EP0798753B1 - Push button assemblies - Google Patents

Push button assemblies Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0798753B1
EP0798753B1 EP97400543A EP97400543A EP0798753B1 EP 0798753 B1 EP0798753 B1 EP 0798753B1 EP 97400543 A EP97400543 A EP 97400543A EP 97400543 A EP97400543 A EP 97400543A EP 0798753 B1 EP0798753 B1 EP 0798753B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
push button
housing
recess
head
assembly
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
EP97400543A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0798753A1 (en
Inventor
Kevin John Slator
Adrian Dickerson
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.)
Actaris UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Schlumberger Industries Ltd
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 Schlumberger Industries Ltd filed Critical Schlumberger Industries Ltd
Publication of EP0798753A1 publication Critical patent/EP0798753A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0798753B1 publication Critical patent/EP0798753B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • H01H9/20—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms
    • H01H9/28—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms for locking switch parts by a key or equivalent removable member
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/036—Return force
    • H01H2221/044—Elastic part on actuator or casing
    • 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
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/20—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling

Definitions

  • This invention relates to push button assemblies, and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with a push button assembly for effecting a reset function, especially a maximum demand reset function, in a polyphase electricity meter.
  • Polyphase electricity meters for consumers of substantial amounts of electricity are frequently provided with a maximum demand indication capability, that is, they store and can display the maximum demand measured by the meter during each billing period. This capability is provided so that the consumer's bill can be adjusted to reflect maximum demand as well as the total amount of electricity consumed.
  • the meter reader reads not only the total amount of electricity used, but also the maximum demand indication, and then resets the latter to zero, ready for the next billing period, by means of a reset button.
  • the amount of movement of the button required to effect its reset function is typically rather small, and there is therefore a slight possibility that the sealed wire can be sufficiently flexible to permit such a small amount of movement without visible damage to the wire or its seal. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate this possibility.
  • a push button assembly for operating a switch, the assembly comprising a housing, a push button rotatably mounted in the housing, and spring means disposed between the push button and the housing, the push button being rotatable in the housing between a first rotary position in which the push button can be pushed into the housing against the action of the spring means to operate the switch, and a second rotary position in which the push button is prevented from moving into the housing, the push button and the housing including co-operating means permitting the push button to be sealed in the second position.
  • the push button has a circular head and a switch operating stem extending coaxially from the underside of the head, and the housing defines a cylindrical recess for receiving the button head, the bottom of the recess having an aperture through which the switch operating stem passes to operate the switch, the underside of the button head and the bottom of the recess being co-operatively shaped such that the button head can be pushed into the recess only when the push button is in the first rotary position.
  • the underside of the button head is provided with a web extending diametrically on each side of the switch operating stem, and the bottom of the recess on each side of the aperture is further recessed to receive the web when the push button is in the first rotary position.
  • the spring means is formed integrally with the underside of the button head, and may comprise a pair of diametrically opposed spring fingers which are shaped to abut the bottom of the recess and to be bent towards the button head as the button head is pushed into the recess.
  • the spring fingers preferably extend in opposite directions, substantially parallel to the web, with one on each side thereof.
  • the stem is axially split and provided at its lower end with projections shaped to engage the underside of the bottom of the recess, to prevent the push button from being withdrawn from the housing once the lower end of the stem has passed through the aperture.
  • the underside of the bottom of the recess is provided with a pocket coaxial with the aperture, the pocket being slightly smaller in diameter than the extent of the projections and having grooves positioned to receive the projections when the push button is in its first and second rotary positions, whereby to tend to hold the push button in each of its first and second rotary positions respectively.
  • the projections and the web preferably extend at 90° to each other, and the first and second rotary positions are preferably 90° apart.
  • the head of the push button is provided with a passage extending diametrically through it
  • the housing has an upstanding rim provided with diametrically opposed apertures or slots positioned to be aligned with said passage when the push button is in the second rotary position, whereby a wire may be passed through the apertures or slots and the passage to seal the push button in the second rotary position.
  • the invention also comprises a polyphase electricity meter provided with a push button assembly in accordance with any of the preceding statements of invention, typically as a maximum demand indication reset button, in which the housing of the assembly is formed integrally with the case of the meter, preferably the front of the case.
