EP0468291B1 - Switching device for installation in waterproof ambient, especially in bath-tubs or whirlpools etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a switching device on installations in damp spaces, in particular on bath tubs or whirlpools. Provided on the side of a separating wall (2) facing away from the damp space are magnetically operable switching elements (7), in particular reed contacts, which are operated through the separating wall (2) from the other side by a permanent magnet (4). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a switching device on devices in damp rooms, in particular baths or whirlpool tubs, etc., with a plurality of magnetically operable reed contacts arranged on the side facing away from the damp room (inner side) of a magnetically permeable partition wall and passing through the partition wall from the damp room side (outside) can be actuated by approaching or placing a permanent magnet on the actuation areas of the individual reed contacts (see, for example, DE-A-2 804 952).

As devices for switching and controlling electrical devices in connection with whirlpool tubs, e.g. water pumps, blower motors, underwater spotlights, solenoid valves, heating, etc., corresponding switching devices are either arranged at a suitable safety distance from such tubs, or they are designed as sensor keypads, pneumatic switches or infrared remote controls and control low-voltage circuits to ensure electrical safety. From DE-OS 35 01 472 z. B. known to attach a control panel on the wall of a bath or the like.

However, if such switching devices are arranged in the vicinity of such bathtubs or whirlpool tubs, they are frequently exposed to splashing water or, in connection with the regular cleaning of such tubs, the possibly aggressive cleaning agents or general soiling, so that the function is no longer guaranteed after a certain time . In addition, the installation of such control panels requires recesses or holes on the body of the tub, so that there are corresponding sealing problems.

From DE-OS 28 04 952 it is already known to form switches for the actuation of switches housed in a gas-tight housing from the outside as magnetically influenceable switches, in particular reed contacts, and to actuate these reed contacts by means of a magnet attached to the end of an actuating member. Depending on whether such an actuator with magnets is present in the vicinity of the reed contacts or not, the corresponding reed contact is actuated inside or not.

A control device for controlling electrical appliances in the bathroom area is already known from EP-A-260 091, in which switching contacts are mechanically actuated through a bathtub by means of a permanent magnet.

However, all these known switching devices with reed contacts have the disadvantage for the present application that reed contacts arranged closely next to one another for controlling various electrical devices or units in a freely movable switching magnet have indifferent switching states due to inaccurate placement of the magnet above the center of the reed contact, i.e. none safe, defined actuation is possible.

The present invention has for its object to propose a switching device on devices in wet rooms, which on the one hand enables a flat actuation field and on the other other works perfectly and safely in the special ambient conditions, without special openings or bores and thus corresponding sealing measures being necessary.

This object is achieved according to the present invention in a switching device of the type mentioned above in that the actuation areas of the individual switching elements are marked directly on the surface of the partition by corresponding actuation fields, that the reed contacts are arranged parallel to the partition and the permanent magnet in the actuation position seen, polarized perpendicular to the surface of the partition wall, that about half of the actuation area of the reed contacts is covered by a shielding plate made of magnetically conductive material arranged between the reed contacts and the partition wall and only the remaining actuation area is marked by a corresponding actuation field, and that the marked Actuation fields and the reed contacts arranged underneath on the inside have such a lateral distance from one another that a clear optional actuation is possible without mutual interference.

By using a loose permanent magnet as an actuator, a so-called key function can also be assigned to it, i.e. it can only be used if the relevant person is authorized to do so, i.e. is in possession of such a key.

Since the magnetically actuated switching elements only have to control low control currents, their service life is practically unlimited, so that the parts of the switching device attached to the inside of the partition need no longer be accessible after installation of such a partition, in particular a bath tub or whirlpool tub.

The solution according to the invention has the essential advantage that the partition wall on which the operating field is to be formed is not only does not have to be damaged or processed, but that the surface can be made completely smooth, which is of great value in damp rooms, in particular bath rooms.

The actuation fields marked on the surface of the partition are preferably applied by screen printing or a glued-on film. This results in a practically completely smooth surface, which facilitates cleaning of the partition of the device. The marked actuation fields and the magnetically actuable switching elements arranged underneath on the inside are spaced apart from one another to such an extent that unambiguous optional actuation is possible without mutual interference. This also means that it is not necessary for the permanent magnet to be placed or approached precisely.

