Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7554049?dq=6272333
Timestamp: 2015-05-07 06:55:09
Document Index: 236469666

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 42', 'art 331', 'art 332', 'arts 433', 'arts 433', 'arts 435', 'arts 433', 'arts 435', 'arts 433', 'art 433', 'art 435', 'art 434', 'art 436', 'art 433', 'art 435', 'art 434', 'art 436', 'art 330', 'arts 430', 'art 440', 'art 430', 'art 440', 'art 430', 'art 430', 'art 440', 'art 430', 'art 440', 'art 330', 'arts 41', 'art 33', 'arts 60', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'arts 52', 'arts 52', 'arts 52', 'arts 311', 'arts 311', 'arts 311', 'arts 312', 'arts 312', 'arts 37', 'arts 37', 'arts 37', 'Application No. 2008']

Patent US7554049 - Rocking switch unit - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA rocking switch unit includes a base section, a switch knob, a pair of tactile switches, a middle rocking section, and a pair of switch-pressing portions. The switch knob and the middle rocking section are coupled with the base section to be rockable. The switch-pressing portions are located between...http://www.google.com/patents/US7554049?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7554049 - Rocking switch unitAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7554049 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/073,840Publication dateJun 30, 2009Filing dateMar 11, 2008Priority dateMar 20, 2007Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE102008014917A1, DE102008014917B4, US20080230360Publication number073840, 12073840, US 7554049 B2, US 7554049B2, US-B2-7554049, US7554049 B2, US7554049B2InventorsHiromune Wada, Koichi MasudaOriginal AssigneeDenso CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (18), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (2), Classifications (7), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRocking switch unit
US 7554049 B2Abstract
A rocking switch unit includes a base section, a switch knob, a pair of tactile switches, a middle rocking section, and a pair of switch-pressing portions. The switch knob and the middle rocking section are coupled with the base section to be rockable. The switch-pressing portions are located between a pair of rocking end portions of the switch knob and the tactile switches, for transmitting a pressing force from one of the rocking end portions to a corresponding tactile switch when the one of the rocking end portions is pressed in a pressing direction. The switch-pressing portions are coupled with two end portions of the middle rocking section in such a manner that a coupling angle between a rocking surface of the middle rocking section and rocking surfaces of the switch-pressing portions is variable in a pressing direction.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2007-72760 filed on Mar. 20, 2007, and No. 2008-1518 filed on Jan. 8, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rocking switch unit in which tactile switches can be pressed with a high degree of certainty even in a case where a switch knob is away from switch surfaces of the tactile switches.
A rocking switch unit 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention can be used as first to fifth rocking switch units 10 a-10 e disposed at a front panel 1 shown in FIG. 1. The first rocking switch unit 10 a is provided for switching an outlet vent of conditioned air. The second rocking switch unit 10 b is provided for changing a flow amount of conditioned air. The third to fifth rocking switch units 10 c-10 e are provided for selecting music of an audio device. The front panel 1 further includes a display and other switch units for controlling an on-board electronic apparatus including an air-conditioning device and the audio device. The on-board electronic apparatus can be controlled by operating the switch units including the first to fifth rocking switch units 10 a-10 e. An exemplary configuration of the rocking switch unit 10 including the first to fifth rocking switch units 10 a-10 e will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-8.
In the rocking switch unit 10 according to the first embodiment, the rocking poles 34 a and 34 b of the middle rocking section 30 can deform elastically. Thereby, the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b can move linearly in the guide holes 45 a and 45 b of the switch-pressing guide parts 42 a and 42 b to approach or separate from the corresponding tactile switches 5 a and 5 b, respectively, while keeping a state where the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b protrude in the pressing direction of the switch knob 2. A pressing joint 3A according to a second embodiment invention has a middle rocking section 30A and switch-pressing portions 310 a and 310 b, as shown in FIG. 9. The middle rocking section 30A is almost similar with the middle rocking section 30 in the pressing joint 3, and the switch-pressing portions 310 a and 310 b are longer than the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b in the pressing joint 3. Also in the present case, the switch-pressing portions 310 a and 310 b can linearly approach or separate from the corresponding tactile switches 5 a and 5 b, respectively, while keeping a state where the switch-pressing portions 310 a and 310 b protrude in the pressing direction of the switch knob 2, due to the elastic deformation of the rocking poles 34 a and 34 b of the middle rocking section 30A.
