Further, in this embodiment, the second region of the pressing portion 10, the thin-walled movable portion 20, and the base portion 30 are made of the same type of rubber-like elastic body, but are made of another type of rubber-like elastic body. It may have been done.

In the first embodiment and each of the other embodiments described later, the rubber-like elastic body preferably includes silicone rubber, urethane rubber, isoprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, and nitrile rubber (NBR). ) Or a thermosetting elastomer such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), a urethane-based, ester-based, styrene-based, olefin-based, butadiene-based, fluorine-based or other thermoplastic elastomer, or a composite of the above-mentioned ones and the like can be exemplified. Among these illustrated rubber-like elastic bodies, silicone rubber is particularly preferable. Further, the rubber-like elastic body may contain a filler such as silica.

(1) Pressing unit The pressing unit 10 comes into contact with a finger or other pressing operating means when the switch is turned on, off, or both, and moves in the direction of the base member 30 (downward in FIG. 1 (1B)). It is a member that can be moved downward by being pressed toward it. The pressing portion 10 may be referred to as a key top, a pressing button portion, a head, or the like. The pressing portion 10 projects to one side with reference to the base portion 30. In this embodiment, one side corresponds to the side opposite to the circuit board or the like when the push button switch member 1 is installed on the circuit board or the like. Depending on the installation location of the push button switch member 1, the direction may be different, such as the left side or the right side, instead of the upper side.

In the first embodiment and each of the embodiments described later, the pressing portion 10 is a member having a substantially cylindrical shape that is circular in a plan view. As shown in FIG. 1 (1B), the pressing portion 10 is a connecting portion between the pressing portion 10 and the thin-walled movable portion 20 from the top surface 11, and the connecting outer portion 16 outside the thin-walled movable portion 20. It is a portion where the thin-walled movable portion 20 is cut off through the connecting inner portion 15 inside the thin-walled movable portion 20. This also applies to other embodiments. The shape of the pressing portion 10 will be described in more detail. The portion near the end on one side of the pressing portion 10 (upper portion: first region) has a cylindrical shape. The second region close to the thin-walled movable portion 20 from the first region is a portion whose diameter becomes slightly wider so as to be smoothly connected to the thin-walled movable portion 20. The thickness of the pressing portion 10 refers to the distance sandwiched between the top surface 11 and the joint inner portion 15 at the broken line position. As described above, the pressing portion 10 has a low hardness portion 12 having a rubber hardness lower than that of the second region in the above-mentioned first region.

When both the low-hardness portion 12 of the pressing portion 10 and the second region having a higher hardness than the low-hardness portion 12 are formed of silicone rubber, in order to change the hardness of the silicone rubber, the portion of the second region is made of silica. While it is produced by curing a curable silicone composition to which a filler such as is added, the first region portion is curable without adding a filler such as silica or with a smaller amount of the filler added than in the first region. It can be prepared by curing the silicone composition. Further, the amount of the silicone oil component added to the curable silicone composition for producing the first region may be larger than that of the same component added to the curable silicone composition for producing the second region.

In this embodiment, the first region (= low hardness portion 12) is a region including the top surface 11 and not including the thin-walled movable portion 20. The outermost surface of the pressing portion 10 is made of resin (thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, etc.), glass, ceramics, silicone rubber having a higher hardness than the pressing portion 10, or other elastomer for the purpose of scratch protection or the like. A thin coat layer may be formed.

In the push button switch member 1, the thickness of the pressing portion 10 in the pushing direction, that is, the length from the top surface 11 to the position of the broken line in FIG. 1 (1B) is T1, and the thickness of the low hardness portion 12 in the pushing direction (FIG. When T2 is defined as the length of the portion having a dense hatching width of 1 (1B) in the vertical direction), the relationship of 0.5 ≦ T2 / T1 ≦ 0.8 is preferable. In this embodiment, the pushing direction is a direction from the pressing portion 10 toward the circuit board or the like when the push button switch member 1 is installed on the circuit board or the like. Further, the pushing direction may be referred to as a direction along an axis perpendicular to the installation surface of the pressing portion 10.

When measuring the thickness of the pressing portion 10 and the thickness of the low hardness portion 12, there is a case where a protrusion or the like (for example, a protrusion 54 in the second embodiment described later) or the above-mentioned coat layer is present on the top surface 11. However, the thickness and length of the protrusions and the coating layer are not included in the thicknesses of the pressing portion 10 and the low hardness portion 12. Further, when the thickness of the pressing portion 10 or the low hardness portion 12 is different depending on the location, such as when the pressing portion 10 or the low hardness portion 12 is not a cylindrical region, the thickness of the pressing portion 10 and the thickness of the low hardness portion 12 are calculated as average values.