The partition of the switching device is preferably formed by the wall of a bath tub or whirlpool tub, in particular by the upper flange wall of the tub. In such a case, it is possible in a simple manner to provide a storage area for storing the permanent magnet on the outside of the dividing wall outside the actuation fields and to arrange an iron sheet on the inside of the dividing wall below the storage area so that the permanent magnet can adhere to the storage area by magnetic force .

The permanent magnet is preferably hermetically encapsulated, preferably encapsulated in plastic. This ensures that the permanent magnet in the humid ambient conditions or in the bath water does not suffer and can be easily cleaned if necessary. In order to improve the ease of use, particularly with regard to operating uncertainties and to enable the actuated devices to be displayed, the partition wall is preferably made of transparent or translucent material, and underneath and in the area of the actuation fields on the inside there are lights (for example lamps or LEDs) for acknowledgment the actuation of the associated switching elements arranged. These lights are easily visible even without holes or openings.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

einen senkrechten Schnitt in schematischer Darstellung durch eine Bade- oder Whirlpoolwanne mit der erfindungsgemäß ausgeführten Schaltvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

einen Ausschnitt aus dem Wannenrand der Wanne nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf einen zur Betätigung vorgesehenen Dauermagneten;

Fig. 4

einen senkrechten Schnitt durch den Dauermagneten nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht der Funktion der erfindungsgemäß ausgeführten Schaltvorrichtung;

Fig. 6

eine Zeichnung zur Erläuterung des Betätigungsbereiches eines Reedkontaktes;

Fig. 7

eine ähnliche Ansicht wie in Fig. 6, jedoch mit einem Abschirmblech zur Einschränkung des Betätigungsbereiches;

Fig. 8

eine schematische Ansicht zur Erläuterung des eingegrenzten Betätigungsbereiches entsprechend Fig. 7; und

Fig. 9

eine schematische Darstellung von nebeneinander angeordneten Betätigungsfeldern unter Verwendung eines gemeinsamen Bleches zum Einschränken der Betätigungsbereiche.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a vertical section in a schematic representation through a bath or whirlpool tub with the switching device designed according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a section of the tub edge of the tub of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3

a plan view of a permanent magnet intended for actuation;

Fig. 4

a vertical section through the permanent magnet of FIG. 3;

Fig. 5

a schematic view of the function of the switching device designed according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a drawing to explain the operating range of a reed contact;

Fig. 7

a view similar to Figure 6, but with a shield to limit the operating range.

Fig. 8

a schematic view for explaining the limited operating range corresponding to FIG. 7; and

Fig. 9

a schematic representation of side-by-side operating fields using a common plate to restrict the operating areas.

In Fig. 1, a device for wet rooms is shown schematically, in particular a bath or whirlpool tub 1 in vertical section. A switching device 3, which can be actuated by a permanent magnet 4, is provided below the tub rim. The wall of the tub 1 is generally referred to as a partition 2 and includes the tub rim. For a clear differentiation, the damp room side of the tub 1 is designated as the outside 2a and the side opposite on the partition 2 as the inside 2b. The switching device 3 is thus arranged on the inside 2b, while the actuation takes place from the outside 2a by means of the permanent magnet 4.

FIG. 2 shows a section of the tub rim according to FIG. 1. It can be seen that several actuation fields 6 are indicated on the surface 5, below which magnetically actuable switching elements 7 in the form of reed contacts are arranged. By placing the permanent magnet 4 on one of the actuation fields 6, the associated reed contact 7 is actuated.

In addition to the actuation fields 6, a storage field 16 is also provided in order to deposit the permanent magnet 4 thereon when not in use. Below this storage area 16, an iron sheet 12 is fastened on the inside 2b, so that the permanent magnet is held magnetically in the area of the storage area 16.

5 now shows how the permanent magnet 4 from the outside 2a through the partition 2 through the reed contact 7 arranged on the inside 2b can be magnetically influenced and thus actuated. Of course, this requires that the partition wall be made of magnetically permeable material, e.g. Plastic, especially acrylic glass. It can also be seen that the permanent magnet 4 is polarized in the direction perpendicular to the surface 5 of the partition 2.