  • the push button assembly shown in Figures 1 to 4 is indicated generally at 10, and comprises a push button 12 having a circular head 14 (see Figure 2), and a housing 16 having a cylindrical recess 18 for receiving and rotatably supporting the button head 14.
  • the push button assembly 10 is intended for use as a maximum demand indication reset button in a polyphase electricity meter, and to this end, the housing 16 is moulded integrally with the front face 20 of the meter.
  • the button head 14 is provided with an elongate switch operating stem 22 projecting coaxially from its underside, this stem being longitudinally split over most of its length to form two parallel spring legs 24 having respective oppositely outwardly projecting feet 26 at their lower ends.
  • the stem 22 passes through an aperture 28 in the bottom of the recess 18, this aperture being generally circular in section but having two longtudinally extending, oppositely disposed, grooves 30 in its wall to permit the passage of the feet 26 when the spring legs 24 are almost fully squeezed together.
  • the bottom outer ends of the feet 26 are curved (at 32), to provide a cam action which squeezes the legs 24 together as the stem 22 is pushed through the aperture 28 during assembly.
  • the feet 26 Once the feet 26 have passed through the aperture 28, they enter a generally circular recess or pocket 34 formed coaxially with the aperture 28 in the underside of the bottom of the recess 18 (ie the underside of the housing 16), allowing the legs 24 to spring apart and locking the button 12 in the housing 16.
  • the diameter of the pocket 34 is slightly less than the distance between the outer ends of the feet 26 except in two pairs of opposed regions, as will become apparent hereinafter.
  • the push button assembly 10 is shown in Figure 1 with the push button 12 in its operational state, in which the button is disposed in a first rotary position with respect to the housing 16 and is capable of being pushed into the housing so that the feet 26 at the bottom of the stem 22 operate a switch (not shown) within the meter: typically, the switch is a membrane-type switch mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) disposed just beneath the underside of the housing 16.
  • the push button 12 is held in its operational state in two ways: firstly by a pair of opposed spring fingers 36 which are moulded integrally with the underside of the button head 14, one on each side of the stem 22, and which abut the bottom of the recess 18 on each side of the aperture 28, thus lightly urging the button head 14 upwardly within the recess 18 until the feet 26 engage the underside of the housing 16 within the pocket 34; and secondly, by the engagement of the feet 26 in respective oppositely disposed grooves 38 in the wall of the pocket 34, which engagement lightly resists rotation of the button 12 out of the first rotary position.
  • the underside of the button head 14 is provided with a substantially planar web 40 projecting downwardly therefrom, this web being symmetrically disposed on each side of the stem 22, substantially wider than the widest region of the aperture 28 (ie the region containing the grooves 30), and extending at right angles to the feet 26.
  • the bottom of the recess 18 is provided with a web pocket 42, whose shape is complementary to that of the web 40 and which is aligned with, and therefore positioned to receive, the web when the button 12 is in the first rotary position.
  • the relative positions of the web 40 and the web pocket 42 permit the button 12 to be pressed to operate the forementioned switch only when the button is in the first rotary position.
  • the push button assembly 10 is shown in its sealed, and therefore inoperable, state, in which the push button 12 is diposed in a second rotary position in the housing 16, at right angles to the first rotary position.
  • the web 40 being wider than the aperture 28 and the grooves 30, prevents the push button 12 from being pressed down to any significant extent, since the web immediately comes into abutment with the bottom of the recess 18.
  • the push button 12 is lightly held in the second rotary position by the engagement of the feet 26 in oppositely disposed grooves 44 in the wall of the recess 34, the grooves 44, best seen in Figures 1 and 3, being angularly spaced by 90° from the grooves 38.
  • the push button 12 can also be sealed in its second rotary position.
  • the button head 14 has a passage 46 passing diametrically through it (see Figures 4 and 5)
  • the housing 16 has an upstanding rim 48 which surrounds the button head and which is provided with diametrically opposed slots 50 (see Figures 2, 4 and 5).
  • the slots 50 are positioned to be in alignment with the passage 46 when the push button 12 is in its second rotary position, and sealing is effected by passing a wire 52 through the slots 50 and the passage 46, and sealing the opposite ends of the wire with a lead seal 54.
  • the push button assembly 10 is extremely inexpensive to manufacture, consisting as it does of only two components, viz the push button 12 and the housing 26, the latter being moulded integrally with the case of the meter of which the push button forms part. Additionally, the possibility of unauthorised operation being permitted by slight flexibility of the wire 52 is eliminated, since the push button 12 has to be rotated through 90° before it can be operated.
  • the angular separation of the first and second rotary positions of the push button need not be 90°, but could take any significant value, eg 45°.
  • the web 40 and the complementary web pocket 42 can be replaced by projections and co-operating pockets of other shapes and/or in other positions: or the projection(s) can be provided in the bottom of the recess 18, with the complementary pocket(s) in the underside of the button head 14.
  • the push button assembly of the invention has applications other than resetting a maximum demand indication in a polyphase electricity meter.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
EP97400543A 1996-03-26 1997-03-12 Push button assemblies Expired - Lifetime EP0798753B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9606375 1996-03-26
GB9606375A GB2311655A (en) 1996-03-26 1996-03-26 Push button assemblies