When 0.5 ≦ T2 / T1, when the pressing portion 10 is pushed in, the low hardness portion 12 is compressed and sufficient flexibility to reduce the thickness can be secured. Further, when T2 / T1 ≦ 0.8, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the occurrence of local strain in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the pressing portion 10 and the thin-walled movable portion 20, and breakage from the connecting portion during long-term use. Risk can be further reduced.

Further, in the push button switch member 1, when the rubber hardness of the low hardness portion 12 measured by using a type A durometer conforming to JIS K 6253 is H1 and the rubber hardness of the second region by the measurement is H2, It is preferable to satisfy the relationship of H2-H1 ≧ 30. Hereinafter, "rubber hardness" means the hardness measured by using a type A durometer conforming to JIS K 6253.

When H2-H1 ≧ 30, the rubber hardness of the low hardness portion 12 can be made relatively sufficiently low, and when a force is applied from the top surface 11 of the pressing portion 10 in the pushing direction, the low hardness portion 12 is compressed. It is possible to secure sufficient flexibility to reduce the thickness of the rubber. It is still preferable that both the conditions of 0.5 ≦ T2 / T1 and H2-H1 ≧ 30 are satisfied.

(2) Thin-walled movable portion The thin-walled movable portion 20 is a member connected to the outer circumference of the pressing portion 10. The thin-walled movable portion 20 may be referred to as a dome because of its shape. The thin-walled movable portion 20 is an annular member in a plan view in the first embodiment and each of the embodiments described later. As shown in FIG. 1 (1B), the thin-walled movable portion 20 is a constituent portion from a portion cut between the connecting outer portion 16 and the connecting inner portion 15 to a boundary portion with the base portion 30. This also applies to other embodiments. The thin-walled movable portion 20 is preferably formed to be thinner than the pressing portion 10 and the base portion 30. The thin-walled movable portion 20 is an elastically deforming member that elastically deforms when the pressing portion 10 is pressed toward a circuit board or the like and returns to its original shape when the pressing on the pressing portion 10 is released.

(3) Base portion The base portion 30 is connected to the outer circumference of the thin-walled movable portion 20. The base portion 30 is a portion for fixing the push button switch member 1 to a circuit board or the like when the push button switch member 1 is incorporated into the push button switch. In the first embodiment and each of the other embodiments, the plan view shape of the base portion 30 is a quadrangle. The base portion 30 may be formed with holes, protrusions, or the like for mounting. The base portion 30 may be made of a material (rubber-like elastic body, thermoplastic resin, or thermosetting resin) different from the material constituting the pressing portion 10 other than the thin-walled movable portion 20 and the low-hardness portion 12, and is other than the resin. It may be composed of a material (which may be metal, for example).

(4) Contact portion The contact portion 40 is a portion that protrudes from the top of the dome located directly below the pressing portion 10 in the direction opposite to the pressing portion 10 (that is, the pushing direction of the pressing portion 10). The contact portion 40 is not an indispensable member for the push button switch member 1.

When the contact portion 40 is incorporated into the push button switch member 1, it comes into contact with a component (for example, an electrode, a metal dome, or another type of switch) arranged directly under the pressing portion 10 to turn the switch on and off. It will be the part to be made. The contact portion 40 is a cylindrical member that is circular in a plan view in the first embodiment and each of the embodiments described later. The contact portion 40 may be integrated with the pressing portion 10 or may be a separate body. When the contact portion 40 is separate from the pressing portion 10, for example, the contact portion 40 may be adhered to the back side of the pressing portion 10. In this embodiment, the contact portion 40 is preferably made of a conductive material (for example, a metal or a conductive rubber-like elastic body), but may be made of a non-conductive material.

(5) Action / Effect According to the push button switch member 1 according to this embodiment, the pressing portion 10 includes a low hardness portion 12 having a rubber hardness lower than that of the second region in the first region, and therefore the top surface 11 It is possible to reduce the load on the thin-walled movable portion 20 by deforming the pressing portion 10 and dispersing the pressing force when the pressing portion 10 is pushed in. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently suppress a sudden increase in the load after the switch is turned on, and it is difficult for the thin-walled movable portion 20 to break.

Further, since the first region includes the top surface 11 and does not include the thin-walled movable portion 20, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of local strain in the vicinity of the connecting portion with the thin-walled movable portion 20. This also contributes to suppressing the thin-walled movable portion 20 from breaking.

