EP1713372B1 - Actuator for switching a function of an electrical appliance - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an actuating element according to the preamble of claim 1.

In vacuum cleaners, it is generally known, actuating elements which serve to switch a function of the electrical device, form as a rocker switch. There are also known switching rockers in vacuum cleaners, which have an actuating element, such as a slide potentiometer for the speed adjustment of the vacuum cleaner fan. In such paddle shifters, there is the problem that when pressing the Schiebepotentiometers such a force can be exerted on the rocker switch, so that unintentionally also one of the rocker switch to be actuated switch is mitbetätigt.

Out DE 196 07 148 C2 is known a rocker switch on which a sliding potentiometer is provided. The local rocker switch has stop members, by the unintentional switching of the rocker switch is prevented during actuation of the Schiebepotentiometers: According to the local solution is provided on the inside of the rocker switch in the region of at least one of the actuating elements to a provided on the vacuum cleaner housing stop member projecting counter-stop member, said at least one of these members in the clashing on actuation of the rocker switch region has such a contour that slide at a substantially perpendicular to the stop and counter stop members force component, these members from each other.

A disadvantage of this solution, however, is that the slide potentiometer may be arranged exclusively in a central region of the rocker switch, so that the operation of the stop members is guaranteed. Another disadvantage of the local arrangement of rocker switch and slide potentiometer is that depending on the position of the actuating surface of the Schiebepotentiometers, a different sized force is transmitted to the rocker switch. For example, in a middle position of the actuating surface of the slide potentiometer virtually no force is introduced into the rocker switch, which could cause a pivoting of the rocker switch. On the other hand, in the two end positions of the actuating surface of the slide potentiometer approximately as large forces are introduced via the actuating surface of the slide potentiometer in the rocker switch, as they are required for switching the rocker switch. This circumstance complicates the constructive vote for switching the rocker switch and adjusting the Schiebepotentiometers.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, a shift paddles / slider combination to be created in the at least approximately uniform forces are introduced during the adjustment of the slide in the rocker switch.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the sliding path and the pivot axis extend at least substantially parallel to each other.

Due to the at least substantially parallel alignment of the pivot axis and the sliding path, the same lever arm length with respect to the pivot axis of the actuating element is predetermined when introducing forces into the actuating surface of the slide in every position of the slide. On the basis of the specification of such a constant lever arm, a coordination between the slide and the operating element designed as a switching rocker can take place in a particularly reliable manner. Preferred embodiments of such are specified in the subclaims.

Preferably, the sliding path and the pivot axis are arranged to extend in a plane in which a surface normal of the actuating surface of the slider is located. During the adjustment of the slider by a user forces are introduced into the actuating surface of the slider, which are forwarded in the direction perpendicular to this actuating surface in the pivotable actuating element. Due to the vertical arrangement of the actuating surface of the slide with respect to the pivot axis of the actuating element, the forces introduced via the actuating surface are introduced substantially directly along the pivot axis into the actuating element. This has the consequence that the forces introduced via the actuating surface into the actuating element do not cause a pivoting movement of the actuating element. This is ensured by the fact that the introduced forces are introduced without lever arm directly along the pivot axis. In this case, no torque is induced in the actuating element, which would cause a pivoting of the actuating element. Even if, ideally, the forces introduced should run directly through the pivot axis, it is already sufficient for this variant of the invention if the forces introduced via the actuating surface of the slide are introduced into the actuating element at least very close to the pivot axis. Thus, although then a small lever arm is present and it is induced very low torques in the actuator. With a suitable design of rocker switch and slide these low torques are negligible. Such small in the actuator introduced torques can be compensated for example by means of a bias spring according to the invention described later.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sliding path is arranged to extend above the pivot axis. By this arrangement, the actuating surface of the slide occurs in a particularly advantageous manner from the contour of the actuating element, which makes the use of the electrical device according to the invention particularly user-friendly. Due to the arrangement of the sliding path above the pivot axis, the latter is structurally covered in such a way that the structural means which make possible the pivoting movement of the actuating element are arranged substantially optically hidden.

