Patent Publication Number: US-2023140602-A1

Title: A Pressing Panel

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of pressing panels, and more particularly a pressing panel which is easy and comfortable to press. 
     Conventional drive panels of concealed water tanks are panels provided with single-row buttons or double-row buttons. After pushing a button, a resetting mechanism is required to drive the button back to an initial position. The resetting mechanism in the prior art generally uses elastic pieces such as flat springs or torsion springs, wherein a fixing point of each elastic piece is placed on a panel body, and a supporting point of each elastic piece is placed on the button. After pressing the button, the fixing point of each elastic piece remains unchanged, while a portion between the supporting point and fixing point starts deforming; the larger the pressing depth, the greater the deformation and the rebound resistance against the button, thus requiring larger pressing force and being uncomfortable to press. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, the present invention provides a pressing panel with an improved connecting structure, which is easy and comfortable to press. 
     To attain the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: 
     A pressing panel, comprising a panel, buttons and elastic pieces; the buttons are hinged to the panel, and each button is movable with respect to the panel through a pair of hinge shafts; each button is fixedly provided with a corresponding elastic piece; each elastic piece is provided with an elastic supporting arm extending backwards corresponding to a direction which a corresponding button moves when being pressed; each elastic supporting arm abuts the panel by elastic force; when each button moves with respect to the panel through a corresponding pair of hinge shafts, a portion of a corresponding elastic supporting arm corresponding to an abutting position between the elastic supporting arm and the panel slides; when each button is in an initial state before being pressed, the abutting position between the corresponding elastic supporting arm and the panel, compared with a position of the corresponding pair of hinge shafts, is farther away from a fixing position between the button and the corresponding elastic piece. 
     Further preferably, the elastic pieces are elongated flat springs or elongated elastic threads. 
     Further and more preferably, each elastic piece has an arched structure, and a middle part of each elastic piece is provided with a concave part; a fitting base provided with a fitting hole is formed on each button; each elastic piece passes through a corresponding fitting hole; a first end and a second end of each elastic piece abut the corresponding button and the panel respectively, wherein the concave part at the middle part of each elastic piece is fixedly fitted with a corresponding fitting base by elastic force of the elastic piece itself; each elastic supporting arm is defined by an elastic part of the corresponding elastic piece between the concave part and the second end thereof. 
     Further and more preferably, a guiding incline is provided for each button between the fitting base of the button and an abutting position between the button and the first end of the corresponding elastic piece. 
     Further and more preferably, a position limiting structure is provided on each button at the abutting position between the button and the first end of the corresponding elastic piece. 
     Further and more preferably, the position limiting structure is defined by a pair of first protrusions formed integrally with each button on two sides of the corresponding elastic piece respectively. 
     Further and more preferably, the elastic pieces are torsion springs. 
     Further and more preferably, each button is provided with a fixing shaft; each torsion spring is fixedly fitted with a corresponding fixing shaft, wherein a first supporting arm of each torsion spring abuts the corresponding button, and a second supporting arm of each torsion spring abuts the panel; the elastic supporting arm is embodied as the second supporting arm when the elastic pieces are torsion springs. 
     Further and more preferably, a position limiting groove extending along a sliding path of each elastic supporting arm is provided on the panel corresponding to the abutting position between the elastic supporting arm and the panel. 
     Further and more preferably, the position limiting groove is defined by a pair of second protrusions formed integrally with the panel on two sides of the corresponding elastic piece respectively. 
     Further and preferably, two hinging columns are provided at one side of each button at two positions spaced apart from each other respectively; each button is hinged to the panel through two corresponding hinging columns; the corresponding elastic piece is provided between the two corresponding hinging columns. 
     Further and preferably, the panel is provided with a front surface, and a rear surface provided on a back side of the front surface; the buttons and the elastic pieces are provided on the rear surface of the panel; accommodating windows are formed on the front surface of the panel corresponding to positions of the buttons. 
     Further and more preferably, the rear surface of the panel is provided with blocking hooks extending backwards; when pressing each button, each button rotates backwards to a certain degree and abuts a corresponding blocking hook, thereby being limited from further rotation by the corresponding blocking hook. 
     Further and more preferably, each button is provided with a convex pressing part extending towards a corresponding accommodating window. 