2. Method for Manufacturing Push Button Switch Member The push button switch member 1 is formed by, for example, forming a portion of the pressing portion 10 other than the low hardness portion 12 (in this embodiment, the thin-walled movable portion 20 and the base portion 30 are also formed at the same time). In parallel, the low hardness portion 12 is formed using a material having a hardness lower than that of the second region of the pressing portion 10, and the low hardness portion 12 is bonded so as to be the first region of the pressing portion 10. Can be manufactured.

Further, in the push button switch member 1, the body of the pressing portion 10 is molded integrally with the portion to be the low hardness portion 12, and after molding, the low hardness portion of the pressing portion 10 is formed by various means (for example, irradiation with an electron beam). It can also be produced by curing a portion other than 12.

Further, in the push button switch member 1, one of the low hardness portion 12 or the second region of the pressing portion 10, the thin movable portion 20 and the base portion 30 is first inserted into the mold, and the other is inserted. It can also be produced by insert molding in which the curable composition of the above is supplied into the mold and molded.

Furthermore, using a 3D printer, build-up is performed from the base portion 30 toward the pressing portion 10 or in the opposite direction, and the printing material is changed between the low hardness portion 12 and other members. The push button switch member 1 may be manufactured.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the push button switch member according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the configurations common to those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the points different from those in the first embodiment will be mainly described. The push button switch member according to this embodiment and subsequent embodiments can be manufactured according to the above-mentioned manufacturing method of the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view (2A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A2-A2 (2B) of the push button switch member according to the second embodiment, respectively.

The push button switch member 2 according to the second embodiment basically has the same configuration as the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment, but has a protruding portion 54 on the top surface 52 of the pressing portion 50. Therefore, it is different from the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the push button switch member 2 has a pressing portion 50, a thin-walled movable portion 20 connected to the outer periphery in the radial direction in a plan view of the pressing portion 50, and a thin-walled movable portion 20 in a radial direction in a plan view. The base portion 30 connected to the outer circumference is provided in order in the pushing direction of the pressing portion 50. The pressing portion 50, the thin-walled movable portion 20, and the base portion 30 are all rubber-like elastic bodies. The pressing portion 50 has a low hardness portion 52 having a rubber hardness lower than that of a second region closer to the thin movable portion 20 than the first region in the first region from the top surface 51 to a position in the middle of the thickness in the pushing direction. .. As shown in FIG. 2B, the pressing portion 50 is a connecting portion between the pressing portion 50 and the thin-walled movable portion 20 from the top surface 51, and the connecting outer portion 56 outside the thin-walled movable portion 20. It is a portion where the thin-walled movable portion 20 is cut off through the connecting inner portion 55 inside the thin-walled movable portion 20. The thin-walled movable portion 20 is a constituent portion from a portion cut between the connecting outer portion 56 and the connecting inner portion 55 to a boundary portion with the base portion 30. The thickness of the pressing portion 50 refers to the distance between the top surface 51 and the connecting inner portion 55 at the position of the broken line.

The pressing portion 50 is provided with one or more protruding portions (also referred to as botches or protrusions) 54 on the top surface 51 that partially project to the opposite side of the base portion 30 in a plan view. Here, "partially in a plan view" means a state in which the protruding portion 54 occupies a part of the area of the top surface 51 when viewed from above. Therefore, "partially in a plan view" is used in the sense of excluding that the entire region is projected in the plan view of the top surface 51. In this embodiment, four protrusions 54 are formed on the top surface 51. Further, in this embodiment, the protruding portion 54 is made of the same type of rubber-like elastic body as the low hardness portion 52, but may be made of a material different from that of the low hardness portion 52. The protruding portion 54 may be integrated with the top surface 51 or may be a separate body. Further, in this embodiment, the protruding portion 54 has a substantially hemispherical shape, but the shape is not limited. For example, the protruding portion 54 may have any shape such as a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, a conical shape, a pyramid shape, and a tubular shape. Further, in this embodiment, the number of protrusions 54 is 4, but the number is not limited. The number of protrusions 54 may be 1 to 3, or 5 or more.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the actions and effects of the first embodiment described above, the protruding portion 54 is deformed (crushed) first when a pressing force is applied, so that the pressing portion 50 as a whole The amount of deformation of can be increased.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, the push button switch member according to the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view (3A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A3-A3 (3B) of the push button switch member according to the third embodiment, respectively.

