Push switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11024471-B2
Application number	US-201816640578-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2018
Priority date	Sep 1, 2017
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A push switch includes a stationary contact and a movable contact. The stationary contact includes a base material and a conductive layer that covers the base material. The movable contact is disposed opposite a contact surface of the stationary contact. The movable contact is movable between a first position where the movable contact is in contact with the contact surface and a second position where the movable contact is apart from the contact surface. The stationary contact has a groove that divides the contact surface into a plurality of areas. Connection surfaces connect respective opening edges of the groove with a bottom of the groove. Each of the connection surfaces has a slope that is inclined at acute angle relative to the contact surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A push switch comprising:
a stationary contact that includes a base material and a conductive layer that covers the base material; and
a movable component that has a movable contact on a surface of the movable component, the surface of the movable component being opposite the stationary contact, the movable contact being disposed opposite a contact surface of the stationary contact, the movable contact being movable between a first position where the movable contact is in contact with the contact surface and a second position where the movable contact is apart from the contact surface, wherein:
the stationary contact has a groove that divides the contact surface into a plurality of areas,
connection surfaces connect respective opening edges of the groove with a bottom of the groove, and each of the connection surfaces has a slope that is inclined at an acute angle relative to the contact surface, and
a direction of rolling of the movable component intersects with a direction in which the groove extends, the direction of rolling being a direction in which a metal sheet, from which the movable component is formed, is rolled at a time of a manufacturing process of the metal sheet.

2. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein the slope is a curved surface.

3. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein the slope is a plane.

4. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein the groove includes a first groove and a second groove that extend in different directions in a plane that is along the contact surface, and
each of the connection surfaces has the slope at least at each of corners at a point of intersection between the first groove and the second groove.

5. The push switch according to claim 3 , wherein
the groove includes a first groove and a second groove that extend in different directions in a plane that is along the contact surface, and
each of the connection surfaces has the slope at least at each of corners at a point of intersection between the first groove and the second groove.

6. The push switch according to claim 4 , wherein at each of the corners, each of the connection surfaces is a curved surface that is curved in such a manner that the curved surface protrudes toward an inside of the groove, at least in the plane that is along the contact surface.

7. The push switch according to claim 6 , wherein a radius of curvature of each of the corners in the plane that is along the contact surface is smaller than a predetermined upper limit.

8. The push switch according to claim 6 , wherein a radius of curvature of each of the corners in the plane that is along the contact surface is larger than a radius of curvature of each of the corners in a plane that is perpendicular to the contact surface.

9. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer is a plated layer.

10. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein
the stationary contact has a protrusion that protrudes from a base surface, and
the contact surface is a surface of an end of the protrusion.

11. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer includes a first conductive layer on the contact surface, and a second conductive layer on each of the connection surfaces, the first conductive layer being connected with the second conductive layer.

12. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein
the groove includes a first groove and a second groove that extend in different directions in a plane that is along the contact surface,
the first groove extend in a first direction,
the second extend in a second direction, and
the direction of rolling of the movable component intersects with the first direction and the second direction.

13. The push switch according to claim 12 , wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

14. A push switch comprising:
a stationary contact that includes a base material and a conductive layer that covers the base material; and
a movable component that has a movable contact on a surface of the movable component, the surface of the movable component being opposite the stationary contact, the movable contact being disposed opposite a contact surface of the stationary contact, the movable contact being movable between a first position where the movable contact is in contact with the contact surface and a second position where the movable contact is apart from the contact surface, wherein:
the stationary contact has a groove that divides the contact surface into a plurality of areas, and
a direction of rolling of the movable component intersects with a direction in which the groove extends, the direction of rolling being a direction in which a metal sheet, from which the movable component is formed, is rolled at a time of a manufacturing process of the metal sheet.

15. The push switch according to claim 14 , wherein
the groove includes a first groove and a second groove that extend in different directions in a plane that is along the contact surface,
the first groove extend in a first direction,
the second extend in a second direction,
the direction of rolling of the movable component intersects with both of the first direction and the second direction.

16. The push switch according to claim 15 , wherein the first groove intersects with the second groove.

17. The push switch according to claim 15 , wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

18. The push switch according to claim 16 , wherein the first groove is orthogonal to the second groove.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• DORO Kunio
• Kobayashi Hirokazu

Classifications

• H01H1/60

  Auxiliary means structurally associated with the switch for cleaning or lubricating contact-making surfaces (cleaning by normal sliding of contacts H01H1/18, H01H1/36) · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• H01H13/52

  the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch · CPC title

• H01H13/48 Primary

  using buckling of disc springs · CPC title

• H01H2201/004

  Wiping action · CPC title