EP0671673B1 - Bouton-poussoir contacteur - Google Patents

Bouton-poussoir contacteur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0671673B1
EP0671673B1 EP95102550A EP95102550A EP0671673B1 EP 0671673 B1 EP0671673 B1 EP 0671673B1 EP 95102550 A EP95102550 A EP 95102550A EP 95102550 A EP95102550 A EP 95102550A EP 0671673 B1 EP0671673 B1 EP 0671673B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spring
control device
axis
stem
push
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
EP95102550A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0671673A1 (fr
Inventor
Clément Meyrat
Olivier Silvant
Jean-Christophe Rothen
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.)
Swatch Group Management Services AG
Original Assignee
SMH Management Services AG
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 SMH Management Services AG filed Critical SMH Management Services AG
Publication of EP0671673A1 publication Critical patent/EP0671673A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0671673B1 publication Critical patent/EP0671673B1/fr
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
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/20—Driving mechanisms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/001—Electromechanical switches for setting or display
    • G04C3/005—Multiple switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H15/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
    • H01H15/02—Details
    • H01H15/06—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H15/10—Operating parts
    • H01H15/102—Operating parts comprising cam devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H19/00—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
    • H01H19/54—Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions
    • H01H19/60—Angularly-movable actuating part carrying no contacts
    • H01H19/62—Contacts actuated by radial cams
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H25/00—Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
    • H01H25/06—Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
    • 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
    • H01H2300/016—Application timepiece