The push button switch member 3 according to the third embodiment basically has the same configuration as the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment, but the pressing portion 60 is formed with a hole portion 64. , Different from the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the push button switch member 3 has a pressing portion 60, a thin-walled movable portion 20 connected to the outer periphery in the radial direction in a plan view of the pressing portion 60, and a thin-walled movable portion 20 in a radial direction in a plan view. The base portion 30 connected to the outer circumference is provided in order in the pushing direction of the pressing portion 60. The pressing portion 60, the thin-walled movable portion 20, and the base portion 30 are all rubber-like elastic bodies. The pressing portion 60 has a low hardness portion 62 having a rubber hardness lower than that of a second region closer to the thin movable portion 20 than the first region in the first region from the top surface 61 to a position in the middle of the thickness in the pushing direction. .. As shown in FIG. 3 (3B), the pressing portion 60 is a connecting portion between the pressing portion 60 and the thin-walled movable portion 20 from the top surface 61, and the connecting outer portion 66 outside the thin-walled movable portion 20. It is a portion where the thin-walled movable portion 20 is cut off through the connecting inner portion 65 inside the thin-walled movable portion 20. The thin-walled movable portion 20 is a constituent portion from a portion cut between the connecting outer portion 66 and the connecting inner portion 65 to a boundary portion with the base portion 30. The thickness of the pressing portion 60 refers to the distance between the top surface 61 and the connecting inner portion 65 at the position of the broken line.

The pressing portion 60 has a hole portion 64 that opens toward the top surface 61 and faces inward from the top surface 61 to the low hardness portion 62. The hole portion 64 is preferably a bottomed opening having a depth equal to or less than the thickness of the low hardness portion 62. In this embodiment, the hole portion 64 is a cylindrical cup-shaped space in which the plan view shape of the opening surface is substantially circular, but the hole portion 64 is a corner having another shape such as a rectangle in the plan view. It may be a cylindrical space. Further, the hole portion 64 may have a shape other than a tubular shape such as a conical shape, a pyramid shape, or a hemispherical shape. Further, the hole portion 64 may have a bottom portion reaching the second region. Further, the hole portion 64 may be a hole that reaches the contact portion 40 or a through hole that also penetrates the contact portion 40.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain an action / effect that the deformation of the pressing portion 60 when a pressing force is applied can be further increased as compared with the action / effect of the first embodiment described above. Be done.

(Fourth Embodiment)
Next, the push button switch member according to the fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the configurations common to each of the above-described embodiments will be omitted as appropriate, and the differences will be mainly described.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view (4A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line A4-A4 (4B) of the push button switch member according to the fourth embodiment, respectively.

The push button switch member 4 according to the fourth embodiment basically has the same configuration as the push button switch member 3 according to the third embodiment, but the size of the outer shape of the top surface 71 of the pressing portion 70 is the second. 3 It is different from the push button switch member 3 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the push button switch member 4 has a pressing portion 70, a thin-walled movable portion 20 connected to the outer periphery in the radial direction in a plan view of the pressing portion 70, and a thin-walled movable portion 20 in a radial direction in a plan view. The base portion 30 connected to the outer circumference is provided in order in the pushing direction of the pressing portion 70. The pressing portion 70, the thin-walled movable portion 20, and the base portion 30 are all rubber-like elastic bodies. The pressing portion 70 has a low hardness portion 72 having a lower rubber hardness than the second region, which is closer to the thin movable portion 20 than the first region, in the first region from the top surface 71 to a position in the middle of the thickness in the pushing direction. .. The push button switch member 4 includes a contact portion 40 that projects toward the side opposite to the pressing portion 70 in the inner space of the dome formed by the thin-walled movable portion 20. As shown in FIG. 4 (4B), the pressing portion 70 is a connecting portion between the pressing portion 70 and the thin-walled movable portion 20 from the top surface 71, and the connecting outer portion 76 outside the thin-walled movable portion 20. It is a portion where the thin-walled movable portion 20 is cut off through the articulated inner portion 75 inside the thin-walled movable portion 20. The thin-walled movable portion 20 is a constituent portion from a portion cut between the connecting outer portion 76 and the connecting inner portion 75 to a boundary portion with the base portion 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the push button switch member 4, the outer shape of the connecting outer portion 76 is within the range defined by the connecting inner portion 75 in a plan view from the top surface 71 side. Here, to "fit within the range", the outer shape is the same (when the connecting outer portion 76 and the connecting inner portion 75 are both circular when viewed in a plan view, the diameters of both are the same). Is also included. The low hardness portion 72 exists in the first region from the top surface 71 of the pressing portion 70 to the middle (position of X) in the thickness direction. The low hardness portion 72 also includes a part of the thin-walled movable portion 20. The width of the connecting outer portion 76 in the vertical cross-sectional view is the same as or smaller than the width of the connecting inner portion 75 in the vertical cross-sectional view. In this embodiment, the "width" means the diameter of each of the connecting outer portion 76 and the connecting inner portion 75 because the shapes in each plan view are circular. However, when the plan-view shapes of the articulated outer portion 76 and the articulated inner portion 75 are other than a circle, the "width" is a circle having the same area of each of the articulated outer portion 76 and the articulated inner portion 75 in a plan view. It means the diameter converted to (= diameter converted to yen).

