Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Retarded – Dashpot
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2001-06-26
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Retarded
Dashpot
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252185
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delay switch in which the switching motion is delayed for a predetermined period of time.
2. Related Art
Concerning this type delay switch, for example, a delay switch used for a ventilation fan and an illuminating light installed in a toilet is well known as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-55825. This conventional delay switch has a control function (delay function) in which the ventilation fan and the illuminating light are respectively turned on by the operation of a handle which is an operating section, the illuminating light is turned off by the next handle operation, and the ventilation fan is turned off after a predetermined period of time has passed which is determined by a delay unit.
However, in the conventional structure described above, the following problems may be encountered. The structure of the delay unit (delay element) to determine the above predetermined period of time is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high; the feeling of operation is not good because the handle operation is linked with a gear of the delay unit; and various noises are caused by the delay function of the delay unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a delay switch, the manufacturing cost of which is low, the reliability of which is high, and the intensity of noise generated by the delay switch is low.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention is to provide a delay switch comprising: an operating section; a suction cup linked with the setting operation conducted by the operating section; a slidable T-post to open and close the switching mechanism being linked with the suction cup; a body to hold the suction cup after the suction cup has been moved; a return spring to give a force to the suction cup in a direction so that the suction cup can be separated from the body; and a terminal with which the switching mechanism is electrically connected, wherein a delay time is caused from the time at which releasing operation is conducted in the operating section to the time at which the suction cup is separated from the body, in accordance with a balance between the holding force of the suction cup to the body and the spring force of the return spring. Since the delay time is determined by a balance between the holding force of the suction cup to the body and the spring force of the return spring, no gears are required unlike the conventional delay unit, and structure of this delay switch is simpler than that of the delay switch having the conventional delay unit, and further the reliability is high and the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the noise can be decreased. Unlike the conventional delay switch, no gears are required in the delay switch. Therefore, the operation conducted in the operating section is smooth.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, a delay unit is composed of the suction cup, the body, the slidable T-post and the return spring. Accordingly, compared with the conventional delay switch, the manufacturing cost of the delay unit can be reduced, and further the delay switch can be miniaturized. Furthermore, the intensity of noise generated by the delay switch can be decreased.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, a case for the element in which at least the suction cup and the body are accommodated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign objects such as dust from intruding into a space between the suction cup and the body, by the case for the element. Accordingly, the suction cup can be stably held to the body, and the delay time can be kept substantially constant.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, a dust protection means separates the suction cup from the outside of the case for the element. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign objects such as dust from intruding into a space between the suction cup and the body. Accordingly, the suction cup can be stably held to the body, and the delay time can be kept substantially constant.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, the dust protection means is an elastic suction cup cover accommodated in the case for the element and linked with the slidable T-post. Since the structure of the dust protection means is simple, the motion of the suction cup is not obstructed by the dust protection means, and it is possible to prevent foreign objects such as dust from intruding into a space between the suction cup and the body.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, wherein the body is a porous body. Accordingly, the delay time can be easily set. Further, compared with an unporous body, the coefficient of air transmission of the unporous body is seldom affected by the temperature. Therefore, a variation of the delay time caused by a variation of the ambient temperature can be reduced, and the delay time can be controlled with high accuracy.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, the slidable T-post is composed of a slidable T-post member to open and close the switch mechanism and a drive shaft member to hold the suction cup to the body, and the slidable T-post member and drive shaft member are uniformly formed. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing process can be simplified. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost can be decreased.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, the slidable T-post is composed of a card member to open and close the switch mechanism and a drive shaft member to hold the suction cup by the body, and the slidable T-post member and the drive shaft member are combined with each other. Therefore, the profile of the slidable T-post can be easily controlled.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, a case in which at least the suction cup, body, slidable T-post and return spring are accommodated, wherein this case is composed by a size corresponding to one set of embedded type wiring accessory, the unit size of which is determined so that three sets of wiring accessories can be attached at maximum in such a manner that the front surface of the case is exposed from an opening window of the attaching frame of the embedded type wiring accessories. Accordingly, it is possible to attach the delay switch to the attaching frame in the same manner as that of the embedded type wiring accessories such as a receptacle and a switch. Therefore, the attaching work can be performed easily.
According to the present invention, in the structure of the delay switch, the terminal is composed of a quick-connecting type terminal structure including a terminal plate to which an electrical wire is connected, a lock spring to connect the electrical wire to the terminal plate with pressure, and a release button to bend the lock spring in the release direction so as to disconnect the electrical wire from the terminal plate. Therefore, compared with a screw type terminal structure, the attaching work can be conducted safely. Further, since the electrical wire can be easily and positively connected to the terminal, wiring can be conducted uniformly, and the labor and time can be saved in the attaching work.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1995721 (1935-03-01), Sanford
patent: 2488024 (1949-11-01), Mudon
patent: 2800538 (1957-07-01), Kuhn
patent: 3000034 (1961-09-01), Webb
patent: 3484090 (1969-12-01), Mahoney
patent: 3495342 (1970-02-01), Goldstein
patent: 4638128 (1987-01-01), Kuwabara et al.
patent: 1 252 141 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 61-55825 (1986-03-01), None
Chuzawa Takaaki
Kajiyama Satoshi
Kawamoto Tetsuyasu
Kitamura Nobuhiro
Kondo Hideya
Luebke Renee
Matsushita Electric & Works Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
LandOfFree
Delay switch with delay unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Delay switch with delay unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Delay switch with delay unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2465909