EP0279784A2 - Push button assembly structure specifically designed for controlling motor vehicle glass raising and lowering devices - Google Patents
Push button assembly structure specifically designed for controlling motor vehicle glass raising and lowering devices Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0279784A2 EP0279784A2 EP88830006A EP88830006A EP0279784A2 EP 0279784 A2 EP0279784 A2 EP 0279784A2 EP 88830006 A EP88830006 A EP 88830006A EP 88830006 A EP88830006 A EP 88830006A EP 0279784 A2 EP0279784 A2 EP 0279784A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- push button
- button assembly
- assembly structure
- box
- structure according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
- H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2221/00—Actuators
- H01H2221/07—Actuators transparent
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2221/00—Actuators
- H01H2221/08—Actuators composed of different parts
- H01H2221/082—Superimposed actuators
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2223/00—Casings
- H01H2223/002—Casings sealed
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2223/00—Casings
- H01H2223/03—Separate key housing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2223/00—Casings
- H01H2223/054—Mounting of key housings on same printed circuit
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2231/00—Applications
- H01H2231/026—Car
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2300/00—Orthogonal indexing scheme relating to electric switches, relays, selectors or emergency protective devices covered by H01H
- H01H2300/01—Application power window
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a push buttom assembly which has been specifically designed for controlling glass raising and lowering devices in motor vehicles.
- As is known, motor vehicles provided with electric glass raising and lowering devices usually comprise a push button assembly, including several push buttons, which are operatively coupled to controlling switches, for switching on and off the mentioned devices.
- In known push button assembly embodiments power particles, moisture and the like may frequently enter inside the push buttons so as to impair a proper electrical contact of the microswitches.
- On the other hand, known push button assemblies in which the electrical wiring section is tightly separated from the other component parts of the assembly, have not be found as completely satisfactory, since these push buttom assemblies are very complex from the constructional standpoint which negatively affects the reliability of the push button assembly itself.
- Accordingly, the task of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a push button assembly structure in which all of the electrical component parts are tightly separated from the outside environment, thereby providing a very high reliability in operation, with a comparatively simple construction.
- Within the scope of the above mentioned task, a mai object of the present invention is to provide such a push button assembly on the push buttons of which is possible to represent letters, patterns and the like while preventing powder and moisture particles from absolutely penetrating inside said assembly.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide such a push button assembly structure which comprises a very reduced number of easily and quickly assemblable component parts.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a push button assembly structure which may be easily made starting from easily commercially available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned task and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent thereinafter, are achieved by a push button assembly structure, which has been particularly designed for controlling motor vehicle glass raising and lowering devices, comprising a box-like casing adapted for coupling to the electric wiring board, supporting operating microswitches, characterized in that it further comprises a membrane which may be tightly superimposed on said board and is adapted for operating as a resilient return element for operating push buttons which are accessible from the outside of said box-like casing and slidingly guided by throughgoing holes formed through said box-like casing.
- Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a push button assembly structure, particularly designed for operating motor vehicle glass raising and lowering devices according to the present invention, which has been illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying schematic drawings in which:
- figure 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the push button assembly according to the present invention;
- figure 2 is a top plan view of the push button assembly;
- figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the push button assembly according to the invention taken along the line III-III of fig.2;
- figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the push button assembly according to the invention, taken along the broken line IV-IV of fig.2; and
- figure 5 is another cross-sectional view illustrating a push button assembly according to the present invention provided with a board or base including a spacer element.
- With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the push button assembly according to the present invention, which has been overally indicated at the
reference number 1, essentially comprises a box-like casing 2, which preferably though not necessarily has a parallelepipedal shape, which may be coupled, at the top thereof, to an electric wiring board which has been indicated overally at thereference number 3 in figure 1. - According to a preferred embodiment, said electrical wiring board or base comprises a supporting foldable small plate 4 therewith a flexible printed
circuit 5 is associated which is housed inside said foldable small plate 4 as said plate is bent to its final shape. - On said small plate 4
coupling members 6 are provided adapted for receiving the pins of themicroswitches 7 for controlling the motor vehicle glass raising and lowering devices, which switches will be directly coupled at the insertion time. - More specifically, the
microswitches 7 may be of the single stage type, that is which directly control the glass lowering and raising devices as they are operated, or of the double stage type that is which provide a first operation in which the electrical contact is held for the overall time the push buttons are pressed and a second operation which is obtained by exerting a greater pressure on the push buttons. - In this latter condition, as the pressure on the push button is released, the glass will be continuously displaced as far as it will reach an end of stroke position.