In the push button switch member 4, the pressing portion 70 has a columnar region in which the outer shape of the top surface 71 is held by a certain thickness in the pushing direction, and a trapezoidal region in which the width is gradually increased from the columnar region. In this embodiment, the width D1 of the columnar region is equal to the width of the connecting outer portion 76 and is the same as or smaller than the width D2 of the connecting inner portion 75. The width D2 is the width of a portion defined by the inner boundary line between the pressing portion 70 and the thin-walled movable portion 20. In the present application, "columnar" refers to a form in which the diameter (or diagonal line) in a plan view is constant in the length direction thereof. However, the diameter (or diagonal) in plan view does not need to be completely constant, and fluctuations within the range of plus or minus 5% are allowed. The trapezoidal region is a truncated cone that is circular in a plan view and trapezoidal in a vertical cross section. The thickness of the pressing portion 70 refers to the distance between the top surface 71 and the connecting inner portion 75 at the position of the broken line.

In this embodiment, the plan-view shapes of the connecting outer portion 76 and the connecting inner portion 75 are both circular, and when the diameter of the connecting outer portion 76 (= D1) and the diameter of the connecting inner portion 75 (= D2) are compared, The relationship of 1, 1 ≦ D2 / D1 ≦ 1.7 is satisfied. Further, it is more preferable to satisfy the relationship of 1.3 <D2 / D1 ≦ 1.7.

According to this embodiment, when a pressure is applied from the top surface 71, it is possible to suppress the pressure from being transmitted to the outside in a plan view of the connecting inner portion 75. That is, the force when the pressing portion 70 is pushed is concentrated in the direction toward the connecting inner portion 75, and the load applied to the thin-walled movable portion 20 can be further reduced.

Further, since the pressing portion 70 has the above-mentioned columnar region, when a pressing force is applied from the pressing portion 70 in the direction of the contact portion 40, the pressing force protrudes outward in the plan view of the connecting inner portion 75. Can be further suppressed. As a result, the load applied to the thin-walled movable portion 20 can be further reduced.

Further, when D2 / D1 ≦ 1.7 (that is, when D1 is not made too small with respect to D2), the columnar region of the pressing portion 70 to which the pressing force is applied is in a direction other than the pushing direction (plan view). It is possible to suppress the swing in the front-back, left-right directions, etc.). On the other hand, when 1 ≦ D2 / D1 and further 1.3 <D2 / D1, the load applied to the thin-walled movable portion 20 can be reduced. As a result, if 1 ≦ D2 / D1 ≦ 1.7, and further 1.3 <D2 / D1 ≦ 1.7, it is difficult to swing laterally from the pushing direction when the pressing portion 70 is pushed, and the wall is thinly movable. It becomes easier to obtain the effect of reducing the load applied to the portion 20.

(Other embodiments)
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the push button switch member according to the present invention can be variously modified and implemented as described below without being restricted by the respective embodiments.

Each shape of the pressing portion 10, 50, 60, 70 (referred to as pressing portion 10 or the like), the thin-walled movable portion 20, the base portion 30, and the contact portion 40 in each of the above-described embodiments is an example, and each shape varies depending on the application and the like. Can be in the shape of. Further, the shapes of the pressing portion 10 and the like, the thin movable portion 20, the connecting outer portion 76, the connecting inner portion 75 and the contact portion 40 do not have to be the same in plan view. The plan view shape of the 76 and the connecting inner portion 75 may be circular, and the plan view shape of the outer edge portion (connecting portion with the base portion 30) of the thin-walled movable portion 20 may be a quadrangle. On the contrary, the shapes of the thin-walled movable portion 20, the base portion 30, the connecting outer portion 76, the connecting inner portion 75, and the contact portion 40, such as the pressing portion 10, may all be circular or quadrangular.

