INTERRUPTOR

Abstract

 Switch of the type comprising a case (2) for carrying contacts and mechanisms of the switch and an outer protective cover (8), comprising a base (1) for fixing to a surface, said base comprising at least one protrusion (3) with which the case (2) for carrying contacts and mechanisms of the switch fits together, allowing the case (2) for carrying contacts and mechanisms to be positioned on the base (1), and in that the surface contact area of said base comprises an outer frame (9) that receives the outer protective cover.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to electrical components and refers in particular to a switch having a cam or a key-type switch, i.e. one that is provided with a manual actuation element consisting of a key-type crosspiece, imitating the switches formerly used, made from porcelain-type materials and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for fixing said switch to a surface.

[0002] Known key-type switches, such as that described in Spanish patent application document ES2158766A1, comprise an outer protective cover and a contact carrier case, from which a stem protrudes. In this type of switch the protective cover and the contact carrier case are joined to the wall by means of screws passing through the two elements and being inserted into the wall. Above the protective cover a key is fixed to the stem for manual actuation of the switch.

[0003] Known switches of the type mentioned in the previous paragraph require the whole switch to be dismantled from the wall if any part of the switch needs to be changed or to check any connection. To be able to remove the outer protective cover it is necessary to disassemble the key from the stem and remove the screws, both the contact carrier case and the protective cover being detached, i.e. all the elements have to be disassembled. Furthermore, another of the drawbacks of said switches of the prior art is the need to design the contact carrier case with two orifices all the way along said case, to allow it to be fixed to the wall. This means that manufacture is more complicated and expensive, since part of the space covered by the protective cover is occupied by the screws, giving rise to a greater space requirement than for the contact carrier case on its own, and therefore to greater consumption of materials.

[0004] Another drawback of the aforementioned known switches is the length of screws needed to fix the elements to the wall. Since they pass through the whole switch and are inserted into the wall, the screws have a considerable length and therefore cost more than identical, smaller screws.

[0005] On the other hand, the screws sometimes do not make a correct connection with the wall again, once removed.

[0006] In the known switches the outer protective cover is in contact with the wall. In this way any unevenness of the wall is easy to identify visually since the cover is straight and when it is in contact with the wall it leaves any gaps or protrusions in view.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to disclose a solution to the aforementioned drawbacks of the known switches. In particular, the present document discloses a switch of the type comprising a case for carrying contacts and mechanisms of the switch and an outer protective cover, characterised in that it comprises a base for fixing to a surface, said base comprising at least one protrusion with which the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms of the switch fits together, allowing the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms to be positioned on the base, and in that the surface contact area of said base comprises an outer frame that receives the outer protective cover.

[0008] The switch to which the present invention relates also comprises a part, the base, this being what is fixed to the wall or surface. The protrusions on the base allow the mechanism carrier case to be positioned thereon easily and manually, without the need for screws or additional means. This allows the elements of the switch to be disassembled without having to remove the base from the wall.

[0009] The outer frame receives the outer protective cover so that the cover remains separate from the surface to which the switch is fixed. In this way any unevenness of the wall is concealed, giving the switch a more attractive appearance.

[0010] Preferably, the base comprises two of the aforementioned protrusions positioned opposite each other. Optionally, two of the aforementioned protrusions are in the shape of an inverted L and each of the aforementioned protrusions comprises a threaded orifice for fixing the outer protective cover to the base. The cover can be fixed using small screws since, owing to the base, it is not necessary for the screws to reach the wall.

[0011] In one embodiment of the switch to which the present invention relates, the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms comprises a stem for connecting a switch actuator key, the stem protruding from the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms.

[0012] Optionally, the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms comprises two stops that limit the movement, in a plane parallel to the surface, of the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms relative to the base. Furthermore, the base preferably comprises a stop that limits the movement, in a plane parallel to the surface, of the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms relative to the base. The stops make it easier for the carrier case to be positioned correctly on the base.

[0013] In one embodiment of the switch to which the present invention relates, two tongues protrude from the outer frame towards the area defined by the frame, said tongues having orifices for fixing the base to the surface by means of screws and being positioned opposite each other, said frame optionally being circular.