     The beneficial effects of the technical solutions provided by the present invention are as follows: 
     When the elastic piece is fixed onto a movable component, namely the button, a supporting point of the elastic piece is positioned on the panel body, and the elastic piece slidably abuts the panel at the supporting point; when pressing the button, the elastic piece moves along with the button; a sliding motion of the elastic supporting arm of the elastic piece effectively offsets the deformation of the elastic piece, so that the deformation of the elastic piece is small, and therefore the rebound resistance against the pressing force of the button is not large; therefore, during a pressing process of the button, changes of pressing force are small; in comparison to the prior product, the pressing panel of the present invention is easier and more comfortable to press. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a front perspective view of the pressing panel of embodiment one in an initial state; 
         FIG.  2    shows a rear perspective view of the pressing panel of embodiment one in an initial state; 
         FIG.  3    shows a sectional view of the pressing panel of embodiment one in an initial state; 
         FIG.  4    shows a front perspective view of the pressing panel of embodiment one in a pressing state; 
         FIG.  5    shows a rear perspective view of the pressing panel of embodiment one in a pressing state; 
         FIG.  6    shows a sectional view of the pressing panel of embodiment one in a pressing state; 
         FIG.  7    shows a schematic view of the elastic piece of embodiment one in the states before and after pressing; 
         FIG.  8    shows a schematic view of the elastic piece of embodiment one mounted according to prior art method in the states before and after pressing; 
         FIG.  9    shows a rear perspective view of the pressing panel of embodiment two; 
         FIG.  10    shows a rear perspective view of the pressing panel of embodiment four. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     To further explain the embodiments, the present invention is provided with accompanying drawings; the accompanying drawings are part of the disclosure of the present invention, which are mainly adopted to illustrate the embodiments, and explain the operating mechanism of the embodiments in accordance with relevant descriptions in the specification; with reference to the description below, those of ordinary skill in the art should be able to understand the possible embodiments other than those described herein, and the benefits of the present invention; elements shown in the figures are not drawn to scale, and the same or similar reference numerals always indicate the same or similar elements. 
     The following describes in details the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. 
     Embodiment One 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 7   , the present invention provides a pressing panel, comprising a panel  10 , buttons  20  and elastic pieces  30 ; the buttons  20  are hinged to the panel  10 , and each button  20  is movable with respect to the panel  10  through a pair of hinge shafts  231 ; each button  20  is fixedly provided with a corresponding elastic piece  30 ; each elastic piece  30  is provided with an elastic supporting arm  304  extending backwards corresponding to a direction which a corresponding button  20  moves when being pressed; each elastic supporting arm  304  abuts the panel  10  by elastic force; when each button  20  moves with respect to the panel  10  through the pair of hinge shafts  231 , a portion of a corresponding elastic supporting arm  304  corresponding to an abutting position between the elastic supporting arm  304  and the panel  10  slides; when each button  20  is in an initial state before being pressed, as illustrated in  FIGS.  2 - 3   , the abutting position between the corresponding elastic supporting arm  304  and the panel  10  (namely a second end  302  described below), compared with a position of a corresponding pair of hinge shafts  231 , is farther from a fixing position (namely a fitting base  21  described below) between the button  20  and a corresponding elastic piece  30 ; as illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the abutting position between the elastic supporting arm  304  and the panel  10  is at an upper position, the hinge shafts  231  are at a middle position, and the fixing position between the button  20  and the corresponding elastic piece  30  is at a lower position; when pressing each button  20 , the corresponding elastic piece  30  moves along with the button  20 , and a sliding motion of the elastic supporting arm  304  of each elastic piece  30  on the panel  10  effectively offsets the deformation of the elastic piece  30 , so that the elastic deformation of the elastic pieces  30  is small, and therefore the rebound resistance against the pressing force of the buttons  20  is not large; when pressing the buttons  20  which are in an initial state, the buttons  20  rotate backwards by fifteen degrees, as illustrated in  FIGS.  4 - 6   ; as illustrated in  FIG.  7   , a state of the elastic piece  30  before pressing is shown in solid lines, and a state of the elastic piece  30  after pressing is shown in dotted lines; the fixing position between the elastic piece  30  and the corresponding button  20  moves along with the corresponding button  20 ; a portion (namely the second end  302  described below) of the elastic supporting arm  304  corresponding to the abutting position between the elastic supporting arm  304  and the panel  10  slides downwards to offset deformation such that the elastic piece  30  hardly deforms; therefore, when pressing the buttons, additional pressing force required to overcome the rebounding resistance of the buttons  20  is small. 
