IP Library Granted Patent US 12688986
Granted Patent B2
US 12688986 · App. 18/508,610 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Pressing operation body and switch device

Inventors: Hidetaka Sato (Miyagi, JP); Katsutoshi Usui (Miyagi, JP); Daichi Tomita (Miyagi, JP); Hideyuki Ishida (Miyagi, JP)
Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
H01H13/48H01H13/52
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12688986
App. No.
18/508,610
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pressing operation body includes an inversion spring having a dome shape; and a rubber stem configured to bend in response to pressing and press the inversion spring. The inversion spring includes a dome portion, and a plurality of leg portions that are extended outward from an outer peripheral edge of the dome portion. The rubber stem includes a base portion configured to support a lower edge of the rubber stem. The base portion includes a plurality of retaining portions configured to retain the plurality of leg portions of the inversion spring.

Claims (66)

1 . A pressing operation body, comprising:

an inversion spring having a dome shape; and

a rubber stem configured to bend in response to pressing and press the inversion spring, wherein

the inversion spring includes

a dome portion, and

a plurality of leg portions that are extended outward from an outer peripheral edge of the dome portion, and

the rubber stem includes

a base portion configured to support a lower edge of the rubber stem, and

the base portion includes

a plurality of retaining portions configured to retain the plurality of leg portions of the inversion spring,

wherein the leg portions each include

a folded portion that is folded in a V shape after the leg portion is extended outward and downward from the outer peripheral edge of the dome portion, and

wherein the leg portions are each extended outward and upward from the folded portion, and a tip of the leg portion is disposed in the retaining portion,

wherein the retaining portions each include

a support portion configured to support the tip of the leg portion disposed in the retaining portion from under the tip,

wherein the support portion is a pair of projecting portions that are provided to project in the retaining portion, are elastically deformable, and face each other,

wherein the pair of projecting portions have a gap between the pair of projecting portions, and

wherein a tip of each of the projecting portions has a tilt surface that is tilted such that a width of the gap becomes gradually narrower in an upward direction.

2 . The pressing operation body according to claim 1 , wherein

the retaining portions each have a shape that is formed by cutting out a part of the base portion.

3 . The pressing operation body according to claim 1 , wherein

the retaining portions retain the leg portions so as to be movable in the retaining portions in response to the pressing.

4 . The pressing operation body according to claim 1 , wherein

the rubber stem includes

an operating portion configured to be pressed, and

a first hollowed-out portion that is formed in the base portion outward of the operating portion.

5 . The pressing operation body according to claim 4 , wherein

the rubber stem includes

a plurality of first hollowed-out portions that are circularly disposed so as to enclose the operating portion in the base portion.

6 . The pressing operation body according to claim 5 , wherein

the rubber stem includes

a plurality of elastic wall portions that are circularly disposed on an upper portion of the operating portion, the elastic wall portions each being elastically deformable in response to the pressing, and

the first hollowed-out portions are each disposed outward in a same radial direction as in one of the elastic wall portions that corresponds to the first hollowed-out portion, and the first hollowed-out portions each have a width equal to or more than a width of one of the elastic wall portions that corresponds to the first hollowed-out portion.

7 . The pressing operation body according to claim 4 , wherein

the rubber stem includes

a second hollowed-out portion inward of the operating portion in the base portion.

8 . The pressing operation body according to claim 4 , wherein

the rubber stem includes

an elastic wall portion on an upper portion of the operating portion, the elastic wall portion being elastically deformable in response to the pressing.

9 . The pressing operation body according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a protective sheet that is stacked on a lower surface of the inversion spring, wherein

the protective sheet includes

a projecting portion that is stacked on a lower surface of the leg portion of the inversion spring, and

the leg portion of the inversion spring is retained by the retaining portion, with the projecting portion of the protective sheet being stacked on the lower surface of the leg portion of the inversion spring.

10 . The pressing operation body according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a projection that is disposed below a top of the inversion spring.

11 . The pressing operation body according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a protective sheet that is stacked on a lower surface of the inversion spring, wherein

the pressing operation body is adhesively provided on a rear surface of the protective sheet.

12 . The pressing operation body according to claim 11 , wherein

the pressing operation body has an oblong rectangular shape in a plan view of the pressing operation body.

13 . The pressing operation body according to claim 1 , wherein

the rubber stem includes

a first projecting pressing portion, and

a pair of second projecting pressing portions, wherein

the first projecting pressing portion is at a center in a plane facing a top of the inversion spring, and

the second projecting pressing portions are provided at a peripheral portion in the plane so as to sandwich the first projecting pressing portion between the second projecting pressing portions.

14 . The pressing operation body according to claim 13 , wherein

the first projecting pressing portion is configured to press a center of the top of the inversion spring, and

the second projecting pressing portions are each configured to press a peripheral portion of the top of the inversion spring.

15 . The pressing operation body according to claim 14 , wherein an amount of projection of the second projecting pressing portions is larger than an amount of projection of the first projecting pressing portion.

16 . The pressing operation body according to claim 13 , wherein

the pressing operation body has an oblong rectangular shape in a plan view of the pressing operation body.

17 . A switch device, comprising:

the pressing operation body according to claim 1 ; and

a membrane switch that is disposed below the pressing operation body and turned to an ON state in response to inversion of the inversion spring.