US3598950A

US3598950A - Illuminated miniature switch

Info

Publication number: US3598950A
Application number: US876966A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shigeo Ohashi
Original assignee: Nihon Kaiheiki Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nihon Kaiheiki Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 1969-11-14
Filing date: 1969-11-14
Publication date: 1971-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-10
Also published as: GB1290421A

Abstract

The illuminated switch assembly includes a pair of contact plates arranged in juxtaposed relation to each other at the bottom of the switch body and a lamp means disposed between said contact plates, with a terminal of said lamp being extended out a short distance from the inner bottom of the assembly. This arrangement permits thinned switch structure and also permits the lamp to be located substantially in the center of the switch assembly so that when the lamp is lighted, light is distributed evenly to the actuator which is detachably mounted over said lamp means.

Description

' United States Patent Appl. No Filed Patented Assignee ILLUMINATED MINIATURE SWITCH 6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 200/167 A lnt. 1101119/18 Field of Search 200/167 A, 172 A, 172

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 5/1966 Sorenson 200/172 X 3,267,248 8/1966 Bagley 200/172 A 3.435.169 3/1969 Bienwald et al. 200/167 A FOREIGN PATENTS 634,195 2/1962 ltaly 200/167 A Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Atlorney- Lawrence 1. Field ABSTRACT: The illuminated switch assembly includes a pair of contact plates arranged in juxtaposed relation to each other at the bottom of the switch body and a lamp means disposed between said contact plates, with a terminal of said lamp being extended out a short distance from the inner bottom of the assembly. This arrangement permits thinned switch structure and also permits the lamp to be located substantially in the center of the switch assembly so that when the lamp is lighted, light is distributed evenly to the actuator which is detachably mounted over said lamp means.

ILLUMINATED MINIATURE SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in switch means provided with a lamp or lamps for visibly indicating the off and on or changeover conditions of the switch contacts.

Conventionally, indication of the on-off or changeover conditions of the switch contacts has resorted to such practice as inscribing or otherwise affixing lettering or a sign or signs on a plate attached to the front of the switch assembly, or separately installing a lamp on a side ofthe switch assembly, thereby to indicate such conditions. However, in the former case where such indication is simply made by lettering or sign on a plate, it is difficult to positively confirm such indication at one glance, and in the latter case where a lamp is separately provided, a substantial space is required on the surface of the switch panel for provisions of such lamp. Also, since indicator and switch proper are separated from each other, difficulty is encountered in achieving good correspondence between each indicator and switch, particularly on a panel where a plurality of switches are installed in a comparatively closely spaced relationship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to eliminate the above defects, the present invention proposes incorporation of a unique switch actuator means adapted to emit light of different colors by luminescence or by presence or absence of such luminescence whereby the on and off or changeover condition of the switch can be easily and clearly perceived at a glance, in spite of the small falling angle of the actuator. The present invention is also designed to simplify the component parts mounted on the panel to realize facilitation of the mounting operation.

The illuminated switch assembly of the present invention comprises an actuator means and a convertermeans which are molded separately and are arranged such that the leg portions of the actuator means is snugly fitted on both sides of the converter means. The actuator means can be easily demounted from the converter means whenever so desired. It is also possible, after the parts were assembled into a finished switch structure, to exchange the actuator, to change coloration of the actuator, or to replace the lamp with new one because of breakdown of the installed lamp or for change of lamp voltage, and all of these practices can be effected with extreme ease.

Thus, according to the present invention, it suffices to prepare a plurality of actuators having different predetermined colors and to suitably exchange these actuators, and the desired arrangement of switches having desired indicating colors can be achieved by simple button-exchanging operation. The present invention thus can overcome problems resulting from the necessity, as in the conventional practice, to keep in stock all sorts of expensive switches of different indicative colors such as red, blue, yellow, white, etc. Also, even after the switches were incorporated into a switchboard or other panelling, it is possible to freely exchange the indicating colorations with no need of disassembling the entire switch mechanism.

The illuminated switch assembly of the present invention also includes a pair of contact plates arranged in juxtaposed relation to each other at the bottom of the switch body, and a lamp means disposed between said contact plates, with a terminal of said lamp being extended out a short distance from the bottom of the assembly. This arrangement permits the lamp to be located substantially in the center of the switch assembly so that when the lamp is lighted, light is distributed evenly to the actuator. Also, juxtaposed relationship between the contact plates and the lamp permits somewhat thinned switch structure as compared with conventional devices, and also permits simple construction and easy assemblage, resulting as a whole in a compact structure. In conventional illuminated switches, a switch contact section was provided at the bottom of the switch body and a lamp was located thereon, with consequent result of increase of the switch thickness, and this was the largest defect of the conventional switches of this type. With miniaturization of industrial machines and instruments in recent years and corresponding complication of the internal mechanisms, strong demand is voiced for a switch which is thin and small. The present invention has realized miniaturization of the switch by arranging the lamp in the manner above and enabled adaptation of such switch in smallsized machinery.