The pivot axis may preferably extend through two bearing eyes, which are formed in opposite lugs, between which the sliding path, on the actuating element and engage in the two arranged on the electrical device bearing journals. Such a structural design has the advantage that the actuator can be easily mounted by snapping on the electrical device. In this case, no further fastening means for the pivotable mounting of the actuating element on the electrical device are required. By this measure, in particular the assembly is simplified and thus reduces the manufacturing cost of the electrical device. It is not absolutely necessary that the tabs which have the bearing eyes are formed on the actuating element and the bearing pins on the electrical device. The tabs which have the bearing eyes can also be provided alternatively on the electrical device and the bearing pin on the actuating element. To provide a cost-effective tool for producing the actuating element according to the invention, however, the variant is preferable, in which the tabs which have the bearing eyes are provided on the actuating element.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the slider is mounted on a surface portion of the actuating element, which extends from the pivot axis away from the switch such that a force introduced via the actuating surface of the slider is introduced counter to the switching direction in the actuating element ( FIG. 6 ). In this specific solution, the goal is not pursued to initiate the lowest possible force or force on the actuating surface of the slide in the actuator. Rather, in this concrete solution significantly high forces on the actuating surface of the slide are introduced into the actuating element, if this pivoting of the actuating element cause against its switching direction. This will be the case, in particular, when the slide or the sliding path of the actuating surface for switching the switching rocker is arranged opposite to the pivot axis.

In an alternative variant of the invention, the slider is mounted on a surface portion of the actuating element which extends from the pivot axis in the direction of the switch and the actuating surface of the slider is formed in position and shape such that the force introduced into the actuating surface by the pivot axis extending or counter to the switching direction acts on the actuating element ( FIGS. 2 to 4 ). This solution according to the invention takes into account the fact that it does not necessarily matter in which position the slider, or the sliding path actually runs along the actuating element, but that in particular the position and shape of the actuating surface of the slider is crucial in which direction forces over the slides are introduced into the actuator. According to this advantageous variant of the invention, it is proposed to give the slider or the actuating surface of the slider a suitable shape in which the forces introduced via the actuating surface preferably extend through the pivot axis, so that the forces introduced can not trigger a pivoting movement of the actuating element in the switching direction. It is particularly advantageous if the shape of the slider, or the actuating surface is selected such that the forces introduced are introduced into the field of action, that this causes a pivoting of the actuating element against its switching direction. Thus, it is particularly prevented that when actuating the slider, the actuating element is moved in the switching direction.

A particularly favorable shape for the slider is achieved according to the invention when the actuating surface of the slider is planar and has a slope relative to the surface portion of the actuating element, in which a force introduced into the actuating surface acts in a direction which intersects the pivot axis ( FIG. 5 ). Due to the planar design of the actuating surface of the slide the user a preferred actuating surface on the slider is shown, which is largely ensured that the user actuates the slide where the forces introduced into the slide forces are introduced in a particularly favorable manner in the actuator. The inclination of the actuating surface relative to the actuating element then specifies the direction for the forces to be introduced. Depending on the structural design of the actuator, the inclination for each individual case is to be determined separately.

In an advantageous structural design of the actuating element according to the invention, the sliding path is predetermined by a slot-shaped opening in the actuating element, through which the slide is guided along its sliding path on the actuating element. In such an embodiment, the slider may be guided on the actuating element both along the sliding path and be mounted on the actuating element, i. Slider and actuator can be prefabricated as a preassembled component. However, the slider can also be guided only on the actuating element without the slide is mounted on the actuating element. In this alternative, the slider is not mounted on the actuator, but directly on the electrical device and the slider protrudes only through the slot-shaped opening at the top of the actuator out.

To transmit its movement along the sliding path to a slider disposed on the electrical device, the slider may be connected to an arm which engages the slider. The slider can be, for example, a sliding potentiometer, which has an ohmic resistance path on which an electrical pickup is displaceably guided. However, such slide potentiometers are relatively expensive, so that usually rotary potentiometer, so-called trimmers, are preferable. To implement the sliding movement of the slider in a rotary movement of the rotary potentiometer, a rotatably mounted on the electrical device spindle may be provided, the axis of which acts on the rotary potentiometer and acts on the helical contour of the slider. In such a solution, it is advantageous if the slide is connected to transmit its movement along the sliding path on a slide arranged on the electrical device with an arm which engages the slider. In this case, the arm preferably has a projection which engages between two drivers connected to the slider, which transmit the movement of the slider along the sliding path to the slider. Despite the use of an arm on the slider and a separate driver and a Wendelübertragers this solution is generally less expensive than a sliding potentiometer.

