Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Actuators
Patent
1997-09-11
1999-09-28
Luebke, Renee S.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Actuators
H01H 312
Patent
active
059572710
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in push-button assemblies which should allow more reliable operation in adverse conditions.
Typically, a push-button is associated with a switch which is operated by movement of the push-button relatively to the switch. In a fruit machine, for example, a series of push-buttons may be provided, each being associated with a respective switch controlling a different game function, such as start, reel hold, etc. A player operates a selected switch by pressing its associated push-button which is thus moved relatively to a surrounding body. Typically, the surrounding body is in the form of a decorative bezel located at one end of a push-button switch mounting.
Examples of push-button switch mountings are disclosed in our GB-A-2239352, GB-A-2271216 and GB-A-2279500 to which the reader is instructed to refer.
A problem has been experienced in that, particularly in bars or public houses, liquids such as beer or lemonade are spilled and penetrate between a side wall of the push-button and a side wall of the surrounding body, causing the side walls to become sticky.
Even if the push-button does not completely jam in the surrounding body, the stickiness may slow the movement of the push-button and cause an unacceptable delay in the operation of the switch, particularly in games where speed is of the essence.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, however, a push-button assembly comprises a push-button having a side wall outer surface located adjacent to a side wall inner surface of a surrounding body, characterised in that at least one of said side wall surfaces is recessed.
The term "recessed" is intended to mean any surface which is not uniformly flat or curved but has projection(s) and/or depression(s).
The expectation is that the invention will significantly reduce the effect of stickiness particularly for push-button assemblies of comparatively large size having large opposed surface areas which are especially likely to be adversely affected by stickiness.
Preferably, the side wall outer surface of the push-button is recessed as a result of including a series of grooves spaced apart from one another around the external periphery of the side wall of the push-button. Additionally, or alternatively, the side wall inner surface of the surrounding body is recessed as a result of including a series of grooves spaced apart from one another around the internal periphery of the side wall of the surrounding body.
The push-button may comprise a cap and a spring-biased support, either or both of which is or are recessed.
The surrounding body may comprise a push-button switch mounting and a decorative bezel, either or both of which is or are recessed, with the decorative bezel being located at one end of the push-button switch mounting whose other end is adapted to permit mounting of a switch thereto.
Preferably, said at least one of said side wall surfaces is formed with at least one groove with the or each of said grooves being inclined with respect to the intended direction of movement of the push-button.
Also preferably, those of said grooves which are opposed to one another on opposed ones of said side wall surfaces are inclined in opposite directions so that the push-button assembly can be self-cleaning.
In any event, the grooves may be located in positions such that they are not visible when the push-button is assembled with the surrounding body, but the push-button and the surrounding body may otherwise be of conventional construction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Two push-button assemblies, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic partly-sectioned side view of a first push-button assembly according to the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic partly-sectioned side view of a second push-button assembly according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE P
REFERENCES:
patent: 5310973 (1994-05-01), Lee
Luebke Renee S.
Starpoint Electric Limited
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