CN220774196U - Knob type light modulator - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a knob type dimmer, which comprises a shell; a circuit board component; a switching part for controlling the connection or disconnection of the dimmer and the power supply terminal; a triggering member partially exposed to the outside of the dimmer via an opening portion on the dimmer and moving in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby triggering or releasing the triggering switch member to control the connection or disconnection of the dimmer from the power supply terminal; electrically connecting the mating members; a first mounting mating portion; a knob member including a base plate, a knob, and an electric connection member, the base plate including a first mounting portion that mates with the first mounting mating portion and the electric connection member mates with the electric connection mating member when the knob member is assembled to the housing; a second mounting mating portion; the cover includes a second mounting portion that mates with the second mounting mating portion to secure the cover to the housing and at least partially cover the substrate when the cover is assembled to the housing. The dimmer can improve the safety of products.

Description

Knob type light modulator

Technical Field

The utility model relates to the technical field of lighting control equipment, in particular to a knob type light modulator.

Background

A dimmer refers to an electric device for changing luminous flux of a light source in a lighting device and adjusting illumination level, and the basic principle is to change the effective value of current input to the light source so as to achieve the purpose of dimming. The knob of current conventional knob dimmers is typically a single component, such as a knob cap with a recess in the middle. When in assembly, the knob is directly sleeved on the rotating shaft of the main body part of the dimmer. However, with the continued improvement of the function and structure of the dimmer body, such conventional knob structures and their assembly methods have not been compatible with the improved dimmer body. In addition, a conventional knob type dimmer is generally provided with a trigger mechanism, such as a toggle switch, on the outer surface of the product for triggering the connection or disconnection of the dimmer from the power supply terminal, however, the trigger mechanism leaves a hole on the outer surface of the dimmer product, which is directly connected from the outer surface to the inside of the product, thereby reducing the safety of the product.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve one or more of the above-described problems in the prior art, various embodiments of the present utility model provide an improved knob dimmer.

According to one aspect of the present utility model, a knob dimmer includes: a housing; a circuit board member disposed within the housing; a switch part disposed within the housing and coupled to the circuit board part, the switch part configured to control the knob dimmer to be connected to or disconnected from a power supply terminal; a triggering member partially disposed within the housing and partially exposed to the outside of the knob dimmer through an opening portion on the knob dimmer, the triggering member being configured to move in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby triggering or de-triggering the switching member to control the connection or disconnection of the knob dimmer from a power supply terminal; an electrical connection mating member disposed within the housing and coupled to the circuit board member; a first mounting engagement portion provided within the housing; a knob member including a base plate, a knob disposed on a first side of the base plate, and an electrical connection member disposed on a second side of the base plate opposite the first side, the base plate including a first mounting portion that cooperates with the first mounting mating portion to secure the knob member to the housing when the knob member is assembled to the housing, and the electrical connection member cooperates with the electrical connection mating member to make an electrical connection between the knob member and the circuit board member; a second mounting mating portion; and a face cover including a second mounting portion that mates with the second mounting mating portion to secure the face cover to the housing and at least partially cover the substrate when the face cover is assembled to the housing.

In one embodiment, the opening is formed on the face cover.

In one embodiment, the knob dimmer further comprises a middle cover disposed within the housing, the electrical connection mating member is disposed on the middle cover, and the first mounting mating portion is formed on the middle cover.

In one embodiment, the first mounting portion includes a screw connection portion formed on a first portion of the base plate and a snap connection portion formed on a second portion of the base plate, the first mounting engagement portion includes a screw connection engagement portion formed on a first portion of the middle cover and a snap connection engagement portion formed on a second portion of the middle cover, wherein the snap connection portion and the snap connection engagement portion engage and the screw connection portion engages with the screw connection engagement portion to secure the knob member to the middle cover within the housing when the knob member is assembled to the housing.

In one embodiment, the face cover includes a first sub-cover at least partially covering the first portion of the substrate and a second sub-cover at least partially covering the second portion of the substrate.

In one embodiment, the first sub cover includes a first sub cover panel and two side portions extending from both sides of the first sub cover panel, the second sub cover includes a second sub cover panel and two side portions extending from both sides of the second sub cover panel, the opening portion is formed on the second sub cover panel, the two side portions of the first sub cover and the two side portions of the second sub cover respectively include inward bent portions to form the second mounting portion, and recess portions are respectively formed on the two side walls of the first portion of the substrate and the two side walls of the second portion of the substrate to form the second mounting mating portion.

In one embodiment, the two sides of the first sub-cover and the two sides of the second sub-cover are respectively formed on outer surfaces thereof with concave steps configured to cooperate with an external tool to open the first sub-cover and the second sub-cover.

