Switch

A switch includes a housing, a sliding member, and at least one connecting button. The housing includes at least one conductive member. The sliding member is slidably received in the housing. The sliding member includes at least one connecting member and at least one bevel surface. The connecting button is connected to the bevel surface. The connecting button is operable to be pressed to move along a pressing direction, and push the bevel surface such that the sliding member slides along a sliding direction substantially perpendicular to the pressing direction of the connecting button. The connecting member is electrically connected to the conductive member when the sliding member slides to a first position.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to switches, and particularly to a switch used in an electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Switches are widely used in electronic devices. Typically, a switch includes a curved conductive sheet, and a button connected to the top of the conductive sheet. When pressures are exerted on the button, the button will press the conductive sheet such that the conductive sheet is deformed to generate restoring forces from an original state, and contacts with an electrical contact mounted on a circuitry of the electronic device, so that the circuitry is closed. When the pressures are released, the conductive sheet will return to the original state via the restoring forces. However, restoring forces of the conductive sheet may be weakened after repeated deformations, thus the reliability of the switch decreases with use.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a switch which can overcome the above-mentioned problems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a switch10includes a housing11, a sliding member12, two connecting buttons13,14, and a positioning button15. The sliding member12is slidably received in the housing11. The connecting buttons13,14, and the positioning button15are partially received in the housing11.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the housing11is substantially rectangular. The housing11includes a first sidewall111, a second sidewall112, a third sidewall1191, and a fourth sidewall1192. The second sidewall112is parallel to the first sidewall111. The third sidewall1191and the fourth sidewall1192are connected between the first sidewall111and the second sidewall112to form the housing11. The housing11further includes two supporting members113, a first conductive member115, a second conductive member116, a first bracket117, and a second bracket118.

The first sidewall111defines three positioning through holes1110,1111,1112, which are substantially rectangular and arranged in a straight line.

The supporting members113are substantially rectangular plates extending from the second sidewall112. Each supporting member113defines a sliding through hole1130in a distal end. The supporting members113are parallel to each other, such that the two sliding through holes1130are aligned with each other correspondingly.

The first and second conductive members115,116are disposed on the second sidewall112between the supporting members113. The first conductive member115includes two conductive columns115aand115bseparated from each other. The second conductive member116includes two separated conductive columns116a,116bseparated from each other. The conductive members115,116are configured to interconnect circuitries of an electronic device (not shown).

The first bracket117is disposed on the second sidewall112. A top plate of the first bracket117is located above the conductive members115,116. The first bracket117defines two sliding slots1171,1172, and a receiving through hole1173located between the two sliding slots1171,1172. The receiving through hole1173is aligned with the positioning through hole1112. The sliding slots1171,1172are located above the conductive members115,116correspondingly.

The second bracket118is disposed on the first sidewall111. A bottom plate of the second bracket118is located above the first bracket117, and defines three limiting through holes1181,1182,1183. The limiting through holes1181,1182are rectangular, and the limiting through hole1183is circular. The limiting through holes1181,1182,1183are aligned with the positioning through holes1110,1111,1112, correspondingly.

The sliding member12includes a main body120, two sliding rods122, and two positioning springs124. The sliding rods122extend from opposite sides of the main body120correspondingly. The positioning springs124are sleeved on the sliding rods122correspondingly.

The main body120is a trapezoid in shape, and includes two bevel surfaces1205,1206, and two fixing portions1202extending from the two bevel surfaces1205,1206correspondingly. The main body120further includes two connecting members1203,1204extending from a bottom surface of the main body120. The connecting members1203,1204are electrically conductive. The main body120defines two fixing through holes1207,1208, and a rectangular positioning slot1209communicating with the two fixing through holes1207,1208.

The two sliding rods122are fixed to the two fixing portions1202correspondingly. Each positioning spring124is sleeved on a corresponding sliding rod122and stopped by a corresponding fixing portion1202.

