Switch structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9945459-B2
Application number	US-201615081960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A switch structure includes a lever operable by a user, a body coupled to the lever, a support formed in the lever, a pusher supported by the support, a detent surface formed in the body to produce a click when the lever is operated, and a spring that pushes the pusher against the detent surface. The pusher includes two slide surfaces, which slide on the lever and the body, and a groove, which draws grease from one of the two slide surfaces where the grease is applied to another one of the two slide surfaces.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switch structure comprising:
a lever operable by a user;
a body coupled to the lever;
a support formed in one of the lever and the body;
a pusher supported by the support;
a detent surface formed in the other one of the lever and the body to produce a click when the lever is operated; and
a spring that pushes the pusher against the detent surface, wherein
the pusher includes at least two slide surfaces that slide on the lever and the body,
the pusher includes a groove that draws grease from one of the at least two slide surfaces where the grease is applied to another one of the at least two slide surfaces,
the at least two slide surfaces include
a first slide surface having a contact portion where the pusher contacts the detent surface, and
a second slide surface that is continuous with the first slide surface and located at a higher position than the first slide surface in a vertical direction of the switch structure, and

the groove of the pusher extends continuously from the first slide surface to the second slide surface to draw the grease from, the first slide surface to the second slide surface.

2. The switch structure according to claim 1 , wherein the groove of the pusher is located at a position separated from the contact portion where the pusher contacts the detent surface.

3. The switch structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the groove of the pusher extends to a portion of the pusher that contacts the support when the pusher slides along the support.

4. The switch structure according to claim 1 , wherein the groove of the pusher includes a branch groove that branches from the groove of the pusher.

5. The switch structure according to claim 1 , wherein the groove of the pusher has a V-shaped cross-section, a U-shaped cross-section, or a shape that causes capillary action.

6. The switch structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the pusher includes a quadrangular post body and a round bottom end; and
the groove extends from the quadrangular post body to the round bottom end.

7. The switch structure according to claim 6 , wherein
the groove is one of a plurality of grooves that are formed in four side surfaces of the quadrangular post body, and
each of the four side surfaces includes one or more of the plurality of grooves so that each groove extends in a corresponding side surface.

Assignees

• Tokai Rika Co Ltd

Inventors

• Takeuchi Motoya

Classifications

• F16H21/44 Primary

  for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions · CPC title

• H01H23/14 Primary

  Tumblers · CPC title

• H01H23/168

  using cams · CPC title

• F16H21/04

  Guiding mechanisms, e.g. for straight-line guidance · CPC title

• H01H2021/225

  with push-pull operation, e.g. which can be pivoted in both directions by pushing or pulling on the same extremity of the operating member · CPC title