Abstract:
A slide type variable resistor with a resistance adjusting member, comprising a housing, two side rails, a circuit module, a control member and a base. The housing includes a housing limiting hole and a space. The two side rails are disposed in the space. The circuit module is disposed in the space and has a resistive circuit. The control member is disposed in the space. The control member includes an object, at least one metal brush, a handle and an elastic member. The object having a bump, and the elastic member is sleeved at the bump.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application Serial No. 104140121, filed Dec. 1, 2015, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention is related to a slide type variable resistor, and more particularly is related to a slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member. 
       2. Description of the Prior Art 
       [0003]    It is common in our daily life to adjust the value of an output voltage signals by using a manipulating device, such as the variable resistor. Based on the type of operation, the variable resistors can be sorted as rotating-type variable resistors and slide-type variable resistors. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an explosive view of a conventional slide type variable resistor. As shown, the variable resistor PA 100  includes a circuit base PA 1 , a manipulating module PA 2 , and a housing PA 3 . The circuit base PA 1  includes a circuit board PA 11  and a plurality of pins PA 12 . The manipulating module PA 2  includes a slidable unit PA 21 , two metal brushes PA 22 , a handle PA 23 , an elastic plate PA 24 , and a washer PA 25 . The slidable unit PA 21  is moveably assembled on the circuit board PA 11  along the manipulating direction L. The two metal brushes PA 22  are assembled on a back surface of the slidable unit PA 21  for pressing against the resistor circuit on the circuit board PA 11 . The handle PA 23  is assembled on a front surface of the slidable unit PA 21 , and penetrates the elastic plate PA 24  and the washer PA 25  located thereon in sequence. The housing PA 3  is fixed on the circuit base PA 1 , and has a position limiting hole PA 31  and a plurality of fixing parts PA 32 . The handle PA 23  extends outward from the position limiting hole PA 31 , and the fixing parts PA 32  are utilized for fixing the housing PA 3  on the circuit base PA 1 . 
         [0005]    As mentioned, as for the conventional technology, the slidable unit PA 21  is arranged to contact the circuit board PA 1   1  directly. In order to have the manipulating module PA 2  moving along the manipulating direction L back and forth smoothly, the friction between the slidable unit PA 21  and the circuit board PA 1   1  is designed to be small. However, as the variable resistor PA 100  is set on an inclined platform, a movable platform, or the wall, the slidable unit PA 21  may slide down automatically due to the influence of gravity such that the resistor value of the variable resistor PA 100  would be changed. In addition, because of the small friction between the slidable unit PA 21  and circuit board PA 11  of the conventional variable resistor PA 100 , a minor touch by the user during the operation may cause a great influence to the resistor value. For the electric apparatuses sensitive to the resistor value, a minor touch by the user may cause a huge reaction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the variable resistor of the conventional art, which has the slidable unit located on the circuit board directly, because of a small friction between the slidable unit and the circuit board, the user can push the handle easily. However, as the variable resistor is set on an inclined or vertical plane, the slidable unit would be sensitive to gravity and may slide down due to the small friction between the slidable unit and the circuit board, such that the position of the handle cannot be maintained and the output signal would be changed. Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a slide type variable resistor, which features the resistance adjusting member to adjust or change the friction on the manipulating device. 
         [0007]    In order to resolve the above mentioned problem, a slide type variable resistor with a resistance adjusting member is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member comprises a housing, two side rails, a circuit module, a manipulating device and a base. 
         [0008]    The housing has a housing position limiting hole extending along a manipulating direction, and an accomodation space spatially communicated to the housing position limiting hole is formed. The two side rails extend along the manipulating direction and are symmetrically located in the allocation space. The circuit module is located in the accomodation space and has a resistor circuit. 
         [0009]    The manipulating device is located in the allocation space, and comprises a slidable unit, at least one metal brush, a handle, and an elastic member. The slidable unit is slidably located between the two side rails along the manipulating direction and has a bump. The metal brush is fixed on the slidable unit and with elastic force to press against the resistor circuit. The handle is connected to the slidable unit and extends outward through the housing position limiting hole. The elastic member is sleeved on the bump. 
         [0010]    The base is fixed to the housing and is utilized for enclosing the accomodation space to constrain the two side rails, the circuit module and the manipulating device in the allocation space, and the base also presses against the elastic member. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit module comprises a circuit board and a plurality of pins. The circuit board is fixed between the two side rails and has a circuit board position limiting hole extending along the manipulating direction, and the resistor circuit is located on a back surface of the circuit board. The pins are located on the circuit board and penetrate through the base respectively. As a preferred embodiment, the slidable unit has a front surface and a back surface, the front surface of the slidable unit faces the back surface of the circuit board, the handle is inserted to the front surface of the slidable unit, the metal brush is located on the front surface of the slidable unit, the back surface of the slidable unit faces the base, and the bump is located on the back surface of the slidable unit. In addition, the base further comprises a plurality of through holes corresponding to the pins, and the pins penetrate the through holes respectively. 
         [0012]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the base comprises a base body and two end locking parts. The two end locking parts are symmetrically located on two ends of the base body and press against the two side rails respectively to fix the two side rails in the allocation space. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each of the side rails includes a circuit board fixing groove. The two sides of the circuit board are fixed in the circuit board fixing grooves of the two side rails respectively so as to have the circuit board fixed in the allocation space. 
         [0014]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each of the side rails includes a slidable unit guiding trench. The two sides of the slidable unit are moveably located in the slidable unit guiding trenches of the two side rails along the manipulating direction respectively so as to have the circuit board fixed in the allocation space. 
