Multi-directional slide switch

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multi-directional slide switch for input operation of various kinds of electronic equipment in which the sliding operation of a control lever scrolls a display on a screen.

2. Background Art

A conventional slide switch disclosed in the Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-307599 is described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 16 .

FIG. 10 is an elevational view in section of the conventional multi-directional slide switch. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view thereof. FIG. 12 is a plan view of a case thereof. FIG. 13 is a plan view of a section thereof, illustrating how a first slide member is assembled. FIG. 14 is a plan view of another section thereof, illustrating how a second slide member is assembled.

As shown in FIG. 12 , in box-shaped case 1 made of a resin, four fixed contacts (hereinafter referred to as “contacts”) 2 A through 2 D and four ground patterns 2 E are disposed on the quadrangular inner bottom surface of case 1 along corresponding sidewalls thereof. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , first slide member (hereinafter referred to as a “slide member”) 3 and second slide member (hereinafter referred to as a “slide member”) 4 are stacked and housed in case 1 . While slide member 3 is guided to slide in an X-axis direction parallel to the opposed sidewalls, slide member 4 is guided to slide in a Y-axis direction parallel to the other opposed sidewalls. The top opening of case 1 is covered with cover 5 . On the top surface of slide member 3 , control lever 6 (hereinafter referred to as a “lever”) is provided to project upwardly from penetration-hole 5 A through cover 5 . Attached to the bottom surface of slide member 3 , movable contact (hereinafter referred to as a “contact”) 7 is formed of a resilient thin metal plate. Provided in the center of slide member 4 is through-hole 4 A into which lever 6 is fitted with play.

As shown FIGS. 11 and 13 , a pair of first engaging parts (hereinafter referred to as “engaging parts”) 3 A on the top surface of slide member 3 are engaged with a pair of first guide parts (hereinafter referred to as “guide parts”) 4 B that are provided on the bottom surface of slide member 4 to have a length equal to that of engaging parts 3 A. Similarly, as shown FIGS. 11 and 14 , a pair of second engaging parts (hereinafter referred to as “engaging parts”) 4 C on the top surface of slide member 4 are engaged with a pair of second guide parts (hereinafter referred to as “guide parts”) 5 B that are provided on the bottom surface of cover 5 to have a length equal to that of engaging parts 4 C. These structures allow slide member 3 and slide member 4 to be guided so that they slide in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, respectively.

In the vicinity of both ends of guide parts 4 B, a pair of first return springs (hereinafter referred to as “springs”) 8 are disposed. Similarly, in the vicinity of both ends of guide parts 5 B, a pair of second return springs (hereinafter referred to as “springs”) 9 are disposed. The pair of springs 8 are opposed so that respective coil portions 8 A are positioned by a pair of opposed projections 4 D. Similarly, the pair of springs 9 are opposed so that respective coil portions 9 A are positioned by a pair of opposed projections 5 C. In an inoperative state, arm portions 8 B of springs 8 are adopted to make contact with guide parts 4 B and ends of engaging parts 3 A. On the other hand, arm portions 9 B of springs 9 are adopted to make contact with guide parts 5 B and ends of engaging parts 4 C. This structure keeps engaging parts 3 A and 4 C, i.e., slide members 3 and 4 , at rest in a neutral position.

Contact 7 is attached to the bottom surface of slide member 3 . In an inoperative state, the tips of four resilient legs 7 A through 7 D are adopted to make contact with the inner bottom surface of case 1 between corresponding contacts 2 A through 2 D and corresponding four ground patterns 2 E, as shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 12 .

As for press switch section 10 disposed in the center of the inner bottom surface of case 1 , depressing press rod 11 disposed through the center portion of lever 6 resiliently deforms dome-shaped movable contact 12 for actuation.

First, in the conventional multi-directional slide switch structured as above, a description is provided of a case where lever 6 is pushed rightward from the inoperative state shown in FIG. 13 for a sliding operation in the X-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 15 , the ends on one side of engaging parts 3 push arm portions 8 B of corresponding spring 8 on the right side. This resiliently deforms coil portion 8 A while slide member 3 moves in the X-axis direction. Accordingly, the tip of resilient leg 7 A of contact 7 shown FIG. 12 is brought into contact with contact 2 A, and the tip of resilient leg 7 B is brought into contact with ground pattern 2 E. A signal is transferred to the outside from the terminals on the outer periphery of case 1 . Thereafter, when the pushing force applied to lever 6 is removed, the resilient restoring force of spring 8 pushes engaging parts 3 A, i.e., slide member 3 , back to the original state shown in FIG. 13 .

