Abstract:
A switch device includes a lever. A switch body is arranged in the lever. The switch body supports the lever in a tiltable manner. At least one pusher is moved by contact with the lever when the lever is tilted. At least one switch unit is pushed when the pusher moves. A resiliently deformable sealing member is arranged between the lever and the switch body where air including dust may enter. The sealing member is separated from a location where the pusher comes into contact with the lever, and the sealing member is resiliently deformed when the lever is tilted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-197428, filed on Sep. 7, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a switch device. 
         [0003]    A switch device that opens and closes a power window of a vehicle is arranged in a passenger compartment of the vehicle (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-202691). 
         [0004]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , such a switch device includes, for example, a lever  101 , a pusher  103 , a switch body  104 , a manual switch  105 , and an automatic switch  106 . 
         [0005]    The switch body  104  supports the lever  101  and the pusher  103  in a tiltable manner. Further, the manual switch  105  and the automatic switch  106  are arranged on the same plane separated from each other. The pusher  103  includes a lower left end  1031  opposing the manual switch  105 . Further, the pusher  103  includes a lower right end  103   r  opposing the automatic switch  106 . 
         [0006]    When a user tilts the lever  101 , a pushing portion  101   a  arranged in the lever  101  pushes the pusher  103 . This slightly tilts the pusher  103  in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawing. As a result, the manual switch  105  is pushed and activated. When the user further tilts the lever  101 , the force from the pushing portion  101   a  slightly tilts the pusher  103  in the clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing. This pushes the automatic switch  106 . Thus, the manual switch  105  and the automatic switch  106  are both activated. 
         [0007]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the conventional switch device, a clearance is provided between the lever  101  and the switch body  104  to allow for tilting of the lever  101 . As shown by arrow  110 , air flows through the clearance into the switch device. Thus, dust, suspended in the air, may enter the switch device especially since the passenger compartment is a closed space. For example, when dust collects on the pusher  103  at a location that contacts the pushing portion  101   a,  frictional resistance increases between the pushing portion  101   a  and the pusher  103 . Thus, a stronger force has to be applied to the lever  101  to operate the switch device. This makes it difficult to activate both of the manual switch  105  and the automatic switch  106 . Further, the collection of dust in the switch device may also lead to other defects of the switch device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    One aspect of the present invention is a switch device including a lever. A switch body is arranged in the lever. The switch body supports the lever in a tiltable manner. At least one pusher is moved by contact with the lever when the lever is tilted. At least one switch unit is pushed when the pusher moves. A resiliently deformable sealing member is arranged between the lever and the switch body where air including dust may enter. The sealing member is separated from a location where the pusher comes into contact with the lever, and the sealing member is resiliently deformed when the lever is tilted. 
         [0009]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a switch device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the switch device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a switch body and a sealing member in the switch device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the sealing member shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a switch device of the prior art. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    One embodiment of a switch device will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . In the present embodiment, the switch device is a switch for a vehicle power window. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the switch device  1  includes a switch substrate  3 , two pushers  20   a  and  20   b,  a switch body  30 , a lever  6 , and a sealing member  40 . 
         [0019]    The switch substrate  3  includes a plurality of switch units  11   a  to  11   d.  When the switch units  11   a  to  11   d  are pushed from the upper side, the switch units  11   a  to  11   d  are activated. 
         [0020]    The switch body  30  is fixed to the switch substrate  3  and immovable relative to the switch substrate  3 . The switch body  30  includes a main portion and a hollow holding portion  31 , which includes a hole extending from the main portion. The lever  6  is fitted to the upper section of the holding portion  31  so as to be tiltable relative to the switch body  30 . The lever  6  is box-shaped and includes an open bottom end. The lever  6 , when fitted to the holding portion  31 , covers the periphery and upper section of the holding portion  31 . 
         [0021]    As shown by the broken lines in  FIG. 2 , the lever  6  is tilted about a pivot axis A. The lever  6  is at an initial position when arranged at the location shown by solid lines in  FIG. 2 . Operational force is applied to the lever  6  to tilt the lever  6  from the initial position. When the lever  6  becomes free from the operational force, an urging means (not shown) returns the lever  6  to the initial position. 
         [0022]    A clearance L is formed between the lever  6  and the switch body  30  to allow for tilting of the lever  6 . Air including dust may flow into the clearance L from the lower left side as viewed in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0023]    When the lever  6  is tilted, the pushing portions  6   a  and  6   b  arranged in the lever  6  push upper surfaces of the pushers  20   a  and  20   b.  This moves the pushers  20   a  and  20   b  and pushes the switch units  11   a  to  11   d  that are arranged opposing the lower left and right ends of the pushers  20   a  and  20   b,  as viewed in  FIG. 2 . A controller (not shown) opens and closes the vehicle window in accordance with the activation and deactivation of the switch units  11   a  to  11   d.    
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a front end of the holding portion  31  includes a coupling section  32  that allows for the sealing member  40  to be coupled to the holding portion  31 . The coupling section  32  includes a recess  32   a,  which is cut out from the holding portion  31 , and a tab  32   b,  which upwardly extends from the bottom surface of the recess  32   a.  The tab  32   b  includes a hook-shaped end projecting into the holding portion  31 . 
