AU2017279756B2

AU2017279756B2 - Transmission device for push-button switch, push-button switch and socket

Info

Publication number: AU2017279756B2
Application number: AU2017279756A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dahai Zhang
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-30
Filing date: 2017-12-21
Publication date: 2022-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-21
Also published as: CN206497835U; AU2017279756A1; ZA201708742B

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmission device, including a driving means and a transmission means for driving the driving means. The driving means includes a driving part and is configured, in responding to an action to the push button of the push-button switch, to drive, by the driving part, the rocker of the push-button switch to pivot rotate. The driving means further includes an indication part to provide a feature for indicating operation states of the push-button switch. The driving means is disposed in a manner of being clamped between the push button of the push-button switch and the transmission means. The transmission means is configured to pivot in a plane parallel to a pushing direction of the pushing button in responding to a pushing action or a releasing action of the pushing button, so as to drive the driving means to slide between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position. The first predetermined position corresponds to an on position of the push-button switch and the second predetermined position corresponds to an off position of the push-button switch. 16 21 2 1112 3 311 . , 5 4 Fig. 1 1/6

Description

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TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH, PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH AND SOCKET TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a push-button switch, and more particularly to an improvement of an operation state indication of a push-button switch.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The button switch is widely used in homes, factories and other fields. In some cases, the user wishes to know the operation state of the push-button switch from the interface of the push button. In order to realize this function, an existing conventional push-button switch is provided with a component therein for indicating the operation state, which rotates according to features of the driving means (for example, a movement direction and/or a movement position), so as to display features indicating the operation state at the interface of the push-button switch, thereby enabling the user to know the operation state of the push-button switch through the displayed features.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present disclosure provides a transmission device for a push-button switch. The push-button switch includes a driving means and a transmission means for driving the driving means. The driving means includes a driving part and is configured, in responding to an action to the push button of the push-button switch, to drive, by the driving part, the rocker of the push-button switch to pivot. The driving means further includes an indication part to provide a feature for indicating operation states of the push-button switch. The driving means is disposed in a manner of being clamped between the push button and the transmission means. The transmission means is configured to pivot in a plane parallel to a pushing direction of the pushing button in responding to a pushing action or a releasing action of the pushing button, so as to drive the driving means to slide between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position. The first predetermined position corresponds to an on position of the push-button switch and the second predetermined position corresponds to an off position of the push-button switch.

[0004] The driving means in the transmission device according to embodiments of the present disclosure is used to indicate the operation states of the push-button switch, and also serves as a driving means for driving the rocker to pivot. That is, one driving means has two functions. In the case of ensuring that the function of the push-button switch remains unchanged, the number of components of the push-button switch is reduced, the manufacturing cost of the push-button switch is decreased, and also the push-button switch is easy to assemble and convenient to produce.

[0005] In addition, the operation states indicated by the driving means do not have an intermediate state, that is, a final stopping position of the driving means sliding on the push button is either thefirst predetermined position where the push-button switch is on or the second predetermined position where the push-button switch is off, such that the operation state of the push-button switch can be clearly known by the user.

[0006] In some embodiments, the transmission device is pivotably mounted between the driving means and the rocker, and is connected to a sliding part through an elastic part, and the sliding part is configured to slide along a slant surface of the rocker.

[0007] In some embodiments, the driving means is configured in following manners: in the case that the driving means is in thefirst predetermined position, when the push button is pushed, the driving means presses a slave part at an end of the rocker, the elastic part is compressed, and when the push button is released, the elastic part drives the transmission means to pivot in a plane parallel to a pushing direction of the push button under action of the sliding part and the rocker, and drives the driving means to slide to the second predetermined position; in the case that the driving means is in the second predetermined position, when the push button is pushed, the driving means presses a slave part at another end of the rocker, the elastic part is compressed, and when the push button is released, the elastic part drives the transmission means to pivot in the plane parallel to the pushing direction of the push button under action of the sliding part and the rocker, and drives the driving means to slide to the first predetermined position.

[0008] In some embodiments, the driving means is slidably accommodated in a cavity defined by side walls of the push button, and the driving means is configured to slide between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position.

[0009] In some embodiments, the push button is provided with a display window.

[0010] In some embodiments, the driving means is provided with a feature for indicating the operation states of the push-button switch on a surface of the driving means facing the push button, so that the operating states of the push-button switch are observable to the user through the display window.

