US3250887A

US3250887A - Rocker switch button with replaceable caps

Info

Publication number: US3250887A
Application number: US419363A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wesley T Sorenson
Original assignee: CARLING ELECTRIC Inc
Current assignee: Carlingswitch Inc
Priority date: 1964-12-18
Filing date: 1964-12-18
Publication date: 1966-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-10

Description

y 1966 w. T. SORENSON 3,250,887

ROCKER SWITCH BUTTON WITH REPLACEABLE CAPS Filed Dec. 18, 1964 I OFF T3 W 1* INVENTOR. %54 E) [lib/915mm ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,250,887 ROCKER SWITCH BUTTOP; WITH REPLACEABLE CAP Wesley T. Sorenson, West Hartford, Conn, assiguor to Carling Electric, Inc., West Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,363

8 Claims. (Cl. 200-167) This invention relates to electric switch buttons and, more particularly, to switch buttons having interchangeable or replaceable caps which are provided for changing the identity of switch circuits and the like.

A salient feature of the invention is the provision of a unitary switch button having a pair of oppositely extending wings adapted to accommodate a pair of respective removable caps, said capjs having interlocking projections on their abutting edges to enhance the engagement of said cap-s on said wings.

An object of the invention is to provide identically formed replaceable caps for switch buttons which may be removably secured thereon and replaced at will for changing the identity of the circuits cont-rolled by the switch when rewiring of the latter is required or desired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means for securing the removable caps in position on the switch button so that they resist its lodgment therefrom under normal operating conditions of the switch.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of simple and inexpensive replaceable switch caps having selected identifying legends or colors thereon for application upon said switch buttons when the circuits controlled thereby are altered or rewired.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification.

The features of novelty which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as to their fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the present invention, shown in position on a switch case, some parts being shown in section and some parts being broken away;

'FIGURE 2 is a top view of the switch button shown in FIGURE 1, some parts being drawn in phantom outline;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the button taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the button taken approximately on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded section vie-w of the device shown in FIGURE 3, the section having been taken on the rear side of the median line in order to show the mounting pins in elevation;

FIGURE 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary exploded view of adjacent portions of the switch button caps shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8 is a greatly enlarged view similar to FIG- URE 8 and showing the two switch button caps juxtaposed as otherwise shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the replaceable caps shown in exploded position;

FIGURE 10 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, showing an alternative structural feature of the switch button cap; and

FIGURE 11 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section view of the switch button cap of FIGURE 10 in position on a switch button.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a switch case 2 1 having a plurality of terminals 22 that are connectable to suitable circuitry controlled by the switch components within said case.

Mounted on top of case 21 is a sheet metal frame 23 having a pair of spaced apart upwardly projecting extensions 24, one of which is not shown, supporting a pivot pin 25 upon which is pivotally mounted a switch button 26 molded or otherwise formed of a suitable insulating material such as Bakelite, nylon or the like. The bottom portion 27 of switch button 26 extends through a suitable aperture in the top of case 21 for operating the switching elements therein, not shown. Switch button 26 is maintained in normal horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 1 by means of a pair of springs 28, the bottom ends of which are mounted over upwardly extending legs 29 integrally formed in frame 23, the other ends of said springs being anchotred over pins 31 initegrally molded in switch button 26.

Integrally formed on switch button 26 is a pair of wings, generally designated A and B (FIGURE 3), extending outwardly in opposite directions and comprising top planes or

walls

32 and 33, respectively,

side walls

34, 35 and 37, 38, respectively, and downwardly curving

end walls

41 and 42, respectively. Top wall 32 has a pair of spaced apart apertures 43 while top wall 33 has a pair of spaced apart apertures 44.

Replaceably mountable on wing A and Wing B of button 26 are caps X and Y, respectively, molded or otherwise formed of Bakelite, nylon, or other suitable material. Cap X comprises a top wall 51, two spaced apart side walls 52, and a curved end Wall 53, while cap Y comprises a top. wall 54, two spaced apart side walls 56, and a curved end wall 57. A portion of the inner edge 58 of top wall 51 of cap X inclines downwardly and rearwardly to form a bevel recess or wall 59 while the other portion of said edge has an integrally formed projection 61 having a sloping wall 62. A portion of the inner edge 63 of top -wall 54 of cap Y inclines downwardly and rearwardly to form a bevel recess or wall 64 while the other portion of said edge has an integrally formed projection 66 having a sloping wall 67.

The interior of top wall 51 of cap X has a pair of spaced apart integrally formed spaced apart projections or plugs 71 which are removably accommodated by friction fit within apertures 43 in wing A while the interior of top wall 54 of cap Y has a pair of integrally formed spaced apart projections or plugs 72 which are removably accommodated by friction fit within apertures 44 0 Wing B.

Caps X and Y have substantially the same contours as switch button wings A and B, respectively, over which they fit, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, for example. When said caps are located in position, as shown in FIG- URE 3,

edges

58 and 63 abut each other, While slope 62 mates with slope 64 and slope 67 mates with slope 59, whereby the inner opposing port-ions of said caps are interlocked.

By virtue of the dovetail interrelation between

projections

61 and 66 on caps X and Y, respectively, said caps are secured in position whereby they resist displacement from respective wings A and B in the normal course of pivoting manipulation of button 26.