In one embodiment, the trigger member includes a lever and a lever cover covering a first end of the lever, the lever cover being exposed to an outside of the knob dimmer via the opening, a second end of the lever opposite the first end being coupled to the switch member, wherein the lever cover moves in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby moving the lever such that the second end of the lever triggers or de-triggers the switch member.

In one embodiment, the electrical connection component includes a pin and the electrical connection mating component includes a slot.

In one embodiment, the knob dimmer further comprises a faceplate mounted to the housing, the faceplate having an opening formed therein, the base plate of the knob assembly being mounted within the opening of the faceplate.

In the knob type dimmer according to the embodiments of the present utility model, the cover is mounted on the base plate of the knob member, so that the snap connection position and the screw connection position formed by the connection between the base plate and the housing can be covered, and the hole left on the outer surface of the dimmer product due to the provision of the triggering member, which is through-passed from the outer surface to the inside of the product, can be covered, thereby improving the safety of the product.

Drawings

The embodiments are shown and described with reference to the drawings. The drawings serve to illustrate the basic principles and thus only show aspects necessary for understanding the basic principles. The figures are not to scale. In the drawings, the same reference numerals have been used to indicate the same or similar features.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary knob dimmer according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary knob dimmer according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary knob dimmer along line A-A of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary knob dimmer along line B-B of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

The making and using of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific ways of making and using the utility model, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the utility model. The structural position of the various components as described, such as the directions of up, down, top, bottom, etc., is not absolute, but rather relative. When the individual components are arranged as shown in the figures, these directional expressions are appropriate, but when the position of the individual components in the figures changes, these directional expressions also change accordingly.

The knob of a conventional knob dimmer is typically a single component, such as a knob cap with a recess in the middle. However, with the continued improvement of the function and structure of the dimmer body part, such conventional knob structures and their assembly methods have not been compatible with the improved dimmer body part. In addition, a conventional knob type dimmer is generally provided with a trigger mechanism, such as a toggle switch, on the outer surface of the product for triggering the connection or disconnection of the dimmer from the power supply terminal, however, the trigger mechanism leaves a hole on the outer surface of the dimmer product, which is directly connected from the outer surface to the inside of the product, thereby reducing the safety of the product.

In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, the present utility model provides a knob type dimmer, and features and advantages of the present utility model can be better understood with reference to the detailed description of the embodiments of fig. 1 to 4.

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, the knob type dimmer 10 includes a housing 11, a knob part 12, a circuit board part 13, a switch part 14, a trigger part 15, an electrical connection mating part 16, and a face cover 17. The housing 11 defines a receiving chamber for receiving mechanical components and/or electronic components and the like. The knob member 12 is assembled to the housing 11. For example, the knob member 12 may be fitted to an opening side of the accommodation chamber of the housing 11 to restrict mechanical parts and/or electronic components and the like accommodated in the accommodation chamber within the housing 11.

The circuit board member 13 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing 11. The circuit board part 13 may have arranged thereon, for example, a power supply module, a dimming control module or other suitable functional modules. These functional modules may be integrated into the monolithic block PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) or may be implemented separately on a separate PCBA.

The switch part 14 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing 11 and is coupled to the circuit board part 13. The triggering member 15 is at least partially accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing 11 and moves in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby triggering or releasing the triggering switch part 14. In some embodiments, the switch component 14 may include a micro-switch 142. The microswitch 142 is provided with a spring 144. The triggering member 15 may move in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby pressing or releasing the elastic sheet 144 to trigger the closing or opening of the micro switch 142. It will be appreciated that the type of switch member 14 is not limited to microswitches, but may be other types of switches, such as mechanical switches, etc.

The electrical connection mating member 16 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the housing 11 and is coupled to the circuit board member 13. In some embodiments, the knob dimmer 10 may also include a middle cap 112. The electrical connection mating member 16 may be provided on the middle cap 112. The middle cap 112 is disposed inside the housing 11 and divides the receiving chamber of the housing 11 into two areas. The first region of the accommodation chamber is constituted by the bottom of the housing 11, the lower portion of the inner wall of the housing 11, and the first side of the middle cover 112, for accommodating the circuit board part 13, the switching part 14, and a part of the triggering part 15. The second region of the accommodation chamber is constituted by a second side of the middle cover 112 opposite to the first side and an upper portion of the inner wall of the housing 11.