Next, a description is provided of a case where lever 6 is pushed backward from the inoperative state shown in FIG. 14 for a sliding operation in the Y-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 16 , while engaging parts 4 C resiliently deform corresponding spring 9 on the backward side, slide member 4 moves in the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, the tip of resilient leg 7 C is brought into contact with contact 2 C and the tip of resilient leg 7 D is brought into contact with ground pattern 2 E.

However, having a large number of components and taking much assembling time, this conventional multi-directional slide switch is expensive. Additionally, because slide members 3 and 4 are stacked, the switch has a high profile.

A multi-directional switch of the present invention includes a case, movable contacts, and a driver. The case has fixed contacts on the inner surfaces of sidewalls standing erect from the outer periphery of the bottom surface thereof or on the bottom surface in the vicinity of the sidewalls. The movable contacts are disposed in the case. The movement of the movable contacts toward the center of the case is restricted. The movable contacts are disposed so that one end thereof is in contact with one of the fixed contacts. The driver is movably housed in the case. In an inoperative state, the movable contacts urge and place the driver in the center of the case. Sliding the driver causes the driver to push and bring one of the movable contacts into contact with one of the fixed contacts.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-directional slide switch in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a cover thereof removed.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in section of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a case of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 1 in sliding operation, with the cover removed.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view in section of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 1 in depressing operation.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 5 , with the cover and a driver thereof removed.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view in section of a multi-directional slide switch in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view in section of a multi-directional slide switch in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view in section of a conventional multi-directional slide switch.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 10 .

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a case, an essential part of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 10 .

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a section of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 10 , illustrating how a first slide member thereof is assembled.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of another section of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 10 , illustrating how a second slide member thereof is assembled.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 10 , illustrating how a control lever thereof is slid in an X-axis direction.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the multi-directional slide switch of FIG. 10 , illustrating how the control lever thereof is slid in a Y-axis direction.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, like constituent components are denoted with the same reference marks and detailed description of these components are omitted.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-directional slide switch in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a cover thereof removed. FIG. 2 is an elevational view in section thereof. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a case thereof.

Box-shaped case 21 has four sidewalls 22 A through 22 D standing erect from the outer peripheral four sides of quadrangular bottom surface 21 A, as shown in FIG. 3 and 4 . Case 21 is made of an insulating material. An insulating ceramic material can be used. However, in order to form the complicated interior shape at low cost, resin is preferable. On the inner surfaces of sidewalls 22 A through 22 D, corresponding fixed contacts (hereinafter referred to as “contacts”) 23 A through 23 D each shaped like a flat plate are disposed so as to be exposed in positions symmetrical with respect to the center of bottom surface 21 A. Terminals 24 A through 24 D electrically connected with corresponding contacts 23 A through 23 D project from the outer peripheries of corresponding sidewalls 22 A through 22 D.

Supports 25 and 26 , each having a trapezoidal shape as seen from the top, project from bottom surface 21 A, in positions on one of diagonal lines passing between contact 23 A and contact 23 B. This diagonal line also passes between contact 23 C and contact 23 D. On the side faces of supports 25 and 26 opposed to corners 21 B and 21 C, respectively, connection contacts (hereinafter referred to as “contacts”) 27 and 28 are provided. Terminals 27 A and 28 A electrically connected with corresponding contacts 27 and 28 project form the outer peripheries of corresponding sidewalls 22 A and 22 C.

These contacts 23 A through 23 D, 27 and 28 , terminals 24 A through 24 D, 27 A and 28 A, and movable contacts 34 and 35 , which will be described later, constitute a slide switch section.

On the other hand, provided inside of circular wall 21 D surrounding the center of bottom surface 21 A are fixed contacts for a press switch section, made of center contact 29 and a pair of side contacts 30 sandwiching center contact 29 . Terminals 29 A and 30 A electrically connected with corresponding contacts 29 and 30 project from the outer peripheries of corresponding sidewalls 22 B and 22 D. As shown in FIG. 2 , disposed on fixed contacts 29 and 30 for this press switch section is dome-shaped movable contact (hereinafter referred to as a “contact”) 31 made by drawing a resilient metal thin plate into a bowl shape. The bottom end of the outer periphery of contact 31 is mounted on side contacts 30 . The bottom surface of the top portion of contact 31 is opposed to center contact 29 with a predetermined space provided therebetween. Thus, the press switch section is constructed.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4 , guide parts 32 and 33 are provided at the other corners of case bottom surface 21 A. Each of guide parts 32 and 33 has a cross-shaped recess extending in directions parallel to opposed sidewalls 22 A and 22 C, and opposed sidewalls 22 B and 22 D. The structure of guide parts 32 and 33 is not limited to the above-mentioned cross-shaped recess formed in bottom surface 21 A of case 21 . The cross-shaped outline can at least be formed by providing projections on sidewalls 22 A, 22 B, 22 C, and 22 D.