[0011] The present disclosure also provides a push-button switch, including: a push button provided with a display window; a transmission device according to above embodiments; and a rocker pivotably mounted to an housing of the push-button switch and configured to pivot in responding to a downward movement of the push button, to drive a moving contact of the push-button switch to pivot through a contour portion of the rocker, so as to contact or to be separated from a fixed contact of the push-button switch.

[0012] In some embodiments, the push button has a sliding rail, and the driving means is slidably mounted to the sliding rail.

[0013] In some embodiments, the push-button switch is divided into two portions, the rocker, the moving contact and the fixed contact form an installation panel configured to be mounted to a fixed wall, the push button and the transmission device form a cover separate from the installation panel.

[0014] The present disclosure also provides a socket, including the above push-button switch for controlling power-on and power-off of the socket.

[0014a] In another embodiment, there is provided a transmission device for a push button switch, wherein the push-button switch comprises a push button, comprising: a driving means comprising a driving part and being configured, in responding to an action to the push button of the push-button switch, to drive, by the driving part, a rocker of the push-button switch to pivot, wherein, the driving means further comprising an indication part to provide a feature for indicating operation states of the push-button switch ; and a transmission means for driving the driving means, the driving means being disposed in a manner of being clamped between the push button and the transmission means, wherein, the transmission means is configured to pivot in a plane parallel to a pushing direction of the pushing button in responding to a pushing action or a releasing action of the pushing button, so as to drive the driving means to slide between afirst predetermined position and a second predetermined position, wherein, the first predetermined position corresponding to an on position of the push-button switch and the second predetermined position corresponding to an off position of the push-button switch, and wherein the driving part of the driving means is configured to engage with a first slave part of the rocker or a second slave part of the rocker to drive the rocker, wherein the first slave part and the second slave part are situated at respective ends of the rocker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be easily understood from descriptions of example embodiments in the drawings, in which:

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a push-button switch according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] Fig. 2 shows a structural view of a push-button switch according to embodiments of the present disclosure from a viewpoint;

[0018] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a transmission means for a push-button switch according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a driving means according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Fig. 5 shows an arrangement relationship between a driving means and a push button and a transmission means of a push-button switch;

[0021] Fig. 6A shows a perspective view of a push button according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Fig. 6B shows a structural view of a bottom of a push button according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a transmission means according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] Fig. 8A shows a cross-sectional view of a push-button switch whose initial state is on;

[0025] Fig. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of a push-button switch during a changing process of the push-button switch from an on state to an off state;

[0026] Fig. 8C shows a cross-sectional view of a push button switch whose final status is off.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

[0027] The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example Embodiments. It will be understood that these embodiments are described solely to illustrate the present disclosure and assist those skilled in the art in understanding and carrying out the disclosure, but are not intended to suggest any limitation to the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure described herein may be implemented in various ways other than the ways described below.

[0028] As used herein, the term "including/comprising" and its various variants may be understood as open-ended terms, which means "including/comprising but not limited to". The term "based on" may be understood as "at least partially based on". The term "an embodiment" may be understood as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" may be understood as "at least one other embodiment".

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a push-button switch 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the push-button switch 100 includes a push button 2, which is provided with a display window 21; a transmission device 1; and a rocker 3, which is pivotably mounted to an housing of the push-button switch 100 and is configured to pivot in responding to a downward movement of the push button 2, to drive a moving contact 4 of the push-button switch

100 to pivot through the rocker 3, so as to contact or be separated from afixed contact of the push-button switch 100. The transmission device 1 includes a driving means 11 and a transmission means 12 for driving the driving means 11, and the transmission device 1 is arranged between the push button 2 and the rocker 3, to realize the mutual coupling of movements among the push button 2, the rocker 3 and the transmission device 1.

[0030] In some embodiments, the push button 2 has a sliding rail, and the driving means 11 is slidably mounted to the sliding rail. The transmission means 12 is connected to a sliding part 122 through an elastic part, and the sliding part is configured to slide along a slant surface of the rocker 3 in responding to the pushing of the push button 2 and the pivoting of the rocker 3.

