Electrical Switch Apparatus

Abstract

Switch apparatus is provided which includes a switching device or the equivalent with a manually engageable portion having unique illuminating means. The described embodiment provides a stationary first section and a second section movable relative to the first section only upon a predetermined external force being applied thereto. The illuminating means comprises the stationary section including an electrically energizable light source and the movable section including a protective shield shrouding the light source. The shield is provided with a removable lens piece through which the light rays from the source pass when the latter is energized. The source is energized only upon alternate application of the predetermined external force on the second section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various switches, particularly of the pushbutton style, have heretofore been proposed; however, because they possess certain design characteristics, they are costly to manufacture, difficult to install, and/or are provided with ineffective means for indicating when the switches are in either their on or off positions. Where an indicator light or illuminating means has been utilized in conjunction with certain of these prior switches, the light has normally been mounted on the switch-mounting plate or bracket or in some other location which is spaced from the actuating member (button) of the switch. Because of this arrangement, difficulty has often been encountered in installing the indicator light where the switch is to be disposed in a confined area. In other prior structures utilizing an indicator light, the replacement or repair of the light therefor was an awkward and frustrating operation necessitating substantial disassembly of the switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a switch having illuminating means which avoids the aforenoted shortcomings associated with the prior structures.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a switch having illuminating means which is versatile in its function and operation.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a switch having self-illuminating means which is of simple and compact construction, is attractive in appearance, and is effective and durable in operation.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawing and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a pushbutton type of switch is provided which includes a stationary first section and a second section mounted thereon and movable relative thereto only when a predetermined external force is applied to the second section. The first section comprises a projecting electrically energizable illuminating means, and the second section comprises a protective shield which encompasses the illuminating means. The shield remains in protective relation with respect to the illuminating means regardless of whether the second section is at rest or is being moved relative to the first section. The shield carries at one end thereof a removable lens piece through which light rays from the illuminating means pass when the latter is electrically energized. Energizing of the illuminating means occurs only upon alternate application of the predetermined external force on the second section.

DESCRIPTION

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the improved switch.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the switch shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a substantial sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary button perspective view of the exposed end of the switch of FIG. 1 and showing the lens piece in disassembled relation therewith.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively enlarged back and side elevational views of the lens piece shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, one form of the improved switch 10 is shown. The switch in the illustrated embodiment is commonly referred to as a pushbutton type.

Switch 10 includes a stationary first section 11 which is normally secured by a suitable bracket 12 or the like to a wall, instrument panel, motor housing, etc. not shown. Mounted on and movable relative to the first section 11 is a second section 13. The section 13 is movable relative to section 11 only when a predetermined external force is applied to the exposed end of section 13 in the direction F shown by the arrow in FIG. 1.

The stationary section 11 includes an elongated insulated casing 14 which may be formed of complemental sections and which, when assembled, cooperate to form an elongated cavity 15, see FIG. 3. Mounted on the casing 14 and extending substantially transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof are a plurality of electrical contacts or pins A, B and C. The pins in the illustrated embodiment are arranged in two spaced parallel rows which extend longitudinally of the cavity 15. The pins serve a dual function (a) they retain the casing complemental sections in assembled relation, and (b) they serve as connector posts in the circuitry in which the switch 10 is to be used. Each pin A, B or C, as shown, has an inner portion, which is exposed within the cavity 15 formed in the casing 14, and outer portions projecting from opposite sides of the casing. The disposition and configuration of the casing sections and the pins may be similar to that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,728. It is to be understood, of course, that the casing 14 and pins may take various other forms, if desired.

Secured to the outer open end of cavity 15 is a socket assembly 16 or first fixed section of the illuminating means. The assembly includes an insulated sleeve unit 17 open at opposite ends. At approximately midlength of the unit there is provided a pair of side shoulders 18 which extend laterally outwardly from the exterior of the unit. Projecting downwardly from the shoulders 18 are a pair of guides 20 which form a yoke. The function of the shoulders 18 and guides 20 will be described more fully hereinafter.