Movable contacts (hereinafter referred as “contacts”) 34 and 35 are made by forming a resilient thin metal plate having a predetermined width into substantially an M shape, as shown in FIG. 3 . It is easy to form contacts 34 and 35 by bending. However, another method can be used. As shown in FIG. 1 , connection leg 34 A in center portion 34 H of the M shape is fitted between contact 27 on support 25 and corner 21 B, fixed thereto, and electrically connected with contact 27 . Similarly, connection leg 35 A is fitted between contact 28 on support 26 and corner 21 C, fixed thereto, and electrically connected with contact 28 . In other words, center portions 34 H and 35 H function as the portions for fixing contacts 34 and 35 , respectively. Because of this structure, supports 25 and 26 inhibit corresponding contacts 34 and 35 from moving toward the center of case 21 .

Tips 34 D and 34 E of resilient legs 34 B and 34 C at both ends of M-shaped contact 34 are adopted to make contact with the vicinities of contacts 23 A and 23 B on sidewalls 22 A and 22 B of case 21 , respectively, so that a predetermined space is provided between the vicinity and each fixed contact. Similarly, tips 35 D and 35 E of resilient legs 35 B and 35 C at both ends of M-shaped contact 35 are adopted to make contact with the vicinities of contacts 23 C and 23 D on sidewalls 22 C and 22 D of case 21 , respectively, so that a predetermined space is provided between the vicinity and each fixed contact.

Additionally, two resilient arms 34 F and 34 G for connecting center portion 34 H and the roots of corresponding resilient legs 34 B and 34 C of contact 34 are adopted to make contact with corresponding symmetrical corners 25 A and 25 B of support 25 , in the middle portions of the resilient arms. Resilient arms 34 F and 34 G are supported and restricted in positions symmetrical with respect to the diagonal line connecting corners 21 B and 21 C of case 21 . Similarly, two resilient arms 35 F and 35 G for connecting center portion 35 H and the roots of corresponding resilient legs 35 B and 35 C of contact 35 are adopted to make contact with corresponding symmetrical corners 26 A and 26 B of support 26 , in the middle portions of the resilient arms. Resilient arms 35 F and 35 G are supported and restricted in positions symmetrical with respect to the center of case bottom surface 21 . Because of this structure, one movable contact 34 forms two switches.

As shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1 , driver 36 has columns 37 A and 37 B on the bottom surfaces of protrusions symmetrical with respect to the center of driver 36 , at both ends of body portion 36 A shaped like a long plate. Like case 21 , driver 36 is also formed of ceramic material or resin. Columns 37 A and 37 B are respectively positioned at the center of cross-shaped guide parts 32 and 33 on bottom surface 21 A. This structure allows columns 37 A and 37 B to make a predetermined amount of linear movement in the direction parallel to opposed sidewalls 22 A and 22 C and in the direction parallel to opposed sidewalls 22 B and 22 D. Columns 37 A and 37 B provided on driver 36 serve as portions for restricting driver 36 .

Square portion 38 protruding downwardly from body portion 36 A has four side-face contact portions (hereinafter referred to as “contact portions”) 38 A through 38 D. Contact portions 38 A through 38 D are in contact with the corresponding vicinities of portions for connecting resilient legs and arms, i.e., the tips of resilient arms 34 F, 34 G, 35 F, and 35 G of contacts 34 and 35 . This structure keeps square portion 38 in the neutral position in case 21 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , control lever (hereinafter referred to as a “lever”) 39 is integrally formed with body portion 36 A in the center of the top surface thereof. Lever 39 projects outwardly from hole 40 A in the center of cover 40 that is joined to case 21 to cover the upper opening of case 21 . This structure facilitates the operation of driver 36 .