Further, the components of each of the above-described embodiments can be arbitrarily combined unless they cannot be combined with each other. For example, also in the pressing portions 10 and 50 in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, as in the fourth embodiment, the outer shapes of the connecting outer portions 16 and 56 in a plan view from the top surface 11, 51 side. May fall within the range specified by the outer shape of the connecting inner portions 15, 55. Further, the protruding portion 54 in the second embodiment may be provided on the top surfaces 61, 71 other than the hole portions 64, 74 in the third and fourth embodiments. In each of the above-described embodiments, the thin-walled movable portion 20 has a shape bent in the middle of a substantially “C” character in a vertical cross-sectional view, but is not limited to this, and is not limited to this, for example, in a vertical cross-sectional view It may have other shapes such as a "C" shape and an inverted bowl shape. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the rubber hardness of the main portion or the entire thin-walled movable portion 20 is higher than the rubber hardness of the low hardness portions 12, 52, 62, 72, but can be the same or lower.

Next, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the contents of the following examples.

(Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2)
First, with respect to the push button switch members according to Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, a portion in which the pressing portion and the thin-walled movable portion are connected to each other when the pressing portion is pushed into a buckled state by simulation ( The shape and stress of the part where fracture is likely to occur) were evaluated. In addition, the relation between the pushing distance and the load was also evaluated for the push button switch members according to Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

(1) Configuration of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 The push button switch member according to the first embodiment corresponds to the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment, and the push button switch member according to the comparative example 1. Corresponds to the above-mentioned known push-button switch member 101, and the push-button switch member according to Comparative Example 2 corresponds to the above-mentioned further known push-button switch member 103. Therefore, the illustration of the push button switch member according to the first embodiment and the first and second comparative examples will be omitted.

In the simulation, it was assumed that each push button switch member was made of silicone rubber. Here, each push button switch member has the same shape for common parts. The diameter of the top surface of each push button switch member was 4.5 mm. The distance from the top surface of each push button switch member to the bottom surface of the base portion (that is, the height of the push button switch member) was set to 6.7 mm. The distance from the tip surface of the contact portion to the bottom surface of the base portion was set to 2.8 mm. The diameter of the lower opening surface of the thin-walled movable part was 5.9 mm. The wall thickness of the thin movable part was 0.85 mm. Further, regarding the push button switch member according to Comparative Example 2, the diameter of the hole formed in the pressing portion was set to 2.9 mm, and the depth was set to 2 mm. Regarding the push button switch member according to the first embodiment, the thickness of the pressing portion in the pushing direction was 3.15 mm, and the thickness of the low hardness portion in the pushing direction was 2.52 mm. For the push button switch members according to Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the rubber hardness of the pressing portion, the thin-walled movable portion, and the base portion (hardness measured using a type A durometer conforming to JIS K 6253) is set to 60 degrees. The rubber hardness of the contact portion was set to 70 degrees. On the other hand, for the push button switch member according to the first embodiment, the rubber hardness of the low hardness portion is set to 20 degrees, and the rubber hardness other than the low hardness portion is the same as that of the push button switch member according to Comparative Examples 1 and 2. 60 degrees), and the rubber hardness of the contact portion was set to 70 degrees.

(2) Evaluation of Push Button Switch Member for Shape and Stress in Buckling State FIG. 5 is a diagram (5A) showing the result of simulation regarding the shape in the buckling state for Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. (5B) showing the results of the stress simulation for Comparative Example 2, the diagram showing the simulation results for the shape in the buckling state of Comparative Example 2 (5C), and the diagram showing the results of the stress simulation for Comparative Example 2 (5D). , The figure (5E) showing the simulation result regarding the shape in the buckling state for Example 1, the figure (5F) showing the simulation result regarding the stress for Example 1, and the buckling state for Example 1 and Comparative Example 2. The figure (5G) which superposed the simulation result about the shape in the above is shown. The evaluation was performed with a pushing distance (stroke) of 3.8 mm.

5 (5A), 5 (5C), 5 (5E) and 5 (5G) are a part of a vertical cross-sectional view of each push button switch member (when the pressing portion is pushed into a buckled state). It is a figure which shows the part where the pressing part and the thin-walled movable part are connected with each other. 5 (5B), 5 (5D) and 5 (5F) are a part of the result of stress analysis using a mesh for the vertical cross section of each push button switch member (a part including the part where the most stress is applied). ). The circles in FIGS. 5 (5A) to 5 (5F) indicate the places where the stress is most applied.

