WO2006061931A1

WO2006061931A1 - Operation button device

Info

Publication number: WO2006061931A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/016647
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yasuhiro Kida
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2004-12-07
Filing date: 2005-09-09
Publication date: 2006-06-15
Also published as: JP2006164748A

Abstract

An operation button device having a button unit (2) in which operation buttons (21-23) are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in a united manner, in a row at predetermined intervals; an external cover panel (1) having button fitting holes (10) into which the operation buttons (21-23) are individually inserted; and a holder member (3) for holding the button unit (2) between itself and the external cover panel (1). Rectangular-frame-like installation/fitting frame sections (25, 27) are respectively formed integrally with intermediate hinge sections (24) that integrally connect the operation buttons (21-23) and with side hinge sections (26) that are integrally formed with side edge sections of the operation buttons (21, 23) located on both sides of the button unit (2). Rectangular rotation prevention projections (11, 12), in which the installation/fitting frame sections (25, 27) are fitted, are formed in either the external cover panel (1) or the holder member (3).

Description

Specification

Operation button device

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation button device applied to a switch operation of a car audio, for example.

Background art

[0002] As an operation button device for a general car audio or the like, a plurality of button fitting holes are provided in an exterior panel, and a plurality of operation buttons are individually fitted into these button fitting holes. It is well known that a plurality of operation buttons are arranged in a row on the exterior panel. In such an operation button device, multiple operation buttons are individually inserted into each button fitting hole on the exterior panel and manually assembled. The problem was that it was very bad and expensive.

[0003] Therefore, conventionally, a plurality of operation buttons are integrally formed with a resin material or the like in series in a parallel direction via, for example, a rod-like or shaft-like hinge portion, and united operation is thereby performed. There is also an operation button device with a continuous button configuration that improves assembly workability and reduces costs by making it possible to fit each button into the button fitting hole on the exterior panel and assemble them at once. Already known.

[0004] The above prior art is a technique generally known to those skilled in the art, and does not relate to a known invention.

[0005] Since the conventional operation button device is configured as described above, a plurality of operation buttons are continuously formed in a parallel direction with a simple bar-like or shaft-like hinge portion integral with them. In the unit, when one operation button is pressed, the hinge part is rotated by the pressing force and transmitted to the adjacent operation button, so that the operation button adjacent to the pressed operation button can be moved together. Immediately, especially when the pressing stroke of the operation button is set to be large, there is a problem that the above-mentioned co-movement occurs remarkably.

[0006] The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. Sometimes, an object of the present invention is to obtain an operation button device that improves reliability by preventing operation buttons adjacent to the operation buttons from moving together.

Disclosure of the invention

[0007] The operation button device according to the present invention is configured to fit and display each of the operation buttons and a button unit in which a plurality of operation buttons are integrally connected in an adjacent state at predetermined intervals in the same row. In an operation button device provided with an exterior panel having a plurality of button fitting holes and a holder member for sandwiching the button unit between the back surface of the exterior panel, an intermediate for integrally connecting adjacent operation buttons A rectangular frame-like mounting fitting frame portion is integrally formed on each of the hinge portions and side hinge portions integrally formed on the side edges of the operation buttons located on both sides of the button unit, and the exterior panel and the One of the holder members is provided with an angular detent projection for fitting and fixing the mounting fitting frame.

[0008] According to the present invention, in a button unit in which a plurality of adjacent operation buttons are integrally connected at a predetermined interval, the intermediate hinge part integrally connecting the adjacent operation buttons and the button unit Either a rectangular frame-shaped mounting fitting frame part integrally formed on the side hinge part of the side edge part of the operation button located on both sides is either an exterior panel or a holder member that sandwiches the button unit with the exterior panel. Since it is configured to be fitted and fixed to the square-shaped non-rotating convex portion provided on either side, when one operation button is pressed, the pressing force is transmitted to the adjacent operation button. It can be blocked by the square mounting fitting frame part and the non-rotating convex part, so that the adjacent operation buttons do not move together and are reliable. But there is an effect of improving.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of an operation button device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a button unit applied to the operation button device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the operation button device in an assembled state along line AA in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the operation button device assembled state along line BB in FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a button unit connecting portion of an operation button device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical perspective view of the thread of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a button unit connecting means of an operation button device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a connected state of a plurality of button units by the button unit connecting means of FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, in order to describe the present invention in more detail, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the main part of the operation button device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a button unit applied to the operation button device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is the AA line of FIG. 4 is a sectional view in the assembled state of the operating button device, FIG. 4 is a sectional view in the assembled state of the operating button device along the line B-B in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part in FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a connecting portion between the button unit of FIG. 1 and another button unit, and FIG. 7 is a thread and vertical perspective view of FIG.

