US3857007A

US3857007A - Electric switch

Info

Publication number: US3857007A
Application number: US00337819A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Leuenberger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-03-08
Filing date: 1973-03-05
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: FR2175105B1; CH549272A; GB1421591A; FR2175105A1; NL7302387A; DE2308455A1; JPS48104083A; IT981182B

Abstract

An electric switch having an elongate housing with a base plate on one side and a strip key on an opposite side, the key being connected to an operating element. When the key is moved towards the base plate the operating element is moved along the axis of the housing to operate a button switch.

Description

United States Patent [191 Leuenberger Dec. 24, 1974 ELECTRIC SWITCH [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Gottfried Leuenberger, Schlieren, UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Switzerland 7 2,485,340 10 1949 Warmey 200 153 T l 72 Z' l 2 W31 Asegnw Peerhwenberger, zurcherstrasset 1323,53] Z1373 YL$Z;TTT?TT.?? 288157 2 X Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 Primary Examiner-Ge0rge Harris [211 pp NO; 337,819 Attorney, Agent, or firm-Markva & Smith 57 ABSTRACT [30] Fore'gn Apphc atln Pnomy Data An electric switch having an elongate housing with a Mar. 8, 1972 Switzerland 3491/72 base plate on one Side and a Strip key on an Opposite side, the key being connected to an operating element. [52] CL 200/153 200/153 200/159 R When the key is moved towards the base plate the op- [51] Int. Cl. HOlh 3/00 Hating element is moved along the axis of the housing [58] Field of Search 200/153 H, 153 T, 172 A, to operate a button Switch 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an electric switch.

2. Description of the Prior Art The known electric switches of small dimensions operable by press knobs or rockers are not easy to find with the hand in darkness, which isnoticeable in a disadvantageous manner especially in the case of bedside lamps. Likewise the switch operation must be effected with the finger tips, which is possible only if at least one hand is free.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the'object of the present invention to eliminate this disadvantage in a manner in which the press key has an extra-ordinarily large key area which permits the force-engaging transmission of the operating movement to the electric press switch element, at any point in the region of its length.

For this purpose according to this invention in a housing of bar form there is arranged an upwardly and downwardly movable key of strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and extends approximately over the length of the housing, and in working connec- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING An example of a form of embodiment of the object of the invention'is illustrated in the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 showsa vertical partial longitudinal section through the switch in the basic position,

FIG. 2 shows a partial longitudinal section through the switch with the key depressed;

FIG. 3 shows a horizontal partial longitudinal section along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the switch along the line IV.IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the switch on a smaller scale; and

FIG. 6 shows a lateral view of the switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The switch constructedaccording to FIGS. 1 to 4 for placing on a table has a housing 1 of bar form which is closed off on its under side by a bottom plate 2 serving as standing surface. This plate is secured by means of screws 3 to counter-sunk corner projections 4 of the housing. The cover of the housing 1 is provided with a longitudinal slot 5 in which a press key 6 of strip form is guided. On the bottom plate 2 there are seated 'two vertical longitudinal bearing pieces 7, 7' which serve as a horizontal spindle 9 and 9' respectively which extend transversely of the key 6. On each of these spindles there is rotatably mounted a rotating member 10, 10' respectively acting as bell-crank lever. The lever arm 11, which swings about the horizontal middle position of each of the two rotating members 10 and 10' is articulatedly connected by spindle journals 12 with the press key 6, and the lever arm 13, which swings about the vertical middle position, of each of the two rotating members 10, 10' is articulatedly connected by joint journals 14 with an operating rod 15 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1, which rod is guided between the bearing pieces 7, 7' and the rotating members 10, ,10'. The foot-shaped end 15 of the operating rod 15 is cranked off towards the axis of the contact button 16 of a conventional press switch 17 which is clamped in between the prongs of a retaining fork 18 seated on the bottom plate 2 of the housing 1. Two cutaway portions 19, 19' of the press key 6 permit unhindered movement of the latter in relation to the

projections

8, 8 and thespindle journals 14 which protrude slightly into the cutaway portions.

By pressing in of the key 6 in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 1, the rotating members 10, 10' are rotated in the counterclockwise direction into the position according to FIG. 2 and thus the operating rod 15 is moved in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 1. By this movement of the operating rod 15 the contact button 16 of the conventional button switch 17 is operated against the action of the spring installed in this switch. By release of the press key 6 the operating rod 15 is brought into the initial position by the spring action of the contact button, 16 and at the same time by pivoting of the rotating members 10, 10' the press key 6 is raised into its basic position according to FIG. 1.