[0031] It should be noted that an end of the sliding part 122 is configured to be accommodated in the transmission means 12 through the elastic part (like a spring), and another end of the sliding part 122 is configured to smoothly slide at the slant surface of the rocker 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the sliding part may be a bullet-shaped part, but the sliding part may have other shapes. For example, the end of the sliding part abutting against the rocker 3 may be a slidable part, such as a spherical part or the like. The specific shape of the sliding part 122 is not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a structural view of the push-button switch 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure from a viewpoint. The structural relationship of the driving means 11, the transmission means 12 and the rocker 3 can be obtained from Fig. 2. It should be noted that a silver bridge includes the moving contact 4, and when the rocker 3 pivots, the silver bridge is driven to rotate, so as to allow the moving contact 4 to contact or to be separated from the fixed contact 5. When the moving contact 4 contacts the fixed contact 5, the corresponding operation state of the push-button switch 100 is on, and when the moving contact 4 is separated from the fixed contact 5, the corresponding operation state of the push-button switch 100 is off.

[0033] When the push button 2 is pushed down, the driving means 11 presses an end of the rocker 3, and the rocker 3 pivots in response to the pushing of the driving means 11, so that the sliding part 122 slides along the slant surface of the rocker 3. When the push button 2 is released, the sliding part 122 slides along the slant surface of the rocker 3 to drive the transmission means 12 to pivot in a plane parallel to the pushing direction. An elastic force of the elastic part and the pivoting of the transmission means 12 drive the driving means 11 to move in a plane perpendicular to the pushing direction.

[0034] In some embodiments, the push-button switch 100 is divided into two parts. The rocker 3, the moving contact 4 and the fixed contact 5 form an installation panel configured to be mounted to a fixed wall. The push button 2 and the transmission device 1 form a cover separated from the installation panel. That is, the push-button switch 100 is divided into two parts, in which one part may be configured in the form of the installation panel fixed in a support surface such as a wall, and the installation panel can be fixed to the support surface (such as the wall) with screws; the other part may be configured in the form of the cover matched with the installation panel, and the cover can cover the installation panel and be matched with the installation panel.

[0035] The present disclosure also provides a socket, which includes the above push button switch 100 for controlling power-on and power-off of the socket.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the transmission device 1 for the push button switch 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 3, the transmission means 1 includes the driving means 11 and the transmission means 12 for driving the driving means 11. The driving means 11 has a driving part 111, and the driving means 11 is configured to drive the rocker 3 of the push-button switch 100 to pivot through the driving part 111, in responding to an action of the push button 2 of the push-button switch 100. The driving means 11 also includes an indication part configured to provide features indicating operation states of the push button switch 100. The driving means 11 is arranged in a manner of being clamped between the push button 2 and the transmission means 12 of the push-button switch. The transmission means 12 is configured to pivot in the plane parallel to the pushing direction to the pushing button 2 in responding to a pushing action or a releasing action of the pushing button 2, so as to drive the driving means 11 to slide between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, in which the first predetermined position corresponds to an on position of the push-button switch 100 and the second predetermined position corresponds to an off position of the push button switch 100.

[0037] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the driving means 11 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The driving means 11 is provided with a feature on a surface thereof facing the push button 2, and the feature is configured to indicate the operation states of the push-button switch 100, so that the operation states of the push-button switch 100 are observable to the user through the display window 21. The features provided on the driving means 11 to indicate the operation states of the push-button switch 100 may be two different colors respectively located at two sides of a central line of the top of the driving means 11, so as to indicate the operation states of the push-button switch 100. For example, the two different colors can be red and blue, blue indicates off, and red indicates on. Embodiments of the present disclosure do not specifically limit how the colors indicating the operation states of the push-button switch 100 are attached to the driving means 11 and what colors are used herein.

[0038] As can be seen from Fig. 4, the driving means 11 includes the driving part111 and an engaging part 112, and the driving part 111 is configured to drive the rocker to pivot. As shown in Fig. 3, the driving means 11 is connected with a connecting part 123 of the transmission means 12 through the engaging part 112, so that when the transmission means 12 pivots in the plane parallel to the pushing direction, the driving means 11 can be driven to move in a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction.

[0039] Fig. 5 shows an arrangement relationship between the driving means 11 and the push button 2 and the transmission means 12 of the push-button switch 100. As shown in Fig. 5, the driving means 11 is arranged in the manner of being clamped between the push button 2 and the transmission means 12.