Formed on the top exterior surface of unit 17 and disposed adjacent the rear end thereof is an upwardly extending lug 21. The lug 21 is, in this instance, adapted to be accommodated against a flange 12', the latter comprising a part of the mounting bracket 12. The bracket 12, in addition to facilitating mounting the switch onto a panel or the like, also serves to retain the sleeve unit 17 in assembled relation with respect to the casing 14.

FIxedly mounted within sleeve unit 17 are a pair of elongated springlike metallic conductors 23 and 24. Each conductor 23 or 24 at one end 23a and 24a is outwardly flared a slight amount and terminates adjacent the end of sleeve unit 17, see FIG. 4. The opposite end 23b or 24b of each conductor 23 or 24 projects from the opposite end of sleeve unit 17 and is deformed so that is will circumvent pin A and resiliently engage only the exposed portion of pin B. The deformation of the conductor ends 23b and 24b prevents contact between the pair of pins A and the conductors 23 and 24 when the components of section 11 are assembled, see FIG. 2.

The second section 13, as seen in FIG. 3, includes an elongated selector element or arm 25, the configuration and function of which may be similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,229,548 and 3,259,728. The free end of the element 25 is slidably disposed within the elongated cavity 15 formed within casing 14. Element 25 carries on opposite sides thereof elongated conductors or strips 26, which are of like configuration and are of such length that they can span the distance between pins A and B, when the section 13 is in one selected position of adjustment, or can span the distance between pins B and C, when the section 13 is in a second selected position of adjustment. Regardless of the adjusted position of section 13, the strips 26 will always be in electrical contact with the portions of pins B which are exposed within the cavity 15. Only when the strips 26 are in contact with one or the other sets of pins A-B or B-C will the electrical connection to the bulb 28 be complete thereby causing same to illuminate. The element 25 extends between the depending guides 20 formed on sleeve unit 17.

The outer or opposite end of element 25 is affixed to an insulated shield 27 which is of tubular configuration. The shield encompasses the fixed first section of the illuminating means including the socket sleeve unit 17 and the bulb 28 or illuminating means removably disposed within the socket 16. The length of the shield 27 is such that the bulb 28 and a portion of the socket 16 are always disposed in protective relation within the shield regardless of whether the section 13 is at rest or is being moved relative to section 11. The outer or exposed end 27a of the shield is normally closed by a removable lens piece 30. The piece 30 may be formed of a transparent or translucent material and may be colored and/or have indicia applied thereto, if desired, see FIGS. 5 and 6. The shape of the shield and the lens piece may be varied from that shown.

The piece 30 must be possessed of sufficient strength so as to withstand substantial amounts of manual force repeatedly applied thereto in order to effect a change of the switch from an "on" position to an "off" position or vice versa. A toggle mechanism or heart-shaped cam are provided, though not shown, to insure the alternate actuation and deactuation of the switch for successive manual depressions of pushbutton 27. In addition, the lens piece must be able to withstand substantial ambient temperature variations and not be susceptible to scuffing or defacement under normal conditions of use.

In the lens piece 30 shown in FIGS. 5-7, the exposed front surface thereof is substantially flat with flanges 30a engaging the top and bottom edges 27a of shield 27. The body 31 of lens 30 extends into the shield 27 when the piece is in place, see FIG. 5. The vertical sides of the body 31 are provided with lock cams 33 which are adapted to engage in corresponding recesses 27b in the vertical sides of the shield 27. The sides are sufficiently resilient to provide a snap action. As seen in FIG. 2 the edges of the side surfaces of the shield 27 are substantially flush with the exposed front surface of the piece.

To facilitate removal of the lens piece from the end of the shield, a recess 34 is formed in the edge of the bottom surface of the shield 27, see FIG. 5, to accommodate a finger tip. Once the lens piece 30 is removed, the bulb 28 is readily accessible for replacement or adjustment.

When the second section 13 is depressed or pushed towards the first section 11, the exerted force must be sufficient to overcome the bias effected by the coil spring 35 which encompasses a part of elongated element 25. The spring urges the second section 13 to assume an extended position with respect to the first section 11.

