Switch

Abstract

 A switch (1) which comprises a box-like body (2) which has a lateral containment portion (3) and an intermediate closure element (4) which has a through opening (5) and forms, with the lateral containment portion (3), an upper or actuation portion (6) and a lower or containment portion (7); the box-like body is associable, at its lower portion (7), with a shoe (8) which supports at least two fixed contacts (10) and at least one connector (11), which is mounted so that it can move between a first stable condition and a second stable condition and is functionally connected to an actuation element (12) provided with a respective spring element (13), which is accommodated within a containment recess (14), and is functionally connected to the connector (11) and has, on the opposite side with respect to the containment recess (14), an abutment body (15) which is accommodated substantially at the through opening (5); means are also provided for forming a seal between the abutment body and the intermediate closure element (4), and the abutment body (15) has a receptacle (17) for a pin (18) supported by a key (19). The sealing means comprise a sealing element (100), which protrudes from the edge of the through opening and is elastically deformable in order to press against the abutment body.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch.

[0002] Currently, some switches used in electrical devices are often constituted by a box-like body which has a base, or shoe, which is associated with at least one connector which supports, at its respective ends, two moving contacts; the base is further associated with a respective pair of fixed contacts.

[0003] Generally, rocking of the key causes, due to the interposition of kinematic connection means between the key and the connector (or connectors), oscillation of the connector, with the result of ensuring selective contact of one of its moving contacts with a respective fixed contact.

[0004] In particular, some of these switches have kinematic connection means constituted by a fork for accommodating a respective spring designed to engage an engagement pin, which protrudes from the connector at its oscillation axis.

[0005] A rather widespread constructive limitation of switches of the type described above is difficulty in protecting the contacts provided inside such switch against water or dust.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to eliminate or at least reduce drastically the drawback noted above in the types of switches described above.

[0007] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch that has a very simple structure, so that it is advantageous also from an economical standpoint.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which can be used also as a button.

[0009] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a switch according to the present invention, comprising a box-like body which has a lateral containment portion and an intermediate closure element which has a through opening and forms, with said lateral containment portion, an upper or actuation portion and a lower or containment portion, said box-like body being associable, at said lower portion, with a shoe which supports at least two fixed contacts and at least one connector, which is mounted so that it can move between a first stable condition and a second stable condition and is functionally connected to an actuation element provided with a respective spring element, which is accommodated within a containment recess, and is functionally connected to said connector and has, on the opposite side with respect to said containment recess, an abutment body which is accommodated substantially at said through opening, means being provided for forming a seal between said abutment body and said intermediate closure element, said abutment body having a receptacle for a pin supported by a key, characterized in that said sealing means comprise a sealing element which protrudes from the edge of said through opening and is elastically deformable in order to press against said abutment body.

[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a switch according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a switch according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a switch according to the invention, taken along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the box-like body of the switch according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a switch according to the invention, taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the switch provided with a spring for use as a button (including a key) taken along the line V-V of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 5, of another embodiment.

[0011] In the examples of embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiments.

[0012] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

[0013] With reference to the figures, a switch, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, is provided with a box-like body 2, which comprises a lateral containment portion 3 and an intermediate closure element 4.

[0014] The intermediate closure element 4 is provided with a through opening 5 and forms, with the lateral containment portion 3, an upper or actuation portion 6 and a lower or containment portion 7.

[0015] The box-like body 2 is associable, at its lower portion 7, with a shoe 8, which supports at least two fixed contacts 10 and at least one connector 11, which is mounted so that it can move with respect to the shoe 8 from a first stable condition to a second stable condition.

[0016] In particular, the first stable condition can be associated with an active or functional condition, in which the moving connector closes an electrical contact in order to supply current to an electrical device, while the second stable condition can be associated with an inactive condition, in which therefore the electrical contact is open.

[0017] However, nothing prevents the first and second stable conditions from being associated with two active conditions, so as to allow to supply a first electrical device in the first stable condition and a second electrical device in the second active condition.

[0018] The connector 11 is functionally connected to an actuation element 12, which is provided with a respective spring element 13 accommodated within a containment recess 14 provided on the actuation element 12.

[0019] The actuation element 12 has, on the opposite side with respect to the containment recess 14, an abutment body 15, which during use is arranged substantially at the through opening 5.

[0020] According to the present invention, between the abutment body 15 and the intermediate closure element 4 sealing means are provided, which comprise a sealing element 100, which protrudes from the edge of the through opening 5 and is elastically deformable in order to press against the abutment body 15.

[0021] Moreover, the abutment body 15 has a receptacle 17 for a pin 18 supported by a key 19.

[0022] The key 19 is articulated to the box-like body 2 by means of two rotation pivots 101, which are supported by the key 19 and are designed to be moved to engage a respective rotation seat 102 provided at the lateral containment portion 3 of the box-like body 2.

[0023] Conveniently, both the rotation pivots 101 and the respective rotation seats 102 are arranged at the oscillation axis of the key 19.