[0040] The driving means 11 and the push button 2 may be arranged in such a manner that the driving means 11 is slidably received in a cavity defined by side walls of the push button 2 and the driving means 11 is configured to slide between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position. The first predetermined position corresponds to the on position of the push-button switch 100 and the second predetermined position corresponds to the off position of the push button switch 100. Certainly, the driving means 11 can also be arranged in another manner that allows the driving means 11 to slide between thefirst predetermined position and the second predetermined position. For example, the driving means 11 can be disposed by being engaged in a sliding groove of the push button 2. Embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific arrangement of the driving means 11 and the push button 2.

[0041] Fig. 6A shows a perspective view of the push button 2 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 6B shows a structural view of a bottom of the push button 2 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As can be seen from Fig. 6A, the push button 2 is configured to have a display window 21, so that the features of the driving means 11 displayed via the display window 21 can be observed by the user through the display window 21. For example, when blue indicates off and red indicates on, if the user sees blue from the display window 21, it is indicated that the push-button switch is in the off state, and if the user sees red from the display window 21, it is indicated that the button is in the on state.

[0042] As can be seen from Fig. 6B, the push button 2 is provided with two rotation holes, and the two rotation holes are configured to be connected with a rotating shaft 124 of the transmission means 12, so that the transmission means 12 can pivot around the rotating shaft 124 in the plane parallel to the pushing direction of the push button 2.

[0043] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the transmission means 12 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As can be seen from Fig. 7, the transmission means 12 is provided with a connecting part 123 and the rotating shaft 124. The connecting part 123 is configured to be connected to a feature of the driving means 11 driven by the driving means 11, so that the transmission means 12 can drive the driving means 11 to generate a movement perpendicular to the pushing direction of the push button 2. The rotating shaft 124 is configured to couple with the two rotation holes in the push button 2, so that the transmission means 12 can pivot in the plane parallel to the pushing direction.

[0044] In some embodiments, the transmission means 12 is pivotably mounted between the driving means 11 and the rocker 3, and is connected to the sliding part 122 through the elastic part. The sliding part 122 is configured to slide along the slant surface of the rocker 3.

[0045] In the case that the driving means 11 is in thefirst predetermined position, when the push button 2 is pushed, the driving means 11 pushes an end of the rocker 3, the elastic part is compressed, and when the push button 2 is released, the elastic part drives the transmission means 12 to pivot in the plane parallel to the pushing direction of the push button 2 under action of the sliding part 122 and the rocker 3, and drives the driving means 11 to slide to the second predetermined position. In the case that the driving means 11 is in the second predetermined position, when the push button 2 is pushed, the driving means 11 presses another end of the rocker 3, the elastic part is compressed, and when the push button 2 is released, the elastic part drives the transmission means 12 to pivot in the plane parallel to the pushing direction of the push button 2 under action of the sliding part 122 and the rocker 3, and drives the driving means 11 to slide to the first predetermined position.

[0046] In some other embodiments, the driving means 11 serves as a driving means of the push-button switch 100. In this case, the driving means 11 is configured to press one end of the rocker 3 or the other end of the rocker 3, when the push button 2 is pushed.

[0047] The driving means in the transmission device according to embodiments of the present disclosure is used to indicate the operation states of the push-button switch, and also serves as a driving means for driving the rocker to pivot. That is, one driving means has two functions. In the case of ensuring that the function of the push button switch remains unchanged, the number of components of the push-button switch is reduced, the manufacturing cost of the push-button switch is decreased, and also the push-button switch is easy to assemble and convenient to produce.

[0048] In addition, the operation states indicated by the driving means do not have an intermediate state, that is, a final stopping position of the driving means sliding on the push button is either the first predetermined position where the push-button switch is on or the second predetermined position where the push-button switch is off, such that the operation state of the switch can be clearly known by the user.

[0049] Figs. 8A-8C show a changing process of the push-button switch 100 from the on state to the off state.

[0050] Fig. 8A shows a cross-sectional view of the push-button switch 100 whose initial state is the on state. As can be seen from Fig. 8A, when the state of the push button switch 100 is on, the feature indicated by the driving means 11 shows that the push-button switch is on, i.e., the position of the driving means 11 is the first predetermined position, and the moving contact 4 of the push-button switch 100 contacts the fixed contact 5.