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a contactor device comprising a push button and a flat spring, arranged in such a way that the spring constitutes both the elastic return means of the push button and the means for closing electrical contacts located on a wafer, the selection of said contacts being effected by an operation of the push button in translation and / or in rotation.
  • a device according to the invention finds its application in very varied fields, but it is particularly well suited to cases where a single command for several functions of the same device is desired, for example, for ergonomic reasons as is the case. case in the dashboard of a locomotion machine, or for reasons of functional unity, as is the case in a timepiece, which will be retained by way of illustration in the following description.
  • the push-buttons commonly used to activate the various functions of a timepiece have the disadvantage of comprising elastic return means towards a neutral position generally distinct from the means making it possible to selectively close electrical contacts, and the number of parts. separate necessary for the construction of such push buttons is usually high.
  • Push buttons of the previous types are for example illustrated by the following patents.
  • Patent CH-A-604 357 describes an electrical push-button switch in which the elastic return means is a conductive elastomer which also constitutes the contact means, but only allowing a single contact to be closed when the push-button is pressed.
  • Patent CH-A-621,034 describes a mechanism in which a first leaf spring allows the pusher to occupy a neutral position, then two other positions in which it acts on a second blade, either to release it from a constraint, or to flex it, thus allowing only to establish two contacts.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to remedy the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art and to provide a push button which is simple to produce and inexpensive because it comprises a reduced number of parts, while making it possible to selectively close several contacts. located on a plate.
  • the push button according to the invention is composed of two parts, a button extended by a rod and a flat spring, one end of which is secured to the button and the other end of which is fixed on a stud holding a plate carrying the contacts, said plate also being able to support a printed circuit.
  • the flat spring is characterized by the fact that it is shaped so as to have, on the one hand, an elasticity along an axis parallel to the axis of the rod to bring the push-button to a neutral position, and on the other hand, flexibility outside a plane parallel to the axis of the rod.
  • the spring is shaped into one or more ribbons having a succession of handles in a general direction parallel to the axis of the rod.
  • the spring has flexible lamellar extensions in directions substantially perpendicular or parallel to the axis of the rod. These flexible lamellar extensions are composed of one or two branches intended to cooperate with bosses located on the rod of the push button, when the latter is driven in rotation and / or in translation. It is also possible to give at least one lamellar extension a permanent deformation outside the plane of the spring so as to establish a sliding contact on the plate when the push button is driven in translation.
  • the spring of the device according to the invention can be obtained very simply by stamping a sheet of flexible material.
  • the flexible material used can be metal, for example an alloy steel with a high coefficient of elasticity such as Durimph® (registered trademark).
  • Durimph® registered trademark
  • the ends of the lamellar extensions include a conductive coating.
  • a push button according to the invention When a push button according to the invention is used in a timepiece, it allows for example to set the time and store an alarm time. Used in a dashboard, it allows for example to reset the trip odometer and to set the clock.
  • the push button itself can be obtained economically in one piece by molding a plastic material.
  • it may include means making it possible to limit its travel in rotation and / or in translation.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of the push button 1 on which is mounted a flat spring 3
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view of the push button 1 and the associated flat spring 3, positioned in a frame 5 comprising a guide passage 8.
  • the flat spring 3 In the neutral position shown in FIG. 2 the flat spring 3 is parallel to a plate 9, supporting electrical contacts.
  • the plate 9 is held by a stud 6 secured to the frame 5, said stud 6 comprising fixing points 10a and 10b intended to fix the spring 3 through holes 39a and 39b located at one of its ends.
  • the push button 1 comprises a rod 11 of generally cylindrical shape and a crown 12 delimiting with the rod 11 a flange 13.
  • the rod 11 comprises a substantially planar area 14 delimiting a sleeve 15 against the flange 13, and a sector comprising lugs positioning 16, 17 of the spring 3, and the bosses 20, 21, 22.
  • Small bearing surfaces 18, 19, visible in FIGS. 3 and 4 are provided between the legs 16 and 17, and between the leg 17 and the boss 20, to maintain a small space between the spring 3 and the zone 14.
  • the boss 20 is positioned in the axis of the push button to cooperate with the spring 3 in the translational maneuvers.
  • the bosses 21 and 22 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the axis of the push button to cooperate with the spring 3 in the rotational maneuvers.
  • the end of the rod 11 has a guide passage 23, shaped like a T to limit the push-button maneuvers in rotation and / or in translation by cooperation with a guide member, consisting of a pin 7 secured to the frame 5, as shown in Figure 2.
  • a guide member consisting of a pin 7 secured to the frame 5, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the guide member 7 could be carried by the stud 6 secured to the frame and supporting the contact plate 9.
  • the surface 14 supporting the lugs 16, 17 and the bosses 20, 21, 22 comprises two chamfers 24a, 24b on either side of a central edge 24, so that the parts of the spring ensuring longitudinal elasticity does not come to bear when the push button is operated in rotation.
  • the spring corresponding to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4, has an axial symmetry and that it comprises on either side of the axis, a strip 31 (respectively 32), formed by a succession of handles open alternately inwards 31a, 31c and outwards 31b, more generally designated by 31i (respectively 32i) a lamellar extension 35 (respectively 36), perpendicular to the axis and formed of two branches 35a, 35b, and a stiffening and fixing zone 37 composed of two bands 37a, 37b perpendicular to the axis and intended to come to bear on the surfaces 18, 19 of the push button , these two bands delimiting an opening 37c intended to receive the tab 17 to hold the spring 3 secured to the push button in translation, while leaving it free in rotation.
  • a lamellar extension 38 In the axis of the spring, and on a strip 37d, perpendicular to the axis and closing the ribbons 31, 32, is a lamellar extension 38, intended to come to cooperate with the boss 20 of the push button.
  • the spring further comprises, in its part opposite to that where it is made integral with the push-button, holes 39a, 39b intended for its attachment to a stud 6 integral with the frame 5, as shown in the schematic section of the assembly of Figure 2.
  • the plate 9 having contacts which are selectively closed by the lamellar extension 38 when the push button is pressed, or by one or the other of the lamellar extensions 35 , 36 when the push button is turned.
  • FIG. 6 represents a spring substantially identical to that of FIG. 5, but in which the lamellar extension 38 is integral with the strip 37a and has a permanent deformation outside the general plane of the spring so as to ensure sliding contact on the plate 9.
  • the push button associated with such a spring obviously has no central boss 20.
  • FIG. 8 represents another embodiment in which the strip 31 comprises two additional handles 31d, 31e additional, the space 33 made free between the two strips 31, 32 allowing both to have a contact by bending of the lamellar extension 38a when the button is pressed, a sliding contact 38b when it is pulled, and two contacts by the lamellar extensions 35, 36 when it is turned in one direction or the other from its rest position.
  • the lamellar extensions 35, 36 are not divided into two branches, which corresponds to a preferred embodiment when the flexible material constituting the spring is not conductive, the ends of the lamellar extensions then comprising a conductive coating.
  • FIG. 9 represents a fourth embodiment of a spring comprising only one ribbon 31, and having a lamellar extension 38 extending, in the axis of the central recess 33, the part comprising the other lamellar extensions 35, 36, of a length such that its end 34 is already slightly bent by the boss 20 in the direction of the plate 9 supporting the contacts when the push-button is in the neutral position.
  • the lamellar extension 38 also contributes to strengthening the elasticity of the spring along the axis of the push button.
  • FIG. 10 represents a fifth embodiment in which the spring comprises only a single strip 31 whose handles facing outwards have increasing depths from the attachment to the push button to the attachment 39 to the frame, said attachment 39 constituting an axis of rotation around which each lamellar extension 35, 36 can occupy, above the wafer 9, three positions depending on whether the push button is in the neutral position, pulled or pressed, which therefore makes it possible to establish six different contacts by rotation of the crown 12 in one direction or the other.
  • Figures 11 and 12 show other embodiments of the body of the push button.
  • the zone 14 supporting the bosses 21, 22 and the lug 17 is situated entirely above the rod 11, one end of which forms the crown 12, the flange 13 then being constituted by a circular extension of the tab 16, the rear face of said flange 13 being designed to come to bear on the internal face of the frame 5.
  • FIG. 12 more precisely represents the position of the guide member 7 when it is engaged in a first parallel groove 8a to the axis, open at one end of the rod and forming with the median plane of the push button an angle sufficient for the end of the tab 17 to be flush with the light 37c of the spring 3.
  • the other end of the groove 8a opens into another groove 8b perpendicular to the axis and communicating in the middle, in the median plane of the push button, with a third groove 8c parallel to the axis of the push button.
  • Figure 13 shows the position of the guide member 7 in the neutral position.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP95102550A 1994-03-07 1995-02-23 Bouton-poussoir contacteur Expired - Lifetime EP0671673B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH00658/94A CH686020B5 (fr) 1994-03-07 1994-03-07 Dispositif de commande a bouton-poussoir contacteur.
CH658/94 1994-03-07