As aforementioned, the elongated element 25 in the illustrated embodiment, has a configuration and operation like that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,548. In view of this fact, the shield and lens piece, when initially depressed, will come to rest automatically at a semidepressed position relative to the first section 11. When in this position, the conductor strips 26 carried by the element will effect interconnection between the sets of pins B and C. When such occurs, the circuit to the socket assembly 16 is completed whereby the bulb 28 is illuminated. While the shield is in the semidepressed position, it is still in a spaced relation with respect to the adjacent end of the cavity 16 and the shoulders 18 on the unit 17.

To release the second section 13 from its semidepressed position requires a second application on the exposed surface of the lens piece of the predetermined external force in the same direction F. Upon the second application of this external force the second section 13 will be depressed to its full extent, releasing the locking mechanism, not shown, holding the element in the semidepressed position, whereupon the coil spring 35 will automatically return the second section to its fully extended position, as seen in FIG. 1. When the second section is in its fully extended position, the conductor strips 26 carried by element 25 effect interconnection only between the sets of the pins A and B. Once the interconnection between sets of pins B and C is broken, the bulb 28 is deenergized.

The mounting mechanism and technique contribute significantly to the effectiveness of the switch apparatus. One or more switches 10 may be mounted in side-by-side relationship on a panel or the like in a manner now well known in the electronic art. To expedite such mounting in accordance with this invention, a mounting strip 12, preferably of steel is provided having a plurality of recesses 12a, each recesses to receive one switch mechanism and usually lying in a horizontal row. A socket 16 is positioned in each of the recesses as shown in FIGS. 1-3 with the lug 21 engaging the top flange 12a of bracket 12.

The switches are then assembled as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,699 by placing one or more switch bodies or first portions 14 in position in a channel 36. The channel 36 retains the bodies through a bayonet connection or other appropriate locking means not shown here but clearly illustrated in the mentioned patent. The row of one or more switch bodies 14 are then secured to the bracket 12 with screws 37 which pass through clearance holes in the bracket 12 and threadedly engage appropriate portions of the channel 36. By this expedient, not only are all of the switch body portions 14 secured to the bracket 12 but all of the lamp sockets 16 are also locked in position on the bracket 12. Furthermore, this subassembly step also connects the conductors 23 and 24 of each socket 16 to the appropriate wire contacts B of the switch bodies.

The final assembly step involves placing a coil spring 35 over each switch element 25 and securing the spring in place and under compression with a C ring 38 or similar device. The pushbutton and shield 27 are then secured on the element 25 and each has a sliding fit over its respective socket 16. The shield 27 is provided with an internal wall 39 adapted to receive the switch element 25. The channel defined by wall 39 includes a rib 40 which engages a mating recess 41 in switch element 25 and provides cooperative locking engagement.

The insertion of the lamp 28 and snapping in place of the lens members 30 may be performed during manufacture, or at the time of utilization by the ultimate user. As will be obvious, the lamp 28 must have two side-by-side conductors which engage the contactors 23 and 24 although the apparatus could be adapted to receive threaded bases, bayonet socket-type lamps or the like.

It is obvious that the number of pins, the length of element 25, and the number of elements and conductor strips 26 carried by each element may be varied from that shown without departing from the scope of this invention.

Other conductor combinations will readily occur to one skilled in the art. For example, if desired, there could be a constant potential between the two terminals B so that the device would be illuminated at all times. As a further alternative, by appropriate auxiliary circuitry, the lamp could have a first intensity when the switch is deactivated and a different intensity, either brighter or dimmer when the switch is actuated.

Furthermore, while the switch described herein incorporates a sliding conductor in a double throw, multiple pole configuration, and this is a preferred form, the pushbutton illumination system taught herein could be adapted to other switching systems. These might utilize potentiometers, solid state devices or the like, all of which, when used in this invention, would constitute "switches" or "switch means."

Thus, it will be seen that a simple and durable switch has been provided which has a self-contained indicator light that may be readily replaced or serviced without necessitating substantial disassembly of the component parts of the switch.

While several embodiments of the invention have heretofore been described, it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, but further modifications are contemplated and it is intended by the appended claims to cover such modifications.