[0051] Fig. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the push-button switch 100 during the changing process of the push-button switch 100 from the on state to the off state. When the push button 2 of the push-button switch 100 is pushed down, the driving means 11 moves downwards along with the pushing of the push button 2, and the feature of the driving means 11 configured to drive the rocker 3 rotate presses an end of the rocker 3 to push the rocker 3 to pivot around a rotation shaft of the rocker, so as to urge the silver bridge to rotate, and thus the moving contact 4 is separated from the fixed contact 5. Under action of the elastic part connected to the silver bridge, the silver bridge will continue rotating to reach an equilibrium position, in which case, the sliding part 122 is compressed into the transmission means 12.

[0052] Fig. 8C shows a cross-sectional view of the push button switch 100 whose final state is off. When the push button 2 of the push-button switch 100 is released, the elastic part connected to the sliding part 122 pushes the push button 2 to reset, and also pushes the sliding part 122 to slide along the slant surface of the rocker. The transmission means 12 drives the driving means 11 to slide to the second predetermined position so as to display the feature corresponding to the off state at the display window 21 of the push button 2. As can be seen from Fig. 8C, the moving contact 4 is separated from the fixed contact 5, when the state of the push-button switch 100 is off.

[0053] In general, although details of a number of implementations are included in the discussion above, these should not be interpreted as any limitations to the scope of the present disclosure, but rather descriptions of features only for specific embodiments. Certain features that are described in some separate embodiments can also be performed in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or through any suitable sub-combinations.

[0054] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0055] Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of specific structural features, it can be understood that the scope of the technical solution defined by attached claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described above. In other words, what have been described above are merely optional embodiments of the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present disclosure may have various modifications and changes. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure are included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A transmission device for a push-button switch, wherein the push-button switch comprises a push button, comprising: a driving means comprising a driving part and being configured, in responding to an action to the push button of the push-button switch, to drive, by the driving part, a rocker of the push-button switch to pivot, wherein, the driving means further comprising an indication part to provide a feature for indicating operation states of the push-button switch ; and a transmission means for driving the driving means, the driving means being disposed in a manner of being clamped between the push button and the transmission means, wherein, the transmission means is configured to pivot in a plane parallel to a pushing direction of the pushing button in responding to a pushing action or a releasing action of the pushing button, so as to drive the driving means to slide between afirst predetermined position and a second predetermined position, wherein, the first predetermined position corresponding to an on position of the push-button switch and the second predetermined position corresponding to an off position of the push-button switch, and wherein the driving part of the driving means is configured to engage with a first slave part of the rocker or a second slave part of the rocker to drive the rocker, wherein the first slave part and the second slave part are situated at respective ends of the rocker.

2. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means is pivotably mounted between the driving means and the rocker, and is connected to a sliding part through an elastic part, the sliding part is configured to slide along a slant surface of the rocker.

3. The transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the driving means is configured in following manners: in the case that the driving means is in thefirst predetermined position, when the push button is pushed, the driving means presses the first slave part, the elastic part is compressed, and when the push button is released, the elastic part drives the transmission means to pivot in a plane parallel to a pushing direction of the push button under action of the sliding part and the rocker, and drives the driving means to slide to the second predetermined position; in the case that the driving means is in the second predetermined position, when the push button is pushed, the driving means presses the second slave part, the elastic part is compressed, and when the push button is released, the elastic part drives the transmission means to pivot in the plane parallel to the pushing direction of the push button under action of the sliding part and the rocker, and drives the driving means to slide to the first predetermined position.

4. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the driving means is slidably accommodated in a cavity defined by side walls of the push button, and the driving means is configured to slide between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position.

5. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the push button is provided with a display window.

6. The transmission device according to claim 5, wherein the driving means is provided with a feature for indicating the operation states of the push-button switch on a surface of the driving means facing the push button, so that the operating states of the push-button switch are observable to the user through the display window.

7. A push-button switch, comprising: a transmission device according to any of claims 1-6; a housing; the push button provided with a display window; and the rocker pivotably mounted to the housing of the push-button switch and configured to pivot in responding to a downward movement of the push button, to drive a moving contact of the push-button switch to pivot through a contour portion of the rocker, so as to contact or to be separated from a fixed contact of the push-button switch.

8. The push-button switch according to claim 7, wherein the push button has a sliding rail, and the driving means is slidably mounted to the sliding rail.

9. The push-button switch according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the push-button switch is divided into two portions, the rocker, the moving contact and the fixed contact form an installation panel configured to be mounted to a fixed wall, the push button and the transmission device form a cover separate from the installation panel.

10. A socket, comprising a push-button switch according to any of claims 7-9 for controlling power-on and power-off of the socket.

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