[0024] In greater detail, the abutment body 15 can be substantially shaped like a spherical dome, so that the sealing element 100 can be substantially annular.

[0025] Advantageously, the sealing element 100 is provided monolithically with the intermediate closure element 4.

[0026] As clearly shown in the sectional view of Figure 5, the intermediate closure element 4 may have at least one abutment element 22 for a spring 30, which is designed to act by pushing against a pusher portion 23 supported by the key 19, so as to be able to use the same switch structure 1 also as a button.

[0027] However, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 6, nothing prevents the use of the switch 1 not as a button but as a switch, by not placing the spring 30 between the abutment element 22 and the pusher portion 23.

[0028] In greater detail, the spring element 13 is functionally connected by resting against an actuation protrusion 26, which protrudes from the connector 11 toward the intermediate closure element 4.

[0029] With particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the shoe 8 supports at least one pair of fixed end contacts 10a and at least one intermediate contact 10b.

[0030] The connector 11, in this case, is constituted by a lamina which is mounted so that it can oscillate with respect to the intermediate contact 10b and has, at its longitudinal ends, two contact pads 25, which as a consequence of the rotation of said lamina, are designed to connect selectively a respective fixed end contact 10a.

[0031] Conveniently, it is possible to provide some play between the receptacle 17 and the pin 18.

[0032] Operation of a switch according to the present invention is evident from what has been described above.

[0033] All the characteristics of the invention described above as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced by equivalents.

[0034] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0035] Thus, for example, the shoe 8 can be constituted by a lateral element 8a, which is designed to face a lower portion of the lateral containment portion 3, and by a lower frame 8b, which is designed to rest against the lower edge 3a of the lateral containment portion 3.

[0036] This allows to protect hermetically the lower portion or containment portion 7 of the switch 1 against possible infiltrations of water or dust which might occur in the region for connection between the shoe 8 and the lateral containment portion 3.

[0037] Moreover, the lateral containment portion 3 may have, at the upper or actuation portion 6, at least one discharge opening 40. Advantageously, it is possible to provide a respective discharge opening 40 at each of the four corner portions, arranged flush with the intermediate closure element 4.

[0038] Such discharge openings 40 allow to evacuate any liquids or dust from the upper or actuation portion 6, so as to ensure correct mobility of the key 19.

[0039] In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects in all of its embodiments.

[0040] In particular, it has been found that said switch allows to protect simply and effectively the contacts against dust or water.

[0041] It is also evident that it is possible to optionally replace the key easily without having to replace the entire switch.

[0042] Moreover, if the switch is to be used as a button, it is sufficient to insert a spring.

[0043] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

[0044] All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0045] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. VR2004U000022 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A switch comprising a box-like body which has a lateral containment portion and an intermediate closure element which has a through opening and forms, with said lateral containment portion, an upper or actuation portion and a lower or containment portion, said box-like body being associable, at said lower portion, with a shoe which supports at least two fixed contacts and at least one connector, which is mounted so that it can move between a first stable condition and a second stable condition and is functionally connected to an actuation element provided with a respective spring element, which is accommodated within a containment recess, and is functionally connected to said connector and has, on the opposite side with respect to said containment recess, an abutment body which is accommodated substantially at said through opening, means being provided for forming a seal between said abutment body and said intermediate closure element, said abutment body having a receptacle for a pin supported by a key, characterized in that said sealing means comprise a sealing element which protrudes from the edge of said through opening and is elastically deformable in order to press against said abutment body.

2. The switch according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing element is formed monolithically with said intermediate closure element.

3. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first stable condition comprises an active or functional condition and said second stable condition comprises an inactive condition.

4. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first stable condition and said second stable condition comprise a first active condition and a second active condition, which are adapted to supply a first electrical device in said first stable condition, and a second electrical device in said second active condition.

5. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said abutment body is substantially shaped like a spherical dome, said sealing element being substantially annular.

6. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said intermediate closure element comprises at least one abutment element for a spring which is designed to act by pushing against a pusher portion supported by said key.

7. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spring element is functionally connected to an actuation protrusion which protrudes from said connecting element toward said intermediate closure element.

8. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shoe comprises a lateral element, which is designed to face a lower portion of said lateral containment portion, and a lower frame, which is designed to rest against the lower edge of said lateral containment portion.

9. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shoe supports at least one pair of fixed end contacts and at least one fixed intermediate contact, said connector comprising a lamina which is mounted so that it can oscillate with respect to said intermediate contact and has, at its longitudinal ends, two contact pads, which as a consequence of the rotation of said lamina are designed to make contact selectively with a respective fixed end contact.

10. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral containment portion comprises at least one discharge opening at said upper or actuation portion.

11. The switch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a respective discharge opening at each one of the four corner portions of said lateral containment portion, said respective discharge openings being arranged above and flush with respect to said intermediate closure element.

Drawing