The knob assembly 12 includes a base plate 122, a knob 124, and an electrical connection assembly (not shown). The base plate 122 includes a first mounting portion 126. The knob 124 is disposed on a first side of the base plate 122 and an electrical connection member (not shown) is disposed on a second side of the base plate 122 opposite the first side. The knob assembly 12 also includes a circuit board assembly 123, which may be located in the knob 124 and/or the base plate 122. When the knob member 12 is fitted to the opening side of the accommodation chamber of the housing 11, an electrical connection member (not shown) located on the second side of the base plate 122 is mated with the electrical connection mating member 16 on the middle cover 112, so that the circuit board member 123 in the knob member 12 is electrically connected with the circuit board member 13 in the housing 11, thereby enabling various functions such as dimming control.

Further, when the knob member 12 is fitted to the opening side of the accommodation chamber of the housing 11, the first mounting portion 126 on the base plate 122 is mated with the first mounting mating portion 114 in the housing 11 to fix the knob member 12 to the housing 11. In some embodiments, the first mounting engagement 114 may be provided on the middle cap 112. When the knob member 12 is assembled, the base plate 122 is placed into the second region partitioned by the middle cover 112, and the first mounting portions 126 on the base plate 122 are engaged with the first mounting engaging portions 114 on the middle cover 112 to fix the knob member 12 to the housing 11.

The face cover 17 includes a second mounting portion 173 and an opening portion 174. When the face cover 17 is assembled to the housing 11, the second mounting portion 173 on the face cover 17 mates with the second mounting mating portion 125 to secure the face cover 17 to the housing 11 and at least partially cover the substrate 122. Meanwhile, the triggering member 15 is partially exposed to the outside of the knob type dimmer 10 via the opening part 174 on the face cover 17 for applying an external force thereto. In some embodiments, the second mounting mating portion 125 may be provided on the base plate 122 of the knob member 12.

When the knob type dimmer 10 is installed and used, the housing 11 may be first installed to a desired location, such as in a wall box of a wall, or the like. The housing 11 may be secured in a desired position by a screw connection or other suitable means. In some embodiments, the housing 11 may be provided with a mounting bracket 18. The mounting bracket 18 may be secured to the housing 11 by a snap fit or other suitable means. The housing 11 can be mounted to a desired position by means of the mounting bracket 18. For example, the mounting bracket 18 may have a plurality of screw holes 181 (e.g., two screw holes are exemplarily shown in fig. 2) formed thereon, and a plurality of screws 182 (e.g., two screws are exemplarily shown in fig. 2) are respectively passed through the plurality of screw holes 181 to fix the housing 11 to a desired position. Then, the knob member 12 is assembled to the housing 11, and the circuit board member 123 in the knob member 12 is electrically connected to the circuit board member 13 in the housing 11. Finally, the face cover 17 is fitted to the housing 11 and at least partially covers the base plate 122 of the knob member 12, and the triggering member 15 is partially exposed to the outside of the dimmer 10 via the opening 174 of the face cover 17.

In some embodiments, to protect and/or decorate the dimmer, the knob dimmer 10 may include a faceplate 19 mounted to the housing 11. The panel 19 may include, for example, an inner panel 192 and an outer panel 194. Openings are formed in the inner plate 192 and the outer plate 194, respectively. In installation use, the housing 11 is first mounted to a desired location by the mounting bracket 18; next, the inner plate 192 is secured to the mounting bracket 18; the outer plate 194 is then secured to the inner plate 192; next, the base plate 122 of the knob member 12 is placed into the openings of the inner plate 192 and the outer plate 194, and the knob member 12 is fixed to the housing 11 by the engagement of the first mounting portions 126 with the first mounting engagement portions 114; finally, the surface cover 17 is mounted. The inner plate 192 may be secured to the mounting bracket 18 by, for example, screws 196. The outer plate 194 may be secured to the inner plate 192 by, for example, a snap-fit connection.

After installation, the knob dimmer 10 is coupled to the power supply and the lighting load, respectively. The illuminance of the illumination load can be adjusted by turning the knob member 12.

The power supply end is coupled to the mains supply to obtain electric energy. The mains may be, for example, 220V ac in china, 120V ac in north america, or ac at other volts in other countries/regions. In some cases, it is necessary to directly disconnect the knob dimmer 10 from the mains. For this purpose, the knob dimmer 10 can be controlled to be connected to or disconnected from the power supply terminal by activating the switching part 14. For example, the triggering member 15 moves in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby triggering the switching member 14 to control the knob dimmer 10 to be connected with the power supply terminal, or releasing the triggering switching member 14 to control the knob dimmer 10 to be disconnected from the power supply terminal.