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0671673A1 EP0671673A1 (fr) 1995-09-13
EP0671673B1 true EP0671673B1 (fr) 1997-05-14

Family

ID=4192134

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95102550A Expired - Lifetime EP0671673B1 (fr) 1994-03-07 1995-02-23 Bouton-poussoir contacteur

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5565662A (forum.php)
EP (1) EP0671673B1 (forum.php)
KR (1) KR950034331A (forum.php)
CH (1) CH686020B5 (forum.php)
DE (1) DE69500292T2 (forum.php)
TW (1) TW269045B (forum.php)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4055281B2 (ja) 1999-02-10 2008-03-05 松下電器産業株式会社 押圧・回転操作型電子部品
EP2060288A1 (en) * 2007-11-13 2009-05-20 F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ag Administration device having input unit
EP3333644A1 (fr) * 2016-12-06 2018-06-13 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Dispositif pour la commande d'au moins deux fonctions électroniques et/ou mécaniques d'un objet portable

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1332034A (forum.php) * 1961-12-21 1963-12-16
FR1356966A (fr) * 1963-01-14 1964-04-03 Controls France S A Perfectionnements aux lames de contact pour dispositifs de commande d'ouverture et de fermeture de circuits électriques et dispositifs en comportant application
US3243528A (en) * 1964-05-28 1966-03-29 Gen Electric Dual action electrical switch
US3657936A (en) * 1970-04-24 1972-04-25 Gen Electric Dimmer potentiometer switch
FR2227616A1 (en) * 1973-04-27 1974-11-22 Rode Roger Compact pushbutton switch - contact spring with stamped-out tongue bent at angle
IT1066498B (it) * 1975-07-24 1985-03-12 Seiko Instr & Electronics Interruttore o commutatore per movimenti di orologeria elettronici
US4031341A (en) * 1976-01-14 1977-06-21 Timex Corporation Dual function pusher and rotate switch for solid state digital watches having detent spring
JPS52107876A (en) * 1976-03-05 1977-09-09 Seiko Instr & Electronics Ltd Electronic watch
JPS55113986A (en) * 1979-02-26 1980-09-02 Seiko Epson Corp Complete electronic watch
US4808129A (en) * 1988-02-10 1989-02-28 Kershner Stephen W Contact for strip line switch
US4866219A (en) * 1988-05-05 1989-09-12 Bourns, Inc. Modular encoder and switch assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW269045B (forum.php) 1996-01-21
DE69500292T2 (de) 1998-01-02
EP0671673A1 (fr) 1995-09-13
DE69500292D1 (de) 1997-06-19
US5565662A (en) 1996-10-15
CH686020B5 (fr) 1996-06-14
CH686020GA3 (fr) 1995-12-15
KR950034331A (ko) 1995-12-28

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