The other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention and the appended claims as taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structural relationship of the component members of the switch assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the positional relationship between a slider, a converter and an actuator member for actuating the contact plates;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the contacted condition of lamps and their terminals;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the switch case, with the actuator, converter and slider members being removed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic viewillustrating the positional relationship between the lamp and the converter means employed in case only one lamp is mounted between the contact plates on both sides;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the positional relationship between the lamps and the converter means employed in case two lamps are mounted between the contact plates;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the converter means with two lamps mounted between the contact plates and with DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of its preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. As will be noted, the switch assembly of the present invention comprises a switchbox or casing, designated generally by number 10, in which are incorporated a converter member 33 adapted to actuate contact plates 36 and an actuator member 30 adapted to permit rocking motion said converter member 33. In the center of the switch body 11 at the base of the switch case 10 is provided a terminal 12 which serves as fulcrum for the movable contact plates 36, and on both sides of said terminal 12 are provided similar terminal elements 13 arranged to be electrically contracted with the first terminal 12 in accordance with rocking inclination of the movable contact plates. At the bottom of the switch body are formed elongated parallel slots 14 through which the ends of said

terminals

12 and 13 protrude. The end of the terminal 12 is extended slightly longer than the ends of the terminals 13, and the movable contact elements 36 received in said slots are arranged to be rockable in a seesaw like manner with the terminal l2 acting as fulcrum. There is also provided one or more grooves 15 between said slots of the switch body 11 where the contact plates are received, and in this groove or grooves there are inserted pilot lamp means 16 arranged to be mechanically and electrically contacted, in said groove or grooves 15, with terminals l7, 18 provided to extend downwardly from the bottom of the switch body 11 in the same manner as the

aforementioned terminals

12 and 13.

On the switch body 11 is mounted a cover member 19 in which saidactuator 30 and converter 33, are housed. The cover member 19 may be of any known configuration and is provided with mounting leaf springs 20 at both sides thereof and outwardly perpendicularly bent flanges 21 at top ends of both sides thereof. {\lso, centrally at the top edges of said cover member are provided a pair of ears 22 each having a shaft-receiving opening.

The converter member 33 is of a configuration as best seen in FIGS. 1 and to 8. It will be noted that the converter member 33 has a central opening adapted to receive a pilot lamp or lamps l6 and also has at both sides thereof the outwardly projecting lobes or shafts 35 adapted to be received in the respective openings in said ears 22 of the cover member. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5 and 7, the central opening of the converter member 33 is rectangular and arranged such that the pilot lamp or lamps 16 located therein will not hinder rocking motion of the converter 33. This opening of the converter 33 may be divided by a central partition wall 40 into two sections to accommodate two pilot lamps l6 housed therein, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the center of said partition wall is formed an extension 41 arranged such that the end thereof abuts against the top portion of the actuator 30 engaged with the converter 33. In such arrangement, the light of the lighted pilot lamp will illuminate only one side of the actuator, thus allowing easier perception of the on and off or changeover conditions of the switch.

The converter member 33 is pivotally secured through its pivots 35 received in the pivot-receiving opening in the cars 22 of said cover member, and at the bottom of the side frames of said member 33 are provided holes 39 of a size sufficient to permit extending and retracting motion of the slider members 37. The slider member 37 are inserted into the respective holes 39 through the interposed spring means 38 in such a manner that the bottom ends of the slider members are slidably pressed against the upper surface of said movable elements 36. The converter member 33, which is pivotally secured in this manner, is also provided with engaging faces 34 on which are fitted the leg portions 31 of the actuator member 30 having a curved top face.

The actuator member 30 is preferably composed of a plastic material having suitable elasticity and is provided with the leg portions adapted to be snugly engaged on the corresponding engaging faces of said converter member and with semicircular slots 32 adapted to seat themselves astride of the pivots 35 of the converter member 33, so that the actuator member 30 is securely held to the converter member 33.

In this manner, it is possible to mount an actuator having any desired coloration in an extremely simple manner after the entire parts were assembled in the switch case 10 to constitute a finished switch assembly. Also in case of breakdown of the actuator or trouble of the lamps installed in the assembly, or in any other case like that, the actuator may be easily and promptly removed for repair or for exchange with new one, thus allowing easy maintenance of the best and desired condition of the assembly.

The number of the lamps to be placed between the juxtaposed movable contact plates is not limited to two; it is possible to install only one lamp in the center of the movable contact plates as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9.

While the present invention has been described by way of its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is to be defined only by the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. An illuminated miniature switch comprising contact plates and lamp means which are arranged in juxtaposed relationship at the bottom of a switch case, a converter member having a central opening and pivotally secured to said switch case, said contact plates adapted to be actuated by slider elements of said converter member, and an actuator member detachably mounted to said converter member.

2. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1, in which switch terminals and contact plates are provided at both sides of the bottom portion in the switch case, and a lamp base is provided between said contact plates.

3. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 2, in which a plurality of lamp bases are provided between said contact plates.

4. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1, in which the converter member is pivotally secured to the switch case through pivot stems provided at both sidewalls thereof.

5. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1 in which the central opening of the converter member is divided by a partition wall having provided thereon an extension adapted to contact the inside bottom portion of the actuator member, thereby forming two openings of the converter member for accommodating a lamp in each of them.

6. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1, in which the actuator member is provided with the downwardly extending leg portions snugly fitted on the corresponding engaging faces of the converter member.