EP0653769B1 - Rocker switch with protection cap - Google Patents

Rocker switch with protection cap Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0653769B1
EP0653769B1 EP19940830411 EP94830411A EP0653769B1 EP 0653769 B1 EP0653769 B1 EP 0653769B1 EP 19940830411 EP19940830411 EP 19940830411 EP 94830411 A EP94830411 A EP 94830411A EP 0653769 B1 EP0653769 B1 EP 0653769B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
switch
protection cap
cap
rigid
soft
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19940830411
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0653769A1 (en
Inventor
Silvano Lamberti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SI BE R Srl
Original Assignee
SI BE R Srl
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SI BE R Srl filed Critical SI BE R Srl
Publication of EP0653769A1 publication Critical patent/EP0653769A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0653769B1 publication Critical patent/EP0653769B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H23/00—Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
    • H01H23/02—Details
    • H01H23/04—Cases; Covers
    • H01H23/06—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
    • H01H9/04—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings
    • H01H2009/048—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings using a sealing boot, e.g. the casing having separate elastic body surrounding the operating member and hermetically closing the opening for it

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the sector of electric switches, and it particularly concerns a rocker switch with elastic front protection cap.
  • Switches of this type may be unipolar or bipolar of various sizes, and they find wide application in electric and electronic appliances and in white goods destined to operate in surroundings with a high degree of humidity and/or in the presence of liquids.
  • switches should should be protected against humidity and water; for this reason they are supplied with a supple, usually transparent, protection cap to be applied to the front of the switch body so as to encase the switch and cover the switch housing.
  • the protection cap is made from soft material and is provided with a perimetric flange which perfectly fits the front of the switch body around the rocker switch.
  • the perimetric flange of the cap as a seal, is applied and blocked to said front of switch body by means of a rigid framework provided with teeth so as to be snappingly applied to the said body.
  • the cap and the mounting thereof require the presence of two separate components.
  • interruptions must be provided along the cap flange, in points corresponding to the coupling teeth. So, besides entailing two separate components, a cap according to such known embodiment can not ensure secure utmost tightness, since the interruptions provided in the flange may form ways through which liquid or damp penetrate.
  • the protection cap for a switch of the type as described above consists of three components which permit to improve tightness, but on the other hand they have a certain complexity in execution and assembly.
  • Document DE-A-1.615.710 discloses, for instance, a protective cap applied to a switch suitable for installation in a flush-fit box, typically for garages, cellars and outdoors.
  • a protective cap applied to a switch suitable for installation in a flush-fit box, typically for garages, cellars and outdoors.
  • a cap includes a rigid cover and a flexible cap and is to be fitted to a sealing ring (gasket).
  • the cover must be secured to the swith body by means of screws and close the front of the flush-fit box, also.
  • the cap is fixed to the cover without covering it completely and the seal must be secured in position between the cover and the flush-fit box for thight seal.
  • the object of the present invention is to obviate said disadvantageous characteristics by providing a switch of the type as described above with a cap comprising substantially one only piece which ensures reliable and secure damp or liquid tightness and which is simpler and more convenient to apply, without using screw and ausiliary gaskets.
  • a rocker switch with a front protection cap particularly suitable to be used in electric or electronic appliances and designed to operate in surroundings with a high degres of humidity and/or in the presence of liquids, and where said protection cap comprises a first framework-shaped element of rigid material and a second element of soft material preferably transparent, and wherein
  • the reference numeral 11 indicates the body of a rocker switch 12 which rocks in a housing 13 defined by said body. All around the said housing 13 for the switch 12, the body 11 is provided with an edge 14 for receiving a protection cap 15 which is designed to frontally encase switch 12 and housing 13.
  • the protection cap 15 comprises two elements - one inside and one outside - integrally coupled to each other:
  • the first rigid element 16 is die-cast (???) and is provided with coupling teeth 18 turned inwards.
  • the second soft-supple element is moulded over the first element, thus forming one substantially integral piece with it.
  • Such second element 17 is arranged astride the first framework-shaped element 16 and is provided with a perimetric flexible continuous lip 19 at its base.
  • the cap as described above is applied to the switch body 11 by fastening it to the edge 14 by means of the coupling teeth 18 integral with the rigid element 16.
  • the soft-supple element 17 itself, alone, would suffice to ensure protection of the switch front against damp or liquids.
  • the flexible lip 19 of the cap soft element 17 adheres against such wall like a sucker - see fig. 5 - thus ensuring utmost tightness, which can not be obtained with the known switches.