[0014] For a better understanding thereof, an embodiment is described below based on drawings that explain but do not restrict the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the base and of the contact carrier case before being placed on the base.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the contact carrier case placed on the base.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the outer protective cover, in position for being placed over the contact carrier case and the base.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cover fixed to the base and of the actuator key before being placed on the stem.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of all the elements of the switch once the actuator key has been positioned.

[0015] The switch to which the present invention relates comprises a base for fixing to the wall, the function of which base is to support the rest of the elements of the switch. As shown in Fig. 1, the base -1- comprises protrusions -3-, -3'- between which the contact carrier case -2- is positioned by simple manual sliding as indicated in Fig. 1 by the arrows. The protrusions -3-, -3'- comprise two threaded orifices -4-, -4'- in their portion furthest from the fixing wall, for the purpose of receiving screws for fixing a protective cover to the base -1-.

[0016] Preferably, the base -1- is arranged such that the carrier case -2- slides vertically and downwards to be positioned on the base -1- so that the position of the carrier case - 2- is made stable by virtue of its own weight.

[0017] The contact carrier case -2- comprises three tabs -7-,-7'-, -7"- each making it possible to act on a spring (not illustrated) so as to make the connection with a bare terminal of a lead wire (not illustrated).

[0018] The carrier case -2- comprises stops -5-. -5'- that contact the protrusions -3-, -3'- on the base -1- so that the case -2- remains in a given position on the base -1-, as shown in Fig. 2, without the need to fix said case -2-by other means. Furthermore, the base comprises a stop -6-to also facilitate the positioning of the carrier case -2-.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows an outer protective cover -8- that is placed over the carrier case -2- and the base -1-, bearing on the perimeter frame -9- of the base -1-. Said perimeter frame -9- prevents the protective cover -8- from contacting the wall directly, there being a gap between the wall and the protective cover -8-. Two orifices -10-, -10'- of the protective cover -8- match up with the orifices -4-, -4'-when the outer protective cover -8- bears on the perimeter frame -9- so as to allow the protective cover -8- to be joined to the base -1- by means of screws -11-, -11'-. Furthermore, the protective cover -8- comprises an orifice -12- in its central portion.

[0020] As can be seen in Fig. 4, a stem -13- forming part of the carrier case protrudes through the central orifice -12-. A key -14- for manual actuation of the switch is joined to the stem -13- through the movement indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows the key -14- for manual actuation of the switch joined to the stem.

[0021] Although the invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment, this should not be considered limit the invention, which is to be defined by the broadest interpretation of the following claims.

Claims

1. Switch of the type comprising a case for carrying contacts and mechanisms of the switch and an outer protective cover, characterised in that it comprises a base for fixing to a surface, said base comprising at least one protrusion with which the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms of the switch fits together, allowing the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms to be positioned on the base, and in that the surface contact area of said base comprises an outer frame that receives the outer protective cover.

2. Switch according to claim 1, characterised in that said base comprises two of the aforementioned protrusions positioned opposite each other.

3. Switch according to claim 2, characterised in that the aforementioned two protrusions are in the shape of an inverted L and each of said two protrusions comprises a threaded orifice for fixing the outer protective cover to the base.

4. Switch according to claim 3, characterised in that said case for carrying contacts and mechanisms comprises a stem for connecting a switch actuator key, the stem protruding from the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms.

5. Switch according to claim 4, characterised in that said case for carrying contacts and mechanisms comprises two stops that limit the movement, in a plane parallel to the surface, of the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms relative to the base.

6. Switch according to claim 5, characterised in that said base comprises a stop that limits the movement, in a plane parallel to the surface, of the case for carrying contacts and mechanisms relative to the base.

7. Switch according to claim 6, characterised in that two tongues protrude from the outer frame into the area defined by the frame, said tongues having orifices for fixing the base to the surface by means of screws and being positioned opposite each other.

8. Switch according to claim 7, characterised in that the outer frame is circular.

Drawing