Switch unit and game machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9978545-B2
Application number	US-201615130631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2016
Priority date	May 14, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A switch unit has a display part configured to display an image, and an operation part provided on the display part in a stacked manner. The operation part includes a plurality of press buttons each having a pressable top surface formed to be transparent, a transparent base having a plurality of openings which are formed so as to be spaced from each other in positions corresponding to a display region of the display part, while avoiding a peripheral edge of the display region, a transparent substrate provided below the base and mounted with an electronic component, and a top plate having openings in positions corresponding to the press buttons and provided on the base, with the press buttons mounted thereon, so as to cover the base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switch unit comprising:
a display part configured to display an image; and
an operation part provided on the display part in a stacked manner, wherein the operation part includes:
a plurality of press buttons each having a pressable top surface formed to be transparent;
a transparent base having a plurality of openings which are formed so as to be spaced from each other in positions corresponding to a display region of the display part, while avoiding a peripheral edge of the display region;
a transparent substrate provided below the base and mounted with an electronic component; and
a top plate having openings in positions corresponding to the press buttons and provided on the base, with the press buttons mounted thereon, so as to cover the base, and

each of the press buttons includes, and forms into a unit,
a button body integrally formed of the top surface, a frame-like stand that is larger than the top surface, and an elastically transformable bending transformation part configured to couple the top surface with the stand,
a transparent frame-like cover configured to cover an outer periphery of the button body except for the top surface,
a first sealing part integrally formed with the bending transformation part, and configured to be elastically transformed to adhere to the cover and seal a gap between the button body and the cover, and
a second sealing part integrally formed with an outer peripheral surface of the cover, and configured to be elastically transformed to adhere to the base and the top plate and seal a gap between the cover and the base,

the press button being mounted on the transparent substrate via the opening provided in the base.

2. The switch unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first sealing part is integrally formed with the top surface and the stand by double-molding, along with the bending transformation part.

3. The switch unit according to claim 2 , wherein the second sealing part is integrally formed with the cover by double-molding.

4. A game machine comprising the switch unit according to claim 2 .

5. The switch unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second sealing part is integrally formed with the cover by double-molding.

6. A game machine comprising the switch unit according to claim 5 .

7. A game machine comprising the switch unit according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Onoyama Taichi
• Onitsuka Hiroyuki
• Sumi Masaaki
• Agata Takehiro
• Kimura Masataka

Classifications

• H01H2231/008

  Video game · CPC title

• H01H13/86

  characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size · CPC title

• H01H13/83 Primary

  characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements · CPC title

• H01H2221/07

  transparent · CPC title

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title