In a preferred embodiment, the arm protrudes through the slot-shaped opening in the actuating element and the arm is supported for intercepting introduced via the actuating surface, acting in the switching direction forces on the electrical device. The slider is essentially not stored on the actuator itself, but directly on the electrical device. This has the advantage that the slider is largely decoupled from the pivotable actuator and thus only forces are initiated to a negligible extent when the slide is actuated into the pivotable actuating element. The introduced forces are largely initiated directly by the support on the electrical device.

The driver according to the invention preferably has a minimum size, wherein the approach of the arm in each pivot position of the actuating element is slidably engaged with the drivers. On the one hand it is ensured that in each pivot position of the actuating element of the slider can adjust the operating parameters of the electrical device. On the other hand, the arm of the slider is so decoupled from the drivers of the potentiometer, so that no material stresses in the arm of the slider occur even in a depressed, pivoted position of the actuator. The embodiment just described has the particular advantage that also in the pressed in the switching direction position of the actuating element simultaneously adjusting the operating parameters of the electrical device by means of the slide is possible.

The drivers can be provided on a backdrop that sits on a spindle mounted on the electrical device, which converts the sliding movement of the scenery in a rotational movement for actuating a rotary potentiometer. With this solution, an expensive sliding potentiometer can be replaced by a cost-effective rotary potentiometer.

The arm of the slider may have a resilient latching lug which is supported on the inside of the actuating element and which secures the arm of the slider, which is inserted from the outside of the actuating element into the slot-shaped opening, to be pulled out. By this design, in particular the assembly of the slider is simplified on the actuator. By merely inserting the arm provided on the slider in the slot-shaped opening of the actuating element, the slider is reliably guided and mounted on the actuating element. Losing the once mounted slide on the actuator is no longer possible. It is also particularly advantageous that no separate attachment or storage means are required for the storage of the slide on the actuator. This results in that an electrical device having the actuating element according to the invention can be produced inexpensively.

In any embodiment of the invention, a biasing element may be provided by which the actuating element is biased counter to the switching direction with a force that is greater than that required to move the slider, introduced in the switching direction in the actuator force. The biasing element serves as additional security to be introduced even in very large forces in the actuating surface of the slide, these additionally intercept, so that only small forces are introduced into the actuator, which could cause a pivoting of the actuating element.

The actuator according to the invention can be found preferably in electrical household appliances and there especially in vacuum cleaners. Especially with vacuum cleaners, it is necessary on the one hand by means of a switch to turn on the vacuum cleaner, or turn off and set a desired performance during operation of the vacuum cleaner. Such an adjustment of an operating parameter and the switching of a function is achieved by the actuating element according to the invention in a particularly pleasant and advantageous manner for a user.

A preferred embodiment of an actuating element according to the invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 explained in more detail.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf einen Heckbereich eines Staubsaugers, der ein erfindungsgemäßes Betätigungselement aufweist;

Figur 2

eine Schnittansicht durch das Betätigungselement gemäß Figur 1 in seiner in Schaltrichtung gedrückten Position;

Figur 3

eine Schnittansicht durch das Betätigungselement gemäß Figur 2 in seiner Ausgangsposition;

Figur 4

eine Schnittansicht durch ein Betätigungselement, das sich an einem Gehäuse des Staubsaugers abstützt, in seiner in Schaltrichtung gedrückten Position;

Figur 5

eine Schnittansicht durch ein Betätigungselement, bei dem der Schieber über der Schwenkachse verlaufend angeordnet ist; und

Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a rear region of a vacuum cleaner having an inventive actuating element;

FIG. 2

a sectional view through the actuator according to FIG. 1 in his pressed in the direction of shift position;

FIG. 3

a sectional view through the actuator according to FIG. 2 in its starting position;

FIG. 4

a sectional view through an actuating element, which is supported on a housing of the vacuum cleaner, in its pressed in the switching direction position;

FIG. 5

a sectional view through an actuating element, wherein the slider is arranged to extend over the pivot axis; and

FIG. 6 a sectional view through an actuating element, wherein the slider is mounted on a surface portion extending away from the pivot axis, starting from a switch.

