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(11) | EP 4 576 145 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | SWITCH WITH FIXING SYSTEM OF A PUSH BUTTON |
| (57) The present invention relates to a switch with a fixing system of a push button (4)
on an actuation rocker (3) of a mechanism box (2) of the switch wherein the push button
(4) has at least one pin (41) in the base (42) thereof that projects towards the mechanism
box (2) in the operating position, said pin (41) comprising at least two projections
(411, 412) that fit into a groove (31) of the actuation rocker (3) and wherein said
projections (411, 412) are arranged along the pin (41) in different positions such
that the first projection (411) is located near the end of the pin (41) and is configured
to establish a easily releasable prefixing, and the second projection (412) is arranged
close to the base (42) and is configured to establish the fixing of the push button
(4) in its operating position.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the design of a fixing system for fixing the push button of an electrical switch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Electrical switches that are attached to the wall, either internally or on the surface, are known in the state of the art. Most of these known devices are made up of a modular box that houses therein the wire or power line installations, a frame that connects the mechanism box to the modular box by means of screws. The device that makes up the switch is located in the mechanism box. The push button is fixed in said mechanism box, which push button must be pressed to actuate an actuation rocker that acts on the mechanism box to establish the corresponding turning on or off of the electrical switch.
[0003] In the marketing of certain switches, the push button is already fixed to facilitate subsequent installation by directly screwing the mechanism box into the modular box. However, there are switches in which it is necessary to release the push button in order to access the fixing screws or claws for fixing the mechanism box for the installation thereof. In the latter case, the parts that make up the switch due to market needs must be packaged for marketing in separate plastic bags that in turn can be accommodated in a container such as a box. In most cases, this can mean excessive packaging, with a number of bags having to be discarded for each container, and this amount is greater in the case of switches with a double push button or switches combined with plugs.
[0004] Furthermore, when handling the switch, the probability of losing a part increases and the risk of breakage or incorrect installation during assembly also increases in the case of users who lack technical knowledge.
[0005] Taking into account the aforementioned drawbacks, it is evident that a solution is necessary that allows the joint arrangement of the mechanism box with the push button.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In order to meet this objective and solve the technical problems discussed so far, in addition to providing additional advantages that can be derived later, the present invention relates to a switch with a fixing system of a push button on an actuation rocker of a mechanism box of the switch wherein the push button has, at its base, at least one pin that projects towards the mechanism box in the operating position, said pin comprising at least two projections that fit into a groove of the actuation rocker and wherein said projections are arranged along the pin in different positions such that the first projection is located near the end of the pin and is configured to establish an easily releasable prefixing, and the second projection is arranged close to the base and is configured to establish the fixing of the push button in its operating position.
[0007] Operating position is understood as the mounted position of the electrical switch for use thereof, that is, with the push button already fixed to activate the actuation rocker.
[0008] The base of the push button is understood as the lower surface of the push button, which is hidden in the operating position.
[0009] Due to this configuration, the switch can be marketed with the prefixed push button, that is, the fixing of the push button being established on the actuation rocker according to the first projection, such that if it is necessary to access the fixing claws or screws for fixing the mechanism box, the fixing established by said first projection is easily releasable by establishing manual pressure and pulling said push button. Once the mechanism box is fixed using the second projection of the pin, the push button is definitively fixed.
[0010] Thus, the switch assembly can be marketed as a single module, reducing packaging and avoiding the problems that exist in the aforementioned state of the art.
[0011] Installation is faster and the risk of losing parts or breaking same due to handling is reduced.
[0012] The pins are made of a flexible material and two projections are arranged thereon to achieve the two clips, longitudinally arranged one after the other. The further the projection is from the push button, the more flexibility there is in that area of the pin and therefore the easier the release.
[0013] To carry out the invention, it is also necessary to redesign the rocker arm of the actuator on the switch with a groove in the entry line of the pin of the push button that allows the projections of the pin to fit.
[0014] Furthermore, since the groove already exists in the actuation rocker of numerous switches already on the market, the push button could be adapted to any of said switches to take advantage of the components of said switch and adapt it.
[0015] It is also contemplated that for an alternative embodiment the groove of the actuation rocker can be an element with at least two protrusions and that it is the pin that has slots to establish the fixing, without altering the essence of the invention, which is that of establishing a prefixing prior to the definitive fixing of the push button.
[0016] According to a feature of the invention, the fixing between the rocker and button is carried out by clipping the projections in the groove of the rocker. Thus, said projections can have different shapes and dimensions to establish clipping.
[0017] It is also possible to establish fixing using projections made of different materials with different flexibility. With each of the mentioned options, it must be ensured that one projection is easy to release and the other has a stronger fixing.
[0018] According to another feature of the invention, the pin is flexible, such that the first projection located closer to the end is more easily releasable as the part of the pin furthest from the base of the push button has greater flexibility.
[0019] All the aforementioned features will apply to double switches with independent actuation rockers or with double actuation rocker.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] To complement the description that is being made and in order to help make the features of the invention more readily understandable, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description wherein, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:
Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a double switch with independent actuation rockers.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the assembly formed by the actuation rocker and the push button with the first projection establishing prefixing.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the assembly formed by the actuation rocker and the push button with the second projection establishing the final fixing in the operational position.
Figure 4 shows a cross section of the assembly formed by the mechanism box with the actuation rocker and the push button according to the prefixing position according to Figure 2.
