Switch unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9214304-B2
Application number	US-201113636832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2011
Priority date	Mar 31, 2010
Publication date	Dec 15, 2015
Grant date	Dec 15, 2015

Abstract

A switch unit includes an operating component, and a base portion that supports the operating component capable of being pressed in criss-cross directions. The base portion is provided with a plurality of T-shaped regulating components that are formed in positions in directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions. Each of the regulating components is provided with a leg portion that extends from the base portion towards the operating component, and an abutting portion that extends from an end portion of the leg portion along a line that connects together predetermined positions of the criss-cross directions that are located on both sides of each regulating component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch unit comprising:
an operating component;
a base portion that supports the operating component capable of being pressed in criss-cross directions by a user, the base portion being provided with a plurality of T-shaped regulating components that are formed in positions in directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions, each of the regulating components being provided with a leg portion that extends from the base portion towards the operating component, and an abutting portion that extends from an end portion of the leg portion along a line that connects together predetermined positions of the criss-cross directions that are located on both sides of each regulating component,
wherein the regulating components are adapted to regulate a pressing operation of the operating component by the user when the operating component is pressed in one of the directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions by contacting a rear surface of the operating component,
the leg portion is formed by elastically deformable components, and
a thickness of the leg portion in a direction sandwiched between the criss-cross directions, which is one of said directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions in which the regulating component including the leg portion is positioned, is larger than a thickness of the leg portion in a direction which is orthogonal, along a plane of an upper surface of the base portion from which the leg portion extends, to said direction sandwiched between the criss-cross directions.

2. The switch unit according to claim 1 , further comprising switches capable of being pressed via the operating component, located in predetermined positions in the criss-cross directions on the base portion, wherein
the operating component is provided with switch abutting portions that are capable of pressing the switches, and that are formed on a flange portion which forms a circumferential edge portion of the rear surface of the operating component, and
regulating component abutting portions that abut against the abutting portions of the regulating components are formed further on the inner side in the radial direction of the operating component than the switch abutting portions.

3. The switch unit according to claim 1 , wherein, when the operating component is pressed in one of the directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions, the regulating components abut against the operating component and regulate the pressing operation of the operating component.

4. The switch unit according to claim 1 , further comprising switches capable of being pressed via the operating component, located in predetermined positions in the criss-cross directions on the base portion, wherein
the operating component is provided with switch abutting portions that are capable of pressing the switches, and that are formed on a flange portion which forms a circumferential edge portion of the rear surface of the operating component, and
regulating component abutting portions that abut against the abutting portions of the regulating components are formed further on the inner side in the radial direction of the operating component than the switch abutting portions.

5. The switch unit according to claim 1 , wherein, when the operating component is pressed in one of the directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions, the regulating components abut against the operating component and regulate the pressing operation of the operating component.

6. The switch unit according to claim 2 , wherein, when the operating component is pressed in one of the directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions, the regulating components abut against the operating component and regulate the pressing operation of the operating component.

7. The switch unit according to claim 4 , wherein, when the operating component is pressed in one of the directions sandwiched between the criss-cross directions, the regulating components abut against the operating component and regulate the pressing operation of the operating component.

Assignees

• Matsumoto Takuya
• Shimada Masahiko
• Kasai Kazunaga
• Muramatsu Toru
• Kobayashi Masahito
• Honda Motor Co Ltd
• Toyo Denso Kk

Inventors

• Matsumoto Takuya
• Shimada Masahiko
• Kasai Kazunaga
• Muramatsu Toru
• Kobayashi Masahito

Classifications

• H01H25/041 Primary

  having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls · CPC title

• H01H2025/043

  the operating member being rotatable around wobbling axis for additional switching functions · CPC title