Claims

We claim:

1. An electrical switch comprising an insulated casing provided with an elongated cavity open at one end and an electrically energizable illuminating means disposed adjacent said cavity open end; a plurality of electrical contacts carried by said casing, said contacts having portions thereof exposed within said cavity and arranged in spaced relation, predetermined contacts being in continuous electrical connection with said illuminating means; and an insulated housing adjustably mounted on said casing, said housing including a first section disposed in shielding substantially encompassing relation with said illuminating means and an elongated second section extending from said first section and slidably mounted within said cavity for movement to selected positions therein, said second section carrying an elongated conductor effecting interconnection of predetermined contact inner portions only when said second section is disposed at one selected position whereby the electrical connection for said illuminating means is complete, said housing first section having a portion thereof through which light rays from said illuminating means will pass when the latter is energized.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein the portion of said housing first section through which light rays pass comprises a removable lens piece.

3. The switch of claim 2 wherein said insulated casing is of composite construction and includes a first component having said elongated cavity formed therein and a second component mounted on said first component adjacent the open end of said cavity; said second component being provided with a bulb, and a socket for releasably accommodating said bulb, said bulb being accessible only when said lens piece is removed.

4. The switch of claim 3 wherein said socket includes conducting fingers protruding from said housing second component and in resilient engagement with predetermined electrical contacts carried by said casing.

5. The switch of claim 2 wherein said lens piece and said housing elongated second section are disposed at opposite ends of said housing first section.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein movement of said housing second section to any of said selected positions with respect to said cavity is effected only upon a predetermined external force being applied in one direction on said housing first section.

7. The switch of claim 6 wherein said external force is applied to said lens piece in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing elongated second section.

8. The switch of claim 2 wherein said lens piece is retained by friction on said housing first section.

9. An illuminated pushbutton-type electrical switch comprising: a switch mechanism having a housing, electrical switch means within said housing including relatively movable electrically conductive parts for opening and closing electrical circuits, manually engageable actuating means extending into said housing and movable between an actuated and a deactuated position relative to said housing to control said movable parts, and conductive terminal means secured to said housing and extending therefrom, said terminal means being connected to selected respective ones of said relatively movable conductive parts within said housing, said conductive parts and terminal means defining normally open, normally closed and center contacts and terminals, illuminating means adjacent said switch mechanism including a light source, mounting means for said light source, and electrical contact means secured in said mounting means and engaging said light source, said contact means extending from said mounting means and shaped to engage predetermined ones of said conductive terminal means of said switch mechanism, said contact means of the illuminating means resiliently engaging selected ones of said terminals; and pushbutton means in operating engagement with the actuating means of said switch mechanism, said pushbutton means having a shell portion enclosing said light source, a mounting portion engaging said actuating means, and a diaphanous portion through which the light from said light source is visible.

10. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 9 wherein said movable electrically conductive parts include normally open, normally closed and center contacts, said contact means of the illuminating means engaging said center contacts.

11. An illuminated pushbutton type electrical switch comprising: a switch mechanism having a housing, electrical switch means within said housing including relatively movable electrically conductive parts for opening and closing electrical circuits, manually engageable actuating means extending into said housing and movable between an actuated and a deactuated position relative to said housing to control said movable parts, and conductive terminal means secured to said housing and extending therefrom, said terminal means being connected to selected respective ones of said conductive parts within said housing; illuminating means adjacent said switch mechanism including a light source, mounting means for said light source, and electrical contact means secured in said mounting means and engaging said light source, said contact means extending from said mounting means and shaped to engage predetermined ones of said terminal means of said switch mechanism; and pushbutton means in operating engagement with the actuating means of said switch mechanism, said pushbutton means having a shell portion enclosing said light source, said shell portion slideably mounted on said light source mounting means, a mounting portion engaging said actuating means, and a diaphanous portion through which the light from said light source is visible.

12. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 wherein said switch mechanism and said illuminating means are arranged in side-by-side relationship whereby said pushbutton encloses a portion of said actuating means and said light source in side-by-side relationship.

13. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 including support means, said switch mechanism and said illuminating means being mounted in side-by-side relationship on said support means.

14. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 wherein resilient means interconnects said shell and said diaphanous portion whereby said diaphanous portion may be removed or interchanged.

15. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 wherein said contact means resiliently engage said terminal means to complete a circuit therethrough for said light source.