         [0015]    As mentioned, in compared with the conventional variable resistor, the slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in the present invention features an elastic member located on the bottom of the slidable unit for pressing against the base to generate friction such that when operating the manipulating device, a certain resistance must be overcome so as to give the user a better feeling and enhance operational stability. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a 3D explosive view of a conventional variable resistor. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a 3D schematic view of a slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a 3D explosive view of the slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a 3D explosive view of the slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention from another viewing angle. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view along A-A cross section in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    Please refer to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , wherein  FIG. 2  is a 3D schematic view of a slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 3  is a 3D explosive view of the slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  FIG. 4  is a 3D explosive view of the slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention from another viewing angle. As shown, the slide type variable resistor  100  includes a housing  1 , two side rails  2  and  3 , a circuit module  4 , a manipulating device  5  and a base  6 . 
         [0022]    The housing  1  has a housing position limiting hole  11  extending along a manipulating direction W, and an accomodation space SS spatially communicated to the housing position limiting hole  11  is formed therein. Wherein, the housing  1  further includes four positioning parts  12  (only one of them is labelled in the figure) and six fixing parts  13  (only one of them is labelled in the figure). 
         [0023]    The two side rails  2  and  3  are extending along the manipulating direction W and symmetrically located in the accomodation space SS. The side rail  2  has a supporting part  21  and a slidable unit guiding trench  22 , and the side rail  3  also has a supporting part  31  and a slidable unit guiding trench  32 , wherein the slidable unit guiding trench  22  and the slidable unit guiding trench  32  are symmetrically arranged. 
         [0024]    The circuit module  4  is located in the accomodation space SS and includes a circuit board  41 , two first pins  42  (only one of them is labelled in the figure) and four second pins  43  (only one of them is labelled in the figure). 
         [0025]    The circuit board  41  is fixed between the side rails  2  and  3 , and has a back surface  411  thereof. The back surface  411  of the circuit board is opposite to the housing position limiting hole  11 . Two resistor circuits  412  (only one of them is labelled) are located on the back surface  411  of the circuit board, and the circuit board  41  also has a circuit board position limiting hole  413  extending along the manipulating direction W. The two sides of the circuit board  41  are fixed in the circuit board fixing grooves (not labelled) of the two side rails  2  and  3  respectively, and the circuit board fixing grooves are located on the slidable unit guiding trenches  32  to have the circuit board  41  fixed in the accomodation space SS. 
         [0026]    The first pins  42  and the second pins  43  are located on the two ends of the circuit board  41  for electrically connected to the corresponding circuit board resistor circuits  412  respectively. 
         [0027]    The manipulating device  5  includes a slidable unit  51 , two metal brushes  52  (only one of them is labelled), a handle  53 , and an elastic member  54 . The slidable unit  51  is guided by the slidable unit guiding trench  22  and slidable unit guiding trench  32  so as to be slidably located between the two side rails  2  and  3  along the manipulating direction W. The slidable unit  51  has a front surface  511  and a back surface  512 , the front surface  511  of the slidable unit faces the back surface  411  of the circuit board, and a bump  5121  is located on the back surface  512  of the slidable unit. 
         [0028]    The metal brushes  52  are fixed on the front surface  511  of the slidable unit and with elastic force to press against the resistor circuits  412 . The handle  53  is connected to the front surface  511  of the slidable unit and extends outward through the housing position limiting hole  11 . The elastic member  54  is firmly sleeved on the bump  5121 . 
         [0029]    The base  6  is fixed to the housing  1  and is utilized for enclosing the accomodation space SS to constrain the two side rails  2  and  3 , the circuit module  4  and the manipulating device  5  in the accomodation space SS. 
         [0030]    The base  6  includes a base body  61  and two end locking parts  62  (only one of them is labelled). The base body  61  has ten side holes  611  (only one of them is labelled) and a trench  612  on two sides thereof. These side holes  611  are utilized for locating the aforementioned four positioning parts  12  and six fixing parts  13 , wherein the positioning parts  12  are utilized for penetrating the corresponding side holes  611  to position the housing  1 , and the fixing parts  13  would be further bended against the base  6  after penetrating the corresponding side holes  611  to have the housing  1  fixed to the base  6 . The trench  612  is utilized for pressing against the elastic member  54  to have the elastic member  54  moving in the trench  612 . The supporting part  21  of the side rail  2  and the supporting part  31  of the side rail  3  are pressing against the two sides of the base body  61  between the side holes  611  and the trench  612 . 
         [0031]    The two end locking parts  62  (only one of them is labelled) are symmetrically located on two ends of the base body  61  and press against the two side rails  2  and  3  respectively to fix the two side rails  2  and  3  in the accomodation space. 
         [0032]    Please also refer to  FIG. 5 , which is a cross-section view along A-A cross section in  FIG. 2 . A shown, as the slidable unit  51  is positioned by the two side rails  2  and  3  and the base  6  is fixed to the housing  1 , the elastic member  54  pressing against the base  6  would be interfered with the base  6  to cause elastic deformation such that a static friction would be generated between the elastic member  54  and the manipulating device  5  as the manipulating device  5  is stationary and a certain resistance would be generated as the manipulating device  5  is moving along the extending direction W. 
         [0033]    To sum up, the slide type variable resistor with resistance adjusting member provided in the present invention features the elastic member located on the bottom of the slidable unit which presses against the base to cause interference, such that as the user moves the handle along the extending direction L, the elastic member driven by the slidable unit would be elastically deformed to cause the resistance against the movement of the manipulating device such that the user needs to apply a certain force in order to move the handle. In addition, because of the contact between the elastic member and the base, a static friction would be also generated to prevent the unwanted movement of the manipulating device due to a slight shaking or a minor touch by the user so as to enhance operational stability effectively. 
         [0034]    The detail description of the aforementioned preferred embodiments is for clarifying the feature and the spirit of the present invention. The present invention should not be limited by any of the exemplary embodiments described herein, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. Specifically, those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.