A pressing joint 3B according to a third embodiment of the invention has a middle rocking section 30B, as shown in FIG. 10. The middle rocking section 30B has the rocking poles 34 a and 34 b each constructed with a plurality pole elements, for example, three pole elements. The pole elements extend in a direction approximately parallel to the middle rocking surface 34 c, and are separated from each other in the pressing direction. When each of the pole elements has a first dimension in the extending direction and a second dimension in the pressing direction, the first dimension is larger than the sum of the second dimensions of all the pole elements. When the rocking poles 34 a and 34 b are constructed with plurality pole elements, the strength of the middle rocking section 30B increases.
In the first to third embodiments, the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b are integrated with the middle rocking section 30. Because the middle rocking section 30 can deform elastically, the switch-pressing directions 31 a and 31 b can move toward the tactile switches 5 a and 5 b in the pressing direction Fa and Fb while changing the coupling angle θ1 between the middle rocking surface and the end rocking surface and the crossing angle between the extending axis 34 x and the protruding axis 31 y. That is, the angle-changing portions are located at the middle rocking section 30. Alternatively, in a case where the middle rocking section 30 and the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b are formed separately, the angle-changing portions may be located at coupling part between the middle rocking section 30 and the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b. As shown in FIG. 11, a rocking switch unit 10C according to a fourth embodiment includes a first middle rocking section 30C, a second middle rocking section 302, and the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b. The first middle rocking section 30C and the second middle rocking section 302 are separated from each other to configurate a parallel link structure. Specifically, the first middle rocking section 30C includes a fulcrum coupling part 331, and rocking poles 341 a and 341 b. The second middle rocking section 302 includes a fulcrum coupling part 332, and rocking poles 342 a and 342 b. The rocking poles 341 a and 342 a are linked with the switch-pressing portion 31 a through link fulcrum parts 433 a and 434 a, respectively. In addition the rocking poles 341 b and 342 b are linked with the switch-pressing portion 31 b through link fulcrum parts 433 b and 434 b, respectively. The switch-pressing portion 31 a has holding parts 435 a and 436 a for rotatably holding the link fulcrum parts 433 a and 434 a, respectively. The switch-pressing portion 31 b has holding parts 435 b and 436 b for rotatably holding the link fulcrum parts 433 b and 434 b, respectively. The link fulcrum part 433 a and the holding part 435 a configurate a link section 437 a, the link fulcrum part 434 a and the holding part 436 a configurate a link section 438 a, the link fulcrum part 433 b and the holding part 435 b configurate a link section 437 b, and the link fulcrum part 434 b and the holding part 436 b configurate a link section 438 b. The link sections 437 a, 438 a, 437 b, and 438 b function as the angle-changing portions.
A rocking switch unit 10D according to a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The rocking switch unit 10D includes the switch knob 2, a pressing joint 3D, and a base section 4D. The pressing joint 3D includes a single middle rocking section 30 that has a fulcrum coupling part 330 and rocking poles 340 a and 340 b. The rocking poles 340 a and 340 b are linked with the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b through link fulcrum parts 430 a and 430 b. The switch-pressing portion 31 a has a holding part 440 a for rotatably holding the link fulcrum part 430 a, and the switch-pressing portion 31 b has a holding part 440 b for rotatably holding the link fulcrum part 430 b. The link fulcrum part 430 a and the holding part 440 a configurate a link section 450 a, and the link fulcrum part 430 b and the holding part 440 b configurate a link section 450 b. The fulcrum-forming portion 44 of the base section 4D has the first rocking fulcrum 42 and the second rocking fulcrum 43 that are coaxially arranged in the pressing direction of the switch knob 2. The second rocking fulcrum 43 is inserted into the fulcrum coupling part 330 to be rotatable. In a case where the pressing joint 3D has only single middle rocking section 30D, the base section 4D is required to have the switch-pressing guide parts 41 a and 41 b. In the present case, the link sections 450 a and 450 b function as the angle-changing portions.