The operation button device shown in FIG. 1 includes an exterior panel 1 such as a car audio, a button unit 2 assembled to the exterior panel 1, and a plate-like holder member that sandwiches the button unit 2 between the exterior panel 1 3 and the circuit board 4 on which the switch 5 is mounted. The detailed configuration thereof will be described below.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the button unit 2 has a configuration in which a plurality of operation buttons 21 to 23 are integrally connected in an adjacent state at predetermined intervals in the same row (in parallel in the figure). . More specifically, each of the operation buttons 21 to 23 has a base end flange portion 21a to 23a, and the operation buttons 21 to 23 are continuous to the base end flange portions 21a to 23a. Are connected in series so as to be adjacent to each other in the parallel direction at predetermined intervals. And each of the above An attachment fitting frame portion 25 for the exterior panel 1 is formed in the middle of the intermediate hinge portion 24, and these attachment fitting frame portions 25 are formed in a rectangular frame shape.

[0012] Further, side hinge portions 26 bent in a drooping manner from the base end flange portions 21a, 23a are provided at the side edges of the operation buttons 21, 23 located on both sides of the button unit 2. Each of them is integrally formed, and a rectangular frame-like mounting fitting frame portion 27 is also formed at the tip thereof. Further, each of the operation buttons 21 to 23 integrally has a boss portion 28 for pressing the switch 5 on the circuit board 4 with the back surface force protruding. The button unit 2 configured as described above is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material.

Next, a button fitting hole 10 for fitting the operation buttons 21 to 23 of the button unit 2 into the outer panel 1 so as to be exposed (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Is installed. Further, on the back surface of the exterior panel 1, the interval between the holder member 3 and the plurality of non-rotating convex portions 11 and 12 for fitting and fixing the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 of the button unit 2 is constant. Spacer projections 14 (see Fig. 3) are provided so as to be integral with each other. Here, the non-rotating projections 11 and 12 are formed in the same rectangular shape as the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27, and can fit and align the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27. .

[0014] The holder member 3 is provided at a position opposed to the cylindrical portion 30 for individually illuminating the operation buttons 21 to 23 and the switch 5, and the boss portion 28 of each of the operation buttons 21 to 23 is inserted. A boss through hole 31 to be passed through, a presser convex portion 32 that presses the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 fitted in the non-rotating convex portions 11 and 12 toward the back side of the exterior panel 1, and the circuit It has a spacer projection 33 (see FIG. 3) that keeps a distance from the substrate 4. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical portion 30 protrudes on both the front and back sides of the holder member 3. The protruding end of the cylindrical portion 30 on the circuit board 4 side comes into contact with the circuit board 4. In addition to the switch 5, a light emitting element 6 such as a light emitting diode (see FIG. 3) is mounted on the circuit board 4 to which such a holder member 3 is assembled. The light emitting element 6 is housed in the cylindrical portion 30 when the circuit board 4 is assembled to the holder member 3, and individually illuminates the operation buttons 21 to 23.

Next, assembly of the operation button device will be described. While the operation buttons 21 to 23 of the button unit 2 are inserted into the button fitting holes 10 of the exterior panel 1 from the back side, the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 of the button unit 2 are fitted to the non-rotating convex portions 11 and 12. Match. Thereby, the base end flange portions 21a to 23a of the operation buttons 21 to 23 are brought into contact with and engaged with the back surface of the exterior panel 1 as shown in FIG. Next, while pressing the boss portion 28 of each of the operation buttons 21 to 23 through the boss through hole 31 of the holder member 3, the presser convex portion 32 of the holder member 3 is attached to the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27, and the exterior. The holder member 3 is brought into contact with the spacer protrusion 14 on the back surface of the panel 1. Finally, the circuit board 4 is placed in the holder member so that the light emitting element 6 of the circuit board 4 is accommodated in the cylindrical portion 30 and the switch 5 is in contact with the boss portions 28 of the operation buttons 21-23. In this state, the outer panel 1, the holder member 3, and the circuit board 4 are fastened and fixed by means such as screws.

