Diaphragm switch

Details Diaphragm switch Diaphragm switch

2001-01-17

2001-12-25

Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Solid contact

Push button operated

C200S517000, C200S314000, C200S341000, C200S345000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06333478

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a diaphragm touchbutton switch having a housing and a touchbutton slidingly guided on the housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern diaphragm touchbutton switches as used, more particularly, in motor vehicles, have a short stroke and feature, where required, a lighted icon. They comprise a plastics housing and a touchbutton mounted and guided therein. Located below the touchbutton is a connector chamber into which a generally multi-pin connector is inserted to latch in place. The connector chamber takes up most of the depth of the switch overall as generally predefined so that little depth remains for guiding the touchbutton.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a diaphragm touchbutton switch having a housing and a touchbutton slidingly guided on the housing. The housing comprises an outer wall that extends to a base surface area facing away from the touchbutton. The outer wall is bent inwards at the base surface area and passes into an inner wall angled parallel to the outer wall. The inner wall forms a connector chamber, and the touchbutton comprises at least one integrally molded guiding wall, engaged between the inner wall and the outer wall of the housing.
The guiding wall of the touchbutton thus surrounds the connector chamber so that the depth of the connector chamber poses no restriction to the touchbutton guide length. In the preferred embodiment the guiding wall of the touchbutton thus extends close to the base surface area of the housing.
A further improvement in guiding the touchbutton is achieved in the preferred embodiment in that guide keys and cooperating guide channels are integrally molded on the inside of the outer wall of the housing and on the outside of the guiding wall of the touchbutton.
Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment the inner wall of the housing has an end facing the touchbutton connected to a top that extends at a right angle to said inner wall. Between the touchbutton and the top wall a circuit board may be disposed which carries functional elements of the diaphragm touchbutton switch including a diaphragm switching element for touchbutton actuation and an optional lighted icon.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4251723 (1981-02-01), Speidel et al.
patent: 5727675 (1998-03-01), Leveque et al.
patent: 5803240 (1998-09-01), Swidersky et al.
patent: 6091066 (2000-07-01), Sugihara
patent: 6096989 (2000-08-01), Kinoshita
patent: 9403910 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 4316998 (1994-11-01), None

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