Figure 4 shows a cross section of the assembly formed by the mechanism box with the actuation rocker and the push button according to the final fixing position according to Figure 3.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The aforementioned Figure 1 shows the components of a switch according to the invention that is installed in a modular box embedded in the wall. A preferred embodiment for this type of switch will be described, although the fixing system of the present invention is applicable to any other, being more advantageous for those in which the securing claws or screws are covered by the push buttons when they are mounted on the actuation rocker.
[0022] As can be better seen in Figures 4 and 5, the push button (4) has, on the inner part thereof, at least one pin (41) that projects substantially perpendicular to the base (42) of the push button (4). This pin (41) has two protuberances or projections (411, 412), one after the other along the entire length of said pin, located in such a way that the first projection (411) is located at the end of the pin (41) and the second projection (412) is located in the part of the pin that is closer to the base (42) of the push button (4). The pin (41) is made of a resistant material, but at the same time with flexibility that allows it to give way in order to be able to remove and replace the push button (4) by clipping.
[0023] The mechanism box (2) of the switch has at least one actuation rocker (3) attached thereto, responsible for activating/deactivating the electrical switch. Each actuation rocker (31) has a hole where the pin (41) of the push button (4) is inserted. To carry out the fixing, the actuation rocker (3) has a longitudinal groove (31), into which the projections (411, 412) of the pin (41) fit accordingly.
[0024] When the pin is inserted into the rocker arm of the actuator, the first projection (411) (in this case the one furthest from the base (42) of the push button (4)) slides along the actuation rocker (3) until it falls into the groove (31), achieving a first clipping as can be seen in figures 2 and 4. In this position, a prefixing is established for the joint sale of the mechanism box (2) with the prefixed push button (4), such that said push button (4) is easily released in order to fix the mechanism box (2) by manually pulling outwards. Subsequently, once the mechanism box (2) is fixed to the frame (1), it is pressed again so that the second projection (412) fits into the groove (31) and establishes the definitive fixing. This last positioning can be seen in figures 3 and 5. After which the aesthetic frame (5) is assembled.
[0025] In order for the prefixing system to ensure easy release of the button and also a firm final fixing, a difference in resistance is established between the two clips, making the second fixing stronger than the first.
[0026] According to the practical embodiment shown in the figures, the pin (41) of the push button (4) has a first projection (411) with smaller dimensions than the second projection (412), and can be manufactured using a resistant material, but at the same time that is flexible, such as plastic or metal.
[0027] Preferably, the pin (41) will be made of flexible material such that the further the projection (411, 412) is from the base (42) of the push button (4), the more flexibility there is in that area of the pin (41) and the easier the release. Since the base area of the pin (41) is closer to the button, it is less flexible and, therefore, the second projection (412) has a fixing that is more difficult to release.
[0028] In the preceding embodiment of the pin (41) made of flexible material, the projections (411, 412) can have the same dimensions since the firmness of the fixing depends on the flexibility of the pin (41) of the button (4). In another embodiment, the projections have a different dimension, with the first projection (411) being smaller, that is, the second projection (412) protrudes a little more. In this embodiment it does not matter whether the material of the pin (41) is sufficiently flexible, but both features can be combined. With light pressure, the first clip is established such that it is easily released, and after the necessary handling in the mechanism box (2), greater pressure is exerted on the button (4) for definitive fixing with the second clip.
1. A switch with a fixing system of a push button (4) on an actuation rocker (3) of a
mechanism box (2) of the switch wherein the push button (4) has at least one pin (41)
in the base (42) thereof that projects towards the mechanism box (2) in the operating
position, said pin (41) comprising at least two projections (411, 412) that fit into
a groove (31) of the actuation rocker (3) and wherein said projections (411, 412)
are arranged along the pin (41) in different positions such that the first projection
(411) is located near the end of the pin (41) and is configured to establish a easily
releasable prefixing, and the second projection (412) is arranged close to the base
(42) and is configured to establish the fixing of the push button (4) in its operating
position.
2. The switch according to claim 1 wherein the projections (411, 412) are fixed in the
groove (31) by clipping.
3. The switch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first projection
(411) projects outwards according to dimensions smaller than those of the second projection
(412) to establish fixing in the groove (31).
4. The switch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first projection
(411) is made of a more flexible material than the second projection (412) to establish
the fixing in the groove.
5. The switch according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pin (41) is flexible.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. A switch with a fixing system of a push button (4) on an actuation rocker (3) of a
mechanism box (2) of the switch, wherein the push button (4) has at least one pin
(41) in the base (42) thereof that projects towards the mechanism box (2) in the operating
position,
characterized in that said pin (41) comprises at least two projections (411, 412) that fit into a groove (31) of the actuation rocker (3),
wherein said projections (411, 412) are arranged along the pin (41) in different positions such that the first projection (411) is located near the end of the pin (41) and is configured to establish a easily releasable prefixing, and the second projection (412) is arranged close to the base (42) and is configured to establish the fixing of the push button (4) in its operating position.
2. The switch according to claim 1 wherein the projections (411, 412) are fixed in the
groove (31) by clipping.
3. The switch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first projection
(411) projects outwards according to dimensions smaller than those of the second projection
(412) to establish fixing in the groove (31).
4. The switch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first projection
(411) is made of a more flexible material than the second projection (412) to establish
the fixing in the groove.
5. The switch according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pin (41) is flexible.