- In this connection, it should be apparent that the type of used microswitch does not modify the invention concept.
- The main feature of the present invention is that the push button assembly comprises a resilient membrane, indicated overally at the
reference number 10, which may be superimposed on the electric wiring board orbase 3 and is provided withshaped portions 11, at the zone thereat said microswitches are arranged. - More specifically the mentioned
shaped portions 11 are provided with abase portion 13, encompassing the respective microswitch, thereon there is superimposed as essentially frustum of cone shapedportion 13 provided for resiliency purposes, as it will be disclosed in a more detailed way hereinafter, and thereon a stiffeningcylindrical portion 14 is arranged. - The
membrane 10 is firstly provided as a tightness element which practically separates from the outside environment the region thereat there are formed the electrical wirings. - Moreover, the
shaped portions 11 are specifically designed to operate as a resilient return element for the microswitch operating push buttons, which are overally indicated at thereference number 20. - In particular, the
push buttons 20 comprise a substantially rigid intermediate body, indicated at 21, which is coupled by contact to the mentionedcylindrical portion 14, on said body there being arranged acap 22 having at least a translucid orsemitrasparent portion 23 provided for receiving patterns and the like. - The
cap 22 is peripherically provided, at the edge portions thereof, with flangedrims 24 adapted for operating as stop elements for the displacement of thepush buttons 20, which are guided by throughgoingholes 25 formed through the top face of the box-like casing 2. - The
membrane 10 is advantageously made of a transparent or translucid material, so as to allow for the light of adisplay lamp 30 to pass through, said lamp being housed in aseat 31 defined by said membrane, preferably at the central region thereof. - Thus, it will be possible to light up the patterns formed on the
push buttons 20, while holding the electrical wiring circuits tightly separated from the outside environment. - Moreover the
membrane 10 also acts as a resilient return element for the single push-buttons. - In fact the
shaped portions 11 are provided, at the tops thereof, with a frustum of cone shapedportions 13, which may be resiliently deformed as thepush button 20 is pressed but which is able of recovering to its original shape thereby practically acting as a resilient return element. - Thus the assembling of the push buttons will be greatly simplified, since conventional spring elements for resiliently recovering the push buttons are completely omitted.
- Figure 5 illustrates a push button assembly which is conceptually analogous to the above disclosed push button assembly and which is provided, at the electrical wiring board or base, with a spacer element indicated at 30.
- From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended task and objects.
- In particular the fact is to be pointed out that a push button assembly has been made in which the push buttons, which are accessible from the outside, are practically tightly separated from the outside environment and from the electrical wiring components, thereby preventing powder and moisture from absolutely entering the push button assembly casing.
- Moreover, the specific shape of the membrane provides the latter with a multioperation characteristic since, in addition to the tightness function proper, said membrane, which is made from a resilient material, also operates as a return element for the single push-buttons.
- Another important feature of the invention is the shape of the push buttons, or the patterns formed thereon can be easily modified, since said push buttons are practically formed by a cap which may be easily and quickly changed, thereby changing said patterns.
- While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that it is susceptible to several variations and modifications, all of which will come within the invention scope.
- For example the push buttons may also be made from a soft material.