Fig. 6 shows the actuation areas in which the reed contact 7 can be actuated by approaching or fitting the permanent magnet 4. The hatched areas form the shape of an eight, which means that no actuation is possible in the central area of the reed contact 7. It is therefore necessary that the permanent magnet 4 is placed in the area of the hatched actuation areas 8 and 8a to actuate the reed contact 7. In order not to irritate the operators of the switching device, with such an eight-shaped shape of the actuation area 8, 8a, it makes sense to use only one half, for example 8, through actuation fields 6 to mark on the surface 5 of the partition 2 so that the operator does not erroneously place the permanent magnet 4 in the middle area and thus does not trigger a safe switching function. In Fig. 2, the actuation areas 8a not marked with actuation fields 6 are indicated by dashed lines.

A preferred solution to the problem described above, however, is that one half of the actuation areas 8, 8a is covered by a magnetically conductive shielding plate 9, see FIGS. 7 and 8. This results in an approximately circular effective actuation area 8, within which the permanent magnet 4 can be easily positioned for actuation. FIG. 8 also shows that the permanent magnet 4 can be positioned between the extended position and the dashed position without the switching reliability suffering as a result. This maximum range is indicated by reference number 13 and the width and length of the actuation fields 6 (see FIGS. 2 and 9) are determined by this distance 13.

FIG. 8 also schematically indicates a lamp 10 assigned to each switching element 7, which, controlled by the switching device, supplies an acknowledgment signal for the actuation of the assigned contact 7. This light can either be an incandescent lamp or a light emitting diode.

9 shows a preferred embodiment with three reed contacts 7 and correspondingly three actuation fields 6. One half of the actuation areas is covered by a shielding plate 9 common to all switching elements, so that only half of the axis-shaped actuation areas 8, 8a (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ) is effective.

Practical testing has shown that the width of the actuation area 13 (see FIG. 8) with a material thickness of the partition wall 2 of 8 mm is approximately 20 mm, so that an uncritical actuation of the switching elements by the permanent magnet 4 is possible. The reed contacts 7 preferably control a debouncing circuit in the switching device in order not to trigger any incorrect switching operations by bruising contacts. The switching device preferably operates in such a way that the switching state of the controlled electrical devices is changed with each actuation, i.e. the position triggered by the responsive switching element is stored.

3 and 4 it is shown that the permanent magnet 4 is encapsulated, which is done by extrusion coating with plastic 11. In this way it is prevented that the moist environmental conditions attack the material of the permanent magnet 4 or let it oxidize.

Claims (6)

1. Switching device for installation in moisture containing spaces, particularly baths or whirlpool baths etc., comprising several magnetically controllable reed contacts (7) situated on that side (inner side) of a magnetically permeable partition (2) facing away from the moisture containing space, the contacts being controllable, as desired, through the partition (2) from the side of the moisture containing space (outer side) by approaching or positioning a permanent magnet (4) onto the control regions of the individual reed contacts (7),
   characterised in
   that the control regions (8) of the individual switching elements (7) are indicated directly on the surface (5) of the partition (2) by corresponding control fields (6),
   that the reed contacts (7) are arranged parallel to the partition (2) and the permanent magnet (4), viewed in the control position, is polarized perpendicularly to the surface (5) of the partition (2),
   that about half (8a) of the control region (8, 8a) of the reed contacts (7) is covered by a screening sheet (9) of magnetically conductive material which is situated between the reed contacts (7) and the partition (2), and only the remaining control region (8) is indicated by a corresponding control field (6), and
   that the indicated control fields (6) and also the reed contacts (7) situated below them on the inner side are so laterally spaced from each other that unequivocal controlling at will without mutual influencing is possible.
2. Switching device according to claim 1, characterised in that the control fields (6) on the surface (5) of the partition (2) are indicated by screen printing or a stuck-on foil.
3. Switching device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the partition (2) is formed by the wall of a bath or whirlpool bath (1), particulary by the upper rim thereof.
4. Switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a storage field (16) for the storage of the permanent magnet (4) is provided on the outer side (2a) of the partition (2) outside the control fields (6), and that an iron sheet (12) is provided below this storage filed (16) on the inner side (2b) of the partition (2).
5. Switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the permanent magnet (4) is hermetically enclosed, for instance coated with plastics (11).
6. Switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the partition (2) is of a transparent or translucent material and that below and in the region of the control fields (6) lights (10) are provided on the inner side (2b) to confirm controlling of the associated reed contacts (7).

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