A rocking switch unit 10E according to a sixth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13. The rocking switch unit 10E includes the switch knob 2, a pressing joint 3E and a base section 4E. The fulcrum-forming portion 44 of the base section 4E has a single rocking fulcrum 421 to be inserted into both of the attachment hole 22 and the fulcrum coupling part 33. In the present case, the outer end parts 60 a and 60 b of the rocking poles 34 a and 34 b function as the angle-changing portion similarly with the rocking switch unit 10 according to the first embodiment.
In a rocking switch unit according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, a pressing joint 3J shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B is used instead of the pressing joint 3 according to the first embodiment. The switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b are rotatably attached to end portions of the rocking poles 34 a and 34 b of the middle rocking section 30 through ball joint sections 53 a and 53 b. The ball joint section 53 a includes a ball shaft 50 a and a ball holding part 52 a, and the ball joint section 53 b includes a ball shaft 50 b and a ball holding part 52 b. Each of the ball shafts 50 a and 50 b has an approximately sphere shape at an end portion thereof. The ball holding parts 52 a and 52 b are provided for rotatably hold the ball shafts 50 a and 50 b, respectively, at least on the rocking surface. For example, the ball shafts 50 a and 50 b protruding from side surfaces of the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b are fitted into the ball holding parts 52 a and 52 b provided at the end portions of the rocking poles 34 a and 34 b. Alternatively, the middle rocking section 30 may have the ball shafts 50 a and 50 b and the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b have the ball holding parts 52 a and 52 b, respectively.
In the first to seventh embodiments, the pressing-force receiving parts 311 a and 311 b for receiving the pressing force from the rocking end portions 21 a and 21 b of the switch knob 2 are provided at a part of the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b on the side of the switch knob 2 as an example. Alternatively, the pressing-force receiving parts 311 a and 311 b may be provided at the middle rocking section 30.
In a pressing joint 3L shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the pressing-force receiving parts 311 a and 311 b are provided at the end portions of the middle rocking section 30 on the side of the switch knob 2, similarly with the pressing joint 3K according to the eighth embodiment. In addition, the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b are attached to the end portions of the middle rocking section 30 on the side of the tactile switches 5 a and 5 b through the angle-changing portions. Between the end portions of the middle rocking section 30 and the transmit parts 312 a and 312 b provided at the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b on the side of the tactile switches 5 a and 5 b, elastic joint sections are provided so that the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b can move toward the tactile switches 5 a and 5 b by changing the coupling angle θ1 between the middle rocking surface and the end rocking surface and the crossing angle between the extending axis 34 x of the middle rocking section 30 and the protruding axis 31 y of the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b. For example, the middle rocking section 30 and the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b are integrally formed with injection molding of resin and the end portions of the middle rocking section 30 protrude toward the tactile switches 5 a and 5 b. Between the end portions of the middle rocking section 30 and the transmit parts 312 a and 312 b, recess parts 37 a and 37 b are provided. The recess parts 37 a and 37 b are narrower than the outer end portions of the middle portion 30 and the other part of the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b in the rocking radial direction. In the angle-changing portions shown in FIG. 20A and 20B, each side surfaces of the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b that is located in the rocking radial direction is cut off from an outside to provided a curved recess parts 37 a and 37 b. Thereby, the middle rocking section 30 and the switch-pressing portions 31 a and 31 b can rotate relative to each other in the rocking surface.
In a pressing joint 3M according to a tenth embodiment of the invention, the end portions of the middle rocking section 30 protrude toward the tactile switches 5 a and 5 b similarly to the pressing joint 3L, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B. In the present embodiment, the ball joint sections 56 a and 56 b function as the angle-changing portions similarly to the eighth embodiment.
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