Sealed toggle switch with led switch

Details Sealed toggle switch with led switch Sealed toggle switch with led switch

1996-11-07

1998-05-19

Luebke, Renee S.

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Electric switch details

Indicators

2003023, H01H 918

Patent

active

057525951

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For a number of practical applications it is necessary to have toggle switches which are designated to be water- and/or dust-tight. In DE-GM 18 04 987 a watertight toggle assembly on the housing cover of a switch is suggested. Another proposal for a seal of this type is indicated in DE-GM 71 09 985. Yet another requirement concerning these switches is that they should have an LED display which is intended to assist in locating the switch in the dark (seek function) and/or which is intended to display the switch status of the toggle switch and/or the function (functional display) switched with the toggle switch.
DE-OS 30 24 510 proposes that a filament lamp be placed in a separate chamber of the housing, which is separated from the chamber used by the switch contact. In this case, the light is only conditionally shielded against surrounding factors, whereas on the other hand, a comparatively complicated shape of the housing results.
It is desired to further improve a switch of this type so that the shape of the housing will be simplified and the luminous element is better protected against surrounding influences.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A lamp is included in the enclosed chamber and the housing itself is provided with a suitable window, through which the light flux can move into the interior space of the actuation key, where it then lights up symbols or windows located in the usual manner at the bottom of the key and is used to impart information to the operator.
In order to be able to emit most of the output light flux from the luminous element through the housing into the key space, the housing has a dome-like bulge with the window in it protruding end surrounding the lamp. Of course, this property can also be applied when using several lights in the switch and even with several lights for one key. Moreover, the stated structure is very space-saving and due to the steep, lateral dome walls, creates additional possibilities for sealing, as will be explained further below.
In yet another refinement of the invention, in order to prevent a more complicated cast shape, and, for example, when using several luminous elements, to be able to use the function display and/or seek display by mere disassembly or rotated installation of the key cap, it is recommended to have, for the actuation key, a pivot mounted actuator on which a cap engages.
In order to obtain a strong brightness contrast in the functional lighting depending on the selected function, a light guide attached opposite the window and in the front wall in one toggle position of the key is also recommended. Thus, a light guide connected to the cap and to the key can be guided close to the vicinity of the associated light window in the housing, and therefore in the vicinity of the luminous element; secondly, it can be removed from the light guide by the pivot motion of the key. Thus, the light guide can be positioned so that due to the pivoting motion, the angle of incidence of the light, in the one case, can be simultaneously brought into a position favorable for transmission, and in the other case, it can be brought into a position unfavorable for transmission.
A particularly favorable configuration for the light guide for the above-mentioned requirements can be found using a cup-like end piece. In order to obtain a particularly strongly-lit light display area on the surface of the key and/or the cap facing the observer, it is recommended, in a refinement of the invention, to fix the light guide to the cap. Accordingly, the light guide is conducted directly through the base of the cap, so that its end is visible to the observer. Thus the observer can directly perceive the light flux emitted from the end of the light guide. In this case, the light guide can also have the side contour of a symbol, so that this symbol then lights up very strongly in the appropriate switch setting.
As already mentioned, in order to be able to make significant changes in the light flux transmitted through the light guide as a function of the

REFERENCES:
patent: 4242551 (1980-12-01), Sorenson
patent: 4340791 (1982-07-01), Sorenson
patent: 4667073 (1987-05-01), Osika
patent: 4967046 (1990-10-01), Preisemuth
patent: 4982061 (1991-01-01), Dignal
patent: 5107082 (1992-04-01), Valenzona
PCT Search Report Application No. PCT/EP95/01602
German Search Report Application No. P4416273.1

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