         [0025]    The sealing member  40  is formed from an elastic material such as rubber. The sealing member  40  has a generally L-shaped cross-section and includes a main body  41 , which has the form of a rectangular plate, and a seal  42 , which extends in a direction orthogonal to the main body  41  and has the form of a rectangular plate. The seal  42  is thin so that the seal  42  does not interfere with the movement of the lever  6 . The dimension of the main body  41  in the direction parallel to the short sides (widthwise direction) is greater than the dimension of the seal  42  in the direction parallel to the short sides (widthwise direction). The sealing member  40  includes a mounting portion  43 , which is generally box-shaped and arranged on the outer surface of the main body  41 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the mounting portion  43  includes an insertion hole  43   a,  which extends through the mounting portion  43  in the vertical direction, and a clip  43   b,  which is located at a position separated from the main body  41  by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the holding portion  31 . The tab  32   b  may be inserted through the insertion hole  43   a.    
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , when coupling the sealing member  40  to the holding portion  31  of the switch body  30 , the tab  32   b  is inserted through the insertion hole  43   a  of the mounting portion  43 . This resiliently deforms the mounting portion  43 . The resilient deformation of the mounting portion  43  allows for the tab  32   b  to enter the insertion hole  43   a.  Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the tab  32   b  is completely inserted through the insertion hole  43   a  of the mounting portion  43 , part of the holding portion  31  is held between the clip  43   b  and the main body  41 . Further, the mounting portion  43  is hooked to the distal end of the tab  32   b.  This suppresses removal of the sealing member  40  from the switch body  30 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the seal  42  of the sealing member  40  is located between the inner surface of the lever  6  and the outer surface of the switch body  30  to close the clearance L. In this manner, the sealing member  40  seals the clearance L so that air including dust does not flow into the switch device  1  from the clearance L. 
         [0029]    The operation of the switch device  1  will now be described. 
         [0030]    As shown by the broken lines in  FIG. 2 , when the lever  6  is downwardly tilted from the initial position, the seal  42  is resiliently bent at a portion proximal to its basal end (end connected to the main body  41 ) in conformance with the movement of the lever  6 . Under this situation, the distal end of the seal  42  remains in contact with the inner surface of the lever  6 . Thus, the sealing member  40  keeps the clearance L sealed. 
         [0031]    The present embodiment has the advantages described below. 
         [0032]    (1) The sealing member  40  is arranged between the lever  6  and the switch body  30  (holding portion  31 ) at a location where dust may enter suspended in air. This location is separated from where the pushers  20   a  and  20   b  come into contact with the lever  6  (pushing portions  6   a  and  6   b ). That is, the sealing member  40  is arranged in the clearance L that is located at the upstream side of where the pushers  20   a  and  20   b  come into contact with the lever  6  (pushing portions  6   a  and  6   b ) with respect to the direction in which air flows into the switch device  1 . Thus, the sealing member  40  suppresses the entrance of dust into the switch device  1 , in particular, to the location where the pushers  20   a  and  20   b  come into contact with the lever  6 . 
         [0033]    Since the collection of dust between the pushing portions  6   a  and  6   b  and the pushers  20   a  and  20   b  is suppressed, there is no need to apply a stronger force to the lever  6 . Further, wear resulting from dust does not occur in the pushers  20   a  and  20   b.  This maintains the operability of the switch device  1  over a long period. In addition, other defects of the switch device  1  are suppressed that would occur when dust enters the switch device  1 . 
         [0034]    (2) The mounting portion  43  of the sealing member  40  is mounted on the coupling section  32  of the switch body  30 . Thus, the sealing member  40  may easily be mounted on the switch body  30  without using an adhesive agent or the like. 
         [0035]    (3) The seal  42  is thin enough to allow for deformation when the lever  6  is tilted. Thus, the sealing member  40  is resiliently deformable in conformance with the tilting of the lever  6 . Further, the sealing member  40  does not increase the force needed to operate the lever  6 . Accordingly, the sealing member  40  does not affect the operability of the switch device  1 . 
         [0036]    (4) The sealing member  40  is formed integrally from rubber. This facilitates molding of the sealing member  40 . 
         [0037]    It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Particularly, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in the following forms. 
         [0038]    In the above embodiment, the sealing member  40  is formed integrally from rubber but may be formed from another elastic material such as urethane. Further, the sealing member  40  may be changed. For example, when forming the sealing member  40  from a highly flexible material such as urethane, the sealing member  40  may be box-shaped. In this case, one surface of the box-shaped sealing member  40  may be adhered to the outer surface of the switch body  30  by an adhesive agent. This simplifies the form of the sealing member  40 . 
         [0039]    In the above embodiment, the sealing member  40  is formed integrally from rubber. Instead, the seal  42  may be formed from rubber, and the main body  41  and the mounting portion  43  may be formed from a material differing from that of the seal  42  such as a synthetic resin (plastic). In this case, the seal  42  and the main body  41  are formed to be connectable to each other. The formation of the mounting portion  43  from synthetic resin suppresses wear of the mounting portion  43 . 
         [0040]    In the above embodiment, the coupling section  32  of the switch body  30  may be omitted. In this case, the holding portion  31  is held between the clip  43   b  and the main body  41 . This allows for the sealing member  40  to be mounted on the switch body  30 . In this structure, there is no need to change the form of the switch body  30 . This facilitates retrofitting of the sealing member  40  to a switch device. 
         [0041]    In the above structure, the structure of the switch device  1  is only one example. There is no limitation to the structure of the above embodiment as long as there is a clearance between the lever  6  and the switch body  30 . 
         [0042]    In the above embodiment, the switch device  1  is used for a vehicle power window but may be used to control other subjects. 
         [0043]    The present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.