US 5,669,487 AGranted

Key top mounting structure for a vehicular switch

AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.

InventorMasashi Sakata

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A key top mounting structure for connecting a key top to an operating lever of, for example, a power window control switch of a vehicle. The key top mounting structure provides a precise switch operating mechanism which can be used in both a push-push type and a push-pull type switch, thereby reducing production costs by providing component parts common to a variety of key top shapes. The key top mounting structure according to the present invention is provided with an operating lever having an opening surrounded by an upper wall and a pivot shaft for attaching the operating member to a switch body, and a key top having an engaging protrusion and a frame member surrounding the engaging protrusion and spaced therefrom by a gap having a predetermined width. When the key top is mounted to the operating lever, the engaging protrusion is received in the opening and the frame member surrounds the upper wall of the operating lever, thereby securely holding the operating lever between the frame member and the engaging protrusion.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A key top mounting structure for mounting a key top to a switch body of a vehicular switch, the key top mounting structure including:

an operating lever having a wall surrounding an opening, the operating lever including a pivot shaft for pivotally connecting the operating lever to the switch body;
a key top having an engaging protrusion and a frame member surrounding the engaging protrusion such that a gap having a predetermined width is provided between the engaging protrusion and the frame member;
a first stepped portion formed on an outer surface of the engaging protrusion, the first stepped portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the key top;
a hole formed in the frame member adjacent the first stepped portion;
a second stepped portion formed on an inner surface of the wall of the operating lever;
and
a projection formed on an outer surface of the wall of the operating lever, the projection being snap-coupled into the hole;
wherein the key top is engaged to the operating lever such that the wall of the operating lever is held in the gap located between the frame member and the engaging protrusion, and the engaging protrusion is received in the opening;
and
wherein the first stepped portion formed on the engaging protrusion abuts the second stepped portion formed on the wall.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.