An in FIG. 1 The housing cap 2 is seated on a lower shell 3 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and encloses not shown electrical components of the vacuum cleaner 1, such as a blower unit, a cable drum or electronic control elements. Between the housing cap 2 and lower shell 3, a bumper strip 4 is inserted. On an upper side of the housing cap 2, an actuating element 5 is pivotally mounted. For the pivotable mounting, the actuating element 5 has two oppositely arranged tabs 6 on. Each tab 6 each has a bearing eye 7. The liquor eye 7 is formed as a circular opening in the tab 6. The tabs 6 are integrally formed together with the actuating element 5 and manufactured by plastic injection molding. In the opening of each bearing eye 7 projects a bearing pin 8. The bearing pins 8 are connected by means of a bearing block 9 with the housing cap 2. Like the tabs 6, the bearing pins 8 are also integrally formed with the housing cap 2 and manufactured by plastic injection molding. The connection of bearing lugs 7 and bearing pin 8 forms a hinge arrangement, which allows pivoting of the actuating rocker 5 designed as a rocker switch.

A front surface portion 10 of the actuator 5 carries a plurality of hemispherical knobs 11, which not only shows the user the surface over which he can pivot the actuator 5 by pressing in the switching direction, but also prevents slipping during actuation of this rocker. For visual recognition of the function, which can be triggered by the pivoting of the sound-rocker-like actuating element 5, the actuating element 5 carries on its upper side in a central region of the surface provided with hemispherical nubs 11 surface portion 10 a pictogram elevation 12th

On a rear surface portion 13, the actuating element 5 has a slot-shaped opening 14. From the slot-shaped opening 14 protrudes an actuating surface 15 of a slider 16. On the actuating surface 15 of the slider 16 more hemispherical knobs 17 are attached. Through the slot-shaped opening 14, a sliding path 18 is predetermined, which extends parallel to a pivot axis 19 of the actuating element 5.

In FIG. 2 the actuator 5 is shown in its pressed in the switching direction position in section. The front surface portion 10, which carries the knobs 11, is located above a formed on the actuating element 5 switching cam 20 which presses in the switching direction on a plunger 21 of an electrical switch 22. The switch 22 is held in the housing cap 2. On the housing cap 2, the actuating element 5 is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis 19. The parallel to the pivot axis 19 sliding path 18 extends in the in FIG. 2 shown position thus out of the drawing plane. The slider 16, which carries the actuating surface 15, has on its underside an arm 23 which is integrally formed on the slider 16. The slider 16 is by means of projecting through the slot-shaped opening 14 arm 23 on the actuating element 5 along the Slide way led. The arm 23 has a resilient locking lug 24, which is supported in the installed position of the slider 16 on an inner side 25 of the actuating element 5. The arm 23 carries at its lower end a lug 26 which in two, in FIG. 2 hinterinderliegender driver 27 engages. The spaced-apart driver 27 are integrally formed on a link 28.

As in FIG. 3 shown, the gate 28 has an engagement slot 29, in which a spindle 30 engages. On the spindle 30, a journal 31 is formed, which is inserted in its installed position in a rotary potentiometer 32. By moving the slider 16, the arm 23 is moved along with its projection 26 along the sliding path 18. At the same time the gate 28 is displaced by engaging in the driver 27 of the link 28 approach 26. By sliding the link 28, the engaging in the engagement slot 29 spindle 30 is rotated. The rotation of the spindle 30 is transmitted via the journal 31 to the rotary potentiometer 32, which is electrically connected to a control circuit, not shown, for controlling a blower unit of the vacuum cleaner 1. In FIG. 3 is also shown as a spring coil biasing member 33 is shown, which biases the actuating element counter to its switching direction to the starting position.

In FIG. 4 a variant of an actuating element 5 according to the invention is shown, in which the slide 16 is not mounted on the actuating element 5, but on the housing cap 2. For this purpose, the integrally formed on the slider 16 arm 23 support ribs 34, through which the arm 23 and thus also the slider 16 is supported on the housing cap 2. For a displaceable mounting of the slider 16, the housing cap 2 has a slot-shaped sliding track, in which the arm 23 is displaceably guided and held. If compressive forces are introduced via the actuating surface 15 of the slide 16, they are introduced directly into the housing cap 2 and do not reach into the pivotable actuating element 5. For a reliable decoupling of slider 16 and actuator 5, the slot-shaped opening 14 is dimensioned so large that even in the actuated in the switching direction position of the actuating element 5 (as in FIG. 4 shown) no direct contact between the arm 23 of the slider 16 and the actuator 5 is made.

In a further alternative variant runs, as in FIG. 5 shown, both the surface normal of the actuating surface 15, and the arm 23 of the slider 16 through the pivot axis 19 of the actuating element 5. In this variant, no forces are generated directly to the actuator 5 despite storage of the slider 16, which could trigger an unintentional pivoting movement of the actuating element 5 in the switching direction, since no lever arm for the introduced forces arises, which would initiate a torque in the switching direction.