It will be noted that the upper slopes 62 and 67 of

projections

61 and 66 terminate below

abutting edges

58 and 63 of caps X' and Y whereby, when said caps are assembled in position upon switch button 26, the

dovetailing projections

61 and 66 are concealed from view. See FIGURES 2, 3 and 8. By virtue of the locating function of stubs 71 and 72, said

abutting edges

58 and 63 are caused to establish-a line contact therebetween and to conceal

projections

61 and 66 thus providing a smooth top surface for the button-cap assembly and resulting in an esthetically satisfying aspect. By the action of slope 59 of cap X bearing down upon projection 66 of cap Y, and slope 64 of cap Y bearing down upon projection 61 of cap X, there is established resistance to' the displacement of caps X and Y from wings A and B, respectively, of button 26. In this manner caps X and Y maintain their positions in respect of each other and of wings A and B, respectively.

Notwithstanding their resistance to dislodgment in normal switching manipulations, caps X and Y, being molded of somewhat resilient plastic, maybe removed from wings A and B with the application of a modicum of digital force against the resistive action of interlocking

projections

61 and 66 in order to effect replacement with other caps of different colors or different legends impressed thereon.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGURES and 11, caps X and Y may be provided with an integrally formed lip or flange 81 which extends along the bottom edge of

walls

53 and 54 of caps X and Y and extends inwardly to engage the bottom edges of

walls

41 and 42 of wings A and B, respectively, of button 26. In this embodiment,

walls

53 and 56 would have a slightly longer vertical dimension than

walls

41 and 42 so as to permit flanges 81 frictionally to engage the bottom edges of

walls

41 and 42, respectively. Flanges 81 are useful in serving to locate caps X and Y upon wings A and B, respectively, of button 26. In some embodiments, flanges 81 would be sufficient alone to permit

projections

61 and 66 to secure caps X and Y in position and to resist removal thereof without the assistance of stubs 71 and 72.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable, but not necessary, to heat seal stubs 71 and 72 to

top walls

51 and 54, respectively, of wings A and B, when it is desired to secure said caps permanently upon button 26 Caps X and Y may have various distinguishing legends imprinted, embossed, engraved, or otherwise impressed upon the surface of respective

top Walls

51 and 54, whereby the switching function of button 26 may be identified. In some embodiments, cap X may be formed of a different color from cap Y in order to color-code the switching operation of button 26. By providing replaceable caps having different colors and different legend identifications impressed thereon, banks of multiple switches having corresponding numbers of operating buttons 26 may be rewired on their installation sites to alter their electrical circuitry, at which time interchangeable caps with different identifying insignia may be substituted.

Switch buttons 26 and their wings and apertures as well as caps X and Y are molded in identical dimensions so that they can be fitted together from randomly selected specimens in a supply stock. For example, caps X and Y, being identical in physical dimensions, can be reversed in position on wings A and B of button 26 and

projections

61 and 66 will interfit with the respective accommodating slopes on the opposing caps as in the previous position.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch actuator comprising a switch button, said button being pivotable into alternate switching positions, a pair of oppositely extending planes on said button, said planes being arrayed at an angle relative to each other, a removable cap positioned on each of said planes, the inner edges of said caps abutting each other, a projection on a portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, and a recess on another portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, the projection on each cap cooperating with the recess on the other cap for interengagement therebetween to maintain said caps in position on said button.

2. An actuator according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one aperture in each of said planes and at least one projection on each of said caps, each aperture accommodating a corresponding projection by means of a friction fit for releasably securing said caps in position on said button.

3. An actuator according to claim 1 wherein each projection is located below the top surface of each cap and each recess is located below the top surface of each cap, the abutment of the two edges of said caps concealing said projections when the latter are located in their respective recesses.

4. An actuator according to claim 1 and further comprising a flange integrally formed on each cap, said flange frictionally engaging an edge of said button when said projections are located in their respective recesses.

5. A switch actuator comprising a switch button pivotable into alternate switching positions, a pair of oppositely extending wings on said button, a cap removably positioned on each of said wings, at least one aperture in each of said wings, at least one projection on each of said caps, each aperture accommodating a corresponding projection by means of a frictional fit for releasably securing said caps in position on their respective wings, the inner edges of said caps abutting each other, a projection on a portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps and a recess on another portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, the projection on each cap cooperating with the recess on the other cap for interengagement therebetween for establishing resistance to removal of said caps from said wings.

6. A switch actuator comprising a switch b-utton pivotable into alternate switching positions, a pair of oppositely extending wings on said button, a cap removably positioned on each of said wings, the inner edges of said caps abutting each other, means on each Wing and on each cap frictionally engaging each other to retain said cap on its respective wing, and interengaging means at the abutting edges of said caps for resisting removal thereof from their respective wings.

7. An actuator according to claim 6 wherein said wings are arrayed at an angle relative to each other and said caps are arrayed at the same angle relative to each other,'said interengaging means comprising a projection of the abutting edge of each cap and a recess on another portion of the abutting edge of each cap.

8. A switch actuator comprising a switch button pivotable into alternate switching positions, first and second integrally formed oppositely extending wings on said button, each of said wings comprising a top wall, two spaced apart side walls, and an outer wall, a cap removably positioned on each of said wings and being integrally formed of a top wall, two spaced apart side Walls and an outer wall, the inner edges of said caps abutting each other when the latter are located on the two respective wings of said button, a projection on a portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, a recess on another portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, and an integral flange on the bottom edge of the outer wall of each of said caps, said flange frictionally engaging the bottom edge of the outer wall of each of said wings, the projection on each cap cooperating ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.