The connecting button13includes a pressing portion131, a connecting portion133, a limiting portion135, and a spring134. The pressing portion131is a substantially rectangular block. The connecting portion133is a right trapezoidal body and includes a bevel edge1330. The connecting portion133defines an opening137in a distal end. The bevel edge1330is mid-sectioned by the opening137. The limiting portion135is a plate protruding from a peripheral of one end of the pressing portion131, and located between the pressing portion131and the connecting portion133. The spring134is sleeved on the connecting portion133and blocked by the limiting portion135.

The second connecting button14has a similar structure as the first connecting button13.

The positioning button15includes a pressing portion151, a connecting portion152, a limiting portion155, a positioning portion153, and a spring154. The pressing portion151and the limiting portion155have similar structures as the pressing portion131and the limiting portion135. The connecting portion152includes a cylindrical upper rod152aand a cylindrical lower rod152b. The upper rod152ais connected to the limiting portion155. The lower rod152bis concentrically connected to the upper rod152a. The positioning portion153is a cylindrical body concentrically connected to a distal end of the lower rod152b. The spring154is sleeved on the connection portion152and blocked by the limiting portion155. The length of the spring154in a normal state is longer than the height of the second bracket118.

Further referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, in assembly, the sliding member12is disposed on the first bracket117. The two connecting members1203,1204are inserted into the two sliding slots1171,1172correspondingly. The two bevel surfaces1205,1206are located under the limiting through holes1181,1182correspondingly. The sliding rods122are inserted through the sliding through holes1130, such that the sliding member12can slide on the first bracket117.

The connecting portion133is inserted through the limiting through hole1181and sleeved on the fixing portion1202. The bevel edge1330contacts the bevel surface1205. The pressing portion131is inserted through the positioning through hole1110and extends out of the first sidewall111. The spring134and the limiting portion135are located between the second bracket118and the first sidewall111. The connecting button14is assembled into the housing11in a similar manner as the connecting button13.

The connecting portion152is inserted through the limiting through hole1183and the fixing through hole1207, such that the positioning portion153is received in the receiving through hole1173. The pressing portion151is inserted through the positioning through hole1112and extends out of the first sidewall111. The spring154and the limiting portion155are located between the second bracket118and the first sidewall111. The spring154is compressed by the limiting portion155and the second bracket118. The sliding member12is moved until the positioning slot1209is aligned with the receiving through hole1173and the limiting through hole1183. As a result, the lower rod152bis received in the positioning slot1209and the positioning portion153is limited in the receiving through hole1173by the main body120. At the same time, the limiting portion155is at a distance away from the first sidewall111.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, in operation, when the pressing portion131is pressed, the bevel surface1205becomes pressed by the connecting portion133, and the sliding member12slides toward the connecting button14. As a result, the connecting member1203contacts the conductive member115to electrically interconnect the conductive columns115aand115b. At the same time, the fixing through hole1207is aligned with the receiving through hole1173and the limiting through hole1183, and the positioning button15is pushed by the spring154. Accordingly, the positioning portion153returns to a normal position corresponding to the fixing through hole1207limiting the sliding member12to move. As a result, the conductive member115remains electrically connected to the connecting member1203. In this condition, the positioning spring124adjacent to the button14is compressed by one of the fixing portions1202and one of the supporting members113correspondingly. When the connecting button13is depressed, the connecting portion131is pushed by the spring134.

Then, when the positioning button15is pressed, the positioning portion153is pressed into the receiving through hole1173, and the sliding member12returns to a normal position. As a result, the conductive member115does not conduct. Similar to the connecting button13, when the connecting button14is pressed, the connecting member1204is electrically connected to the conductive member116.

It should be mentioned that, the connecting button14can be omitted in an alternative embodiment. Correspondingly, the conductive member116and the connecting member1204also can be omitted.

It should also be understood that, in another alternative embodiment, one end of the positioning spring124can be fixed to the supporting member113, and the other end of the positioning spring124can be fixed to the fixing portion1202. When the shifted main body120is not blocked, the stretched positioning spring124can draw back the shifted main body120.

While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.