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0798753A1 EP0798753A1 (en) 1997-10-01
EP0798753B1 true EP0798753B1 (en) 1999-01-20

Family

ID=10791062

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97400543A Expired - Lifetime EP0798753B1 (en) 1996-03-26 1997-03-12 Push button assemblies

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0798753B1 (es)
DE (1) DE69700101T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2127651T3 (es)
GB (1) GB2311655A (es)
ZA (1) ZA972498B (es)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10239387B4 (de) * 2002-03-01 2011-04-07 Volkswagen Ag Versenkbarer Schalter

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19840416A1 (de) * 1998-09-04 2000-03-09 Bsh Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Kältegerät
DE102004040983A1 (de) * 2004-08-24 2006-03-02 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Betätigungseinrichtung für einen Staubsauger mit einem angeformten Federelement
EP2282318B1 (en) * 2009-07-29 2016-06-29 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Push button switch assembly
CN111341575B (zh) * 2019-11-29 2023-08-08 国网河南省电力公司汝阳县供电公司 电钮防误触装置
GB2618391A (en) * 2022-05-02 2023-11-08 Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd Engagement knob with integral compliant portion
WO2023213431A1 (en) * 2022-05-02 2023-11-09 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Engagement knob with integral compliant portion

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH272399A (de) * 1949-01-21 1950-12-15 Hasler Ag Taste.
GB942324A (en) * 1960-08-15 1963-11-20 Lucas Industries Ltd Electric switches

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10239387B4 (de) * 2002-03-01 2011-04-07 Volkswagen Ag Versenkbarer Schalter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69700101D1 (de) 1999-03-04
EP0798753A1 (en) 1997-10-01
ZA972498B (en) 1997-10-07
GB9606375D0 (en) 1996-06-05
ES2127651T3 (es) 1999-04-16
DE69700101T2 (de) 1999-06-24
GB2311655A (en) 1997-10-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0798753B1 (en) Push button assemblies
WO1999057019A8 (en) Indicating device for aerosol container
WO1998033138A1 (en) Module connector having a switching mechanism
JPH0617356Y2 (ja) 静電気防止コネクター
US3980372A (en) Electrical socket
US20060169011A1 (en) Blocking device for a motor vehicle steering shaft
EP0723158B1 (en) Multimeter with an erroneous input prevention mechanism
WO1987003421A1 (en) Unitary switch and circuit breaker
US4588949A (en) Meter removal indicator
EP0420537A2 (en) Restrictor for multiple switch external control actuator for electronic energy meter
EP2101341A2 (en) Compound operation input device
US4230921A (en) Electric switch
EP1583123A1 (en) Safety switch assembly
US20010024897A1 (en) Cam retaining means for zif electrical connector
KR900008921B1 (ko) 걸쇠형 절환기(A Latchable Switch)
US2577960A (en) Push-button biturn single-pole switch
US20040011630A1 (en) Detachable electrical contact device, in particular for electrical junction unit
US3646297A (en) Push switch, especially for ac use
US4306132A (en) Electrical switches
US3717836A (en) Electrical outlet means and fuse therefor
JPH0724793Y2 (ja) 回転型プラグアダプタ
CN109610936B (zh) 凸轮及凸轮转动位置检测装置
JP3219557B2 (ja) ２方向スイッチ
CN219979408U (zh) 一种滑动开关结构
JPH04126637U (ja) シ−ソ−型スイツチの誤操作防止構造

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE ES FI FR GB IT NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19980304

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19980706

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FI FR GB IT NL SE

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19990203

Year of fee payment: 3

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69700101

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19990304

ET Fr: translation filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2127651

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990421

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19990517

Year of fee payment: 3

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20001130

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Payment date: 20010316

Year of fee payment: 5

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020312

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: GC

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: DG

NLS Nl: assignments of ep-patents

Owner name: ACTARIS UK LIMITED

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20100324

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20100324

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20100322

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20100315

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20100312

Year of fee payment: 14

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: V1

Effective date: 20111001

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: EUG

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20110312

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20111001

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110312

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110312

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20120509

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110313

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110313