In a supplementary alternative variant, as in FIG. 6 illustrated, the slider is mounted on a surface portion extending from the pivot axis, starting from the switch 22 away. In this case, both the surface normal of the actuating surface 15, and the arm 23 are behind the pivot axis 19, ie on the opposite side of the switch 22 pivot axis 19. In this variant, 16 forces are always introduced into the actuator 5 when operating the slide, the one Pivoting the actuating element 5 against the switching direction to trigger the starting position. A switching of the switch 22 by pivoting the actuating element 5 is not possible during the adjustment of the slider 16.

Claims (16)

1. Actuator (5) which can be mounted so as to pivot on the electrical device (1) in order to switch a function of an electrical device (1) by actuating a switch (22) about a pivot axis (19) in the switching direction of the switch (22) and which has a slider (16) with an actuating surface (15) in order to set an operating parameter, said actuating surface being moveably guided along a sliding path (18) provided on the actuator (5), characterised in that the sliding path (18) and the pivot axis (19) extend at least essentially in parallel to one another.
2. Actuator according to claim 1, characterised in that the sliding path (18) and the pivot axis (19) are arranged so as to run in a plane in which a surface normal of the actuating surface (15) of the slider (16) is present.
3. Actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sliding path (18) is arranged so as to run above the pivot axis (19).
4. Actuator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the pivot axis (19) runs through two bearing lugs (7), which are embodied in opposite straps (6), between which the sliding path (18) runs, on the actuator (5), and can engage in two bearing pins (8) arranged on the electrical device (1).
5. Actuator according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the slider (16) is mounted on a surface segment (13) of the actuator (5) which extends away from the switch (22) starting from the pivot axis (19), such that a force introduced by way of the actuating surface (5) of the slider (16) is introduced into the actuator (5) counter to the switching direction.
6. Actuator according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the slider (16) is mounted on a surface segment (10) of the actuator (5), which extends starting from the pivot axis (19) in the direction of the switch (22) and the actuating surface (15) of the slider (16) is embodied in terms of position and shape such that the force introduced into the actuating surface (15) runs through the pivot axis (19).
7. Actuator according to claim 6, characterised in that the actuating surface (15) of the slider (16) is embodied to be flat and has an inclination with respect to the surface segment (10, 13) of the actuator (5), in which a force introduced into the actuating surface (15) acts in a direction which intersects the pivot axis (19).
8. Actuator according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the sliding path (18) is predetermined by a slot-shaped opening (14) in the actuator (5), by means of which the slider (16) is guided along its sliding path (18) on the actuator (5).
9. Actuator according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a pretensioning element (33) is provided, by means of which the actuator (5) is pretensioned with a force, counter to the switching direction, which is greater than the force introduced into the actuating element (5) in the switching direction and required to move the slider (16).
10. Electrical household appliance, in particular vacuum cleaner (1) having an actuator (5) according to one of claims 1 to 9.
11. Electrical household appliance according to claim 10, characterised in that the slider (16) for transmitting its movement along the sliding path (18) on a sliding controller (28, 30, 32) arranged on the electrical device (1) is connected to an arm (23), which engages with the sliding controller (28, 30, 32).
12. Electrical household appliance according to claim 11, characterised in that the arm (23) protrudes through the slot-shaped opening (14) and is supported against the electrical device (1) in order to intercept forces acting in the switching direction and introduced across the actuating surface (15) of the slider (16).
13. Electrical household appliance according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the arm (23) has an attachment (26), which engages between two catches (27) connected to the sliding controller (28, 30, 32), which transmit the movement of the slider (16) along the sliding path (18) onto the sliding controller (28, 30, 32).
14. Electrical household appliance according to claim 13, characterised in that the catches (27) comprise a minimum size, with which the attachment (26) of the arm (23) engages in a sliding fashion with the catches (27) in each pivot position of the actuation element (5).
15. Electrical household appliance according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the catches (27) are provided on a connecting member (28), which sits on a spindle (30) mounted on the electrical device (1) which converts the sliding movement of the connecting member (28) into a rotary movement in order to actuate a rotary potentiometer (32).
16. Electrical household appliance according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterised in that the arm (23) has a spring-elastic lug (24) projecting on the interior of the actuator (5), which prevents the arm (23) of the slider (16) which is pushed into the slot-shaped opening (14) from the outside of the actuator (5) from being pulled out.

Images