First, as shown in FIGS. 5 (5A) to 5 (5D), in the push button switch members according to Comparative Examples 1 and 2, when the pressing portion is pushed into a buckling state, the pressing portion and the thin wall are thin. It can be confirmed that the part connected to the moving part is greatly bent. At this time, in Comparative Example 1, a maximum ^{stress of 319 gf / mm 2} was applied, and in Comparative Example 2, a maximum ^{stress of 336 gf / mm 2} was applied.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 (5E) and 5 (5F), in the push button switch member according to the first embodiment, the bending method of the portion where the pressing portion and the thin-walled movable portion are connected is the bending method of Comparative Example 1. It can be confirmed that it is smaller than the cases of, and 2. As shown in FIG. 5 (5G), when Comparative Example 2 (dark part) and Example 1 (light color) are overlapped, the difference in the bending method is obvious. Further, in Example 1, a maximum ^{stress of 287 gf / mm 2} was applied, and it was confirmed that the maximum stress was significantly reduced as compared with the cases of Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

(3) Evaluation of push button switch member with respect to load at the time of pushing FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show the results of simulation regarding the load for Example 1, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2. FIG. 6 is a table summarizing characteristic numerical values, and FIG. 7 is a graph based on simulation results. The vertical axis of the graph of FIG. 7 represents the load (unit: N), and the horizontal axis represents the pushing distance (unit: mm).

In the table of FIG. 6, "peak" is the maximum load before the switch is turned on, "make" is the minimum load just before the switch is turned on, and "click" is the peak and make of the switch calculated from the make. “Peak st” represents the length of pushing until the peak load is reached, and “on st” represents the length of pushing until the switch is turned on. As shown in the table of FIG. 6 and the graph of FIG. 7, it was confirmed that Example 1 can significantly suppress a rapid increase in load after the switch is turned on as compared with Comparative Example 1. Further, it was confirmed that Example 1 can suppress the increase in load after the switch is turned on, as compared with Comparative Example 2. As described above, it was confirmed that the push button switch member according to the first embodiment provides a sufficiently soft feel.

(Examples 2 to 8 and Comparative Examples 3 to 5)
Next, with reference to the results of the above-mentioned computer simulation, the push button switch members according to Examples 2 to 8 and Comparative Examples 3 to 5 were actually manufactured, a keystroke test was performed, and durability was evaluated.

(1) Configuration of Examples 2 to 8 and Comparative Examples 3 to 5 The push button switch member according to Examples 2 to 8 corresponds to the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment. The push button switch member according to Comparative Examples 3 and 5 corresponds to the known push button switch member 101. The push button switch member according to Comparative Example 4 is a push button switch member having the same shape as the push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment, and the pressing portion is entirely composed of a low hardness portion. Therefore, illustration of Examples 2 to 8 and Comparative Examples 3 to 5 will be omitted. It should be noted that the fifth embodiment and the eighth embodiment are actually push button switch members having the same configuration. Further, Comparative Example 3 and Comparative Example 5 are actually push button switch members having the same configuration. These are numbered with different examples from the viewpoint of easy viewing of the table.

Each push button switch member was made of silicone rubber. Here, the push button switch members according to Examples 2 to 8 and Comparative Examples 3 to 5 all have the same shape. The diameter of the top surface of each push button switch member was 4.5 mm. The distance from the top surface of each push button switch member to the bottom surface of the base portion (height of the push button switch member) was set to 6.7 mm. The distance from the tip surface of the contact portion to the bottom surface of the base portion was set to 2.8 mm. The diameter of the lower opening surface of the thin-walled movable portion was set to 5.9 mm. The wall thickness of the thin movable part was 0.85 mm. Further, a PET film having a thickness of 100 μm was placed under the base portion so that the base portion would not expand excessively when the pressing portion was pushed in.

(2) Manufacturing Method of Push Button Switch Member Each push button switch member is formed of a low hardness portion after solidifying a first silicone rubber raw material constituting a portion other than the low hardness portion by using a mold. It was produced by solidifying the raw material of the second silicone rubber. The first silicone rubber raw material is SE-4706U (Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.) as a material with a rubber hardness of 60, and the second silicone rubber raw material is SE-4706U (Toray Dow) as a material with a rubber hardness of 60. Corning Co., Ltd.), SE-4704U (Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.) as a material with rubber hardness 40, SE-4704U (Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.) and KE-520U (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) as materials with rubber hardness 30 KE-520U (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was prepared as a material having a rubber hardness of 20 and C-8 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was prepared as a curing agent with respect to 100 parts by weight. Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 2 parts by weight was added and kneaded and dispensed. The contact portion was bonded after molding the other portion. The thickness of the low hardness portion and the rubber hardness of the low hardness portion were set for each Example or Comparative Example. Numerical settings for each of the examples and comparative examples are summarized in FIGS. 8 and 9.

After manufacturing each push button switch member, the rubber hardness of the low hardness part and the other parts was measured. A hardness measuring instrument (model: MD-1capa) manufactured by Polymer Meter Co., Ltd. was used for measuring the rubber hardness. The rubber hardness refers to the rubber hardness measured by a type A durometer conforming to JIS K 6253. The rubber hardness was measured at two points for each sample, and the average value was taken as the rubber hardness of the sample.