[0016] In this way, the operation button device is assembled, and in the assembled state, the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 of the button unit 2 are provided with the non-rotating convex portions 11 on the back surface of the exterior panel 1. , 12 and are pressed and fixed by the pressing convex portion 32 of the holder member 3.

Next, the operation will be described.

In the button unit 2 shown in FIG. 2, for example, when one operation button 22 located in the middle portion is pressed, the middle hinge portions 24 on both sides thereof are elastically deformed. Between the operation button 22 and the adjacent operation buttons 21 and 23, the rectangular frame-shaped mounting fitting frame 25 on the holder member 3 side and the rectangular non-rotating projection 12 on the exterior panel 1 side are fitted. Therefore, the pressing force of the operation button 22 is not transmitted to the operation buttons 21 and 23 adjacent thereto. Therefore, the operation buttons 21 and 23 adjacent to the pressed operation button 22 do not move together.

[0018] According to the first embodiment described above, in the button unit 2 in which the plurality of operation buttons 21 to 23 are integrally connected, the intermediate hinge portion that connects the operation buttons 21 to 23 in series. 24 and side hinge portions 26 formed integrally with the operation buttons 21 and 23 on both sides are provided with mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27, respectively, and the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 are provided on the back surface of the exterior panel 1. The non-rotating convex portions 11 and 12 to be fitted are integrally projected, and the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 and the non-rotating convex portions 11 and 12 are each formed in a rectangular shape (square shape). Thus, when one operation button 22 is pressed, the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 and the rotation preventing projections 11 and 12 transmit the pressing force to the adjacent operation buttons 21 and 23. Therefore, there is an effect that highly reliable operability can be obtained in which adjacent operation buttons do not move together.

[0019] Further, the button unit 2 can be easily assembled to the exterior panel 1 simply by fitting the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 of the button unit 2 into the rotation-preventing convex portions 11 and 12 on the rear surface of the exterior panel 1. There is an effect that can be. Further, the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 of the button unit 2 fitted into the rotation preventing projections 11 and 1 2 on the back surface of the exterior panel 1 are the pressing projections of the holder member 3 that is assembled to the back surface of the exterior panel 1. Since the attachment fitting frame portions 25 and 27 are pressed by 32, there is an effect that there is no fear that the mounting fitting frame portions 25 and 27 will come off from the detent projections 11 and 12. Further, since the light emitting element 6 mounted on the circuit board 4 is configured to be housed in the cylindrical portion 30 of the holder member 3, each of the operation buttons 21 to 23 can be individually illuminated clearly. is there.

[0020] Embodiment 2.

6 is an exploded perspective view showing a button unit connecting portion of the operation button device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an assembly view of FIG.

In the second embodiment, the button unit 2 in the first embodiment is configured so that another button unit 2A can be connected without any step. That is, in the button units 2 and 2A to be connected to each other, the rectangular frame-shaped mounting fitting frame portion 27 integrally formed at the front end of one side hinge portion 26 and the side hinge portion 26a of the other button unit 2A. As shown in FIG. 7, the height of both of the side hinge portions 26 and 26a is the same as the height of each of the side hinge portions 26 and 26a. It was formed to be height. Other configurations in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0021] According to the second embodiment configured as described above, the side hinge portions 26 and 26a of the button units 2 and 2A to be connected to each other are overlapped with each other and fitted to the detent projection 11 on the back surface of the exterior panel 1. As a result, a plurality of button units 2 and 2A can be connected in series without any step. [0022] Embodiment 3.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the button unit connecting means of the operation button device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a front view showing a connected state of a plurality of button units by the button unit connecting means of FIG. The same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the mounting fitting frame portions 27 and 27a of the side hinge portions 26 and 26a are each formed in a rectangular frame shape. However, in the third embodiment, the side hinge portions 26 and 26a are connected to each other. Polygonal mounting fitting frame parts 29, 29a are integrally formed at the tip of each, and the height force of both mounting fitting frame parts 29, 29a is superimposed. In the same manner as in the second embodiment, the side hinge portions 26 and 26a are formed to have the same height.

