Patent ID: 7554049
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A rocking switch unit comprising: a base section that has a first rocking fulcrum and a second rocking fulcrum; a switch knob that is coupled with the base section through the first rocking fulcrum to be rockable in two ways and that has a pair of rocking end portions located on two sides with respect to the first rocking fulcrum; a pair of tactile switches disposed to correspond to the pair of rocking end portions; a middle rocking section that is coupled with the based section through the second rocking fulcrum to be rockable in the two ways in conjunction with the switch knob and that has a rocking pole extending toward two sides with respect to the second fulcrum and having a pole rocking surface crossing a pressing direction; a pair of switch-pressing portions that is located between the pair of rocking end portions and the pair of tactile switches for transmitting a pressing force from one of the rocking end portions to the corresponding tactile switch when the one of the rocking end portions is pressed in the pressing direction and that has an end rocking surface crossing the pressing direction and that is coupled with two end portions of the rocking pole in such a manner that a coupling angle between the pole rocking surface and end rocking surface is variable in the pressing direction; and a pair of guide parts disposed between the pair of switch-pressing portions and the pair of tactile switches and each having a guide hole for guiding the switch-pressing portions to be linearly movable between a releasing position at which the switch knob is in a neutral position and a pressing position at which one of the switch-pressing portions press the corresponding tactile switch; wherein the coupling angle between the pole rocking surface and the end rocking surface increases when the one of the switch-pressing portions approaches the corresponding tactile switch, the base section includes a fulcrum-forming portion at which the first rocking fulcrum and the second rocking fulcrum are disposed and a base portion that extends from the fulcrum-forming portion approximately perpendicularly to the pressing direction and that is arranged between the middle rocking section and the tactile switches, the pair of guide parts are located at the base portion, each of the guide holes extend in the pressing direction, the switch-pressing portions are inserted into the guide holes, respectively, to be movable in the pressing direction, the fulcrum-forming portion extends in the pressing direction toward an opposite side of the tactile switches with respect to the base portion, a first distance between the first rocking fulcrum and the base portion is longer than a second distance between the second rocking fulcrum and the base portion, and the middle rocking section has an approximately horizontal elastic beam shape in a state where the middle rocking section does not rock.