     If the elastic pieces  30  of the present embodiment are fixed by a method as in the prior art, namely fixing each elastic piece  30  on the panel  10 , with each elastic supporting arm  304  abutting a corresponding button  20 , and each elastic piece  30  also rotates backwards by fifteen degrees along with the corresponding button  20 ; each elastic piece  30  changes in position as illustrated in  FIG.  8   , wherein a state before pressing is shown in solid lines, and a state after pressing is shown in dotted lines; the elastic piece  30  starts deforming from fixing point A, resulting in greater deformation of the elastic piece  30 ; in view of the above, in comparison to the prior art, the present embodiment effectively reduces the deformation of the elastic pieces  30 , so that the buttons  20  are easier and more comfortable to press. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the elastic pieces  30  are elongated flat springs; each elastic piece  30  is in an arched structure, and a middle part of each elastic piece is provided with a concave part  303 ; a fitting base  21  provided with a fitting hole  211  is formed on each button  20 ; each elastic piece  30  passes through a corresponding fitting hole  211 ; a first end  301  and a second end  302  of each elastic piece  30  abut a corresponding button  20  and the panel  10  respectively, wherein the concave part  303  at the middle part of each elastic piece  30  is fixedly fitted with a corresponding fitting base  21  by elastic force of the elastic piece  30  itself, thereby achieving the assembly of each elastic piece  30 ; each elastic supporting arm  304  is defined by an elastic part of each elastic piece  30  between the concave part  303  and the second end  302  thereof; by adopting the aforementioned configurations, assembly and disassembly of the elastic pieces  30  are more convenient; during assembly, insert the first end  301  of each elastic piece  30  into a corresponding fitting hole  211 , and then press down an arched middle part of each elastic piece  30 , so that the arched middle part passes through the corresponding fitting hole  211 , until the concave part  303  is fitted with a corresponding fitting base  21 ; at this time, the first end  301  and the second end  302  of each elastic piece abut a corresponding button  20  and the panel  10  respectively; a portion between the first end  301  and the concave part  303  of each elastic piece  30  is a fixed portion; a portion between the concave part  303  and the second end  302  of each elastic piece  30  is an elastic portion, namely the elastic supporting arm  304 . 
     Flat springs in an arched structure provide an elastic force to bias the flat springs to arch in order to ensure structural stability, thereby facilitating assembly; during disassembly, press a middle part of each elastic piece  30  so that the concave part  303  thereof stops abutting a corresponding fitting base  21 , and then pull out each elastic piece  30  to complete disassembly. 
     More specifically, a guiding incline  25  is provided for each button  20  between the fitting base  21  of the button  20  and the abutting position between the button  20  and the first end  301  of a corresponding elastic piece  30 ; when inserting each elastic piece  30  during assembly, the assembly process is smoother under the guiding function of the guiding incline  25 . 
     Specifically, a position limiting structure is provided on each button  20  at the abutting position of the button  20  and the first end  301  of a corresponding elastic piece  30 ; more specifically, the position limiting structure is defined by a pair of first protrusions  22  formed integrally with each button  20  on two sides of the corresponding elastic piece  30  respectively. The position limiting structure effectively performs position limiting function and prevents deviation during assembly. 
     Preferably, in the present embodiment, a position limiting groove extending along a sliding path of each elastic supporting arm  304  is provided on the panel corresponding to the abutting position of the elastic supporting arm  304  and the panel  10 ; specifically, the position limiting groove is defined by a pair of second protrusions  12  formed integrally with the panel  10  on two sides of the corresponding elastic piece  30 . The position limiting groove performs position limiting function and prevents deviation of each elastic supporting arm  304  on the panel  10 . 