Further, press rod 41 for driving the press switch section is disposed through through-hole 39 A in the center of lever 39 so as to be movable vertically. Bottom end projection 41 A of press rod 41 is in contact with the top surface of the top portion of contact 31 in the press switch section. At the bottom end of press rod 41 , large-diameter flange 41 B is provided. Bottom end projection 41 A is provided on the bottom surface of flange 41 B.

The multi-directional slide switch of this embodiment is structured as above. Next, the operation thereof is described.

First, the operation of the slide switch section is described. In an inoperative state as shown in FIG. 1 , tips 34 D, 34 E, 35 D, and 35 E of corresponding resilient legs 34 B, 34 C, 35 B and 35 C are out of contact with corresponding contacts 23 A through 23 D. In other words, the switch is in the off-state.

When force is applied to slide lever 39 in the rightward direction in this state, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5 , entire driver 36 moves rightward. At this time, columns 37 A and 37 B of driver 36 are guided to the right sides of the recesses in guide parts 32 and 33 , respectively. Contact portion 38 C of driver 36 leaves resilient arm 35 F of contact 35 . Contact portion 38 B moves rightward while it is in contact with the vicinity of the portion connecting resilient arm 34 G and resilient leg 34 C of contact 34 . Similarly, contact portion 38 D moves rightward while it is in contact with the vicinity of the portion connecting resilient arm 35 G and resilient leg 35 C of contact 35 .

Then, contact portion 38 A pushes the tip of resilient arm 34 F of contact 34 in contact with contact portion 38 A, in the rightward direction. Pushed resilient arm 34 F pivots around the fulcrum at connection leg 34 A, i.e., a fixation portion at the root of resilient arm 34 F. The middle portion of resilient arm 34 F leaves corner 25 A of support 25 on case 21 . Additionally, because the root of resilient leg 34 B approaches sidewall 22 A of case 21 , tip 34 D is slid on the inner surface of sidewall 22 A and adopted to make contact therewith, and brought into contact with contact 23 A. This action establishes electrical connection between contacts 27 and 23 A, i.e., terminals 27 A and 24 A, via contact 34 . This signal is transferred to the outside. In this manner, this switch is structured so that contact 34 has center portion 34 H, resilient legs 34 B and 34 C, and resilient arms 34 F and 34 G, and center portion 34 H is fixed to a position on one of diagonal lines of the case inner bottom surface. This structure makes such an action possible.

At this time, resilient arm 34 G of contact 34 is adopted to make contact with corner 25 B of support 25 on case 21 and does not move. Similarly, resilient arms 35 F and 35 G are adopted to make contact with corresponding corners 26 A and 26 B of support 26 on case 21 and do not move. Providing supports 25 and 26 of this structure prevents the malfunction of the contacts.

Thereafter, when the force applied to lever 39 is removed, resilient restoring force of contact 34 causes resilient arm 34 F to push driver 36 toward the center of case 21 along contact portion 38 A. Thus, while columns 37 A and 37 B are guided by guide parts 32 and 33 , the switch returns to the original inoperative state as shown in FIG. 1 . In other words, the switch returns to a stable neutral state in which driver 36 is urged toward the center from outer peripheral four directions by contacts 34 and 35 . At this time, tip 34 D of resilient leg 34 B of contact 34 leaves contact 23 A. This action is realized by providing resilient arm 34 F in movable contact 34 and providing contact portion 38 A in driver 36 .

In a similar manner, pushing lever 39 leftward from the inoperative state shown in FIG. 1 establishes electrical contact between contacts 28 and 23 C. Likewise, pushing lever 39 backward establishes electrical contact between contacts 27 and 23 B and pushing lever 39 forward establishes electrical contact between contacts 28 and 23 D. In other words, lever 39 is pushed in a direction parallel to bottom surface 21 A of case 21 so as to be slid in one of four directions parallel to sidewalls 22 A through 22 D. Then, entire driver 36 translates along guide parts, and one of the contact portions of driver 36 corresponding to the sliding direction pushes the vicinity of the connecting portion of the resilient arm of the movable contact in contact with the contact portion. This causes the tip of the resilient leg to slide on the inner surface of the sidewall of the case in contact with the tip and to make contact with a corresponding fixed contact. Thus, a given signal is obtained.