In some embodiments, the trigger member 15 may include a lever 152 and a lever cover 154. A lever cover 154 covers a first end of the lever 152 and a second end of the lever 154 opposite the first end is coupled to the switch member 14. The lever outer cover 154 is exposed to the outside of the knob type dimmer 10 via the opening 174 on the face cover 17. The lever cover 154 may move in response to an external force applied thereto, for example, in the X direction or in the Y direction as shown in fig. 4, thereby moving the lever 152. In response to movement of the lever 152, the second end of the lever 152 may activate or deactivate the trigger switch section 14. For example, in response to movement of the lever 152 in the Y direction, the second end of the lever 152 presses the dome 144 on the microswitch 142 to trigger the microswitch 142 to close, thereby controlling the knob dimmer 10 to communicate with the power supply end; in response to the lever 152 moving in the X direction, the second end of the lever 152 is away from the spring 144, and the spring 144 resets, so that the micro switch 142 is opened, thereby controlling the knob dimmer 10 to be disconnected from the power supply end.

In some embodiments, the electrical connection components (not shown) on the second side of the substrate 122 may be pins. Accordingly, the electrical connection mating portion 16 on the middle cap 112 may be a socket, as shown in fig. 2. When the knob member 12 is fitted to the opening side of the accommodation chamber of the housing 11, the pins are inserted into the slots, so that the circuit board member 123 in the knob member 12 and the circuit board member 13 in the housing 11 form an electrical connection.

In some embodiments, the first mounting portion 126 may include a screw connection portion 126a and a snap connection portion 126b. Screw connection 126a is formed on a first portion of base plate 122 and snap connection 126b is formed on a second portion of base plate 122. Accordingly, the first mounting mating portion 114 includes a screw connection mating portion 114a and a snap connection mating portion 114b. A screw connection fitting 114a may be formed on a first portion of the middle cap 112, and a snap connection fitting 114b may be formed on a second portion of the middle cap 112. The screw connection portion 126a and the screw connection fitting portion 114a may be, for example, two screw holes, respectively. The snap connection 126b may be, for example, a detent and the snap connection mating 114b may be, for example, a detent. In mounting the knob member 12, the detent on the second portion of the base plate 122 is first snapped into the detent on the second portion of the middle cap 112, then the base plate 122 is fully placed into the second area separated by the middle cap 112, and the two screw holes on the first portion of the base plate 122 are aligned with the two screw holes on the first portion of the middle cap 112, and finally the base plate 122 is secured to the middle cap 112 by the two screws 127, thereby securing the knob member 12 to the housing 11.

In some embodiments, the face cover 17 may include a first sub-cover 171 and a second sub-cover 172. The first sub-cover 171 is fitted onto the first portion of the substrate 122 to at least partially cover the first portion of the substrate 122. The second sub-cover 172 is fitted onto the second portion of the substrate 122 to at least partially cover the second portion of the substrate 122.

In some embodiments, the first sub-cover 171 may include a first sub-cover panel and two side portions extending from both sides of the first sub-cover panel. Likewise, the second sub cover 172 may include a second sub cover panel and two side portions extending from both sides of the second sub cover panel. The opening 174 may be formed on the second sub-cover panel. Both side portions of the first sub cover 171 and both side portions of the second sub cover 172 include inward bent portions, respectively. These inward bends constitute the second mounting portion 173. Accordingly, the two side walls of the first portion and the two side walls of the second portion of the base plate 122 of the knob member 12 are respectively formed with notch portions. These notch portions constitute a second fitting engagement portion 125. When the first and second sub-caps 171 and 172 are mounted, they are respectively fastened to the first and second portions of the base plate 122, and the inward bent portions on the both sides of the first and second sub-caps 171 and 172 are fastened to the recess portions on the both side walls of the first and second portions of the base plate 122, so that the first and second sub-caps 171 and 172 are fixed to the base plate 122. At the same time, the lever outer cover 154 of the trigger member 15 is exposed to the outside of the knob type dimmer 10 via the opening part 174 of the second sub cover 172 for applying an external force thereto.

In some embodiments, concave steps 175 are formed on outer surfaces of both side portions of the first sub cover 171 and both side portions of the second sub cover 172, respectively. These concave steps 175 cooperate with an external tool for opening the first and second sub-caps 171 and 172.

When it is necessary to disassemble the knob type dimmer 10, an external tool (for example, an in-line screwdriver) may be used to insert the concave steps 175 on the outer surfaces of the two sides of the first sub-cover 171 and the two sides of the second sub-cover 172, prying them off the base plate 122; the two screws 127 are then withdrawn from the screw holes, thereby removing the knob member 12 from the housing 11.

