7 105 761

7,105,761 Title:

Push switch

A push switch includes a case having a bottom face, first and second fixed contacts provided on the bottom face of the case, a movable contact made of metal thin plate, an elastic body, and an operating body. The elastic body includes a cylindrical portion having a hole formed therein, a conical portion provided below the cylindrical portion, a projection located above the movable contact, and a junction portion coupling the projection to the cylindrical portion. This push switch can provide a long over-stroke after being turned on.

What is claimed is:

1. A push switch comprising: a case made of insulating resin and having a bottom face; a first fixed contact provided on the bottom face of the case; a second fixed contactprovided on the bottom face of the case; a movable contact made of metal thin plate, including an annular outer periphery located on the first fixed contact, and a tongue extending from the outer periphery to a center of the annular portion, the tonguebeing located over the second fixed contact and facing the second fixed contact across a predetermined clearance between the tongue and the second fixed contact; an elastic body including a cylindrical portion having a hole formed therein, thecylindrical portion having a top surface, the hole opening to the top surface of the cylindrical portion, the hole having a bottom, a conical portion provided below the cylindrical portion, the conical portion being hollow to open downward, the conicalportion having a lower end located on the outer periphery of the movable contact, a projection located above the tongue of the movable contact, the projection projecting from a center of the opening of the conical portion and under the bottom of thehole, and a junction portion coupling the projection to the cylindrical portion; and an operating body mounted on the top surface of the cylindrical portion of the elastic body, the operation body being movable upward and downward, wherein the conicalportion, the junction portion and the operating body are configured such that when the operating body is moved downward during an operation stroke, the conical portion and the junction portion deform, and the conical portion deforms before the junctionportion deforms.

2. The push switch of claim 1, wherein the operating body includes a protrusion inserted into the hole of the cylindrical portion of the elastic body.

3. The push switch of claim 1, wherein the operating body has a channel formed therein, and the channel allows the hole of the cylindrical portion communicate with an outside of the cylindrical portion of the elastic body.

4. The push switch of claim 1, wherein respective thicknesses of the conical portion and the junction portion are such that the conical portion and the junction portion are configured so that the conical portion deforms before the junctionportion deforms when the operating body is moved downward during the operation stroke.

5. The push switch of claim 1, wherein the conical portion, the junction portion, the projection and the movable contact are configured such that when the conical portion deforms during the operation stroke, the projection presses the tongue ofthe movable contact into contact with the second fixed contact to establish an electrical connection, and the junction portion deforms after the electrical connection is established.

6. The push switch of claim 1, wherein the conical portion, the junction portion, the cylindrical portion and the operating body are configured such that during the operation stroke, the cylindrical portion deforms after the junction portiondeforms.

7. The push switch of claim 6, wherein the conical portion, the junction portion, the cylindrical body, the projection and the movable contact are configured such that when the conical portion deforms during the operation stroke, the projectionpresses the tongue of the movable contact into contact with the second fixed contact to establish an electrical connection, and the junction portion and the cylindrical portion deform after the electrical connection is established.