Claims (10)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT2049787U | 1987-01-14 | ||
IT2049787U IT209794Z2 (en) | 1987-01-14 | 1987-01-14 | PUSH BUTTON STRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY DESIGNED FOR ELECTRIC WINDOW OPERATION IN MOTOR VEHICLES. |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0279784A2 true EP0279784A2 (en) | 1988-08-24 |
EP0279784A3 EP0279784A3 (en) | 1990-06-06 |
EP0279784B1 EP0279784B1 (en) | 1994-11-02 |
Family
ID=11167826
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19880830006 Expired - Lifetime EP0279784B1 (en) | 1987-01-14 | 1988-01-12 | Push button assembly structure specifically designed for controlling motor vehicle glass raising and lowering devices |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0279784B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3851966T2 (en) |
IT (1) | IT209794Z2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2271023A (en) * | 1992-09-24 | 1994-03-30 | Txc Corp | Direction controller for a video game. |
FR2696265A1 (en) * | 1992-09-25 | 1994-04-01 | Motorola Inc | Indicator for keyboard, and its manufacturing process. |
WO1999024997A1 (en) * | 1997-11-12 | 1999-05-20 | Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. | Push button for control panels |
NL1027160C2 (en) * | 2004-10-01 | 2006-04-04 | Suzo Internat Nl B V | Press button assembly comprises operating part fixed to operating panel and switch part in apparatus at distance from panel |
US7119297B2 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2006-10-10 | Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. | Push button |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2002157940A (en) * | 2000-11-17 | 2002-05-31 | Yazaki Corp | Switch unit |
DE102008038664B4 (en) * | 2008-08-13 | 2018-05-09 | Leopold Kostal Gmbh & Co. Kg | Electrical switch arrangement |
ITTO20120013A1 (en) * | 2012-01-11 | 2013-07-12 | Bitron Spa | ELECTRIC DOUBLE SHUTTER SWITCH. |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3222467A (en) * | 1963-06-24 | 1965-12-07 | Gen Motors Corp | Cam centered electric switch with moisture-proof sealing means |
FR2280964A1 (en) * | 1974-07-30 | 1976-02-27 | Burroughs Corp | Diaphragm type pushbutton electrical switch - has apertured panel between diaphragm and lower contact, and resilient actuator |
DE2914954A1 (en) * | 1979-04-12 | 1980-10-30 | Rafi Gmbh & Co | Sealed press button switch - has sealing injected into cable, under pressure, by pump and valve which is open when not excited |
GB2112577A (en) * | 1981-12-29 | 1983-07-20 | Shinetsu Polymer Co | An electrical push-button switch covering member of rubber material |
EP0115281A1 (en) * | 1983-01-12 | 1984-08-08 | Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. | Limit switch assembly |
DE8330719U1 (en) * | 1983-10-26 | 1985-04-04 | Zwicker + Hensel Elektronische Schalttechnik GmbH, 5960 Olpe | Push button initiator |
-
1987
- 1987-01-14 IT IT2049787U patent/IT209794Z2/en active
-
1988
- 1988-01-12 DE DE19883851966 patent/DE3851966T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-01-12 EP EP19880830006 patent/EP0279784B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3222467A (en) * | 1963-06-24 | 1965-12-07 | Gen Motors Corp | Cam centered electric switch with moisture-proof sealing means |
FR2280964A1 (en) * | 1974-07-30 | 1976-02-27 | Burroughs Corp | Diaphragm type pushbutton electrical switch - has apertured panel between diaphragm and lower contact, and resilient actuator |
DE2914954A1 (en) * | 1979-04-12 | 1980-10-30 | Rafi Gmbh & Co | Sealed press button switch - has sealing injected into cable, under pressure, by pump and valve which is open when not excited |
GB2112577A (en) * | 1981-12-29 | 1983-07-20 | Shinetsu Polymer Co | An electrical push-button switch covering member of rubber material |
EP0115281A1 (en) * | 1983-01-12 | 1984-08-08 | Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. | Limit switch assembly |
DE8330719U1 (en) * | 1983-10-26 | 1985-04-04 | Zwicker + Hensel Elektronische Schalttechnik GmbH, 5960 Olpe | Push button initiator |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2271023A (en) * | 1992-09-24 | 1994-03-30 | Txc Corp | Direction controller for a video game. |
FR2696265A1 (en) * | 1992-09-25 | 1994-04-01 | Motorola Inc | Indicator for keyboard, and its manufacturing process. |
WO1999024997A1 (en) * | 1997-11-12 | 1999-05-20 | Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. | Push button for control panels |
US5957272A (en) * | 1997-11-12 | 1999-09-28 | Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. | Push button for control panels |
US7119297B2 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2006-10-10 | Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. | Push button |
NL1027160C2 (en) * | 2004-10-01 | 2006-04-04 | Suzo Internat Nl B V | Press button assembly comprises operating part fixed to operating panel and switch part in apparatus at distance from panel |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3851966T2 (en) | 1995-03-09 |
EP0279784B1 (en) | 1994-11-02 |
IT8720497V0 (en) | 1987-01-14 |
IT209794Z2 (en) | 1988-11-04 |
DE3851966D1 (en) | 1994-12-08 |
EP0279784A3 (en) | 1990-06-06 |
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