Landscapes

  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
  • Dry Shavers And Clippers (AREA)
  • Tumbler Switches (AREA)

Description

The present invention relates to the sector of electric switches, and it particularly concerns a rocker switch with elastic front protection cap.
Switches of this type may be unipolar or bipolar of various sizes, and they find wide application in electric and electronic appliances and in white goods destined to operate in surroundings with a high degree of humidity and/or in the presence of liquids. To meet the requirements of safety standards, such switches should should be protected against humidity and water; for this reason they are supplied with a supple, usually transparent, protection cap to be applied to the front of the switch body so as to encase the switch and cover the switch housing.
In a known arrangement, the protection cap is made from soft material and is provided with a perimetric flange which perfectly fits the front of the switch body around the rocker switch. The perimetric flange of the cap, as a seal, is applied and blocked to said front of switch body by means of a rigid framework provided with teeth so as to be snappingly applied to the said body.
Therefore, the cap and the mounting thereof require the presence of two separate components. Besides, to apply the framework onto the switch body, interruptions must be provided along the cap flange, in points corresponding to the coupling teeth. So, besides entailing two separate components, a cap according to such known embodiment can not ensure secure utmost tightness, since the interruptions provided in the flange may form ways through which liquid or damp penetrate.
According to another known arrangement, the protection cap for a switch of the type as described above consists of three components which permit to improve tightness, but on the other hand they have a certain complexity in execution and assembly.
Document DE-A-1.615.710 discloses, for instance, a protective cap applied to a switch suitable for installation in a flush-fit box, typically for garages, cellars and outdoors. In this document, such a cap includes a rigid cover and a flexible cap and is to be fitted to a sealing ring (gasket). The cover must be secured to the swith body by means of screws and close the front of the flush-fit box, also. The cap is fixed to the cover without covering it completely and the seal must be secured in position between the cover and the flush-fit box for thight seal.
In this configuration, it is not evident how and when the cap is fixed to the cover as it is necessary to have access to the screws securing the cover to the switch body, and any preventive fixing of the cap to the cover would make the screws unaccessible.
The object of the present invention is to obviate said disadvantageous characteristics by providing a switch of the type as described above with a cap comprising substantially one only piece which ensures reliable and secure damp or liquid tightness and which is simpler and more convenient to apply, without using screw and ausiliary gaskets.
Such an object, is achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by a rocker switch with a front protection cap particularly suitable to be used in electric or electronic appliances and designed to operate in surroundings with a high degres of humidity and/or in the presence of liquids, and where said protection cap comprises a first framework-shaped element of rigid material and a second element of soft material preferably transparent, and wherein
  • said second soft elements is moulded over said first rigid element so as to form one single piece,
  • the first rigid element has integral coupling teeth to engage the protection cap to the switch body,
  • the second soft element totally cover said first rigid element and is provided with a perimetric base lip designed to function as a sucker on the surface of a wall in which the switch is flush mounted for use.
An example of a practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more precisely,
Fig.1
shows a perspective view of the swtich and protection cap separate;
Fig.2
shows a sectional ziew of the cap only; and
Fig. 3
shows a partial sectional view of the cap applied to the switch, which is adequately fixed to a machine wall.
With reference to the above described drawings, the reference numeral 11 indicates the body of a rocker switch 12 which rocks in a housing 13 defined by said body. All around the said housing 13 for the switch 12, the body 11 is provided with an edge 14 for receiving a protection cap 15 which is designed to frontally encase switch 12 and housing 13.
The protection cap 15 comprises two elements - one inside and one outside - integrally coupled to each other:
  • a first element 16 framework-shaped, made from rigid material
  • a second element 17 made from soft material, preferably transparent.
The first rigid element 16 is die-cast (???) and is provided with coupling teeth 18 turned inwards. The second soft-supple element is moulded over the first element, thus forming one substantially integral piece with it.
Such second element 17 is arranged astride the first framework-shaped element 16 and is provided with a perimetric flexible continuous lip 19 at its base.
The cap as described above is applied to the switch body 11 by fastening it to the edge 14 by means of the coupling teeth 18 integral with the rigid element 16.
The soft-supple element 17 itself, alone, would suffice to ensure protection of the switch front against damp or liquids. When the switch is finally flush mounted in a wall 20 of any electric or electronic appliance, the flexible lip 19 of the cap soft element 17 adheres against such wall like a sucker - see fig. 5 - thus ensuring utmost tightness, which can not be obtained with the known switches.