After the knob assembly 12 is removed from the housing 11, if the remainder is to be removed further, the outer plate 194, the inner plate 192 and the housing 11 may be removed in sequence until the entire knob dimmer 10 is removed from the installed position.

Although the embodiment and the drawings illustrate the opening 174 is provided on the second sub-cover 172, it will be understood that the opening 174 may be provided on the panel 19 or on a side portion of the housing 11 in other suitable positions in practical applications.

The knob type dimmer according to the embodiments of the present utility model can be applied to various occasions requiring adjustment of illuminance of a load, for example, residential buildings, office buildings, malls or other places.

It is to be understood that the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 4 only shows and labels the main implementation units or components of the knob dimmer according to the present utility model, the shape and arrangement of the units or components are only illustrative and not limiting, and that other shapes and sizes of the units or components may be adopted in the knob dimmer without departing from the spirit and scope of the present utility model.

While the foregoing has described the technical content and features of the present utility model, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining the teachings of the present utility model, may make variations and improvements to the concepts disclosed herein, which fall within the scope of the present utility model. The above description of embodiments is illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the utility model is defined by the claims.

Claims (10)

1. A knob dimmer, the knob dimmer comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board member disposed within the housing;

a switch part disposed within the housing and coupled to the circuit board part, the switch part configured to control the knob dimmer to be connected to or disconnected from a power supply terminal;

a triggering member partially disposed within the housing and partially exposed to the outside of the knob dimmer through an opening portion on the knob dimmer, the triggering member being configured to move in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby triggering or de-triggering the switching member to control the connection or disconnection of the knob dimmer from a power supply terminal;

an electrical connection mating member disposed within the housing and coupled to the circuit board member;

a first mounting engagement portion provided within the housing;

a knob member including a base plate, a knob disposed on a first side of the base plate, and an electrical connection member disposed on a second side of the base plate opposite the first side, the base plate including a first mounting portion that cooperates with the first mounting mating portion to secure the knob member to the housing when the knob member is assembled to the housing, and the electrical connection member cooperates with the electrical connection mating member to make an electrical connection between the knob member and the circuit board member;

a second mounting mating portion;

a face cover including a second mounting portion that mates with the second mounting mating portion to secure the face cover to the housing and at least partially cover the substrate when the face cover is assembled to the housing.

2. The knob dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed in the cover.

3. The knob dimmer according to claim 2, further comprising a middle cover provided in the housing, the electrical connection mating member being provided on the middle cover, the first mounting mating portion being formed on the middle cover.

4. The knob dimmer according to claim 3, wherein the first mounting portion comprises a screw connection formed on the first portion of the base plate and a snap connection formed on the second portion of the base plate, the first mounting engagement portion comprising a screw connection engagement formed on the first portion of the middle cap and a snap connection engagement formed on the second portion of the middle cap, wherein the snap connection and the snap connection engagement cooperate and the screw connection cooperates with the screw connection engagement to secure the knob component to the middle cap within the housing when the knob component is assembled to the housing.

5. The knob dimmer according to claim 4, wherein the face cover comprises a first sub-cover at least partially covering the first portion of the base plate and a second sub-cover at least partially covering the second portion of the base plate.

6. The knob type dimmer according to claim 5, wherein the first sub cover comprises a first sub cover panel and two side portions extending from both sides of the first sub cover panel, the second sub cover comprises a second sub cover panel and two side portions extending from both sides of the second sub cover panel, the opening portion is formed on the second sub cover panel, the two side portions of the first sub cover and the two side portions of the second sub cover respectively comprise inward bent portions to form the second mounting portion, and the two side walls of the first portion of the base plate and the two side walls of the second portion of the base plate respectively have recess portions formed thereon to form the second mounting mating portion.

7. The knob dimmer according to claim 6, wherein the two side portions of the first sub-cover and the two side portions of the second sub-cover are each formed with an inwardly concave stepped portion on an outer surface thereof, which is configured to be engaged with an external tool to open the first sub-cover and the second sub-cover.

8. The knob dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the triggering part comprises a lever and a lever cover covering a first end of the lever, the lever cover being exposed to the outside of the knob dimmer via the opening, a second end of the lever opposite the first end being coupled to the switching part, wherein the lever cover moves in response to an external force applied thereto, thereby moving the lever such that the second end of the lever triggers or de-triggers the switching part.

9. The knob dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection component comprises a pin and the electrical connection mating component comprises a socket.

10. The knob dimmer according to claim 1, further comprising a faceplate mounted to the housing, the faceplate having an opening formed therein, the base plate of the knob assembly being mounted within the opening of the faceplate.