Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Actuators
Patent
1996-09-03
1998-09-08
Walczak, David J.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Actuators
200341, H01H 1370
Patent
active
058032401
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
SPECIFICATION
The invention relates to an electric push-button switch, notably for automobiles, with a push button which, spring-loaded, is installed in the switch housing and joined to it in articulate fashion, by means of two levers which are arranged, for one, on a bearing in the housing and, for another, on a bearing in the push button, which bearing pivots about the aforementioned bearing, each lever featuring a projection with an entrainment bearing, and the two entrainment bearings being connected by a bar.
A push-button switch of this type is known from FR-A-2 175 105. It features a housing and a push button, where the push button is joined to the housing in articulate fashion, by means of two levers which are arranged on the push button, for one, on a stationary bearing in the housing and, for another, in a stationary bearing which pivots about the housing-specific bearing. The levers are comprised of triangular parts whose one point is occupied by the stationary bearing in the housing, the second point by the stationary bearing on the push button, and the third point by an entrainment bearing, with both entrainment bearings connected by a bar. The part of the triangle that connects the stationary bearing in the housing with the stationary bearing on the push button can be considered as the lever proper, while the remaining part may be considered as a projection that is integrally molded on. Following its actuation, the push button is restored to its starting position by a spring contained in the switch.
The objective underlying the invention is to provide an electric push-button switch of the initially mentioned type where the push button, when actuated one-sidedly, can be moved evenly, without skewing and binding, with at the same time large play between push button and housing as well as given tolerance compensation.
This objective is inventionally accomplished in that housing-specific bearing for the other lever is fashioned as a slot in the housing, and the lever retained in the slot.
Besides a reliable actuation of the push-button switch, this measure accomplishes a tolerance compensation, since the force of the elastic element which is introduced via the projection on one of the levers and via the bar and against the working direction of the push button causes a fixing of the push button against the elastic element acting in the direction of said push button.
The embodiment of the invention provides for four levers which connect the housing in articulate fashion with the push button, where two levers each are aligned coaxially and connected by a bar. Accomplished thereby, when arranging the levers beneath the corners of a larger-area push button, is a frictionless depression of the push button, with the coaxial connection of two levers each effecting a forced entrainment of the two coaxial levers. The four levers, between the housing and the push button, are suitably connected by way of the bars mounted in their entrainment bearings, with a rail between the two bars. Thus, the displacement path is being transmitted from bar to bar, directly via the rail. Each lever is preferably connected to the pertaining bar by means of a clip or integrally via a film hinge.
To restrict the maximum path of the push button out of the housing, a further embodiment provides on the housing for a stop on which rests the projection of one of the levers under the effect of the elastic element acting on the push button. This establishment of the outer switching position of the push button produces an even bearing of the lever projection on the stop, assuring an easy detachment of the projection from the stop in actuating the push button.
Arranged in the housing is suitably a printed circuit board with a switching element mounted on it, the spring-loaded button of which element causes the push button to restore automatically. Also installed on the printed circuit board is preferably an illuminating element whose bulb is received in the opening of a luminescent screen. Using a printed circuit board with components
Rudolph Gerd
Swidersky Norbert
Eaton Controls GmbH & Co, Kg
Johnston Roger A.
Walczak David J.
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