Claims (1)

  1. A rocker switch with a front protection cap particularly suitable to be used in electric or electronic appliances and designed to operate in surroundings with a high degres of humidity and/or in the presence of liquids, and where said protection cap comprises a first framework-shaped element (16) of rigid material and a second element (17) of soft material preferably transparent, characterized in that said second soft element (17) is moulded over said first rigid element (16) so as to form one single piece, in that the first rigid element (16) has integral coupling teeth (18) to engage the protection cape to the switch body, and in that the second soft element (17) totally cover said first rigid element (16) and is provided with a perimetric base lip (19) designed to function as a sucker on the surface of a wall in which the switch is flush mounted for use.
EP19940830411 1993-11-12 1994-08-30 Rocker switch with protection cap Expired - Lifetime EP0653769B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBS820082 1993-11-12
ITBS930082 IT231285Y1 (en) 1993-11-12 1993-11-12 SWITCH BUTTON SWITCH WITH PROTECTIVE HOOD

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0653769A1 EP0653769A1 (en) 1995-05-17
EP0653769B1 true EP0653769B1 (en) 1998-01-28

Family

ID=11345147

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19940830411 Expired - Lifetime EP0653769B1 (en) 1993-11-12 1994-08-30 Rocker switch with protection cap

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0653769B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69408275T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2114673T3 (en)
IT (1) IT231285Y1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2024090950A1 (en) * 2022-10-24 2024-05-02 삼성전자 주식회사 Cooking appliance

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040063801A1 (en) 2000-11-06 2004-04-01 Klaus Roehm Absorbent material and method for the production of the same
US9136071B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2015-09-15 International Business Machines Corporation Overlay for an electrical switch
NO334147B1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-12-16 Vik Oersta As Embedded electrotechnical protection component
FR3000837B1 (en) * 2013-01-08 2016-04-22 Legrand France FACADE ASSEMBLY OF AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL SWITCH THEREFOR

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2795144A (en) * 1953-05-11 1957-06-11 Morse Milton Moisture-proofing device
DE1694861U (en) * 1954-12-28 1955-03-17 Berker Geb WATERPROOF SWITCH.
US2984725A (en) * 1958-12-11 1961-05-16 Hubbell Inc Harvey Weatherproof plate for pressureoperated switch
DE1615710B1 (en) * 1967-02-17 1970-08-27 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Water-protected electrical installation device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2024090950A1 (en) * 2022-10-24 2024-05-02 삼성전자 주식회사 Cooking appliance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69408275D1 (en) 1998-03-05
ITBS930082U1 (en) 1995-05-12
ES2114673T3 (en) 1998-06-01
IT231285Y1 (en) 1999-08-02
DE69408275T2 (en) 1998-07-16
ITBS930082V0 (en) 1993-11-12
EP0653769A1 (en) 1995-05-17

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