As described above, in this embodiment, the movement of columns 37 A and 37 B, i.e., simply structured restricting portions for driver 36 , is restricted by guide parts 32 and 33 . This structure restricts the sliding operation to four directions, i.e., right left, front and back, only. In other words, the restricting portions restrict the directions of movement of driver 36 in operation using a simple structure. Thus, driver 36 is operated in the sliding directions preset by the restricting portions only. Additionally, in this embodiment, forming guide parts 32 and 33 as recesses also restrict unnecessary movement of driver 36 . Further, in this multi-directional slide switch, contacts are disposed so as to provide a given signal when the switch is operated in one of these directions.

The multi-directional slide switch of this embodiment has a small number of components. Thus, the switch is easily assembled and has a low profile. Especially, each movable contact is structured as substantially an M shape. Each movable contact is supported from the inside so that a pair of resilient arms are placed symmetrically with respect to the diagonal line of bottom surface 21 A, and forms two switches. This structure reduces the number of components. Further, because two of such a substantially M-shaped movable contact are disposed in positions symmetrical with respect to the center of bottom surface 21 A, a four-directional switch of a simple structure is realized.

In the above description, each of movable contacts 34 and 35 is formed by bending a resilient thin metal plate to substantially an M shape. Resilient arms 34 F and 34 G are integrally formed with resilient legs 34 B and 34 C, respectively, so that they are symmetrical with respect to the centerline going through the center portions 34 H of the M shapes, i.e., fixation portions. Similarly, resilient arms 35 F and 35 G are integrally formed with resilient legs 35 B and 35 C, so that they are symmetrical with respect to the centerline going through the center portions 35 H. This structure allows each of contacts 23 A through 23 D to form an electrically independent switch. Instead of this structure, each of the movable contacts can be divided into two pieces in the center portion of the M shape, and the divided pieces can be fixed to corners 21 B and 21 C of case 21 .

In the description of this embodiment, guide parts each having a cross-shaped recess are provided in a case having a quadrangular bottom surface, and a driver is movable in four directions parallel to the sides of the case, i.e., front, back, right, and left. However, the shape of the case bottom surface and directions of movement of the driver are not limited to the above description. The shape can be pentagonal, hexagonal, or circular. For example, the case bottom can be shaped hexagonal so that a driver is movable in six directions parallel to the respective sides. In this case, the shape of the movable contact includes the above-mentioned substantially M shape divided into two pieces, and mixture of substantially the M shape and divided pieces.

As the shape of the case bottom surface, regular polygons are preferable. In this case, movable contacts can be formed into the same size and thus components can be shared. When a case bottom surface is shaped like a polygon, the center portion of each movable contact is fixed to a position on a line connecting a given point on the case bottom surface and a corresponding corner. When a case bottom surface is shaped like a regular polygon, the center portion of each movable contact is fixed to a position on a line connecting the center of the polygon and a corresponding corner. This makes the spaces between disposed movable contacts equal and thus the movable contacts of the same shape can easily be installed.

In the above description, when lateral pushing force is applied to slide lever 39 , tips 34 D and 34 E of contact 34 are adopted to make contact with and slid on the inner surfaces of sidewalls 22 A and 22 B, respectively, in the direction as to approach the center portion 34 H. Similarly, tips 35 D and 35 E of contact 35 are adopted to make contact with and slid on the inner surfaces of sidewalls 22 C and 22 D, respectively, in the direction as to approach the center portion 35 H. However, the direction of each of resilient legs 34 B, 34 C, 35 B, and 35 C can be changed so that the resilient leg leaves the center portion of the M shape.

In the above description, the slide switch section is in the off-state in its inoperative state and electrical connection is established between given terminals by a sliding operation. However, it is also possible that the switch is in the on-state in its inoperative state and electrical connection between given terminals is broken off by the sliding operation.

In the above description, contacts 23 A through 23 D are disposed on the inner surfaces of sidewalls 22 A through 22 D, respectively, which stand erect from the outer peripheral four sides of bottom surface 21 A of case 21 . However, contacts 23 A through 23 D can be provided on bottom surface 21 A in the vicinity of sidewalls 22 A through 22 D, respectively, so that the tips of resilient legs 34 B, 34 C, 35 B, and 35 C of contacts 34 and 35 are brought into contact with corresponding contacts 23 A through 23 D.

Next, the operation of the press switch section is described. In an inoperative state shown in FIG. 2 , the press switch section is in the off-state. In other words, electrical connection is not established between terminals 29 A and 30 A shown in FIG. 4 .