     Specifically, in the present embodiment, the panel  10  is provided with a front surface  101 , and a rear surface  102  provided on a back side of the front surface  101 ; the buttons  20  and the elastic pieces  30  are provided on the rear surface  102  of the panel  10 ; accommodating windows  11  are formed on the front surface  101  of the panel  10  corresponding to positions of the buttons  20  for users to press the buttons  20  at the accommodating windows  11 ; certainly, in other embodiments, structures of the panel  10  and arrangement of the buttons  20  should not be limited to those disclosed by the present embodiment; for examples, if the buttons  20  are exposed beyond a lower part of the panel  10 , users may press the exposed portion of the buttons  20  exposed beyond the lower part of the panel  10 ; or, the buttons  20  may be hinged to a lower bottom side of the panel  10 , while the abutting positions of the elastic pieces  30  remain unchanged and the elastic pieces  30  still abut the rear surface  102  of the panel  10 , functions such as pressing and resetting can also be achieved. 
     Furthermore, each button  20  is provided with a convex pressing part  24  extending towards a corresponding accommodating window  11  for users to perform pressing; in the present embodiment, in an initial state of the buttons  20  before being pressed, the convex pressing parts  24  flush with the front surface  101  of the panel  10  to provide a beautiful appearance, but certainly, it should not be limiting; in some other embodiments, the convex pressing parts  24  may, for example, protrude out of the front surface  101  of the panel  10  for the ease of pressing. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the rear surface  102  of the panel  10  is provided with blocking hooks  13  extending backwards; when pressing each button  20 , each button  20  rotates backwards to a certain degree and abuts a corresponding blocking hook  13 ; therefore, rotating degrees of the buttons  20  are limited by the blocking hooks  13  to prevent damages of internal components caused by excessive pressing depth. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, two hinging columns  23  are provided above each button  20  at two positions spaced apart from each other respectively; each button  20  is hinged to the panel  10  through two corresponding hinging columns  23 ; a corresponding elastic piece  30  is provided between the two corresponding hinging columns  23 , so that the distribution of force is more even; during resetting of the buttons  20 , each button  20  being hinged to the panel  10  through the two corresponding hinging columns  23  above the button  20  at the two positions spaced apart from each other respectively allows each button  20  to reset with the help of its own weight so as to achieve better resetting effect; certainly, in other embodiments, the hinging columns  23  of each button  20  may be located at other sides (i.e. left side, right side, or even lower side) of the button to achieve hinging; when the hinging columns  23  of each button  20  are located at the left side or right side of the button, resetting of each button  20  is fully relying on the elastic force of a corresponding elastic piece  30 ; when the hinging columns  23  of each button  20  are located at the lower side of the button, the elastic piece  30  of each button needs to also overcome the weight of the button  20 , resulting in poorer resetting effect. 
     Embodiment Two 
     The present embodiment provides a pressing panel, which has substantially the same structures as embodiment one, except for the following: as illustrated in  FIG.  9   , in the present embodiment, the elastic pieces  30  are elongated elastic threads, such as elastic metal wires; the structures and assembly of the elongated elastic threads are the same as the elongated flat springs of embodiment one, and thus will not be repeatedly described herein. 
     Embodiment Three 
     The present embodiment provides a pressing panel, which has substantially the same structures as embodiments one and two, with the same assembly of the panel  10  and the buttons  20 , except that the elastic pieces  30  have different structural designs and the fixing method of the elastic pieces  30  with the buttons  20  is different. In this embodiment, each elastic piece  30  is only formed by the elastic supporting arm  304  of embodiments one and two; each elastic piece  30  is fixed on a corresponding button  20  by screw bolts or rivets; the elastic supporting arms  304  of the elastic pieces  30  extend backwards as disclosed in embodiments one and two. 
     Embodiment Four 
     The present embodiment provides a pressing panel, which has substantially the same structures as embodiment one, except for the following: as illustrated in  FIG.  10   , in the present embodiment, the elastic pieces  30  are torsion springs; each button  20  is provided with a fixing shaft (not shown in the drawings); each torsion spring is fixedly fitted with a corresponding fixing shaft, wherein a first supporting arm  31  of each torsion spring abuts a corresponding button  20 , and a second supporting arm  32  of each torsion spring abuts the panel  10 ; the second supporting arm  32  of each torsion spring is equivalent to the elastic supporting arm  304  defined in embodiment one; torsion springs are conventional elastic components commonly adopted in the prior art, which can be easily obtained from the market without the needs of customization, and are convenient to assemble. 
     Although the description above provides the preferable embodiments to illustrate and explain the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that, various modifications in forms and details without departing from the essence and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, shall also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.