(3) Evaluation of push button switch members by key press test A key press test was conducted on each push button switch member manufactured as described above. The load in the keystroke test was 700 g, and keystrokes were performed at a keystroke speed of 3 times / second until the push button switch member was broken. At this time, the decrease in load increase after turning on was also measured. An automatic load tester (model: MAX-1KN-S-1) manufactured by Nippon Measurement System Co., Ltd. was used for the load measurement.

FIG. 8 shows the results of the keystroke test for Examples 2 to 5 and Comparative Examples 3 and 4. FIG. 9 shows the results of the keystroke test for Examples 6 to 8 and Comparative Example 5.

Regarding the item of "decrease in load increase after turning on" in FIGS. 8 and 9, "A" indicates that very good results were obtained, and "B" indicates that good results were obtained. Shown, "C" indicates that good results were not obtained. Regarding the item of "durability", "A" gave very good results (it withstood 2.5 times or more the number of keystrokes, which is the standard number of keystrokes of 10,000). "B" indicates that good results were obtained (withstanding more than 2.0 times the number of keystrokes of 10,000, which is the standard number of keystrokes), and "C" is a good result. Was not obtained (it could not withstand the standard number of keystrokes of 10,000 times).

As a result of confirming the relationship between T1 and T2, as shown in FIG. 8, the pressing portion is provided with a low hardness portion in the first region including the top surface, so that the load increase after turning on is reduced and the durability is both reduced. It was confirmed that good results were obtained for the items. It was also confirmed that when the relationship of 0.5 ≦ T2 / T1 ≦ 0.8 was satisfied, very good results were obtained for both the reduction of the load increase after turning on and the durability.

Further, as a result of confirming the relationship between H1 and H2, as shown in FIG. 9, since the pressing portion is provided with a low hardness portion, good results are obtained for both the reduction of the load increase after turning on and the durability. It was confirmed that it could be obtained. It was also confirmed that when the relationship of H2-H1 ≧ 30 was satisfied, very good results were obtained for both the reduction of the load increase after turning on and the durability.

The push button switch member according to the present invention is used for various devices having a press-type key such as an automobile, an in-vehicle electronic device, a mobile communication device, a personal computer, a camera, a home audio device, and a home electric appliance. It can be used to configure the switch of.

1,2,3,4 ... Push button switch member 10,50,60,70 ... Pressing part, 11,51,61,71 ... Top surface, 12,52,62,72 ...・ Low hardness part, 15, 55, 65, 75 ・ ・ ・ inside part of connection, 16,56,66,76 ・ ・ ・ outside part of connection, 20 ・ ・ ・ thin wall movable part, 30 ・ ・ ・ base part, 40 ・・ ・ Contact part, 54 ・ ・ ・ Projection part, 64,74 ・ ・ ・ Hole part, Diameter of connection outer part (width of connection outer part) ・ ・ ・ D1, Diameter of connection inner part (width of connection inner part) ... D2.

Claims (5)

Pressing part and
A thin-walled movable portion that is connected to the outer circumference in the radial direction in a plan view of the pressing portion,
A push button switch member comprising a base portion connected to the outer circumference in the radial direction in a plan view of the thin-walled movable portion in order toward the pushing direction of the pressing portion.
At least the pressing portion and the thin-walled movable portion are both rubber-like elastic bodies.
The pressing portion has a low hardness portion having a rubber hardness lower than that of a second region closer to the thin-walled movable portion than the first region in a first region from the top surface to an intermediate position of the thickness in the pushing direction. Then, when the rubber hardness of the low hardness portion is H1 by measurement using a type A durometer conforming to JIS K 6253 and the rubber hardness of the second region by the measurement is H2, H2-H1 ≧ 30. A member for a push button switch that satisfies the relationship. The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the thickness of the pressing portion in the pushing direction is T1 and the thickness of the low hardness portion in the pushing direction is T2, and the relationship is 0.5 ≦ T2 / T1 ≦ 0.8. Member for push button switch. In a vertical cross-sectional view, the connecting portion between the pressing portion and the thin-walled movable portion is outside the thin-walled movable portion in the connecting portion with respect to the width of the connecting inner portion inside the thin-walled movable portion. The push button switch member according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the width of the connecting outer portion is the same or smaller. The push button switch member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the pressing portion has one or more protruding portions on the top surface that partially project to the opposite side of the base portion in a plan view. .. The push button switch member according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the pressing portion has a hole portion that opens to the top surface side and faces inward from the top surface to the low hardness portion.

Images