[0023] In the third embodiment, the anti-rotation convex portion 13 integrally protruding on the back surface of the exterior panel 1 is formed in the same polygonal shape as the mounting fitting frame portions 29 and 29a. . In the third embodiment, the mounting fitting frame portions 29, 29a of the side hinge portions 26, 26a of the plurality of button units 2, 2A, 2B (see FIG. 9) to be connected to each other are provided as described above. As in the case of Form 2, the button units 2, 2A, 2B can be connected to each other in a predetermined bending direction by overlapping each other and fitting to the anti-rotation projection 13 on the back of the exterior panel 1. it can.

In the third embodiment, the mounting fitting frame portions 29, 29a and the anti-rotation convex portion 13 have an octagonal force. The mounting fitting frame portions 29, 29a and the anti-rotation convex portion 13 are As long as the button units 2, 2 </ b> A, and 2 </ b> B to be connected can be connected in a predetermined bending direction, any polygonal shape may be used.

[0025] According to the third embodiment configured as described above, the attachment fitting frame portions 29, 29a formed at the tips of the side hinge portions 26, 26a of the button units 2, 2A, 2B to be connected to each other, Since the anti-rotation projections 13 integrally projecting on the back surface of the exterior panel 1 are each formed in a polygonal shape, the plurality of button units 2, 2A, 2B to be connected to each other are bent at a predetermined angle. Can be easily connected to each other without any step, and the bending direction can be arbitrarily adjusted in the direction according to the shape of the exterior panel 1. Where the actual In the third embodiment, the mounting fitting frame portions 29, 29a and the non-rotating convex portion 13 are the forces illustrated as octagonal shapes, respectively, by fitting the mounting fitting frame portions 29, 29a with the non-rotating convex portion 13. Any polygonal shape (for example, a triangular shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, etc.) may be used as long as the button units 2, 2A, 2B can be connected to each other in a predetermined bending direction. An effect is obtained.

In each of the embodiments described above, the anti-rotation projections 11 and 12 are projected from the back surface of the exterior panel 1 and the holding projection 32 is projected from the holder member 3. In this case, the same effect can be obtained by projecting the portions 11 and 12 and projecting the presser convex portion 32 on the back surface of the exterior panel 1. In addition, all the mounting fitting frame portions 25, 27 and 29, 29a and the non-rotating convex portions 11, 12, 13 in each of the embodiments described above are formed in the same shape square, and the button units 2, 2A, 2B It is also possible to connect each other in either the serial direction or the bending direction.

Industrial applicability

As described above, the operation button device according to the present invention is suitable for switch operation without the adjacent operation buttons cooperating when the operation button is pressed.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A button unit in which a plurality of operation buttons are integrally connected in a row and adjacent to each other at a predetermined interval, and an exterior panel having a plurality of button fitting holes for fitting and displaying each of the operation buttons. In the operation button device provided with a holder member for sandwiching the button unit between the back surface of the exterior panel,

A rectangular frame-like mounting fit is provided on each of the intermediate hinge part integrally connecting the adjacent operation buttons and the side hinge part integrally formed on the side edges of the operation buttons located on both sides of the button nut. An operation button characterized by integrally forming a mating frame portion and providing a square-shaped detent projection for fitting and fixing the mounting fitting frame portion on one of the exterior panel and the holder member. apparatus.

[2] A plurality of button units can be connected, and they are fitted to the attachment fitting frame portion formed at the tip of the side hinge portion provided in each of the button units and the attachment fitting frame portion. 2. The operation button device according to claim 1, wherein the non-rotating convex portions are each formed in a polygonal shape.

[3] The outer panel or holder member on the side that does not have the non-rotating convex portion is provided with a pressing convex portion for pressing the mounting fitting frame portion into which the non-rotating convex portion is fitted. The operation button device according to claim 1.