In this state, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 , downward force is applied to press rod 41 disposed in the center of lever 39 , for a depressing operation. Then, bottom end projection 41 A on press rod 41 depresses and resiliently deforms the top portion of contact 31 , thereby bringing the bottom surface of the top portion into contact with center contact 29 . This establishes electrical contact between center contact 29 and side contacts 30 , i.e., terminal 29 A and terminal 30 A in FIG. 4 are electrically connected via contact 31 . The signal is transferred to the outside. Thereafter, when the force applied to press rod 41 is removed, resilient restoring force of contact 31 pushes back press rod 41 upwardly, thereby restoring the switch to its original state shown in FIG. 2 . In other words, the bottom surface of the top portion of contact 31 leaves center contact 29 .

As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to a signal obtained by sliding operation of lever 39 , another signal can be obtained by depressing operation of press rod 41 . However, the press switch section is not necessarily required and a multi-directional slide switch can be structured of a slide switch section only. In this embodiment, guide parts 32 and 33 are provided at the corners of case bottom surface 21 A. When the press switch section is not incorporated, the guide parts can be provided in the center of case bottom surface 21 A. In this case, the restricting portions are provided in the center of the bottom surface of body portion 36 A.

This press switch section is structured to be operable only when driver 36 is in an inoperative position. Next, this structure is described.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , large-diameter flange 41 B is provided at the bottom end of press rod 41 , and bottom end projection 41 A is formed to project at the center of flange 41 B. As shown in FIG. 2 , flange 41 B is positioned above the top end of circular wall 21 D that is provided on bottom surface 21 A of case 21 to surround the press switch section. Specifically, flange 41 B is positioned above circular wall 21 D by a dimension smaller than the operative stroke of the press switch section. Additionally, the clearance between the outer diameter of flange 41 B and the inner diameter of circular wall 21 D is set smaller than the amount of movement of lever 39 , i.e., press rod 41 , in sliding operation.

When lever 39 is slid, press rod 41 moves laterally with lever 39 . Therefore, when lever 39 is slid, a part of flange 41 B overlaps the top end of circular wall 21 D, as shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 7 . In this state, press rod 41 can move downwardly by the difference between the bottom end of flange 41 B and the top end of circular wall 21 D only. In other words, while lever 39 is slid, the press switch section is inoperable. This structure prevents malfunction of the press switch section during the sliding operation. Flange 41 B also serves to prevent press rod 41 from falling out of through-hole 39 A through lever 39 .

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 8 is an elevational view in section of a multi-directional slide switch in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, knob 42 is attached to the structure of the first exemplary embodiment. The structure of the other components is the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment.

Over the tip of control lever 39 , control knob 42 is fitted. In through-hole 42 A in the center of knob 42 , push button 43 is inserted to be independently and vertically movable. The bottom end of knob 42 forms large-diameter portion 42 B. The outer peripheral bottom end of large-diameter portion 42 B is in contact with the outer peripheral plane around hole 40 A through cover 40 for covering the top opening of case 21 .

Structuring knob 42 in this manner prevents jerky movements of driver 36 caused by the tilt thereof and provides smooth operation when lateral pushing force is applied to slide knob 42 . Additionally, covering hole 40 A through cover 40 provides good appearance and improves dust resistance. Further, depressing push button 43 can actuate a press switch section.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 9 is an elevational view in section of a multi-directional slide switch in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the structure of a driver is different from that of the first exemplary embodiment. The structure of the other components is the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment.

Control lever (hereinafter referred to as a “lever”) 45 is engaged with center hole 44 A through driver 44 to be independently and vertically movable. Bottom end projection 45 A of lever 45 is in contact with the top surface of the top portion of dome-like movable contact 31 of the press switch section. Knob 46 covers the tip of lever 45 . Between the bottom surface of knob 46 and cover 40 , a clearance larger than the operative stroke of the press switch section is provided. In other words, lever 45 engages the body of driver 44 to be independently and vertically movable and also serves as a press rod.

Because of this structure, applying lateral force to slide knob 46 can actuates the slide switch section. Applying downward force to depress knob 46 can actuate the press switch section. Lever 45 and knob 46 have simple shapes as described above and the number of components can be reduced.

As described above, in the present invention, when a control lever is slid to move a driver housed in a case in a given direction, the movement of the driver causes the driver to push a given movable contact and slide and bring the movable contact into resilient contact with a corresponding fixed contact. This structure can provide a multi-directional slide switch of low profile that has a small number of constituent members and is easily assembled.