When the switch is used for wall lamps its housing 1 is provided with a securing plate 20 screwed fast to the housing bottom plate 2, which plate facilitates the sesliding guide for the press key 6. The longitudinal bearing pieces 7, 7', in the region of bearing projections 8,

8", protruding laterally from them, are pierced each by curing of the switch on a wall by means of screws. When the switch is secured to a wall,'operation of the press key 6 is possible with the upper body, for example with the shoulder or the upper arm, sothat switching operations can be effected by a person whose hands are not free. It is essential that the press key 6 is operable over the whole range of its length without a directed operating movement.

The switch as described is of course suitable also for pedal operation, especially where the immediate find ing of small switch knobs is difficult.

Whether the press key 6 is depressed at the one or the other end, the correct switching operation is 'ensured by virture of its vertical guidance and the cooperation of the rotating

members

10, 10 and the operating rod 15. It is important that an ordinary commercial press button switch 17 can be used, which has a favou-,

partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing,

c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing,

e. an operating rod being displaceable beside and extending in the longitudinaldirection of the press key, and

f. at least two rotatable members having spindles and acting as bell-crank levers being mounted on the stationary supports and articulatedly connected to the operating rod,

g. said key being effective to rotate said rotatable members for'displacing the operating rod in a longitudinal direction thereby operating the press switch,

h. said stationary supports having laterally protruding bearing projections for'supporting said spindles,

i. said key having cutaway portions which bridge over the laterally protruding bearing projections.

2. An electric switch comprising:

a. a housinghaving a bar form with support projections extending inwardly,

b. a press key having a strip form for upward and downward movement within the housing,

c. said press key extending approximately over the length of the housing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing, and

e. an operating element movable connected to the key by articulation journals to operate the press switch when the press key is depressed downwardly in said housing,

f. said press key having cutaway portions into which the support projections andarticulation journals partially proturde.

3. An electric switch comprising:

a. a housing having a bar form with stationary supports extending inwardly,

b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing,

c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing,

e; an operating rod being disposed beside the key for displaceable movement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and

f. at least two rotating members acting as bell-crank levers being mounted on the stationary supports,

g. each rotating member carries two spindle journals that are parallel with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member,

h. each rotating member including a first lever arm articulatedly connected by one of the spindle journals to the press key for swinging about a horizontal middle position and a second lever arm articulatedly connected to the operating rod for swinging about a vertical middle position.

4. An electric switch comprising:

a. a housing having a bar form,

c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing,

e. an operating rod being disposed beside the press key for displaceable movement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and 1 f. rotating members acting as bell-crank levers mounted in the housing to convert the movement of the press key into a movement direction of the operating rod tranverse thereto.

5. An electric switch comprising:

a. a partially exposed press key means mounted for upward and downward movement within a housing,

b. a press switch mounted within the housing,

c. a switch operating means displaceably mounted within the housing to operate the press switch, and

7. An electric switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the press key means includes an elongated strip form element extending along the length of the housing.

Claims

1. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form with stationary supports extending inwardly, b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, e. an operating rod being displaceable beside and extending in the longitudinal direction of the press key, and f. at least two rotatable members having spindles and acting as bell-crank levers being mounted on the stationary supports and articulatedly connected to the operating rod, g. said key being effective to rotate said rotatable members for displacing the operating rod in a longitudinal direction thereby operating the press switch, h. said stationary supports having laterally protruding bearing projections for supporting said spindles, i. said key having cutaway portions which bridge oveR the laterally protruding bearing projections.

2. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form with support projections extending inwardly, b. a press key having a strip form for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said press key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, and e. an operating element movable connected to the key by articulation journals to operate the press switch when the press key is depressed downwardly in said housing, f. said press key having cutaway portions into which the support projections and articulation journals partially proturde.

3. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form with stationary supports extending inwardly, b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, e. an operating rod being disposed beside the key for displaceable movement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and f. at least two rotating members acting as bell-crank levers being mounted on the stationary supports, g. each rotating member carries two spindle journals that are parallel with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member, h. each rotating member including a first lever arm articulatedly connected by one of the spindle journals to the press key for swinging about a horizontal middle position and a second lever arm articulatedly connected to the operating rod for swinging about a vertical middle position.

4. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form, b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, e. an operating rod being disposed beside the press key for displaceable movement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and f. rotating members acting as bell-crank levers mounted in the housing to convert the movement of the press key into a movement direction of the operating rod tranverse thereto.

5. An electric switch comprising: a. a partially exposed press key means mounted for upward and downward movement within a housing, b. a press switch mounted within the housing, c. a switch operating means displaceably mounted within the housing to operate the press switch, and d. connecting means for connecting the press key means to the switch operating means and being effective to displace the switch operating means when the press key means is moved upwardly and downwardly.

6. An electric switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the switch operating means includes an operating rod and the connecting means includes a rotating member that is connected at one location to the operating rod and at another location to the press key means.